Glycosidase Inhibition with Fullerene Iminosugar Balls: A Dramatic Multivalent Effect

Abstract

Superball! A dodecavalent iminosugar derivative with a fullerene core (see picture) shows a binding enhancement of up to three orders of magnitude over the corresponding monovalent ligand in glycosidase inhibition assays. This is the first evidence of a significant multivalent effect in glycosidase inhibition.