Molecular shuttle between extracellular and cytoplasmic space allows for monitoring of GAG biosynthesis in human articular chondrocytes.

Background: Cell surface proteoglycans play vital functional roles in various biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, inflammation, immune response, sustentation of cartilage tissue and intensity of tissues. We show here that serglycin-like synthetic glycopeptides function efficiently as a molecular shuttle to hijack glycosaminoglycan (GAG) biosynthetic pathway within cells across the plasma membrane.

Methods: Fluorescence (FITC)-labeled tetrapeptide (H-Ser(1)-Gly(2)-Ser(3)-Gly(4)-OH) carrying Galβ(1➝4)Xylβ1➝ defined as proteoglycan initiator (PGI) monomer and its tandem repeating PGI polymer was employed for direct imaging of cellular uptake and intracellular traffic by confocal laser-scanning microscopy.

Importance of sialic acid residues illuminated by live animal imaging using phosphorylcholine self-assembled monolayer-coated quantum dots.

Glycans are expected to be one of the potential signal molecules for controlling drug targeting/delivery or long-term circulation of biopharmaceuticals. However, the effect of the carbohydrates of artificially glycosylated derivatives on in vivo dynamic distribution profiles after intravenous injection of model animals remains unclear due to the lack of standardized methodology and a suitable platform. We report herein an efficient and versatile method for the preparation of multifunctional quantum dots (QDs) displaying common synthetic glycosides with excellent solubility and long-term stability in aqueous solution without loss of quantum yields.