Paving the Way for Practical Use of Sugar-Binding Natural Products as Lectin Mimics in Glycobiological Research.

Pradimicins (PRMs) constitute an exceptional class of natural products that show Ca2+ -dependent recognition of d-mannose (Man). In addition to therapeutic uses as antifungal drugs, the application of PRMs as lectin mimics for glycobiological research has been attracting considerable interest, since the emerging biological roles of Man-containing glycans have been highlighted. However, only a few attempts have been made to use PRMs for glycobiological purposes. The limited use of PRMs is primarily due to the early assumption that the readily modifiable carboxyl group of PRMs is involved in Ca2+ binding, and thus, not available to prepare research tools. Recently, this assumption has been disproved by structural elucidation of the Ca2+ complex of PRMs, which paves the way for designing carboxyl group modified derivatives of PRMs for research use. This article outlines studies related to Ca2+ -mediated Man binding of PRMs and discusses their application for glycobiology.