McMaster University
Department of Chemistry
Graduate Colloquium
Wednesday, March 28, 2001
Graduate Colloquium Schedule: 2000/2001
Bart Byczynski
Department of Chemistry
McMaster University
"Automated Solid-Phase Oligosaccharide Synthesis"
Carbohydrates are the only remaining biopolymer for which an automated synthesis has not been developed. Difficulties in automating the synthesis of short carbohydrate chains (oligosaccharides) comes from the difficulty in distinguishing between functional groups, controlling stereochemistry and creating scheme that work with the diverse set of monomers that are found in nature. The drive for developing a fast method of synthesis comes from the need for pure oligosaccharides for use in studies involving field of reasearch such as signal transduction, cell recognition and many disease states. The first steps toward automated oligosaccharide synthesis have now been taken by Seeberger at M.I.T., his group have modified a protein synthesizer and had success in obtaining a number of oligosaccharides. Their automated method drastically reduces the time needed for synthesis. Although the methods of obtaining particular sterochemistries and synthesis using certain monomers must still be developed, this automated method has the potential for greatly accelerating the studies in the field of glycobiology.
Wednesday, March 28, 2001
1:30 p.m.
ABB-163
- Department of Chemistry
- Chemistry Colloquia Schedules: 1999/2000 | 2000/2001
- Chemistry Seminar Schedule: 2000/2001
- Seminars and Colloquia