Synthesis of S-linked thiooligosaccharide analogues of Nod factors: synthesis of new protected thiodisaccharide and thiotrisaccharide intermediates

We are investigating the synthesis of thioanalogues of nodulation factors that will be resistant to degradation by chitinases. To study the influence of our protecting group strategy, the glycosylation of 1,6-anhydro-2-azido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7) with two trichloroacetimidate glycosyl donors carrying an azido group at C-2 and either benzyl or benzoyl protecting groups on O-3 and O-4 was first attempted under catalysis with BF(3).Et(2)O in toluene. While glycosylation with the benzoylated glycosyl donor gave only a poor yield (27%) of the disaccharide, a similar reaction with the benzylated donor gave the corresponding disaccharide in good yield (77%). Although both products were obtained as anomeric mixtures, the benzylated donor led to improved stereoselectivity in favor of the desired beta-anomer (alpha:beta 3:7). Based on these results, a novel thiotrisaccharide was synthesized via the coupling of 7 with 6-O-acetyl-4-S-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-2-azido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-4-thio-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (25) also newly synthesized. After optimization of the reaction conditions, the desired thiotrisaccharide 4-O-[6-O-acetyl-4-S-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-2-azido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-4-thio-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-1,6-anhydro-2-azido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside (26beta) was obtained in 57% yield. These conditions led to an anomeric mixture in favor of the desired beta-anomer (alpha:beta 1:4.7) that was separated from the alpha-anomer by normal-phase HPLC on a PrepNova Pack(R) silica gel cartridge. The work described here shows that thiodisaccharide glycosyl donors behave quite differently from the analogous O-disaccharide used previously to synthesize nodulation factors.     

A novel glycosyl donor for synthesis of 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxy-α-D-galactopyranosides

2-Azido-4-benzylamino-4-N-,3-O-carbonyl-2,4,6-trideoxy-d-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (14) was conveniently prepared in six steps by regioselective introduction of an N-benzyl carbamate at O-3 of 6-deoxy-d-glucal 6, followed by mesylation at O-4. Intramolecular displacement of the leaving group afforded oxazolidinone 11. Azidonitration of the bicyclic glycal 11 gave the glycosyl nitrate anomers 12 in good yield and stereoselectivity. Hydrolysis of the anomeric nitrates under aqueous conditions gave the pyranose 13, which was easily converted into the imidate 14. Glycosylation of cyclohexanol by 14 gave glycosides 16α and 16β in a ratio of 4:1.     

Ritter-based glycoconjugation of amino acids and peptides--access to novel glycoconjugates displaying a beta-amide linkage between amino acid and sugar moiety

Beta-peptidic-D-gluco-, D-galacto-, and L-fuco-configured glycosyl amino acids can be prepared from the corresponding 2-deoxy-oct-3-ulopyranosonic acids via a one-pot intramolecular Ritter reaction. Initially, a ketopyranoside-based acid condenses under Lewis acid promoted conditions with nitriles (PhCN, MeCN) and a partially protected diamino ester (Boc-DAB-O-t-Bu, Boc-Orn-O-t-Bu) to form a beta-peptidic glycosyl amino t-butylesters. The glycosyl amino t-butylesters can be converted into Fmoc-protected glycosyl amino acids that are suitably protected for solid-phase glycopeptide synthesis. Furthermore, replacement of the protected diamino ester by immobilized peptide amines permits post-synthetic N-terminal- and N(epsilon)-glycoconjugation of peptides on the solid phase.     

Methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranoside-a novel reagent for α-glycosylation towards nitrophenyl or benzyl glycosides

A stereoselective synthesis of α-D-glucopyranosyl linked oligosaccharides containing a anomeric 4-nitrophenyl or benzyl group was accomplished through the use of methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-(4-methoxybenzyl-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranoside (4) as a key glycosyl donor.     

