Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of the Galili epitope Galα(1→3)Galβ(1→4)GlcNAc on a homogeneously soluble PEG polymer by a multi-enzyme system

The alpha -Gal trisaccharide Gal alpha (1 -->3)Gal beta (1 -->4)GlcNAc 11 was synthesized on a homogeneously soluble polymeric support (polyethylene glycol, PEG) by use of a multi-enzyme system consisting of beta -1,4-galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.38), alpha -1,3-galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.151), sucrose synthase (EC 2.4.1.13) and UDP-glucose-4-epimerase (EC 5.1.3.2). In addition workup was simplified by use of dia-ultrafiltration. Thus the advantages of classic chemistry/enzymology and solid-phase synthesis could be united in one. Subsequent hydrogenolytic cleavage afforded the free alpha -Gal trisaccharide. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.