EPO via Total Synthesis

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone involved in the production of red blood cells. Synthetic EPO produced via genetically engineered cell cultures is used to treat anemia and—more controversially—to boost athletic performance. EPO is a glycoprotein, and although its protein component is well defined, both natural and synthetic EPO exhibit a wide range of attached oligosaccharides. Wang et al. (see the Perspective by Hsieh-Wilson and Griffin) prepared an EPO sample by a chemical synthesis that maintains a uniform pattern of attached sugars throughout, which may prove helpful in the analysis of how variation in the sugar components of EPO affects function. P. Wang, S. Dong, J.-H. Shieh, E. Peguero, R. Hendrickson, M. A. S. Moore, S. J. Danishefsky, Erythropoietin derived by chemical synthesis. Science 342 , 1357–1360 (2013). [Abstract][Full Text] L. C. Hsieh-Wilson, M. E. Griffin, Improving biologic drugs via total chemical synthesis. Science 342 , 1332–1333 (2013). [Abstract][Full Text]