Synthesis of undecaprenyl pyrophosphate-linked glycans as donor substrates for bacterial protein N-glycosylation

Synthesis of undecaprenyl pyrophosphate (Und-PP)-linked glycans is described. Bacterial (E]₃,Z]₇)-undecaprenol was synthesized from trans-geranylgeranyl sulfone and isoprenoid building blocks, which was converted to undecaprenyl phosphate (Und-P). It was coupled with glycosyl phosphates to afford Und-PP-linked glycans, including core trisaccharide of Campylobacter jejuni N-glycan. Our synthetic method for Und-PP-linked glycan would provide various substrates as a useful tool for systematic analysis of bacterial protein N-glycosylation.