New pregnane glycosides from the roots of Cynanchum otophyllum

Six new pregnane glycosides with an acyl at C-12 and a straight sugar chain at C-3, namely otophyllosides H-M (1-6), were isolated from the roots of Cynanchum otophyllum (Asclepiadaceae) collected from Eryuan County in Yunnan province of China. Their structures were characterized to be qingyangshengenin 3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-digitoxopyranoside (1), qingyangshengenin 3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-digitoxopyranoside (2), qingyangshengenin 3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-digitoxopyranoside (3), qingyangshengenin 3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-thevetopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-digitoxopyranoside (4), caudatin 3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-cymaropyranoside (5), caudatin 3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-cymaropyranoside (6), respectively, on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis and chemical method.     

Chemical characterization of the immunomodulating polysaccharide of Aloe vera L

The polysaccharide isolated by alcohol precipitation of Aloe vera mucilaginous gel was found to have a Man:Glc:Gal:GalA:Fuc:Ara:Xyl ratio of 120:9:6:3:2:2:1 with traces of Rha and GlcA. Linkage analysis of the endo-(1-->4)-beta-d-mannanase-treated sample yielded Manp-(1--> (approximately 26%), 4-Manp (approximately 53%), 2,4-Manp (approximately 3%), 3,4-Manp (approximately 1%), 4,6-Manp (approximately 1%), 4-Glcp (approximately 5%), 4-Xylp (approximately 1%), Xylp-(1--> (approximately 2%), Galp-(1--> (approximately 5%), and traces of 4,6-Galp and 3,6-Galp. Hydrolysis with strong acids produced a mixture of short oligosaccharides and an acid-resistant fraction containing greater relative fractions of Manp-(1-->, Araf-(1-->, Xylp-(1-->, and 4-Xylp than the bulk polysaccharide. NMR analysis of oligosaccharides generated by endo-(1-->4)-beta-D-mannanase and acid hydrolysis showed the presence of di-, tri-, and tetrasaccharides of 4-beta-Manp, beta-Glcp-(1-->4)-Man, beta-Glcp-(1-->4)-beta-Manp-(1-->4)-Man, and beta-Manp-(1-->4)-[alpha-Galp-(1-->6)]-Man, consistent with a backbone containing alternating -->4)-beta-Manp-(1--> and -->4)-beta-Glcp-(1--> residues in a approximately 15:1 ratio. Analysis of the sample treated sequentially with endo-(1-->4)-beta-d-mannanase and alpha-D-galactosidase showed that the majority of alpha-Galp-(1--> residues were linked to O-2, O-3, or O-6 of -->4)-beta-Manp-(1--> residues, with approximately 16 -->4)-beta-Manp-(1--> residues between side chains. Our data provide direct evidence of a previously proposed glucomannan backbone, but draw into question previously proposed side-chain structures.     

Synthesis of spacer-equipped di-, tri-, and the tetrasaccharide fragments of the deacetylated O-PS1 of Citrobacter gillenii O9a,9b, and a related pentasaccharide

The title rhamnooligosaccharides [alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-1-O-(CH(2))(5)COOMe, alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-1-O-(CH(2))(5)COOMe, alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-1-O-(CH(2))(5)COOMe, and alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-1-O-(CH(2))(5)COOMe] were synthesized in a stepwise fashion from 5-methoxycarbonylpentyl 4-azido-4,6-dideoxy-2-O-benzyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside and orthogonally protected 1-thioglycoside glycosyl donors. The amorphous, final products were fully characterized as corresponding per-O-acetyl derivatives.     

