Versatile Sugars

It is in general little known that carbohydrates also serve as pharmacologically effective components in antiinflammatory processes and in immunostimulation. The chemistry of the carbohydrates and glycobiotechnology are nowadays being applied to a greater extent in the development of novel diagnostics, drugs against carcinomatous metastasis and active substances for bone and cartilage growth.
A research group at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zurich organic chemistry laboratory is working on reactions of sugars that were previously unknown. Their scientific interest extends from the preparation, elucidation and synthesis of substances containing carbohydrates to the influencing of carbohydrate-transforming enzymes. They work with natural and synthetic inhibitors in order to get a better understanding of the mode of action of enzymatic mechanisms.