Glycopolymers Prepared by Alternating Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Provide Access to Distinct, Multivalent Structures for the Probing of Biological Activity.

A myriad of biological processes are facilitated by ligand-receptor interactions. The low affinities of these interactions are typically enhanced by multivalent engagements to promote binding. However, each biological interaction requires a unique display and orientation of ligands.

Triblock Glycopolymers with Two 10-mer Blocks of Activating Sugars Enhance the Activation of Acrosomal Exocytosis in Mouse Sperm.

Carbohydrate recognition is imperative for the induction of sperm acrosomal exocytosis (AE), an essential phenomenon in mammalian fertilization. In mouse sperm, polynorbornene 100-mers displaying fucose or mannose moieties were effective at inducing AE. In contrast, glycopolymers exhibiting glucose sugars resulted in no AE activation.