Influence of Chirality of Benzimidazole Amine Hybrids on Inhibition of Human Erythrocytes Carbonic Anhydrase I,II and Acetylcholinesterase

Novel chiral benzimidazole amine hybrids ( 4a – 4d ) were synthesized from commercially available amine [(R)- (+)-phenylethylamine, (−) (S)-(-)-phenylethylamine, (−) (R)-(-)-cyclohexylethylamine, (S)-(+)-cyclohexylethylamine] and 2-(chloromethyl)-N-tosyl-1H-benzimidazole. The synthesized compounds ( 4a – 4d ) were characterized by IR, NMR, and LC/MS analysis. The inhibitory effect of 4a – 4d on human erythrocytes carbonic anhydrase I (hCA-I), II (hCA-II), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was investigated. For hCA-I, the IC₅₀ values of 4a – 4d were found to be 4.895 μM, 1.750 μM, 0.173 μM, and 0.620 μM, respectively, and for hCA-II, the IC₅₀ values of 4a – 4d were found to be 0.469 μM, 0.380 μM, 0.233 μM, 0.635 μM, respectively. Furthermore, IC₅₀ values of 4a – 4d on AChE were found as 87.5 nM, 100 nM, 26.92 nM, and 100 nM, respectively. In addition, molecular docking analysis was performed to evaluate the affinity of 4a – 4d against hCA-I, hCA-II, and AChE and explain their binding interactions.     

Reassessment of the evolution of wheat chromosomes 4A, 5A,and 7B

Key message

Comparison of genome sequences of wild emmer wheat and Aegilops tauschii suggests a novel scenario of the evolution of rearranged wheat chromosomes 4A, 5A, and 7B.

Abstract

Past research suggested that wheat chromosome 4A was subjected to a reciprocal translocation T(4AL;5AL)1 that occurred in the diploid progenitor of the wheat A subgenome and to three major rearrangements that occurred in polyploid wheat: pericentric inversion Inv(4AS;4AL)1, paracentric inversion Inv(4AL;4AL)1, and reciprocal translocation T(4AL;7BS)1. Gene collinearity along the pseudomolecules of tetraploid wild emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides, subgenomes AABB) and diploid Aegilops tauschii (genomes DD) was employed to confirm these rearrangements and to analyze the breakpoints. The exchange of distal regions of chromosome arms 4AS and 4AL due to pericentric inversion Inv(4AS;4AL)1 was detected, and breakpoints were validated with an optical Bionano genome map. Both breakpoints contained satellite DNA. The breakpoints of reciprocal translocation T(4AL;7BS)1 were also found. However, the breakpoints that generated paracentric inversion Inv(4AL;4AL)1 appeared to be collocated with the 4AL breakpoints that had produced Inv(4AS;4AL)1 and T(4AL;7BS)1. Inv(4AS;4AL)1, Inv(4AL;4AL)1, and T(4AL;7BS)1 either originated sequentially, and Inv(4AL;4AL)1 was produced by recurrent chromosome breaks at the same breakpoints that generated Inv(4AS;4AL)1 and T(4AL;7BS)1, or Inv(4AS;4AL)1, Inv(4AL;4AL)1, and T(4AL;7BS)1 originated simultaneously. We prefer the latter hypothesis since it makes fewer assumptions about the sequence of events that produced these chromosome rearrangements.

     

Analysis of the interaction between lectins and tetra- and tri-saccharide mimics of the Sd(a) determinant by surface plasmon resonance detection

The binding properties of a spacer-linked synthetic Sd(a) tetrasaccharide beta-D-GalpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-Neu5Ac-(2-->3)]-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O)-(CH(2))(5)-NH(2) (1), two tetrasaccharide mimics beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-alpha-Neu5Ac-(2-->3)]-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O)-(CH(2))(5)-NH(2) (2) and beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-Neu5Ac-(2-->3)]-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O)-(CH(2))(5)-NH(2) (3), and two trisaccharide mimics beta-D-GalpNAc-(1-->4)-3-O-(SO(3)H)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O)-(CH(2))(5)-NH(2) (4) and beta-D-GalpNAc-(1-->4)-3-O-(CH(2)COOH)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O)-(CH(2))(5)-NH(2) (5) with lectins from Dolichos biflorus (DBL), Maackia amurensis (MAL), Phaseolus limensis (PLL), Ptilota plumosa (PPL), Ricinus communis 120 (RCL120) and Triticum vulgaris (wheat germ agglutinin, WGA) have been investigated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detection. MAL, PPL, RCL120 and WGA did not display any binding activity with compounds 1-5. However, DBL and PLL, both exhibiting GalNAc-specificity, showed strong binding activity with compounds 1, 4 and 5, and 1, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The results demonstrate that SPR is a very useful analysis system for identifying biologically relevant oligosaccharide mimics of the Sd(a) determinant.     

