Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Heparin‐Like Hexasaccharide with the Structural Motifs for Binding to FGF and FGFR

Abstract A heparin‐like hexasaccharide structure (2) containing the two trisaccharide sequences that interact with acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF‐1) and with its receptor (FGFR) has been designed on the basis of crystallographic data. This hexasaccharide has been effectively synthesized by a completely stereoselective modular approach and biologically evaluated by determination of its capacity to stimulate FGF‐1‐induced mitogenic activity. It was found that this molecule did not show an appreciable FGF‐1 activating effect. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)