Synthesis, O-GlcNAc Modification, and Potential Applications of N-Acetylglucosamine Derivatives

N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) is a versatile monosaccharide with broad applications in medicine, food, and cosmetics due to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties. Efficient synthesis methods for GlcNAc remain a prominent research focus. O-GlcNAc modification, prevalent in nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins, is of particular interest, especially regarding the catalytic mechanism of the O-GlcNAcase (OGA) enzyme. Enzymatic processes using chitin as a substrate, yield GlcNAc-based oligosaccharides, offering diverse health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antimicrobial effects. This review examines GlcNAc preparation methods, O-GlcNAc modification mechanisms, and the applications of GlcNAc-based oligosaccharides in various fields.