Calorimetric and spectroscopic investigations of the binding of metallated porphyrins to G-quadruplex DNA

BackgroundThe human telomere contains tandem repeat of (TTAGG) capable of forming a higher order DNA structure known as G-quadruplex. Porphyrin molecules such as TMPyP4 bind and stabilize G-quadruplex structure.MethodsIsothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), circular dichroism (CD), and mass spectroscopy (ESI/MS), were used to investigate the interactions between TMPyP4 and the Co(III), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes of TMPyP4 (e.g. Co(III)-TMPyP4) and a model human telomere G-quadruplex (hTel22) at or near physiologic ionic strength ([Na⁺] or [K⁺] ≈ 0.15 M).ResultsThe apo-TMPyP4, Ni(II)-TMPyP4, and Cu(II)-TMPyP4 all formed complexes having a saturation stoichiometry of 4:1, moles of ligand per mole of DNA. Binding of apo-TMPyP4, Ni(II)-TMPyP4, and Cu(II)-TMPyP4 is described by a “four-independent-sites model”. The two highest-affinity sites exhibit a K in the range of 10⁸ to 10¹⁰ M^− 1 with the two lower-affinity sites exhibiting a K in the range of 10⁴ to 10⁵ M^− 1. Binding of Co(III)-TMPyP4, and Zn(II)-TMPyP4, is best described by a “two-independent-sites model” in which only the end-stacking binding mode is observed with a K in the range of 10⁴ to 10⁵ M^− 1.ConclusionsIn the case of apo-TMPyP4, Ni(II)-TMPyP4, and Cu(II)-TMPyP4, the thermodynamic signatures for the two binding modes are consistent with an “end stacking” mechanism for the higher affinity binding mode and an “intercalation” mechanism for the lower affinity binding mode. In the case of Co(III)-TMPyP4 and Zn(II)-TMPyP4, both the lower affinity for the “end-stacking” mode and the loss of the intercalative mode for forming the 2:1 complexes with hTel22 are attributed to the preferred metal coordination geometry and the presence of axial ligands.General significanceThe preferred coordination geometry around the metal center strongly influences the energetics of the interactions between the metallated-TMPyP4 and the model human telomeric G-quadruplex. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Microcalorimetry in the BioSciences — Principles and Applications, edited by Fadi Bou-Abdallah.     

Production of rosamicin: improvement of synthetic medium

Rosamicin is one of the important macrolide antibiotics that has clinical efficacy and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Using a mutant strain of Micromonospora rosaria (NRRL 3718), a chemically defined medium was developed, and some fermentation conditions that are important to rosamicin biosynthesis were optimized to achieve rosamicin productivity of 230 mug/ml. Soluble starch and l-asparagine were found to be the best carbon and nitrogen sources, and a stimulative effect of magnesium and zinc ions was also found. The medium developed contains: soluble starch, 4%; l-asparagine, 0.15%; K(2)HPO(4), 0.075%; CaCO(3), 0.6%; MgSO(4) . 7H(2)O, 0.05%; FeSO(4) . 7H(2)O, 10 M; CuSO(4) . 5H(2)O, 10 M; ZnSO(4) . 7H(2)O, 10 M; and MnSO(4) . (4-6)H(2)O, 10 M. The required air supply was about 40 mmol of O(2) liter . h . atm, and the favorable culture temperature was 28 to 29 degrees C.     

