mannose-specific interactions

Methyl α-D-mannopyranoside (α-Methyl-D-mannoside) is a methyl glycoside derivative and conformational stabilizer of α-D-mannopyranose. The glycosidic bond conformation of Methyl α-D-mannopyranoside is significantly affected by the environment. In aqueous solution, Methyl α-D-mannopyranoside stabilizes into a trans conformation via intermolecular hydrogen bonds; in the gas phase, however, steric interactions drive Methyl α-D-mannopyranoside to prefer a clockwise gauche conformation. Methyl α-D-mannopyranoside also serves as a major component of secondary cell wall polymers in some bacteria and an active precursor site for virus-targeted glycoproteins. Methyl α-D-mannopyranoside acts as an acceptor substrate for alternansucrase, mediating the transfer of D-glucopyranosyl groups to generate a variety of glycosylated oligosaccharide products, with methyl α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-mannopyranoside as the main component. Methyl α-D-mannopyranoside is applicable to studies on bacterial pathogenic mechanisms associated with mannose-specific fimbrial lectins .