Synthesis of fluorescence-labelled disaccharide substrates of glucosidase II

The fluorescence-labelled disaccharides Glcalpha(1-->3)GlcalphaOR and Glcalpha(1-->3)ManalphaOR, both substrates for the glycoprotein-processing enzyme glucosidase II, were synthesised via the use of a n-pentenyl-derived linker at the anomeric position. This allowed incorporation of a pyrenebutyric acid label, via a sequence of oxidative hydroboration, mesylation, azide displacement, reduction with concomitant global deprotection, and peptide coupling. Selective activation of a fully armed thioglycoside in the presence of n-pentenyl glycosides was readily achieved by the use of methyl triflate as promoter.     

Synthesis of N-glycan oxazolines: donors for endohexosaminidase catalysed glycosylation

Oxazoline mono-, di-, tri- and hexasaccharides, corresponding to the core components of N-linked glycoprotein high mannose glycans, are synthesised as potential glycosyl donors for endohexosaminidase catalysed glycosylation of glycopeptides and glycoprotein remodelling. The crucial beta-D-Manp-(1-->4)-D-GlcpNAc linkage is synthesised via epimerisation of gluco disaccharide substrates by sequential triflation and nucleophilic substitution. Oxazolines are formed directly from the anomeric OPMP protected N-acetyl glucosamine derivatives. Efficient endohexosaminidase catalysed glycosylation of a synthetic beta-D-GlcpNAcAsn glycosyl amino acid is demonstrated with the trisaccharide oxazoline donor.     

Regio- and stereoselective anomeric esterification of glucopyranose 1,2-diols and a facile preparation of 2-O-acetylated glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidates from the corresponding 1,2-diols

A highly regio- and stereoselective anomeric esterification of 3-O-allyl (or benzyl, or benzoyl)-4,6-O-isopropylidene-alpha,beta-d-glucopyranose with acetyl chloride, or allyl chloroformate, or ethyl chloroformate gave the corresponding 2-OH, 1-beta-acetates or -carbonates in excellent yields. The 2-OH, 1-beta-acetates were readily converted to the corresponding 2-O-acetylated glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidates by reaction with trichloroacetonitrile via base promoted acetyl migration, while the 2-OH, 1-beta-carbonates were good glycosyl acceptors for the synthesis of (1-->2)-linked oligosaccharides.     

Synthesis and biological activity of anomeric muramoyldipeptide butylglycosides

The synthesis of anomeric butyl glycosides of muramyl dipeptide was reported. alpha-Butyl glycoside of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine was 4,6-O-benzylidenated and the benzylidene derivative was 3-O-alkylated by the Williamson reaction with sodium (S)-2-chloropropionate. The resulting protected alpha-butyl glycoside of muramic acid was then condensed with L-Ala-D-iGln-OBzl by the DCC-HOSu method. Mild acidic hydrolysis and subsequent catalytic hydrogenolysis of the resulting glycopeptide yielded the target alpha-butyl glycoside of N-acetyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine. In the synthesis of beta-butyl glycoside of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, 2-acetamido- 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-3-O-[(R)-1-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-alpha- D-glucopyranose, a 1-OH derivative of muramic acid, was the key compound. Its interaction with the excess thionyl chloride resulted in the corresponding glycosyl halide, which was condensed with n-butanol according to Helferich. O-Deacetylation, 4,6-isopropylidenation, and subsequent alkaline hydrolysis of the resulting compound gave the protected beta-butyl glycoside of muramic acid. Its activation and condensation with L-Ala-D-iGln-OBzl and the subsequent removal of protective groups were performed in the same manner as the reactions in the synthesis of alpha-butyl glycoside of N-acetyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine. The adjuvant activity of the butyl glycosides to HIV proteins rgp160 and rgp120 and their ability to affect in vitro HIV replication and the proliferation of mouse spleen T-cells were examined. The biological activity of anomeric muramyl dipeptides was shown to depend essentially on the configuration of their anomeric center.     

