Thermal decomposition of β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-hexopyranoses under neutral conditions

β-d-Galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose (LNB) and β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-galactose (GNB) decompose rapidly upon heating into d-galactose and mono-dehydrated derivatives of the corresponding 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-hexoses, including 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-hex-2-enofuranoses and bicyclic 2-acetamido-3,6-anhydro-2-deoxy-hexofuranoses. The decomposition is conducted under neutral conditions where glycosyl linkages are generally believed to be stable. The half-lives of LNB and GNB were 8.1 min and 20 min, respectively, at 90 °C and pH 7.5. The pH dependency of decomposition rates suggests that the instabilities are an extension of the conditions for the peeling reaction, often observed with glycans of O-linked glycoproteins under alkaline conditions. Such decomposition under the neutral conditions is commonly observed with 3-O-linked reducing aldoses.     

Preparation of regioselectively feruloylated p-nitrophenyl α-l-arabinofuranosides and β-d-xylopyranosides—convenient substrates for study of feruloyl esterase specificity

p-Nitrophenyl α-l-arabinofuranoside and β-d-xylopyranoside mono-O-ferulates were prepared by 4-O-acetylferuloylation of corresponding enzymatically prepared di-O-acetates followed by deacetylation. An alternative mild acylation catalysed by zinc oxide was tested on xylopyranoside derivatives. The chemoselective methanolysis of the acetyl groups using neutral catalyst dibutyltin oxide at reflux was used as deacetylation method. Under these conditions a significant feruloyl migration was observed mainly on p-nitrophenyl 3-O-feruloyl-β-d-xylopyranoside resulting in low yields of the positional isomers. Investigation of substrate and positional specificity of different types of feruloyl esterases on the presented compounds in enzyme-coupled assays was reported previously.     

Synthesis of 3-azido-3-deoxy-β-d-galactopyranosides

Three efficient routes to 3-azido-3-deoxy-β-d-galactopyranosides were developed relying on a double inversion protocol at C3. Two of the routes were demonstrated to work with both O- and S-glycosides. In all three routes, the 2-O-acetyl-3-azido-4,6-O-benzylidene-3-deoxy-β-d-galactopyranosides were obtained by an azide inversion of the key intermediates 2-O-acetyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-trifluoromethanesulfonyl-β-d-gulopyranosides. The intermediate gulopyranosides were in turn obtained from 2-O-acetyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-trifluoromethanesulfonyl-β-d-galactopyranosides, installed in one pot from the 4,6-O-benzylidene-β-d-galactopyranosides, by inversion with nitrite or acetate. For O-glycosides, the gulopyranoside configuration could alternatively be obtained from the 4,6-O-benzylidene-β-d-galactopyranoside by elimination to give the 2,3-dianhydro derivative followed by a highly stereoselective cis-dihydroxylation.     

Purification and some properties of a (1→4)-β-d-glucan glucohydrolase associated with the cellulase from the fungus Penicillium funiculosum

The (1→4)-β-d-glucan glucohydrolase from Penicillium funiculosum cellulase was purified to homogeneity by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and by iso-electric focusing. The purified component, which had a molecular weight of 65,000 and a pI of 4.65, showed activity on H₃PO₄-swollen cellulose, o-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside, cellobiose, cellotriose, cellotetraose, and cellopentaose, the K_m values being 172 mg/mL, and 0.77, 10.0, 0.44, 0.77, and 0.37 mm, respectively. d-Glucono-1,5-lactone was a powerful inhibitor of the action of the enzyme on o-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside (K_i 2.1 μm), cellobiose (K_i 1.95 μm), and cellotriose (K_i 7.9 μm) [cf.d-glucose (K_i 1756 μm)]. On the basis of a Dixon plot, the hydrolysis of o-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside appeared to be competitively inhibited by d-glucono-1,5-lactone. However, inhibition of hydrolysis by d-glucose was non-competitive, as was that for the gluconolactone-cellobiose and gluconolactone-cellotriose systems. Sophorose, laminaribiose, and gentiobiose were attacked at different rates, but the action on soluble O-(carboxymethyl)cellulose was minimal. The enzyme did not act in synergism with the endo-(1→4)-β-d-glucanase component to solubilise highly ordered cotton cellulose, a behaviour which contrasts with that of the other exo-(1→4)-β-d-glucanase found in the same cellulase, namely, the (1→4)-β-d-glucan cellobiohydrolase.     

