Chemoenzymatic approaches to explore polysaccharide structure-property relationships

Polysaccharides are carbohydrate architectures containing multiple units of common monosaccharide precursors that are assembled into linear and branched chains where they constitute around 80% of biomass. They provide essential structural roles, aggregating into well-defined systems with different, ultimate physical properties. There is a current global necessity to develop and supply biocompatible, cheap and renewable materials for application across a multitude of industrial sectors.

Polysaccharides satisfy much of these material requirements, but this is predicated by a need to first fully understand their higher structural architecture underpinning to their physicochemical, biomaterial properties.

In contrast to the situation with nucleic acids and proteins, polysaccharide architectures are not template-encoded and they are not under direct genomic control. Hence, we currently have no 'code' or 'tool-kit' with which to understand and manipulate polysaccharide materials. A strategy to circumvent this is to provide a controlled access to defined oligosaccharides.

These materials can then be subjected to in depth structural and functional analysis, to learn the rules that control and drive higher order assemblies in polysaccharides.

This project will involve the design and assembly of oligosaccharide fragments using chemical and enzymatic methods. You will be involved in conceiving and synthesising defined oligosaccharide sequences which will be utilised in conjunction with the industrial partner, Unilever, to perform physicochemical and functionality screening.