Tetraantennary

Tetraantennary is an adjective used in chemistry and biochemistry to describe a molecule that bears four antenna-like substituents or branches extending from a common core. The term is often used in glycoscience to describe a class of highly branched N-linked glycans, as well as in polymer and dendrimer chemistry to denote four-armed architectures.

In the context of N-glycans, tetraantennary refers to complex-type glycans that display four terminal antennae, typically arranged on a common GlcNAc2Man3 core. These four branches arise through sequential action of N-glycan branching enzymes, with MGAT5 (GnT-V) activity key for generating the fourth antenna. The degree of branching (bi-, tri-, tetraantennary) influences glycoprotein conformation and recognition by lectins such as galectins, and is often altered in disease states such as cancer.

Structurally, tetraantennary N-glycans commonly feature terminal sialylation or fucosylation, and they exhibit substantial microheterogeneity due to variations in linkage types and sugar composition on each antenna. Analytical methods such as chromatography and mass spectrometry are used to determine branching patterns. Their presence can affect properties like receptor binding, stability, and clearance of glycoproteins.

Outside glycoscience, tetraantennary describes four-armed architectures used in dendrimer- or polymer-based constructs, where four identical or heterogeneous branches radiate from a central core. The term conveys a topology rather than a specific chemical identity.