UDP-3-Methoxy-Glucose.2Na

UDP-3-Methoxy-Glucose.2Na (Uridine Diphosphate 3-Methoxy-D-Glucose disodium salt) is a nucleotide sugar where the hydroxyl group at the 3-position of glucose is replaced by a methoxy group (-OCH3). This chemical modification affects the sugar’s reactivity and interaction with enzymes, making it useful for research in glycosylation and synthetic glycobiology.

Structure & Properties:

• Molecular Weight (MW): Approximately 618 g/mol (depending on the specific form and substitutions)
• Chemical Formula: C16H26N2O17P2Na2 (approximate)
• Synonyms: UDP-3-methoxy-D-glucose, Uridine Diphosphate 3-methoxy-D-glucose disodium salt
• Functional Groups: The glucose moiety in this compound is modified with a methoxy group at the 3-position, which alters the chemical properties and biological interactions compared to unmodified glucose.

Biological Role:

• Biosynthesis Pathway: UDP-3-Methoxy-Glucose is synthesized through a chemical modification of UDP-glucose, involving the substitution of a methoxy group at the 3-position of the glucose ring.
• Function: It acts as a glycosyl donor in modified glycosylation processes, where the methoxy group may affect the ability of enzymes to recognize and process the sugar during glycan assembly.

Applications:

• Glycosylation Research: The methoxy modification at the 3-position allows researchers to investigate how such changes impact glycosylation pathways and enzyme interactions.
• Synthetic Biology: UDP-3-Methoxy-Glucose is valuable in synthetic biology for creating novel glycan structures with altered properties, which may have applications in materials science, drug discovery, or therapeutic development.

Research Significance:

• Modified Glycosylation: By using modified sugars like UDP-3-Methoxy-Glucose, scientists can explore how structural changes in sugar nucleotides influence glycan biosynthesis and the activity of glycosyltransferases.
• Enzyme Specificity Studies: This compound is useful in studying the specificity of glycosylation enzymes and how they accommodate or react to methoxy-modified sugars.

Storage and Stability:

• Storage: UDP-3-Methoxy-Glucose should be stored at -20°C in a dry, moisture-free environment.
• Stability: It is stable under recommended storage conditions but may degrade when exposed to heat, moisture, or light.

Research Areas:

• Enzyme Mechanisms and Glycan Synthesis: Researchers use UDP-3-Methoxy-Glucose to study how modifications like methoxylation affect the biosynthesis of glycans and enzyme function.
• Therapeutic Development: Modified sugars such as UDP-3-Methoxy-Glucose are explored for potential therapeutic uses, including creating modified glycans for drug development or diagnostic tools.

Conclusion:

UDP-3-Methoxy-Glucose.2Na is a chemically modified nucleotide sugar that serves as a unique tool in the study of glycosylation processes and synthetic glycan production. Its altered properties provide insight into enzyme specificity and glycan biosynthesis, with applications in research, biotechnology, and potential therapeutic development.