p-lactose-N-octasaccharide—the core human milk oligosaccharide in biomedical research CAS: 150517-85-4

p-Lacto-N-octaose (para-Lacto-N-octaose) is one of the important representatives of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and is known as the "smart sugar chain in breast milk". It is not only a key active ingredient in early nutrition and immune development of infants and young children, but also a high value-added functional carbohydrate compound that has attracted much attention in nutritional science, intestinal microbiome research and biopharmaceutical development in recent years.

Chemical Information

Chemical name: para-Lacto-N-octaose

Common name: p-lactose-N-octasaccharide, LNnO

Chemical formula: C₅₄H₉₁N₃O₄₁

Molecular weight: 1438.3 g/mol

CAS number: 150517-85-4

Structural features

p-lactose-N-octasaccharide belongs to the neutral lactose series oligosaccharides and has the following outstanding structural characteristics:

Highly branched octasaccharide structure: It is composed of glucose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine and other units precisely connected through β-1,3/1,4/1,6 glycosidic bonds, forming a complex and ordered spatial conformation.

Receptor-like mimic function: Its terminal structure can simulate cell surface sugar chains and participate in cell recognition, adhesion and signal transduction processes, especially playing a "bait" role in the competitive inhibition of intestinal pathogens.

Good biocompatibility and stability: As a component naturally found in breast milk, it is extremely safe and can resist enzymatic decomposition in the digestive tract environment, reaching the lower intestine to exert prebiotic functions.

Main applications and advantages

1. High-end functional ingredients for infant formula

Promote intestinal health: p-lactose-N-octasaccharide can be used as a prebiotic to selectively promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria, help establish a healthy intestinal microecology for infants and young children, and inhibit the colonization of pathogenic bacteria.

Support immune development: By regulating the function of intestinal immune cells and enhancing the integrity of the intestinal barrier, it helps infants and young children establish early immune protection and reduce the risk of infection and allergies.

Brain and cognitive development support: Recent studies have suggested that some HMOs may support nervous system development through indirect mechanisms (such as anti-inflammation, microbiota regulation).

2. Precision tools for gut microbiome research

Analysis of microbial control mechanism: p-lactose-N-octasaccharide is an ideal substrate for studying the metabolic pathways, glycoside hydrolase characteristics and interaction mechanisms of specific probiotics (such as Bifidobacterium) with the host.

Synthetic microbiome construction: It can be used to design customized prebiotic combinations to guide the directional regulation of bacterial flora in the development of synthetic biology and live bacterial preparations.

3. Candidate molecules for the development of new drugs and health products

Anti-infection strategy: By simulating the binding sites of pathogenic bacteria (such as norovirus, Campylobacter, etc.), blocking the combination of pathogens and intestinal epithelium, and developing carbohydrate drugs to prevent or assist in the treatment of intestinal infections.

Immunomodulator: regulates intestinal-associated lymphoid tissue, potentially used in nutritional intervention for inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic diseases, etc.

Drug delivery and targeting carriers: Utilizing its biorecognition properties, it can be used as a component of delivery systems targeting intestinal cells or specific flora.

4. Biomarkers and diagnostic applications

Intestinal health indicators: The content and proportion of p-lactose-N-octasaccharide in breast milk or infant feces can reflect feeding status, intestinal flora maturity and health status.

Disease-related glycomics: Structural changes in endogenous or exogenous sugar chains can serve as potential biomarkers in specific gastrointestinal diseases or metabolic states.

Conclusion

p-Lactose-N-octasaccharide is not just an oligosaccharide, it is a natural bridge connecting early life nutrition, intestinal microecology and immune health. It is also a key molecule for discovering future precision nutrition and carbohydrate drugs from "breast milk wisdom". Whether it is used for the development of high-end infant and young child nutrition products, the study of intestinal flora mechanisms, or as a lead compound for anti-infection or immunomodulatory drugs, its value is increasingly evident.

The above information is provided by the editor of KASONS and is for scientific research only.