The GlyTECH project is conducting research into glycans obtained from marine macroalgae and processing them to produce new biomolecules of biomedical interest, while also working on developing the knowledge required for the future development of diagnostic tools, active ingredients and therapeutic strategies.
GAIKER, a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), is taking part in GlyTECH – Marine Glycobiotechnology Applied to Human Health, a fundamental collaborative research project coordinated by the AZTI Marine and Food Research Centre, and funded by the Basque Government through the ELKARTEK 2025 programme. The aim of the project is to improve our understanding of marine glycans, their structure, processing and biological activity, so that we can then look into new biotechnological applications in the field of human health.
Glycans are biomolecules that play an essential role in a number of cellular processes, including communication, signalling and recognition mechanisms. Their involvement in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes has made glycobiology an area of growing interest in terms of identifying biomarkers and developing new therapeutic strategies, particularly in fields such as cancer, immune-related diseases, infections and neurodegenerative disorders.
In this context, the polysaccharides found in brown macroalgae, such as fucoidan, laminarin and alginates, are of particular interest due to the diversity of their structures and the various biological activities reported for these biomolecules, including their antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-tumour, anticoagulant and antithrombotic properties. These properties can vary significantly depending on characteristics such as the composition, structure, molecular weight or degree of sulphation of the glycans.
GlyTECH is looking to conduct in-depth research into the relationship between the structure of these biomolecules and their biological function. To this end, the project is studying the controlled processing of marine glycans using enzymatic tools, with the aim of obtaining oligosaccharides with a more defined structure and analysing how these transformations alter their properties and biological activity. The project is tackling two major technological challenges. On the one hand, the aim is to develop enzymatic tools and genetic engineering strategies that will make it possible to selectively process marine glycans and produce molecules with defined structural characteristics. On the other, it aims to characterise the interaction of these glycans and the oligosaccharides derived from their processing with biological systems, with a view to better understanding their mechanisms of action and identifying the structures of greatest biomedical interest.
The research is structured around four complementary activities focusing on functionalising and characterising marine glycans with biomedical potential, developing multifunctional enzymes to process them, studying marine enzyme systems, and applying genetic engineering tools to understand and optimise the transformation of these biomolecules.
GAIKER is involved in three of these activities and is co-leading the one dedicated to applying genetic engineering tools to process bioactive glycans together with the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). In this field, the Technology Centre will produce strains of marine bacteria with specific genes inactivated (knock-outs) to confirm how enzymes involved in breaking down and transforming marine glycans function. This approach will make it possible to identify which enzymes are involved in specific hydrolysis processes and gain a better understanding of how oligosaccharides with different structural characteristics are formed.
GAIKER is also involved in the biological characterisation of glycans and oligosaccharides obtained through enzymatic processing. To this end, human cell models will be used to assess their safety and study various bioactivities of interest to health.
These activities will include studying their immunomodulatory potential, analysing the interaction of marine glycans and their derivatives with immune system cells, and evaluating the cellular mechanisms involved in the response to these biomolecules, among others. Overall, this work will help to establish links between the structure of the oligosaccharides obtained, their processing and their biological activity, thereby making it easier to identify the most promising candidates for future biomedical applications.
Also involved in the GlyTECH project, led by AZTI, are the Biobizkaia Health Research Institute, the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and GAIKER, bringing together complementary expertise in marine biotechnology, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology and nanotechnology. This collaboration will make it possible to improve our understanding of marine glycans and their mechanisms of action, and explore new opportunities for applying them in biomedicine, thereby strengthening the Basque Country’s scientific and biotechnological capabilities.
Project funded by the Basque Government