40 years of glyco-polyacrylamide in glycobiology

Polyacrylamide conjugates of glycans have long been widely used in many research areas of glycobiology, mainly for immobilizing glycans in solid-phase assays and as multivalent inhibitors. Pending biotin tag allows immobilizing Glyc-PAA quantitatively on any surface, and acts as a tracer for detection of carbohydrate-binding proteins. However, the scope of already realized capabilities of these probes is immeasurably richer than those listed above. This review is not so much about routine as about less common, but not less significant applications. Also, the data on the glycopolymers themselves, their molecular weight, size and polymer chain flexibility are presented, as well as the methods of synthesis, clusterisation and entropy factor in their interaction with proteins.

Automated summary

Polyacrylamide conjugates of glycans are widely used in glycobiology for immobilizing glycans and as multivalent inhibitors. The biotin tag allows quantitative immobilization on any surface and acts as a tracer for detecting carbohydrate-binding proteins. Additionally, this review covers less common but significant applications, as well as details on the glycopolymers themselves and their interactions with proteins.