Enzymatic Approaches to O-Glycoside Introduction: Glycosyltransferases

Glycosyltransferases that catalyze glycosylation reactions in a highly regio- and stereo-selective manner have proven to be important tools for preparative and large-scale synthesis of biologically and medicinally important glycans and glycoconjugates. A number of glycosyltransferases from various sources (mammalian, bacterial, and viral) and their mutants with or without sugar nucleotide biosynthetic enzymes have been widely used in the synthesis. Different synthetic strategies have been developed, including one-pot multi-enzyme (OPME), sugar nucleotide recycling, immobilized carbohydrate biosynthetic enzymes, solid phase synthesis, and cell-based systems. The trans-glycosidase and revsersible glycosylation activities of glycosyltransferases have also been explored. Glycosylation catalyzed by glycosyltransferases and their mutants will continue to play important roles in producing diverse glycan structures for elucidating their biological functions and developing carbohydrate-based therapeutics.