Glycochemistry and glycosaminoglycans
Team : Organic Synthesis - GlycoBio&Chemistry
Group : Understanding the mechanism of biosynthesis of proteoglycans by chemical synthesis of well-defined oligosaccharides
Team of Prof. Chrystel LOPIN-BON
For many years, our group is interested in proteoglycans (PGs), a family of complex macromolecules characterized by the presence of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains covalently linked to a core protein through a linkage region. PGs (Heparin, heparin sulfate, chondroitin and dermatan sulfate, hyaluronic acid) play important roles in a plethora of biological processes, such as cell growth and proliferation, embryonic development and coagulation cascade. They are also involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases including arthropathies, Alzheimer’s and cancer diseases.
The biosynthetic molecular mechanism involved in the three major steps of the GAGs biosynthesis ie initiation of the linkage region, orientation towards chondroitin sulfate (CS) or Heparan sulfate (HS) and polymerization of the GAGs chains remain obscure.
In this context, the research area of our group is focused on the design and synthesis of complex oligosaccharides in order to study the mecanism of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of proteoglycans.
Current collaborations : Team of Dr. Sylvie Fournel-Gigleux (CNRS-UHP, University of Lorraine), team of Pr. Christelle Breton (CERMAV, Grenoble), team of Pr. Xavier Pannecoucke (UMR CNRS 6014, IRCOF, University of Rouen), Glycodiag company (Orléans)
Research program and fonding :
- ANR JCJC 2013 « GAG-sorting »
- LABEX Synorg
- ANR BLAN 2013 « meca-GT »
- Project Centre-FEDER « glycosign » with Glycodiag company
- Project Conseil régional de Lorraine « Glyco-Fluo »
- ANR BLAN 2008 « GAGNetwork »
- ANR BLAN 2008 « Glycocart »
RECENT WORKS