Further structural studies of an anti-complementary acidic heteroglycan from the leaves of Artemisia princeps

Partial acid hydrolysis of the anti-complementary acidic heteroglycan, AAFIIb-3, isolated from the leaves of Artemisia princeps PAMP gave the oligosaccharides Gal-(1→6)-Gal, Gal-(1→6)-Gal-(1→6)-Gal, GalA-(1→4)-Rha, GalA-(1→2)-Rha, GlcA-(1→4)-Gal, GlcA-(1→4)-Rha, GlcA-(1→6)-Gal, and GlcA-(1→4)-Xyl. On methylation of AAFIIb-3 without de-esterification, 4-linked and 3,6-disubstituted galactan, 3-linked galactan, 4-linked galactan, and branched arabinan-rich fragments were obtained. The results of base-catalysed β-elimination indicated that AAFIIb-3 has a backbone consisting of 4-linked GalA and 2-linked Rha to which a highly branched arabino-3,6-galactan and arabino-4-galactan are linked at positions 4 of some 2-linked Rha units. Xyl-(1→4)-GalA, GlcA-(1→4)-Xyl-GalA, and →3)-Gal-(1→4)-GalA might also be joined to other 2-linked Rha at the same position. Some 6-linked and 4-linked Gal were terminated by GlcA.     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of a tetra- and octasaccharide fragment of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14

The chemo-enzymatic synthesis is described of tetrasaccharide beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O(CH(2))(6)NH(2) (1) and octasaccharide beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O(CH(2))(6)NH(2) (2), representing one and two tetrasaccharide repeating units of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14 capsular polysaccharide. In a chemical approach, the intermediate linear trisaccharide 3 and hexasaccharide 4 were synthesized. Galactose residues were beta-(1-->4)-connected to the internal N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamine residues by using bovine milk beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase. Both title oligosaccharides will be conjugated to carrier proteins to be tested as potential vaccines in animal models.     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of tetra-, penta-, and hexasaccharide fragments of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14

The chemo-enzymatic synthesis is described of beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->O(CH(2))(6)NH(2) (1), beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->O(CH(2))(6)NH(2) (2), beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->O(CH(2))(6)NH(2) (3), and beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O(CH(2))(6)NH(2) (4), representing fragments of the repeating unit of the Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14 capsular polysaccharide. Linear intermediate oligosaccharides 5-8 were synthesized via chemical synthesis, followed by enzymatic galactosylation using bovine milk beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase as a catalyst. The title oligosaccharides form suitable compounds for conjugation with carrier proteins, to be tested as potential vaccines in animal models.     

4-Phenylbutyric acid suppresses inflammation through regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress of endothelial cells stimulated by uremic serum

Aims

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS). Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction and monocyte migration to the subendothelium are considered to be essential manifestations of AS. We conducted this study to determine whether ER stress was involved in uremic serum-induced EC dysfunction and whether the regulation of ER stress using a chemical chaperone 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) had a preventative effect.

Main methods

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were divided into 4 groups: a control serum group (C.S), a uremic serum group (U.S), a uremic serum plus 4-PBA (5 mM) treatment group (4-PBA), and a uremic serum plus pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC:50 μM) treatment group (PDTC).

Key findings

Lower concentrations of uremic serum (< 10%) facilitated the proliferation of HUVECs. In contrast, the proliferative capability of HUVECs was gradually decreased when we continuously increased the concentration of uremic serum. Compared with C.S, HUVEC incubation with uremic serum had high expression levels of GRP78, p-PERK, NF-κB, MCP-1, and VEGF. THP-1 migration was markedly higher than C.S over the indicated time. These alterations were inhibited by the administration of 4-PBA.

Significance

These findings suggest that regulation of ER stress coupled with inflammatory activation by 4-PBA would be a promising therapy to reverse the process and development of uremic serum-induced EC dysfunction.     

Characterization of the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen of Francisella novicida (U112)

Francisella novicida (U112), a close relative of the highly virulent bacterium F. tularensis, was shown to produce a lipopolysaccharide in which the antigenic O-polysaccharide component was found by chemical, 1H and 13C NMR and MS analyses to be an unbranched neutral linear polymer of a repeating tetrasaccharide unit composed of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galacturonamide (D-GalNAcAN) and 2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-glucose (D-Qui2NAc4NAc, di-N-acetylbacillosamine) residues (3:1) and had the structure: -->4)-alpha-D-GalNAcAN-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GalNAcAN-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GalNAcAN-(1-->3)-alpha-D-QuiNAc4NAc-(1-->. With polyclonal murine antibody, the F. novicida O-antigen did not show serological cross-reactivity with the O-antigen of F. tularensis despite the occurrence of a common -->4)-D-GalpNAcAN-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GalpNAcAN-(1--> disaccharide unit in their respective O-antigens. Thus, O-PS serology offers a practical way to distinguish between the two Francisella species.     

