Carbohydrates articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Understanding the role of enzymes in biomass depolymerization is essential for the development of more efficient biorefineries. Here, the authors show by atomic force microscopy the real-time mechanism of cellulose deconstruction by lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases.

    • Manuel Eibinger
    • , Jürgen Sattelkow
    •  & Bernd Nidetzky

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Melioidosis and glanders are multifaceted infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. Here, the authors synthesize a series of oligosaccharides that mimic the lipopolysaccharides present on the pathogens’ surface and use them to develop novel glycoconjugates for vaccine development.

    • Marielle Tamigney Kenfack
    • , Marcelina Mazur
    •  & Charles Gauthier

  • Article
    | Open Access

    N-acetyl-muramic acid (NAM) is a core component of the bacterial peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall, and is recognised by the innate immune system. Here the authors engineer Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria to incorporate a modified NAM into the backbone of PG, which can be labelled with click chemistry for imaging and tracking.

    • Hai Liang
    • , Kristen E. DeMeester
    •  & Catherine L. Grimes

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Due to the vast number of potential isomers, the chemical synthesis of large carbohydrates is challenging. Here the authors report the synthesis of mycobacterial arabinogalactan, a biologically important natural product composed of 92 monosaccharide units, the largest synthetic polysaccharide to date.

    • Yong Wu
    • , De-Cai Xiong
    •  & Xin-Shan Ye

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Arabinogalactan forms parts of the cellular envelope ofMycobacterium tuberculosis, however due to its size chemical synthesis is a massive task. Here the authors report the synthesis of branched heneicosafuranosyl arabinogalactan fragment by repeated use of a Au/Ag-catalysed glycosylation methodology.

    • Shivaji A. Thadke
    • , Bijoyananda Mishra
    •  & Srinivas Hotha

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The polysaccharide xylan binds to cellulose microfibrils in the plant cell wall, but the nature of this interaction remains unclear. Here Simmonset al. show that while xylan forms a threefold helical screw in solution it forms a twofold screw to bind cellulose microfibrils in the plant cell wall.

    • Thomas J. Simmons
    • , Jenny C. Mortimer
    •  & Paul Dupree

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Automated glycan assembly has proven a powerful method to rapidly synthesize large oligosaccharides, though stereoselective cis-glycosylation remains a challenge. Here, the authors demonstrate a system to selectively incorporate multiple cis-glycosidic linkages by use of remote participating groups.

    • Heung Sik Hahm
    • , Mattan Hurevich
    •  & Peter H Seeberger

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Substantial cellular resources are devoted to nucleotide biosynthesis. Here the authors propose that transcribed regions prefer ‘cheaper’ nucleotides, which appears true for synonymous sites, although more expensive nucleotides coding for cheaper amino acids are selected for at non-synonymous sites.

    • Wei-Hua Chen
    • , Guanting Lu
    •  & Martin J. Lercher

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases are proteins involved in the degradation of plant biomass and are promising biotechnological tools for biofuel production. Here, the authors show that their catalytic activity is significantly boosted when they are combined with photopigments and exposed to light.

    • D. Cannella
    • , K. B. Möllers
    •  & C. Felby

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Exon-skipping therapies such as systemic i.v. administration of morpholino are being explored as a means of treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Here the authors show that adding a glucose-fructose mix can enhance uptake of phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer and its therapeutic effect in mdxmice.

    • Gang Han
    • , Ben Gu
    •  & HaiFang Yin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Protochordates, including Ciona intestinalis, lack an adaptive immune system but possess innate immune receptors, including the secreted immunoglobulin V-region-containing VCBPs. Here the authors show that VCBP-C of Cionabinds gut bacteria and chitin-rich gut mucosa, influences biofilm formation and likely plays a role in gut homeostasis.

    • Larry J. Dishaw
    • , Brittany Leigh
    •  & Gary W. Litman

  • Article
    | Open Access

    9-O-Acetylation is one of the most common modifications of sialic acids, implicated in sialoglycan recognition and ganglioside biology. Here, the authors show that the key enzyme for the biosynthesis of 9-O-acetylated sialoglycans is CASD1, which uses CMP-activated sialic acid as acceptor substrate.

    • Anna-Maria T. Baumann
    • , Mark J. G. Bakkers
    •  & Martina Mühlenhoff

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The human gut microbiota helps us to degrade complex dietary carbohydrates such as xylan and, in turn, the carbohydrate breakdown products control the structure of the microbiota. Here the authors characterize the xylan-degrading apparatus of a key member of the gut microbiota, Bacteroides ovatus.

    • Artur Rogowski
    • , Jonathon A. Briggs
    •  & David N. Bolam

  • Article |

    Inhibiting the interaction between the membrane protein P-selectin and its ligand PSGL-1 is thought to block inflammation. Here the authors report an efficient stereoselective synthesis for PSGL-1 glycopeptide mimics and show that these compounds inhibit PSGL-1/P-selectin in vitro and in vivo.

    • Venkata R. Krishnamurthy
    • , Mohammed Y. R. Sardar
    •  & Elliot L. Chaikof

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Proteins containing LysM domains recognize polysaccharides such as chitin and peptidoglycan, the main components of fungal and bacterial cell walls. Here the authors describe the molecular interactions between peptidoglycan and a LysM domain from the opportunistic bacterial pathogen Enterococcus faecalis.

    • Stéphane Mesnage
    • , Mariano Dellarole
    •  & Michael P. Williamson

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan is essential for viability and shape determination. Using high-resolution microscopy, Foster and colleagues elucidate the peptidoglycan architecture and insertion pattern in Escherichia coliand other Gram-negative bacteria, and propose a new model for cell wall elongation.

    • Robert D. Turner
    • , Alexander F. Hurd
    •  & Simon J. Foster

  • Article |

    The modification of proteins with O-linked-N-acetylglucosamine causes regulation of multiple cellular processes. In this study, Sakaidani and colleagues identify an endoplasmic reticulum O-linked-N-acetylglucosamine transferase in Drosophilathat regulates the adhesion of epithelial cells to the extracellular matrix.

    • Yuta Sakaidani
    • , Tomoko Nomura
    •  & Tetsuya Okajima

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