A Chemical Biology Approach toward Understanding the Roles of Carbohydrates in Neuroplasticity

The field of chemical neurobiology is rapidly evolving and providing insights into the molecules and interactions involved in neuronal development, sensory perception, and memory storage. We will describe the development of new synthetic methods and chemical tools to understand how glycosaminoglycans contribute to neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to adapt and form new neural connections. By combining synthetic organic chemistry, computational chemistry, cell biology, and in vivo biology, we have shown that specific sulfation motifs found within glycosaminoglycan polysaccharides regulate signaling events that underlie processes such as axon regeneration, synaptic plasticity, and the formation of neural circuits.