# Enzymatic synthesis of heparin sulfate and chondroitin sulfate

> **NIH NIH R42** · GLYCAN THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION · 2020 · $736,388

## Abstract

Abstract
This fast-track STTR application proposes to synthesize structurally defined heparan
sulfate and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides for biological research. Glycan
Therapeutics is a biotech company specializing sulfated carbohydrates using innovative
enzyme-based methods. This proposal is focused on the synthesis of large authentic
oligosaccharides in the size range of 10-mers to 16-mers, as well as ultra-large click
oligosaccharides in the size range of 30 saccharide residues long. A highly
experienced research team, including Dr. Yongmei Xu (University of North Carolina),
Dr. Robert Linhardt (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), and Dr. Vijayakanth Pagadala
(Glycan Therapeutics), will carry out the study. Heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate
are members of the glycosaminoglycan family present in large quantities on mammalian
cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix, displaying a wide range of biological
functions. This proposal is designed to serve two purposes: (i) to develop a reliable and
cost-effective method to synthesize structurally defined heparan sulfate and chondroitin
sulfate oligosaccharides and structurally controlled polysaccharides to support
glycoscience research; and (ii) to simplify this technology to allow non-glycoscientists to
utilize this technology in a standard biochemistry laboratory setting.
Three specific aims are proposed: Aim 1 is to synthesize a library of structurally defined
heparan sulfate oligosaccharides with a size of up to hexadecasaccharides (16-mers);
Aim 2 is to develop novel chemoenzymatic methods to synthesize chondroitin sulfate
oligosaccharides; Aim 3 is to prepare structurally controlled click heparan sulfates and
chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides.
In Phase I we will demonstrate the feasibility of making a limited number of larger
heparin sulfate and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides and then click these larger
oligosaccharides together to make ultra-large compounds.
In Phase II we will make additional larger compounds and again click these to make
ultra- large oligosaccharides. We will then make “do-it-yourself” ligation kits available
commercially.
We anticipate that this proposal will provide valuable technical advances to
glycoscience research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9829112
- **Project number:** 5R42GM128484-03
- **Recipient organization:** GLYCAN THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Yongmei Xu
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $736,388
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9829112

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9829112, Enzymatic synthesis of heparin sulfate and chondroitin sulfate (5R42GM128484-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9829112. Licensed CC0.

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