(1→4)-α-d-glucan phosphorylase [(1→4)-α-d-glucan:orthophosphate glucosyltransferase] isoenzymes from sweet corn seed embryo

The presence of multiple forms of phosphorylase [(1→4)-α-d-glucan:orthophosphate glucosyltransferase] in sugary maize seeds was demonstrated by polyacrylamide-gel-disc electrophoresis. The patterns of phosphorylase isoenzymes from immature and from germinating seeds were different. Most of the isoenzymes from embryo of germinated seeds precipitated at an ammonium sulfate concentration above 45% of saturation. The most cathodic band of the zymograms appeared on the third day of germination, then disappeared. This form of phosphorylase occurred only in the embryo of germinating seeds and it was absent both in the immature embryo and in the endosperm at any stage of development. The slow-moving embryo isoenzyme was purified through chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Its kinetic properties and enlargement mechanism were studied.     

Kinetics of interaction of some α- and β-D-monosaccharides with concanavalin A

The rates of formation and dissociation of concanavalin A with some 4-methylumbelliferyl and p-nitrophenyl derivatives of α- and β-D-mannopyranosides and glucopyranosides were measured by fluorescence and spectral stopped-flow methods. All process examined were uniphasic. The second-order formation rate constants varied only from 6.8 · 10⁴ to 12.8 · 10⁴ M^?. s^?1, whereas the first-order dissociation rate constants ranged from 4.1. to 220 s^?1, all at ph 5.0, I = 0.3 M, and 25°C. Dissociation rates thus controlled the value of binding constant. The effect of temperature on these reactions was examined, from which enthalpies and entropies of activation and of reaction could be calculated. The effects of pH at 25°C on the reaction rates of 4-methylumbelliferyl α-D-mannopyranoside and 4-methylumbelliferyl α-D-glucopyranoside with concanavalin A were examined. The value of the binding constant K_ap (derived from the kinetics) at any pH could be related to the intrinsic binding constant K by the expression K_ap = K_aK(K_a + [H⁺])^?1. The values of K_a, the ionization constant of the protein segment responsive to sugar binding, were 3 · 10^?4 M and 1 · 10^?4 M for 4-methylumbelliferyl α-D-mannopyranoside and 4-methylumbelliferyl α-D-glucopyranoside, respectively. The binding constant of p-nitrophenyl α-D-mannopyranoside is surprisingly much less sensitive to a pH change from 5.0 to 2.7. Ionic strength had little effect on the binding characteristics of 4-methylumbelliferyl α-D-mannopyranoside to concanavalin A at pH 5.2 and 25°C.     

Purification and some properties of steryl β-d-glucoside hydrolase from Sinapis alba seedlings

Homogenates of 7-day-old S. alba seedlings hydrolysed cholesteryl[4-H¹⁴C] β-d-glucoside or sitosteryl β-d-glucoside-[6-³H]. Activity was located predominantly in the cell membrane structures sedimenting at 1000–15 000 g and was solubilized by acetone treatment. Partially purified enzyme preparation, with an about 1500 times higher specific activity with respect to the crude homogenate, was obtained by repeated acetone precipitation and subsequent chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and Sephadex G-100. During this procedure a considerable separation from other enzymes with β-glucosidase activity was achieved. The enzyme had MW 65 000 daltons, pH optimum at 5.2–5.6. Two observations suggested that the enzyme was a specific steryl β-d-glucoside hydrolase. Firstly, there was no substrate competition between steryl glucosides and several other β-d-glucosides. Secondly, enzyme activity wasstrongly inhibited by low concentrations of various 3β-OH sterols with a planar ring system and an intact side chain.     

Synthesis and characterization of propyl O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-d-galactopyranoside

Allyl 4-O-(4-O-acetyl-2-O-benzoyl-3,6-di-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-2-O-benzoyl-3,6-di-O-benzyl-α-d- galactopyranoside was O-deallylated to give the 1-hydroxy derivative, and this was converted into the corresponding 1-O-(N-phenylcarbamoyl) derivative, treatment of which with dry HCl produced the α-d-galactopyranosyl chloride. This was converted into the corresponding 2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulfonate, which was coupled to allyl 2-O-benzoyl-3,6-di-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranoside, to give crystalline allyl 4-O-[4-O-(4-O-acetyl-2-O-benzoyl-3,6-di-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-2-O-benzoyl-3,6-di- O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl]-2-O-benzoyl-3,6-di-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranoside (15) in 85% yield, no trace of the α anomer being found. The trisaccharide derivative 15 was de-esterified with 2% KCN in 95% ethanol, and the product O-debenzylated with H₂-Pd, to give the unprotected trisaccharide. Alternative sequences are discussed.     

