Tumor-Associated Le^x-Le^x Antigen Production Service at CD BioGlyco

Le^x-Le^x antigen is a glycolipid antigen that is usually present on the surface of certain tumor cells and is closely associated with tumor invasion and metastasis. It can be synthesized in cells by specific glycosyltransferases and expressed on tumor cells as a tumor-associated antigen. Therefore, it has great research potential in tumor research. CD BioGlyco has been actively involved in the Development of Carbohydrate-Based Vaccines using our innovative Glyco™ Vaccine Development Platform for several years. We offer our clients a widely recognized tumor-associated Le^x-Le^x antigen production service. Here is one of the synthesis routes we employ:

• We first synthesize the galactose-N-acetylglucosamine disaccharide unit. The synthesized galactose and N-acetylglucosamine are linked by condensation reaction.
• Subsequently, we proceed to synthesize Le^x oligosaccharides. These residues, found in Le^x saccharides, typically consist of three or four galactose molecules and one glucose molecule. Various methods, including chemical and enzymatic synthesis, are employed to produce these units.
• Afterward, we attach Le^x oligosaccharide residues to the galactose-N-acetylglucosaminoglycan disaccharide unit and repeat the above operation to synthesize a second Le^x glycosyl molecule.
• Finally, we connect two Le^x glycosyl molecules using a linker, such as introducing a disulfide bond that links the two molecules.

Fig.1 Flowchart of the synthesis of Le^x-Le^x antigen. (CD BioGlyco)

Le^x-Le^x antigen is an important tumor-associated antigen. Several studies have shown that the synthesis of Le^x-Le^x antigen into peptide vaccines can enhance the immune effect and improve anti-tumor activity. Therefore, we use the tumor-specific antigens as immunogens for vaccine design and preparation to provide anti-tumor vaccine development service.

Applications

• Le^x-Le^x antigen can be used by researchers as a target to explore its potential for developing strategies to inhibit tumor metastasis.
• Detecting changes in Le^x-Le^x antigen levels in body fluid samples helps physicians screen for tumors and assess disease progression. Therefore, Le^x-Le^x antigen can be used for the development and optimization of these assays.
• Le^x-Le^x antigen has potential applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Researchers are exploring combining Le^x-Le^x antigen with other biomaterials to improve the shaping and repair of artificial tissues.

Frequently Asked Question

• What is the structure of the Le^x-Le^x antigen?

Le^x-Le^x antigen is a disaccharide consisting of two molecules of beta-galactose linked together. Its chemical formula is Galβ1-4GlcNAc, where Gal stands for galactose and GlcNAc stands for N-acetylglucosamine. The structure of Le^x-Le^x antigen may vary depending on cell type, individual differences, and other factors, however, the basic Galβ1-4GlcNAc structure is a central feature.

Fig.2 Proposed extended epitope recognized by SH2 in conformation I of the dimeric Le^x hexasaccharide. (Jegatheeswaran, et al., 2020)

At CD BioGlyco, our flexible platform offers a range of different routes for the tumor-associated Le^x-Le^x antigen production service, including full chemical synthesis, semi-synthesis, and post-glycosylation strategies. This allows us to tailor our approach to suit the specific needs of your research or drug development program. For further details, please feel free to contact us.

Reference

1. Jegatheeswaran, S.; et al. Recognition of dimeric Lewis X by anti-dimeric Le^x antibody SH2. Vaccines. 2020, 8(3): 538.