RGD-xyloside conjugates prime glycosaminoglycans.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) play decisive roles in various cardio-vascular & cancer-associated processes. Changes in the expression of GAG fine structures, attributed to deregulation of their biosynthetic and catabolic enzymes, are hallmarks of vascular dysfunction and tumor progression. The wide spread role of GAG chains in blood clotting, wound healing and tumor biology has led to the development of modified GAG chains, GAG binding peptides and GAG based enzyme inhibitors as therapeutic agents. Xylosides, carrying hydrophobic aglycone, are known to induce GAG biosynthesis in various systems. Given the important roles of GAG chains in vascular and tumor biology, we envision that RGD-conjugated xylosides could be targeted to activated endothelial and cancer cells, which are known to express α(v)β(3) integrin, and thereby modulate the pathological processes. To accomplish this vision, xylose residue was conjugated to linear and cyclic RGD containing peptides using click chemistry. Our results demonstrate that RGD-conjugated xylosides are able to prime GAG chains in various cell types, and future studies are aimed toward evaluating potential utility of such xylosides in treating myocardial infarction as well as cancer-associated thrombotic complications.