Ac4GlcNAlk | CAS 1361993-37-4

Ac4GlcNAlk is a cell-permeable, acetylated glucose-derivative designed for bioorthogonal labeling workflows that rely on click chemistry. The reagent incorporates an azide-functionalized sugar handle and an alkene/alkyne-reactive motif for subsequent conjugation steps, making it well suited to metabolic glycoengineering and downstream tagging of glycoconjugates. In research settings, Ac4GlcNAlk is commonly used to introduce clickable sugar moieties into cellular and biomolecular contexts, enabling visualization, affinity enrichment, and material surface functionalization using established click-compatible chemistries.

1. Metabolic Glycan Labeling

Ac4GlcNAlk is widely used in metabolic glycoengineering to install clickable sugar functionalities into glycans and glycoproteins produced by cultured cells. Researchers use this approach to generate azide/alkene-reactive glycan-bearing biomolecules that can be selectively tagged for imaging, proteomic enrichment, or pathway studies. The acetylated design supports intracellular uptake and processing, which helps produce labeled glycoconjugates suitable for subsequent click-based derivatization in complex biological mixtures.

2. Imaging And Tracking Probes

Ac4GlcNAlk enables the preparation of fluorescent or affinity-tagged probes by providing a clickable sugar handle that can be conjugated to reporters after cellular labeling. Molecular imaging and microscopy workflows often use this strategy to map glycan distribution, monitor changes in glycosylation patterns, and track labeled biomolecules through experimental pipelines. Because the labeling is introduced through metabolic incorporation, the resulting conjugates are compatible with downstream click reactions that attach dyes, handles for enrichment, or imaging-compatible scaffolds.

3. Glycoproteomics Enrichment

Ac4GlcNAlk is used to support glycoproteomics and glycan-focused proteomics by introducing a modular click handle into glycans prior to enrichment and analysis. After incorporation, the clickable moiety can be used to attach affinity tags that facilitate capture of glycoproteins or glycopeptide fractions from lysates. This workflow is valuable for increasing the detectability of glycosylated targets and for improving selectivity in mass spectrometry sample preparation, where enrichment of labeled glyco-species is a critical step.

4. Surface Functionalization Materials

Ac4GlcNAlk is also applied in biomaterials and surface chemistry contexts where clickable sugar motifs are used to create functional coatings and bioactive interfaces. Researchers and materials teams employ Ac4GlcNAlk-derived clickable handles to enable post-functionalization through click-compatible conjugation to polymers, hydrogels, and patterned surfaces. These material platforms are commonly developed for studying cell-material interactions, constructing carbohydrate-presenting surfaces, and generating modular interfaces for further chemical assembly in research-grade device fabrication.