On the synthesis of a 32P-labelled Edman reagent for the sensitive identification of amino-acid derivatives

A phosphorus-32 containing derivative of phenylisothiocyanate was prepared to increase the sensitivity of amino-acid sequence determination. The respective compound 2-(4-isothiocyanatophenoxy)-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinane 2-oxide showed about the same reactivity, stability, and polarity as the Edman reagent itself. A repetitive yield of 94% was obtained in the stepwise degradation of insulin B chain using a solid phase sequencer. The synthesis of this radioactive reagent was achieved within 5 h but with a specific activity of 1 Ci/mol. Eight amino acids were reacted with the 32P-labelled reagent and identified by autoradiography after two dimensional thin-layer chromatography.     

Enhanced stereoselectivity of α-mannosylation under thermodynamic control using trichloroacetimidates

O-Specific polysaccharides of Vibrio cholerae O1, serotypes Inaba and Ogawa, consist of α-(1→2)-linked N-(3-deoxy-l-glycero-tetronyl)perosamine (4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-d-mannose). The blockwise synthesis of larger fragments of such O-PSs involves oligosaccharide glycosyl donors that contain a nonparticipating 2-O-glycosyl group at the position vicinal to the anomeric center where the new glycosidic linkage is formed. Such glycosyl donors may bear at C-4 either a latent acylamino (e.g., azido) or the 3-deoxy-l-glycero-tetronamido group. While monosaccharide glycosyl donors, even those bearing a nonparticipating group at O-2 (e.g., methyl), and the 4-N-(3-deoxy-l-glycero-tetronyl) side chain form α-linked oligosaccharides with excellent stereoselectivity, α-mannosylation with analogous oligosaccharide donors in this series is adversely affected by the presence of the side chain. Consequently, the unwanted β-product is formed in a considerable amount. Conducting the reaction at elevated temperature under thermodynamic control substantially enhances formation of the α-linked oligosaccharide. This effect is much more pronounced when glycosyl trichloroacetimidates, rather than thioglycosides or glycosyl chlorides, are used as glycosyl donors.     

Synthesis of alpha- and beta-glycosyl donors with a disaccharide beta-D-Gal-(1-->3)-D-GalNAc backbone

The synthesis of thioglycosyl donors with a disaccharide beta-D-Gal-(1-->3)-D-GalNAc backbone was studied using the glycosylation of a series of suitably protected 3-monohydroxy- and 3,4-dihydroxyderivatives of phenyl 2-azido-2-deoxy-1-thio-alpha- and 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranosides by galactosyl bromide, fluoride, and trichloroacetimidate. In the reaction with the monohydroxylated glycosyl acceptor, the process of intermolecular transfer of thiophenyl group from the glycosyl acceptor onto the cation formed from the molecule of glycosyl donor dominated. When glycosylating 3,4-diol under the same conditions, the product of the thiophenyl group transfer dominated or the undesired (1-->4), rather than (1-->3)-linked, disaccharide product formed. The aglycone transfer was excluded when 4-nitrophenylthio group was substituted for phenylthio group in the galactosyl acceptor molecule. This led to the target disaccharide, 4-nitrophenyl 2-azido-4,5-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D- galactopyranosyl)-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside, in 57% yield. This disaccharide product bears nonparticipating azide group in position 2 of galactosamine and can hence be used to form alpha-glycoside bond. 2-Azide group and the aglycone nitro group were simultaneously reduced in this product and then trichloroacetylated, which led to the beta-glycosyl donor, 4-trichloroacetamidophenyl 4,6-O-diacetyl-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra- O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-1-thio-2-trichloroacetamido-beta-D- galactopyranoside, in 62% yield. The resulting glycosyl donor was used in the synthesis of tetrasaccharide asialo-GM1.     

