Abstract:
The elucidation of the protein-carbohydrate interactions is essential for understanding of their
biological functions and is very promising in the design of novel anticancer drugs based on
carbohydrate derivatives. The main goal of this project is the development of simple, sensitive,
rapid, low-cost, and low sample consumption (spectro)electrochemical method suitable for the
detection of weak non-covalent protein-carbohydrate interactions. This project is focused on
galectins and ferrocene or ruthenium arene organometallic galectin ligands, whose synthesis is
a part of the project. Together with the basic (spectro)electrochemical characterization of new
organometallic ligands, interaction studies will be evaluated by standard non-electrochemical
methods. Identified high-affinity inhibitors among the studied ligands will be provided for
following in vitro cytotoxic and antimetastatic tests. New methods and obtained information may
help in the development of novel anticancer drugs or in following research of galectins.