title: Sweetness and light: design and applications of photo-responsive glycoconjugates.
abstract: Carbohydrate-protein binding is a supramolecular recognition process that underpins myriad biological events. However, the precise conformational and configurational requirements for biomolecular recognition are often poorly understood, since such phenomena often occur in a strongly spatiotemporal manner. Photoswitchable glycoconjugates have emerged as promising investigational tools for probing carbohydrate-protein recognition and for controlling bacterial adhesion. Reversible photoisomerisation, in particular that of azobenzene glycoconjugates, has also been exploited as a promising strategy for controlling supramolecular self-assembly and macroscopic properties, thereby facilitating the development of light responsive carbohydrate-based materials. The following review will highlight the recent advances in the design and applications of photoswitchable glycoconjugates, paying particular attention to the application of light as a stimulus for modulating protein and cellular adhesion, amphiphilicity and supramolecular assembly of carbohydrate-based materials.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia. brendan.wilkinson@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Yingxue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Rico F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Tabor
authors.forename: Brendan L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008027:Light; D055668:Photochemical Processes
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D006001:Glycoconjugates; C009850:azobenzene