Synthetic Oligosaccharides In Glycobiology

Glycoconjugates play important roles in biological systems via recognition of oligosaccharides. Natural glycoconjugates are much too complicated for the currently available analytical and separation methodologies to allow dissection of their individual roles in biological systems to be clearly defined. Therefore chemical and enzymatic syntheses to produce useful quantities of oligosaccharides of definitive structures are very important in understanding functions of glycoconjugates. Refinement of oligosaccharide synthesis for mass production and cost reduction is urgently needed for development of glycobiotechnology.