Catanionic Vesicles as a Facile Scaffold to Display Natural N-Glycan Ligands for Probing Multivalent Carbohydrate-Lectin Interactions

Soybean Lectin Cross-Links Membranes by Binding Sulfatide in a Curvature-Dependent Manner

Soybean (Glycine max) is a key source of plant-based protein, yet its nutritional value is impacted by antinutritional factors, including lectins. Whereas soybean lectin is known to bind N-acetyl-d-galactosamine (GalNAc), its lipid interactions remain unexplored. Using a novel purification method, we isolated lectin from soybean meals and characterized its interactions with GalNAc and the glycosphingolipid sulfatide. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed micromolar affinity for GalNAc, whereas most GalNAc derivatives displayed weak or no binding. Lectin exhibited high-affinity binding to sulfatide in a membrane curvature-dependent manner. Binding of lectin to sulfatide promoted cross-linking of sulfatide-containing vesicles. Whereas sulfatide interaction was independent of GalNAc binding, suggesting distinct binding sites, vesicle cross-linking was inhibited by the sugar. Molecular dynamics simulations identified a consensus sulfatide-binding site in lectin. These findings highlight the dual ligand-binding properties of soybean lectin and may provide strategies to mitigate its antinutritional effects and improve soybean meal processing.

Simplified Synthesis of Poly(ethyleneimine)-Modified Silica Particles and Their Application in Oligosaccharide Isolation Methods

There are great challenges in the field of natural product isolation and purification and in the pharmacological study of oligosaccharide monomers. And these isolation and purification processes are still universal problems in the study of natural products (NPs), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), omics, etc. The same polymer-modified materials designed for the special separation of oligosaccharides, named Sil-epoxy-PEI and Sil-chloropropyl-PEI, were synthesized via two different methods and characterized by scanning electron microscopy combined with energy spectrum analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, zeta potential as well as surface area analysis, etc. Several nucleotide/nucleoside molecules with different polarities and selectivities were successfully isolated in our laboratory using stainless-steel columns filled with the synthesized material. In addition, the separation of saccharide probes and oligosaccharides mixtures in water extracts of Morinda officinalis were compared in HILIC mode. The results showed that the resolution of separations for the representative analytes of the Sil-epoxy-PEI column was higher than for the Sil-chloropropyl-PEI column, and the developed stationary phase exhibited improved performance compared to hydrothermal carbon, amide columns and other HILIC materials previously reported.

Enhancing Targeted Photodynamic Therapy: Star-Shaped Glycopolymeric Photosensitizers for Improved Selectivity and Efficacy

Targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers advantages over nontargeted approaches, including improved selectivity, efficacy, and reduced side effects. This study developed star-shaped glycopolymeric photosensitizers using porphyrin-based initiators via ATRP. Incorporating a porphyrin core gave the polymers fluorescence and ROS generation, while adding fructose improved solubility and targeting capabilities. The photosensitizers had high light absorption, singlet oxygen production, specificity, low dark toxicity, and biocompatibility. The glycopolymers with longer sugar arms and higher density showed better uptake on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells compared to HeLa cells, indicating enhanced targeting capabilities. Inhibition of endocytosis confirmed the importance of the GLUT5 receptor. The resulting polymers exhibited good cytocompatibility under dark conditions and satisfactory PDT under light irradiation. Interestingly, the polymers containing fructose have a GLUT5-dependent elimination effect on the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells. The intracellular ROS production followed a similar pattern, indicating that the fructose polymer exhibits specific targeting toward cells with GLUT5 receptors.