title: Amphiphilic cytosolic glycans from mycobacteria: occurrence, lipid-binding properties, biosynthesis, and synthesis.
abstract: Polymethylated polysaccharides (PMPSs), glycans composed of 10-20 carbohydrate residues the majority of which carry a single methyl group, are produced by some mycobacterial species. O-Methylation thus occurs on 20-30% of all the hydroxyl groups within the molecule, rendering them amphiphilic. A property of PMPSs is their ability to form high-affinity complexes with fatty acids and their derivatives, suggesting a role in mycobacterial fatty acid biosynthesis. However, direct evidence for their in vivo function is still lacking. Over the past several decades the lipid-binding properties, biosynthesis, and chemical synthesis of PMPSs have been explored and this review will provide an overview of progress made in these areas.
authors.affiliation: Alberta Glycomics Centre and Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Gunning-Lemieux Chemistry Centre, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Todd L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lowary
mesh_terms: D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008745:Methylation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009161:Mycobacterium; D011134:Polysaccharides
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D011134:Polysaccharides
keywords: amphiphilic; biosynthesis; lipid-binding; mycobacterial glycans; synthesis