Exploring neoglycoprotein assembly through native chemical ligation using neoglycopeptide thioesters prepared via N-->S acyl transfer.

Sugars and simplified oligosaccharide "mimics" can be joined with protein fragments at pre-defined sites using reliable chemical reactions such as thiol alkylation and Cu(I) catalysed azide/acetylene ligation (click chemistry). These fragments have the potential to be assembled into neoglycoprotein therapeutics using native chemical ligation.