Pegylation and Glycosylation

Pegylation and glycosylation are biochemical processes used to improve the therapeutic function of a protein. Typically, the PEG moiety or the glycosylic moiety offers advantages for increasing the protein’s solubility, stability and circulating half-life (residence time).

Two biochemical methods are commonly used to improve the in-vivo function of the therapeutic proteins. Pegylation, in which a functional group (primary amine) on a protein is reacted with a polyethyleneglycol polymer (PEG) to form a protein–PEG conjugate. Glycosylation, in which a carbohydrate (glycosyl donor) is attached to the hydroxyl (o-linked) or amino group (N-linked) of a protein.