Configurational and conformational studies on some benzylidene derivatives of d-ribose and di-β-d-ribofuranose 1,5′:1′,5-dianhydride

Benzylidenation of D-ribose under diverse conditions yields a variety of products, most of which are formed as mixtures of diastereoisomers. The conformations assumed by the furanose rings in the 2,3-O-benzylidene-β-D-ribose derivatives are discussed in relation to the coupling constants obtained by comparing the experimental and computed n.m.r. spectra.     

Vacuum ultraviolet circular dichroism of (1 → 6)-β-d-glucan

V.u.c.d. spectra recorded for freshly prepared aqueous solutions of (1 → 6)-β)-D-glucan(pustulan) contained a single positive band near 177 nm. This band was similar in position and magnitude to the single positive band observed in the spectrum of (1 → 6)-α-D-glucan (dextran). Pustulan solutions (20 mg/ml) were observed to gel with time at 10 C. Concurrently, a negative band at 190 nm developed in the pustulan v.u.c.d. spectrum followed by a blue shift of both bands with continued aging. Crystalline films of pustulan yield spectra which resembled the blue shifted spectra of aged gels. The time dependent development of the negative band was attributed to pustulan attaining a helical conformation in solution, and the blue shift to aggregation of helices, Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ were found to accelerate gelation presumably by decreasing the activity of the aqueous solvent.     

Fine structure of (1→3)-β-d-glucans: curdlan and paramylon

Paramylon, a natural (1→3)-β-d-glucan found in Euglena gracilis, and curdlan, a “regenerated” (1→3)-β-d-glucan found in Alcaligenes faecalis, have been studied. Differences in chemical and physical properties are compared to each other and it is concluded that this system is a “native-regenerated” pair just as the well known “native cellulose-regenerated cellulose” system. X-Ray diffraction and density measurements indicate for paramylon a very high level of crystallinity, approaching 90%, whereas curdlan powder is only 30% crystalline. The effect of hydrolytic treatment on the crystallinity of the different samples shows the same trends as for cellulosic materials. From the negative birefringence of annealed fibers and positive birefringence of the paramylon granules, a tangential disposition of the chains in the granules may be concluded. Microfibril formation from curdlan precipitated from solution is in line with a proposed triple-helical structure for the crystalline form of this polysaccharide.     

A novel synthesis of β-d-mannopyranosyl azide by phase transfer catalysis

A simple stereoselective synthesis of per-O-benzoyl-β-d-mannopyranosyl azide from per-O-benzoyl-α-d-mannopyranosyl bromide using phase transfer catalysis was developed. The stereochemistry at C-1 of the anomeric O-benzoylated α- and β-d-mannopyranosyl azides was unambiguously established using 2D NOESY NMR spectroscopy. Pure deprotected β-d-mannopyranosyl azide was prepared by debenzoylation with sodium methoxide in methanol.     

Formation of supported phospholipid bilayers via co-adsorption with β-d-dodecyl maltoside

We have investigated the formation of supported model membranes via the adsorption of phospholipid-surfactant mixtures at the Si-water interface by specular neutron reflection. The adsorption of mixed micelles of the nonionic surfactant β-d-dodecyl maltoside and DOPC or POPC was determined as a function of bulk concentration, and using d₂₅-β-d-dodecyl maltoside, the composition of DOPC and POPC bilayers was determined. Bilayer thicknesses of 39±3 Å for DOPC and 41±3 Å for POPC agree well with data from bulk lamellar phases for both lipids, and the average area per lipid molecule can be varied from 62 to 115 Ų by varying the bulk concentrations used. The amount of surfactant in the bilayer is very sensitive to the bulk volume-to-surface area ratio, but it can be fully eliminated by ensuring a sufficiently large dilution/rinsing volume of the solution.     

