Carbohydrates for Click Chemistry

Protein and lipid glycosilation is a life-governing and omnipresent process. Glycoconjugates display a multitude of biological effects from protein folding and stabilization, energy storage, cell surface interaction through molecular recognition motifs for cell-cell communication, and structural support and protection. Defective metabolic pathways in pathological processes, inflammation and microbial virulence, neurodegenerative conditions tumour metastasis are only a few key words indicating the many possible application fields. The smooth and selective reaction conditions of the Click reaction open so far impossible molecule design for drug development and vaccine development based on carbohydrate conjugation.