The Nobel Prize for Chemistry 2022 has recognised the future promises that Click Chemistry holds for innovative solutions for critical health issues such as cancer and infectious diseases. The prize was awarded to renowned Glycomics researchers: Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi, Dr. Barry Sharpless and Dr. Morten Meldal. Dr. Bertozzi’s pioneering work in bioorthogonal chemistry brings to focus a group of molecules which received hardly any attention earlier: Glycans.
Glycans are complex carbohydrates that are built from various types of sugar and often sit on the surface of proteins and cells. We all know that monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose and galactose form an essential part of our diet and are the main sources of energy and fuel in most living organisms. Glycans are chain-like structures that are composed of these sugar molecules which are linked together by chemical bonds. There are many more types of sugar molecules which can assemble together to form a variety of chain structures- from long straight chains to complex branched shapes.
It is important to note that these sugar chains (glycans) are not only a source of energy but they perform many other biological functions. The combination of these monosaccharides, their bonding position and type of branching can affect the properties and functions of these glycans. Although the biological importance of glycans is still being explored, the main functions of glycans can be grouped into three categories- structural function (e.g. cell wall); energy metabolism (e.g. carbohydrates) and information carriers (e.g. molecular patterns). It was observed that glycans play an important role in many biological processes when viruses infect cells or when the immune system is activated. Isolating, tracking and observing the Glycans has thus become an important step to understanding how cells become infected.
Bertozzi started her research by trying to map a glycan that attracted immune cells to lymph nodes. Putting in years of research and by using Click Chemistry she could demonstrate how to track glycans. The applications of this are innumerable. The glycans on the surface of tumor cells are being studied to understand how they defeat the body’s immune cells. Clickable antibodies are being developed that could break down these glycans and help immune cells fight tumor cells.
In one of his lectures Nobel Laureate Barry Sharpless used “elegant”, “clever”,”novel” and “useful” as chemical accolades of choice. It will be correct to say that the advancement in Click chemistry is all of the above in addition to being a great blessing to mankind.
Bibliography:
Gagneux, Pascal; Hennet, Thierry; Varki, Ajit. “Biological Functions of Glycans” National Library of Medicine. n.a. Web. 22nd Nov, 2022. <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK579984/>
n.a.”Nobel Prize in Chemistry Shines Light on Glycomics” canadian glycomics. October 14, 2022. Web. 22nd Nov, 2022. <https://canadianglycomics.ca/nobel-prize-in-chemistry-shines-light-on-glycomics/>
n.a.”What are Glycans” glytech. n.a. Web. 22nd Nov, 2022. <https://www.glytech-inc.com/glycan/what-are-glycans/#:~:text=Glycans%20are%20chain%2Dlike%20structures,linked%20together%20by%20chemical%20bonds.>
Fernholm, Ann. “Nobel Prize In Chemistry 2022” nobelprize.org. n.a. Web. 22nd Nov, 2022. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2022/popular-information/>
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