Kyushu University · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Professor Masanori Nagao's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of functional polymers for biomedical applications, with a focus on glycopolymers that mimic natural glycoconjugates to interact with biological targets. The lab employs controlled polymerization techniques such as reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to precisely engineer polymer architecture, molecular weight, and sugar density for enhanced interactions with viral proteins like influenza hemagglutinin. Key research directions include the development of multivalent glyco-ligands with tailored topologies—such as star-shaped and triblock copolymers—for improved binding affinity and cryoprotective 3D cell culture scaffolds. The lab also investigates the dynamic properties of glycopolymers, linking molecular mobility and monomer structure to biological recognition efficiency.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
We designed glycopolymers carrying sialyl oligosaccharides by "post-click" chemistry and evaluated the interaction with the influenza virus. The glycopolymer structures were synthesized in a well-controlled manner by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and the Huisgen reaction. Acrylamide-type monomers were copolymerized to give hydrophilicity to the polymer backbones, and the hydrophilicity enabled the successful introduction of the oligosaccharides into the polymer
The precise design of synthetic polymer ligands using controlled polymerization techniques provides an advantage for the field of nanoscience. We report the topological design of glyco-ligands based on synthetic polymers for targeting hemagglutinin (HA, lectin on the influenza virus). To achieve precise arrangement of the glycounits toward the sugar-binding pockets of HA, triarm star glycopolymers were synthesized. The interaction of the star glycopolymers with HA was found to depend on the leng
There is considerable interest in the cryopreservation in 3D cell culture, as structurally preserving intact cells and tissues is critical in utilizing these systems to promote cell differentiation and tissue organization. Temperature-responsive physical gels and zwitterionic polymers are useful materials as 3D scaffolds for cell culture which may also provide cryoprotection to the composite cells. Nevertheless, there has been a lack of relevant data for polymer systems that have both of these p
Synthetic glyco-ligands are promising candidates for effective nanomedicines against pathogens. Glycopolymers bearing sialyl-oligosaccharides interact with hemagglutinin present on the surface of influenza viruses. In designing new glycopolymers that further enhance the interaction with viruses, both static and dynamic properties of the glycopolymers should be considered. In this report, we evaluated the correlation between dynamic properties of glycopolymers and their interaction with the influ
Molecular mobility is important for interactions of biofunctional polymers with target molecules. Monomer structures for synthetic biofunctional polymers are usually selected based on their compatibility with polymerization systems, whereas the influence of monomer structures on the interaction with target molecules is hardly considered. In this report, we evaluate the correlation between the monomer structures of glycopolymers and their interactions with concanavalin A (ConA) with respect to th
ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTElectrolytic Method of Converting an Aliphatic Trichloromethyl Group into a Dichloromethyl or Monochloromethyl GroupMasanori Nagao, Naotake Sato, Takekazu Akashi, and Toichi YoshidaCite this: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1966, 88, 14, 3447–3449Publication Date (Print):July 1, 1966Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 July 1966https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja00966a058https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00966a058research-articleACS Publications
Carbohydrates are involved in life activities through the interactions with their corresponding proteins (lectins). Pathogen infection and the regulation of cell activity are controlled by the binding between lectins and glycoconjugates on cell surfaces. A deeper understanding of the interactions of glycoconjugates has led to the development of therapeutic and preventive methods for infectious diseases. Glycopolymer is one of the classes of the materials present multiple carbohydrates. The prope
The "carbohydrate module method" is a promising approach for oligosaccharide mimetics using polymeric materials. However, it is difficult to predict the optimal structure for a particular oligosaccharide mimetic, and an efficient strategy for the synthesis and evaluation of glycopolymers is desirable. In this study, a screening of glycopolymers for the "carbohydrate module method" by a combination of photoinduced electron/energy transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (PET-RAFT
This paper reports the synthesis and application of acrylamide-type neoglycoconjugates interacting with practical targets.
Multiblock glycopolymers have gathered attention because of their potential use as effective ligands for sugar-binding proteins. The authors report the quantitative preparation of multiblock glycopolymers by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The optimized polymerization condition enabled the complete monomer incorporation into the elongating polymer chains at each polymerization step. The structure of the heptablock glycopolymer was well-defined (polydispersity ind
Self-folding behavior of amphiphilic polymers in aqueous environments mimics the structures of biomacromolecules (e.g., proteins). Since both the three-dimensional structure (static) and the molecular flexibility (dynamic) of a protein are essential for its biological functions, the latter should be considered when designing synthetic polymers that are intended to mimic proteins. Herein, we investigated the correlation between the self-folding behavior of amphiphilic polymers and their molecular
Synthetic polymers with well-defined structures allow the development of nanomaterials with additional functions beyond biopolymers. Herein, we demonstrate <i>de novo</i> design of star-shaped glycoligands to interact with hemagglutinin (HA) using well-defined synthetic polymers with the aim of developing an effective inhibitor for the influenza virus. Prior to the synthesis, the length of the star polymer chains was predicted using the Gaussian model of synthetic polymers, and the degree of pol
Commercialized oligosaccharides such as GM1 are useful for biological applications but generally expensive. Thus, facile access to an effective alternative is desired. Glycopolymers displaying both carbohydrate and hydrophobic units are promising materials as alternatives to oligosaccharides. Prediction of the appropriate polymer structure as an oligosaccharide mimic is difficult, and screening of the many candidates (glycopolymer library) is required. However, repeating polymerization manipulat
The suppressed molecular mobility of the cyclic glycopolymers was found to weaken their interactions with target proteins, demonstrating the influence of polymer topology on molecular recognition.
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