A newly synthesized chromophore-modified curdlan functions as a saccharide chemosensor in aqueous solution, enabling us to discriminate tetrasaccharide acarbose from 24 mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasaccharides.

Solid-supported membrane multilayers doped with membrane-anchored oligosaccharides bearing the LewisX motif (Le(X) lipid) were utilized as a model system of membrane adhesion mediated via homophilic carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions. Specular and off-specular neutron scattering in bulk aqueous electrolytes allowed us to study multilayer structure and membrane mechanics at full hydration at...

The crystal structures of catalytically competent soybean beta-amylase, unliganded and bathed with small substrates (beta-maltose, maltal), were determined at 1.9-2.2-A resolution. Two molecules of beta-maltose substrate bind to the protein in tandem, with some maltotetraose enzymic condensation product sharing the same binding sites. The beta-amylase soaked with maltal shows a similar arrangem...

The C-type lectin-like receptors include the Nkrp1 protein family that regulates the activity of natural killer (NK) cells. Rat Nkrp1a was reported to bind monosaccharide moieties in a Ca2+-dependent manner in preference order of GalNac > GlcNAc >> Fuc >> Gal > Man. These findings established for rat Nkrp1a have been extrapolated to all additional Nkrp1 receptors and have been supported by nume...

As the main substances responsible for immunomodulatory activity, saccharides can be used as quality indicators for Astragalus root (RA). Saccharide content is commonly determined by ultraviolet spectroscopy, which lacks species specificity and has not been applied in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Monosaccharide mapping based on trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) hydrolysis can be used for quantitative an...

Cardiac glycosides are potent inhibitors of cell division. They may be useful as antitumor agents if the antimitotic effect can be dissociated from their cardiotoxic effect. We studied congeners of cardiac glycosides to determine whether the saccharide or the genin portion of the molecule contributes to its antimitotic effect. The concentration of glycoside required to inhibit PHA-stimulated 3H...

Concanavalin A (con A) is a saccharide-binding protein of the Jack bean [ 11. The protein contains two different metal-binding sites, which must be occupied in order for saccharide binding to be possible [2,3]. When the metal ions are removed by acid treatment, the demetallized protein can bind only divalent transition metal ions (Mn”, Co”, Ni2+, Zn”, or Cd23 at a site designated S 1, but it ca...

The utilization of self-microemulsifying premicroemulsion systems (SMEPMS) as templates for preparing poorly water-soluble compounds in the nanosized range represents a promising strategy. Fenofibrate was formulated with n-butyl L-lactate, Tween 80, and a number of cosurfactants (ethanol, 1-propanol, and PEG 600), diluted with the water phase (either water or saccharide solution) and then subje...

The photodynamic deactivation of lysozyme in presence of acridine orange is caused by a reaction between singlet oxygen formed via the dye triplet state and the protein. In order to identify the region where the singlet oxygen reacts with the protein we have investigated the kinetics of the deactivation in presence ofthe inhibitor of the enzymatic reaction N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). The over...