Rational design and synthesis of peptide ligands for an anti-Carbohydrate antibody and Their immunochemical characterization Original Research Article

Molecular mimics of carbohydrates present an alternative source of compounds to target pathways involving protein–carbohydrate interactions. Certain peptides act as molecular mimics of carbohydrates in binding to anti-carbohydrate antibodies. A series of potential peptide ligands for the anti-carbohydrate antibody SYA/J6, directed against Shigella flexneri Y, was designed by molecular modeling based on a crystal structure of the antibody complex with a carbohydrate-mimetic peptide. These octapeptides were synthesized using solid-phase peptide synthesis, and their recognition by the antibody was investigated. The results shed light on the nature of peptide–carbohydrate mimicry.