chapter 2 - Bentham Science

Glycosidases in Synthesis of Glycomimetics Synthesis and Biological Applications of Glycoconjugates 227
glycosynthase from Sulfolobus solfataricus using glycosyl acceptors of varying anomeric configuration and
lipophilicity was shown by Moracci et al. [16]. Glycosynthases have proved their potential in a number of
applications involving the preparation of difficult-to-obtain glycosylated structures; for example glycosphingolipids,
which are potential therapeutics for a range of pathologies including Alzheimer´s, Parkinson´s diseases and stroke
[17], and, recently, glycosylated flavonoids, acting for example as immunosuppressants [18].
Figure 1: Hydrolysis mechanisms: A) of retaining and B) inverting glycosidase; C) of -N-acetylhexosaminidase, which uses a
modified retaining mechanism.