GlyTECH

Context

Glycans are essential biomolecules in human health, involved in key processes such as cell communication, signalling and recognition, as well as in the development and progression of various diseases. Against this backdrop, glycoscience has emerged as a rapidly expanding field of research, playing a strategic role in the development of biomarkers and personalised therapies for cancer, immune, infectious and neurodegenerative diseases.

Despite their importance, research into glycans has progressed more slowly than research into other macromolecules, mainly due to technological limitations that have hindered their identification, structural characterisation and functional analysis. However, recent advances in analytical techniques and omics technologies are significantly accelerating innovation in glycobiology, making it a priority area of research internationally.

At the same time, the bioprospecting of new drugs from sustainable natural resources is expanding into the field of glycomedicine. In this context, marine glycans, particularly those derived from brown macroalgae, stand out for their broad range of bioactive properties (including antioxidant, antitumour, immunomodulatory, anticoagulant and antithrombotic activities). However, their effective transfer to the pharmaceutical industry is limited by the lack of knowledge about their structure and mechanisms of action.

The GlyTECH project was created to address this scientific and technological need, with the aim of generating advanced knowledge in marine glycobiology applied to health and opening up new opportunities for biotechnology companies, particularly within the Basque Bioregion, building on the maturity achieved in previous consortium projects and the synergies between the participating teams.

Objectives

The overall objective of GlyTECH is to advance knowledge and facilitate the transfer of bioactive marine glycans as potential therapeutic agents through the development of advanced biotechnological tools.

More specifically, the project aims to:

1. Characterise, in terms of activity, specificity and structure, families of multifunctional marine glycoenzymes capable of processing bioactive marine polysaccharides.
2. Explore the existence of cellular multienzyme nanocomplexes in marine bacteria that increase the efficiency of glycan hydrolysis.
3. Develop genetic engineering tools for the co-expression of enzymatic activities, the assessment of their function and the production of glycans with defined structures.
4. Generate functionalised marine glycans to enable analysis of the glycan–protein interactome and improve understanding of their mechanisms of action.
5. Analyse the structure and bioactivity of marine oligosaccharides with immunomodulatory, antitumour and antimicrobial potential, with a view to their future incorporation into pharmaceutical developments.

Expected impact

GlyTECH will significantly advance marine glycobiology applied to health, generating scientific, technological and socioeconomic impact, including:

• New knowledge on the structure, specificity and function of multifunctional marine enzymes with high biotechnological potential.
• Development of functionalised marine glycans with biotechnological and biomedical applications, with a view to protecting results through patents.
• Improved understanding of the mechanisms of action of marine glycans with antitumour, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity, laying the foundations for future therapeutic developments.
• Generation of biotechnological tools and recombinant strains applicable to bioprocesses and the study of key metabolic pathways.
• Knowledge transfer, fostering agreements with biotechnology companies, protection of research results and the creation of new business initiatives.
• Strengthening the consortium’s international position in the field of marine glycobiology through high-impact scientific publications.

Funding