Elucidating the pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, and developing new methods for its early detection are crucial. In this review, the known relationships between AD and glycans are presented with a particular focus on comprehensive glycan analysis and the roles of specific glycans in AD. Summarizing these studies, the potential development of glycan-targeted diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for AD are discussed. ...and more
This review focuses exclusively on the anticancer effects of D-allose and emphasizes its mechanisms of action, therapeutic benefits, and challenges. As a naturally occurring rare sugar, D-allose has shown promise in modulating cancer cell metabolism, inducing oxidative stress, and influencing immune responses. Preclinical studies have suggested that D-allose exerts anticancer effects by disrupting tumor energy metabolism, promoting oxidative damage, and activating key anticancer signaling pathways. Furthermore, D-allose has been explored for its synergistic potential in enhancing the efficacy of conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Novel therapeutic strategies targeting glucose metabolism within the tumor microenvironment have also been discussed, with D-allose emerging as a promising candidate. ...and more
Wood-based materials that are manufactured from lignocellulosic resources such as wood have attracted attention as environmentally friendly materials. However, in the current manufacturing process, synthetic resin adhesives are used to bond raw materials together. Since synthetic resin adhesives are mainly derived from fossil resources, there is a need to reduce their use in the future. As an alternative, bio-based adhesives manufactured from bio-resources are being actively studied. Our laboratory are developing bio-based adhesives that minimize dependence on fossil resources as much as possible and new adhesive technologies that take advantage of the characteristics of lignocellulose as an adherend. This paper outlines the characteristics of wood-based materials and wood adhesives, and introduces the technology of utilizing sugars for wood adhesive production. ...and more
Polysaccharides consist of a sequence of monosaccharides connected through one or more types of bonds between saccharide units. These polysaccharides are not only known as energy storage molecules or cell wall structural components, but also as bioactive molecules with diverse biological regulatory functions. However, due to their structural complexity, it remains difficult to clarify the detailed functions of polysaccharides. To address this problem, functional analysis with chemically synthesized partial structures has been actively pursued. Among these efforts, attempts have been made to mimic polysaccharide structures by systematically placing monosaccharides or oligosaccharides in polymers. This article focuses on β-glucans, a class of polysaccharides known for their immunostimulating effects and their long-standing use as pharmaceuticals. We mainly present our research findings on the chemical synthesis of β-glucans and the use of polymerization techniques to construct mimetic molecules. ...and more
Antigen glycans provoke acute immune responses due to the prevalence of abundant natural antibodies against these glycans in the body. Therefore, by labeling pathogenic sites with antigen glycans that lead to recruitment of natural antibodies against these glycans and subsequent stimulation of immune responses, diseases can be treated. This innovative therapeutic approach, termed the antibody-recruiting strategy, has attracted substantial attention. This paper introduces recent advancements in this antibody-recruiting strategy, with focus on our research efforts. ...and more