The dependence of the conformation of a (1→3)-β-D-glucan on chain-length in alkaline solution

(1→3)-β-D-Glucans of various degrees of polymerization were prepared by degradation of a gel-forming D-glucan with formic acid. The degraded D-glucans were separated into a water-soluble fraction (soluble D-glucan) and an insoluble fraction (insoluble D-glucan). Both D-glucans were further fractionated. The optical rotation including determination of the o.r.d. curves of the fractions and of the original gel-forming D-glucans was measured at various sodium hydroxide concentrations (0–5M). The results indicate that (1→3)-β-D-glucans of $\text{DP}$n below ca. 25 (the soluble D-glucan) took a disordered form in both neutral and alkaline solutions, whereas the D-glucans of higher $\text{DP}$n (the insoluble and the original D-glucans) took an ordered structure in dilute alkaline solution (0.1M). The proportion of ordered structure in the insoluble D-glucan increases with $\text{DP}$n to attain a maximum value at a $\text{DP}$n of around 200; this may be the lower limit of $\text{DP}$n to permit gel formation in neutral media. The formation of complexes with Congo Red in alkaline solutions by the soluble and the insoluble D-glucans supports the same conclusions.     

The crystal and molecular structure of a 3:2 mixture of laminarabiose and O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-glucopyranose

The crystal and molecular structure of a 3:2 mixture of laminarabiose and 3-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranose has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal belongs to the monoclinic system, space group P2, a 14.778(1), b 4.794(1), c 10.516(1) Å and β 98.10(1)^c, Dm 1.54 g. cm^-3, Z 2. The structure was solved by the direct method and refined by the block-diagonal, least-squares procedure to R 0.057 for 1034 observed reflections. Difference synthesis showed all hydrogen atoms and indicated a partial (～39%), random substitution of the β anomer molecules by the α anomer molecules, which are accompanied by water molecules on the crystallographic two-fold axis (～19%). The molecule shows a conformation, different from the fully-extended one, which is stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen-bond between O-1-H and O-5 [2.786(7) Å]. The ring-to-ring conformation can be described as (Φ, Ψ)=(27.9·–37.5·), according to the definition of Sathyanarayana and Rao, and it is located in the comparatively low-energy region of the energy-contour diagram of laminarabiose. Four intermolecular hydrogen-bonds hold molecules together to form infinite sheets, which are approximately parallel to the ab-plane and linked by additional hydrogen-bonds in the c-direction.     

Preparation of 1,6-anhydro-3,4-dideoxy-β-D-glycero-hex-3-enopyranos-2-ulose (levoglucosenone) and some derivatives thereof

1,6-Anhydro-3,4-dideoxy-β-D-glycero-hex-3-enopyranos-2-ulose (levoglucosenone) was prepared on a laboratory scale by pyrolysis of H₃PO₄-treated, Kraft waste-paper. The aldehyde components of the pyrolyzate were removed by reaction with 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione (dimedone), and levoglucosenone was obtained in 3.3% yield by distillation of the remaining material. A variety of deoxy, keto, and branched-chain sugars was obtained by reduction of levoglucosenone, and by its reaction with Grignard reagents under different conditions.     

Conformational behavior of α-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→6)-α,β-d-mannose complexed with two mannose-binding plant lectins, Allium sativam agglutinin I and concanavalin A, using NMR and molecular modeling techniques

Herein, we report the intrinsic conformational preferences of α-d-Manp-(1→6)-α,β-d-Manp, (1) in the free state and as two (ASAI and ConA) lectin-bound forms. NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics techniques are used as 3D-structural determination tools. In free form disaccharide 1 displays a fair amount of conformational freedom, with one major (?/ψ 95 ± 30°/195 ± 20°) and one minor (95 ± 30°/70 ± 20°) conformations around the glycosidic linkage and around the ω angle, both the gg and gt rotamers are almost equally populated. This is a first report of a three-dimensional structure of 1 bound with ASAI. Both lectins recognize a major ?/ψ 95 ± 30°/200 ± 30° conformer with the ligand showing more flexibility in the binding site of ConA. Comparison of the mode of binding of the two lectins explains the differences in observed specificities.     

Practical synthesis of O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-, O-α-d-mannopyranosyl-, and O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-d-galactoses

The koenigs-Knorr glycosylation of 4,6-O-ethylidene-1,2-O-isopropylidene-3-O-(2,3-O-isopropylidene-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl)-α-d-galactopyranose (3) by 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2,3-O-carbonyl-α-d-mannopyranosyl bromide (10), as well as Helferich glycosylations of 3 by tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-mannopyranosyl and -α-d-glucopyranosyl bromides, proceeded smoothly to give high yields of trisaccharide derivatives (12, 16, and 17). An efficient procedure for the transformation of 12, 16, and 17 into the α-deca-acetates of the respective trisaccharides has been developed. Zemplén de-acetylation then afforded the title trisaccharides in yields of 53, 52, and 62 %, respectively, from 3. A new route to 1,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2,3-O-carbonyl-α-d-mannopyranose is suggested.