The crystal structure of a cyclic glycolipid reveals a carbohydrate-carbohydrate interaction interface.

The crystal structure of an amphiphilic macrocycle [Velasco-Torrijos, T.; Murphy, P. V., Tetrahedron: Asymmetry2005, 16, 261-272] derived from saccharides shows extensive hydrogen-bonding networks, including participation of water, that may have relevance for the modelling of carbohydrate-carbohydrate recognition at cell-cell interfaces. The structure may provide a basis for understanding the binding of the macrocycle to hydrophobic probes.