Disclosed herein are glyco-decoy acceptor compositions that sidetrack or inhibit the activity of biosynthetic enzymes participating in synthesis of ligands binding at selectin, galectin and siglecs receptors; methods of their preparation and uses in drug discovery and in treatments of diseases.

Traditional enzyme characterization methods are low-throughput, and therefore limit engineering efforts in synthetic biology and biotechnology. Here we propose a DNA-linked enzyme-coupled assay (DLEnCA) to monitor enzyme reactions in a high-throughput manner. Throughput is improved by removing the need for protein purification and by limiting the need for liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) product detection by linking enzymatic function to DNA modification. DLEnCA is generalizable for many enzymatic reactions, and here we adapt it for glucosyltransferases, methyltransferases, and oxidoreductases. The assay utilizes cell free transcription/translation systems to produce enzymes of interest, while UDP-Glucose and T4-β-glucosyltransferase are used to modify DNA, which is detected post-reaction using qPCR or similar means of DNA analysis. For monitoring methyltransferases, consumption of SAM is observed by coupling to EcoRI methyltransferase. For monitoring oxidoreductases, consumption of NADH is observed by coupling to Taq or E. coli DNA ligase. OleD and two glucosyltransferases from Arabidopsis were used to verify the assay's generality toward glucosyltransferases. Two methyltransferases from human and Arabidopsis were used to verify the assay's generality towards methyltransferases. We show DLEnCA's utility by mapping out the substrate specificity for these enzymes and observing the multiple steps of a biosynthetic pathway.

Disclosed herein are glyco-decoy acceptor compositions that sidetrack or inhibit the activity of biosynthetic enzymes participating in synthesis of ligands binding at selectin, galectin and siglecs receptors; methods of their preparation and uses in drug discovery and in treatments of diseases.

The invention relates to a combination of biomarkers and their use in brain injury or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) detection. The invention also relates to methods of treating the individual diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) using such biomarkers.

Provided are methods of enhancing immunogenicity of cancers. In certain aspects, the methods include administering an effective amount of a sialic acid modulator to an individual identified as having a cancer comprising dysregulated Myc. According to some aspects, the methods include administering an effective amount of a disialyl-T modulator to an individual identified as having a cancer comprising cell surface expression of disialyl-T. In certain aspects, the methods include administering an effective amount of an agent to an individual identified as having a cancer comprising cell surface expression of a glycoprotein comprising an O-glycosylated mucin-like domain, where the agent modulates the glycoprotein. Also provided are methods of assessing whether a cancer of an individual comprises dysregulated Myc.

Glycoproteins having particular sialylation patterns, and methods of making and using such glycoproteins, are described.

The present invention relates to biomarkers, methods and assay kits for predicting prognosis and/or monitoring progression of prostate cancer. The biomarkers include a glycosyltransferases [core 1 beta-3-galactosyltransferase (C1GALT1) and/or ST3 beta-galactoside alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 1 (ST3GAL1)] gene product, its saccharide substrate/product, and/or a galectin-4 gene product.

The invention provides a method for isolating particular members from a library of variant cells in individual microreactors, wherein the phenotype of the biomolecule secreted by the cell is evaluated on the basis of multiple parameters, including substrate specificity and kinetic efficiency.

The present disclosure provides, inter alia, compositions and methods for detecting changes in level of expression of cell-surface Type 2 terminal lactosamines on a population of cultured cells propagated under different conditions. The disclosure also provides compositions and methods for enforcing stably expressed glycans on human cells. In certain embodiments, the compositions and/or methods utilize one or more members of the α(1,3)-fucosyltransferase family. In certain embodiments, glycoengineered CD44 glycosylated product (e.g. HCELL) is stable for at least 48 hours at 4° C., with retained expression after cell cryopreservation.

The present invention is related to the inhibition of the formation of Streptococci biofilms through the inhibition of glucosyl transferase (Gtf). Compounds, compositions and methods for inhibiting Streptococcus biofilm formation, as well as for preventing, inhibiting and/or treating the formation of dental caries, and methods of identifying compounds that prevent, inhibit and/or treat the formation of dental caries are provided.