Fucosylated Pentaerythrityl Phosphodiester Oligomers (PePOs):  Automated Synthesis of DNA-Based Glycoclusters and Binding to <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> Lectin (PA-IIL)

Abstract

The synthesis of propargylated pentaerythrityl phosphodiester oligomers (PePOs) was achieved using a DNA synthesizer with a bis-propargylated pentaerythritol-based phosphoramidite. An azido fucose derivative was reacted under "click" chemistry conditions activated by microwaves to construct a series of glycosylated PePOs bearing 4, 6, 8, and 10 L-fucose residues. Binding to the fucose-specific bacterial lectin (PA-IIL) was determined for the fucosylated PePOs through an enzyme-linked lectin amplification competition assay. The IC50 values measured are 10-20 times better than for monovalent l-fucose and denotate for a "macromolecular" effect rather than a "cluster" effect.