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New synthesis methodologies
IRL’s Carbohydrate Chemistry group has begun a five-year FRST[?] programme to research ways of synthesising compounds known as sulphated oligosaccharides, which play an important role in biological systems.
Initial work will concentrate on one class of these compounds – heparan sulphates – which are present on the cell surface of many tissues. Evaluation of the biological activity of these synthetic molecules will be done in a collaboration with the University of Liverpool’s Centre for Glycobiology.
Heparin hexasaccharide bound to human fibroblast growth factor.
Leading the work within IRL is Peter Tyler, who was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand for his achievements in creating complex molecules that are potent drugs. The University of Liverpool team, which is providing the biological expertise for the project, is led by Jerry Turnbull, a renowned specialist in the role heparan sulphates play in human health and in the development of certain diseases such as cancers and Alzheimers.
In a related programme of work, IRL is collaborating with an industry partner to identify potential sources of heparan sulphates, with the longer-term goal of exploring manufacture of these powerful biological compounds in New Zealand.