Mini symposium : France-Japan cooperation "SWEET RENDEZ-VOUS"

PROGRAM:

Monday 1 June 
14:30 - 15:00 : Ms. Rin Sotani (PhD student, Yamagata University)

Title: Efficient Conversion of Biomass-Derived Materials via Heterogeneous Catalysis and the Development of Novel Engineering Plastics Incorporating Natural-Based Monomers

Abstract: Biomass materials have emerged as alternatives to fossil resources for the realization of a sustainable society. To date, the presenter has investigated AuPd heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of glucosaminic acid (GlcNA) from glucosamine hydrochloride (GlcN-HCl), and Ir heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of dodecanol from dodecanoic acid, aiming at the efficient conversion of bio-derived compounds. In this presentation, the catalytic reaction systems and their findings will be introduced, along with an overview of our recent research on the development of novel engineering plastics incorporating natural-based monomers.

15:00-16:00 : Prof. Atsushi Narumi (Professor, Yamagata University)

Title: Glucose-Pheophorbide Conjugates for Advanced PDT Photosensitizers. Synthesis via Ugi Reaction and Cyclodextrin Inclusion

Abstract: HPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) is regarded as a promising minimally invasive treatment for cancer, whereas the performance of currently used PDT photosensitizers still requires improvement. Among various approaches, carbohydrate-conjugated chlorin derivatives have been recognized as strong candidates for advanced targeted PDT photosensitizers. Herein, we report recent results from our laboratory on the one-pot synthesis of glucose-conjugated pheophorbide (Glc-Phe) via the Ugi four-component reaction. In this study, host–guest chemistry was applied to further improve the PDT performance of Glc-Phe. Specifically, cyclodextrin (CD) inclusion complexes of Glc-Phe (Glc-Phe-CD) were prepared, and their PDT activities were investigated..
 

Tuesday 2 June 

10:30-11:30 :  Prof. Nozomi Ishii (Gunma University)

Title: Development of A Novel Assay System for Endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidases Through Chemical Synthesis

Abstract:  Endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidases (ENGases) are glycoside hydrolases that cleave β1-4 glycosidic bonds within the N, N-diacetylchitobiose structure of asparagine-linked glycans. ENGases are valuable tools for both the structural analysis of glycoprotein glycans and chemoenzymatic glycan engineering of antibodies. In this study, we developed a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)- based assay system using chemically synthesized glycan probes to facilitate the efficient detection of ENGase activity. Using these FRET probes, we evaluated the enzymatic activities and substrate specificities of ENGases from various sources. Our results demonstrate that reactivity toward these probes reflects each enzyme's substrate specificity.

Contact: Issei Otsuka (issei.otsukacermav.cnrs.fr (issei[dot]otsuka[at]cermav[dot]cnrs[dot]fr))