Synthetic glycopolypeptides as potential inhibitory agents for dendritic cells and HIV-1 trafficking

Abstract

Multivalent binding is a key for many critical biological processes and unique recognition and specificity in binding enables many of different glycans and proteins to work in a great harmony within the human body. In this study, the binding kinetics of synthetic glycopolypeptides to the dendritic cell lectin DC-SIGN and their inhibition potential for DC-SIGN interactions with the gp120 envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 (gp120) are investigated. Synthetic glycopolymers and glycopolypeptides interact with lectins, which have a major role in biology. Here, the binding properties of glycopolypeptides and dendritic cell lectin, DC-SIGN, are investigated. Moreover, these structures effectively inhibit the binding between HIV glycoprotein, gp120, and DC-SIGN based on a detailed surface plasmon resonance study. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.