# Chemical Tools for Protein Glycoengineering

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO · 2020 · $227,711

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Glycoproteins constitute approximately 70% of all therapeutic proteins approved for clinical use
in the United States. Although there are various technologies available to manufacture
homogenous materials, even the most successful strategies fail to produce only one (of a few)
glycoform. This limitation represents a major challenge that can affect efficacy, safety, and the
costs of production. In this project, we will develop a broadly applicable technology that can
eliminate the inherent limitations associated with in vivo and ex vivo glycoprotein production
systems. In aim 1, we will invent and optimize a chemical bioconjugation reaction that will
furnish glycoproteins containing the native glycan linkage at the Asn residue as a single
glycoform. In aim 2, we will (a) test the new glycoconjugation method in diversification of small
proteins and (b) demonstrate its generality in a model system containing high-mannose
glycans. Taken together, the new technology will eliminate the safety, regulatory, and IP issues
currently associated with glycoprotein production, manipulation, and characterization.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10041583
- **Project number:** 1R21GM138808-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
- **Principal Investigator:** Maciej Walczak
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $227,711
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10041583

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10041583, Chemical Tools for Protein Glycoengineering (1R21GM138808-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10041583. Licensed CC0.

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