Isolation and Some Properties of Anti-proteolytic Polypeptides from Potato

A new nematicidal alkaloid, peniprequinolone (1), together with the known alkaloids penigequinolones A and B (2a, 2b), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-4-(4′-methoxyphenyl)quinolinone (3), and 3-methoxy-4,6-dihydroxy-4-(4′-methoxyphenyl)quinolinone (4), were isolated from Penicillium cf. simplicissimum (Oudemans) Thom. Cyclopenin (5) and a compound (6a/6b) structurally related to cyclopenin also were isolated from the fungus, and their structures were established by spectroscopic analysis. The biological activities of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were examined by a bioassay with root-lesion nematodes.     

Three-centre, two-electron bonds in complexes of Mn, Ni, Co and Cd with 3-(4-benzonitrile)pyrazolyl scorpionates

A series of complexes of the form [M(Bp^3(4Bz))(Tp^3(4Bz))] containing a mixture of novel dihydrobis(3-(4-benzonitrile)pyrazolyl)borato (Bp^3(4Bz)) and hydrotris(3-(4-benzonitrile)pyrazolyl)borato (Tp^3(4Bz)) ligands have been synthesised and structurally characterised. The ligands, both containing 3-(4-benzonitrile)pyrazole arms, form isostructural complexes with a variety of transition metals although different crystalline solvates have been obtained depending upon the crystallisation conditions, namely [M(Bp^3(4Bz))(Tp^3(4Bz))] (M = Ni, Co), [Ni((Bp^3(4Bz))(Tp^3(4Bz))]·2MeOH and [M(Bp^3(4Bz))(Tp^3(4Bz))]·MeOH (M = Mn, Cd). In all cases the metal atoms are five-coordinate with an additional agostic B-H interaction from the bis(pyrazolyl)borate ligand.     

Enzymatic synthesis of alpha-L-fucosyl-N-acetyllactosamines and 3'-O-alpha-L-fucosyllactose utilizing alpha-L-fucosidases

An alpha-L-fucosidase from porcine liver produced alpha-L-Fuc-(1-->2)-beta-D-Gal-(1-->4)-D-GlcNAc (2'-O-alpha-L-fucosyl-N-acetyllactosamine, 1) together with its isomers alpha-L-Fuc-(1-->3)-beta-D-Gal-(1-->4)-D-GlcNAc (2) and alpha-L-Fuc-(1-->6)-beta-D-Gal-(1-->4)-D-GlcNAc (3) through a transglycosylation reaction from p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-fucopyranoside and beta-D-Gal-(1-->4)-D-GlcNAc. The enzyme formed the trisaccharides 1-3 in 13% overall yield based on the donor, and in the ratio of 40:37:23. In contrast, transglycosylation by Alcaligenes sp. alpha-L-fucosidase led to the regioselective synthesis of trisaccharides containing a (1-->3)-linked alpha-L-fucosyl residue. When beta-D-Gal-(1-->4)-D-GlcNAc and lactose were acceptors, the enzyme formed regioselectively compound 2 and alpha-L-Fuc-(1-->3)-beta-D-Gal-(1-->4)-D-Glc (3'-O-alpha-L-fucosyllactose, 4), respectively, in 54 and 34% yields, based on the donor.     

An access to various sulfation patterns in dermatan sulfate: chemical syntheses of sulfoforms of trisaccharide methyl glycosides

