Propargyl-PEG2-beta-D-glucose | CAS 2353409-73-9

Propargyl-PEG2-beta-D-glucose is a glucose-functionalized PEG linker bearing a terminal alkyne, designed for copper-free or copper-enabled click chemistry workflows where an azide partner is used to install the sugar motif onto larger constructs. As a propargylated PEG conjugate, it combines the bioorthogonal handle required for click bioconjugation with the hydrophilic, recognition-relevant beta-D-glucose functionality commonly used to tune solubility, cell-surface targeting, and lectin interactions. This type of reagent is widely applied in glycobiology tool development, surface modification, and imaging probe assembly where controlled attachment of sugar groups is needed.

1. Glycoprotein Labeling

Propargyl-PEG2-beta-D-glucose is used to introduce a defined beta-D-glucose moiety onto azide-bearing proteins and glycoprotein mimics, enabling systematic studies of sugar-dependent binding and uptake pathways. In glycobiology and chemical biology workflows, the PEG spacer helps reduce steric constraints and improves conjugation uniformity, which is valuable when comparing sugar density effects across probe batches. Researchers commonly incorporate this reagent into labeling strategies for lectin-binding assays, carbohydrate microarrays, and engineered glycoprotein standards where reproducible sugar presentation is critical.

2. Cell-Surface Glycan Probes

Propargyl-PEG2-beta-D-glucose supports the construction of azide-functional fluorescent or affinity-tagged probes that display glucose on the cell surface or on cell-mimetic materials. By clicking the alkyne-bearing sugar onto azide-containing imaging handles, laboratories can visualize and quantify glucose-associated interactions in model systems such as cultured cells, organoid-like platforms, and biomaterial interfaces. The PEG2 spacing and hydrophilicity are particularly useful for maintaining probe accessibility while minimizing nonspecific aggregation during labeling and wash steps.

3. Lectin and Affinity Material Engineering

Propargyl-PEG2-beta-D-glucose is frequently employed to functionalize polymer surfaces, hydrogels, and bead-based affinity materials with beta-D-glucose ligands for lectin capture and carbohydrate affinity workflows. Click conjugation allows modular assembly of glucose-functional materials from azide-activated substrates, supporting rapid screening of ligand density and presentation geometry. This approach is used to create reusable affinity reagents for glycomics sample enrichment, lectin-binding characterization, and separation workflows where stable, well-defined carbohydrate presentation improves reproducibility.

4. Molecular Imaging Conjugates

Propargyl-PEG2-beta-D-glucose is used as a sugar-building block for assembling imaging conjugates that require a glucose motif paired with an azide-functional reporter, such as fluorophores or imaging scaffolds. Click-based coupling provides a practical route to generate probe libraries with consistent sugar chemistry while varying the reporter component, which is advantageous for optimizing signal-to-background in experimental imaging setups. The PEG2 linker supports aqueous compatibility and helps maintain probe solubility during labeling, dilution, and storage in typical research reagent handling conditions.