The syntheses are reported for the first time of alpha-L-IdopA2SO(3)-(1-->3)-beta-D-GalpNAc4SO(3)-(1-->4)-alpha-L-IdopA2SO(3)-(1-->OMe), its disulfated analogue alpha-L-IdopA2SO(3)-(1-->3)-beta-D-GalpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-L-IdopA2SO(3)-(1-->OMe), and of beta-D-GalpNAc4SO(3)-(1-->4)-alpha-L-IdopA2SO(3)-(1-->3)-beta-D-GalpNAc4SO(3)-(1-->OMe), which represent structural fragments of dermatan sulfate, unavailable directly by chemical or enzymatic degradation of the glycosaminoglycan polymer. These molecules were readily obtained from a pair of key disaccharide intermediates, in which the relative difference of stability of the D-GalNAc 4-hydroxy protecting groups (acetate or pivalate) toward saponification conditions allowed access to various sulfoforms from a common precursor. For the preparation of these blocks, the 4-O-pivaloyl-D-galacto moiety was readily obtained through a one-pot stereospecific intramolecular nucleophilic displacement on an easily available 3-O-pivaloyl-D-gluco precursor, and the L-IdoA moiety through selective radical oxidation at C-6 of a L-ido 4,6-diol derivative with oxoammonium salts.     

Milligram-scale preparation and purification of oligosaccharides of defined length possessing the structure of chondroitin from defructosylated capsular polysaccharide K4

Escherichia coli K4 bacterium synthesizes a nonsulfated capsule polysaccharide (K4) composed of a repeating disaccharide subunit of D-glucuronic acid (beta1-->3) and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (beta1-->4) to which beta-fructofuranose units are linked to C-3 of D-glucuronic acid residues. The K4 polyanion is easily defructosylated under acid conditions with no fragmentation of the polymer to produce a polysaccharide having a repeated disaccharide unit of chondroitin consisting of D-glucuronic acid (beta1-->3) and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (beta1-->4) (K4d). K4 and K4d were depolymerized by partial digestion with testicular hyaluronidase and separated into uniform-size oligosaccharides from 4-mers to 16-mers by preparative anion-exchange chromatography after removal of the hyaluronidase. The purity and size of each oligosaccharide was confirmed by using anion-exchange HPLC, HPSEC analysis, and FACE. Mg-scale K4d oligosaccharides were obtained from 50 mg K4d starting material. Under the conditions used to degrade the K4 polysaccharide by testicular hyaluronidase, fructose is slowly liberated forming the defructosylated K4. As a consequence, a mixture of uniform- size K4 and K4d oligosaccharide species, from approximately 4- to 20-mers, are generated and size-separated by anion-exchange chromatography. These pure, uniform-size, and large ranges of K4d oligosaccharides having the structure of a chondroitin, -->4)-GlcUA-beta(1-->3)GalNAc-beta(1-->, will be available for investigating important biological functions of this polymer.     

Accumulation of 2-Aminophenoxazin-3-one-7-Carboxylate during Growth of Pseudomonas putida TW3 on 4-Nitro-Substituted Substrates Requires 4-Hydroxylaminobenzoate Lyase (PnbB)

During growth of Pseudomonas putida strain TW3 on 4-nitrotoluene (4NT) or its metabolite 4-nitrobenzoate (4NB), the culture medium gradually becomes yellow-orange with a λ_max of 446 nm. The compound producing this color has been isolated and identified as a new phenoxazinone, 2-aminophenoxazin-3-one-7-carboxylate (APOC). This compound is formed more rapidly and in greater quantity when 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzoate (4A3HB) is added to growing cultures of strain TW3 and is also formed nonbiologically when 4A3HB is shaken in mineral salts medium but not in distilled water. It is postulated that APOC is formed by the oxidative dimerization of 4A3HB, although 4A3HB has not been reported to be a metabolite of 4NT or a product of 4NB catabolism by strain TW3. Using the cloned pnb structural genes from TW3, we demonstrated that the formation of the phenoxazinone requires 4-hydroxylaminobenzoate lyase (PnbB) activity, which converts 4-hydroxylaminobenzoate (4HAB) to 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (protocatechuate) and that 4-nitrobenzoate reductase (PnbA) activity, which causes the accumulation of 4HAB from 4NB, does not on its own result in the formation of APOC. This rules out the possibility that 4A3HB is formed abiotically from 4HAB by a Bamberger rearrangement but suggests that PnbB first acts to effect a Bamberger-like rearrangement of 4HAB to 4A3HB followed by the replacement of the 4-amino group by a hydroxyl to form protocatechuate and that the phenoxazinone is produced as a result of some misrouting of the intermediate 4A3HB from its active site.