Functional regulation of Na+-dependent neutral amino acid transporter ASCT2 by S-nitrosothiols and nitric oxide in Caco-2 cells

We describe the regulation mechanisms of the Na(+)-dependent neutral amino acid transporter ASCT2 via nitric oxide (NO) in the human intestinal cell line, Caco-2. Exposure of Caco-2 cells to S-nitrosothiol, such as S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP) and S-nitrosoglutathione, and the NO-donor, NOC12, concentration- and time-dependently increased Na(+)-dependent alanine uptake. Kinetic analyses indicated that SNAP increases the maximal velocity (V(max)) of Na(+)-dependent alanine uptake in Caco-2 cells without affecting the Michaelis-Menten constant (K(t)). The stimulatory effect was partially eliminated by actinomycin D and cycloheximide. Increased Na(+)-dependent alanine uptake by SNAP was partially abolished by the NO scavengers, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide sodium salt (carboxy-PTIO) and N-(dithiocarboxy)sarcosine disodium salts (DTCS), as well as the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium. RT-PCR revealed that Caco-2 cells expressed the Na(+)-dependent neutral amino acid transporter ASCT2, but not the other Na(+)-dependent neutral amino acid transporters ATB(0,+) and B(0)AT1. These results suggested that functional up-regulation of ASCT2 by SNAP might be partially associated with an increase in the density of transporter protein via de novo synthesis.     

Synthesis of oligogalacturonates conjugated to BSA

The synthesis of three oligogalacturonates with an aldehyde spacer attached at the reducing end is described. Trigalacturonates alpha-d-GalpA-(1-->4)-alpha-d-GalpA-(1-->4)-alpha-d-GalpA-(1-->O(CH(2))(7)CHO and alpha-d-GalpA(Me)-(1-->4)-alpha-d-GalpA(Me)-(1-->4)-alpha-d-GalpA(Me)-(1-->O(CH(2))(7)CHO as well as hexagalacturonate alpha-d-GalpA-(1-->4)-[alpha-d-GalpA-(1-->4)](4)-alpha-d-GalpA-(1-->O(CH(2))(7)CHO are prepared by stepwise coupling of galactose units followed by oxidation of the 6-positions. The alpha-linkages are formed by employing n-pentenyl galactosides as glycosyl donors and N-iodosuccinimide/triethylsilyl triflate as the promoter. Deprotection furnishes the three target oligogalacturonates, which are subsequently linked to bovine serum albumin by reductive amination. These neoglycoproteins will serve as immunogens for generation of new antibodies that can be used for localization and characterization of pectin in plants.     

Identification and isolation of the gene encoding the small subunit of ribonucleotide reductase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: DNA damage-inducible gene required for mitotic viability.

Ribonucleotide reductase catalyzes the first step in the pathway for the production of deoxyribonucleotides needed for DNA synthesis. The gene encoding the small subunit of ribonucleotide reductase was isolated from a Saccharomyces cerevisiae genomic DNA expression library in lambda gt11 by a fortuitous cross-reaction with anti-RecA antibodies. The cross-reaction was due to an identity between the last four amino acids of each protein. The gene has been named RNR2 and is centromere linked on chromosome X. The nucleotide sequence was determined, and the deduced amino acid sequence, 399 amino acids, shows extensive homology with other eucaryotic ribonucleotide reductases. Transplason mutagenesis was used to disrupt the RNR2 gene. A novel assay using colony color sectoring was developed to demonstrate visually that RNR2 is essential for mitotic viability. RNR2 encodes a 1.5-kilobase mRNA whose levels increase 18-fold after treatment with the DNA-damaging agent 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide. CDC8 was also found to be inducible by DNA damage, but POL1 and URA3 were not inducible by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide. The expression of these genes defines a new mode of regulation for enzymes involved in DNA biosynthesis and sharpens our picture of the events leading to DNA repair in eucaryotic cells.     

Enzymatic transformation of the major ginsenoside Rb2 to minor compound Y and compound K by a ginsenoside-hydrolyzing β-glycosidase from Microbacterium esteraromaticum

The ginsenoside-hydrolyzing β-glycosidase (Bgp3) derived from Microbacterium esteraromaticum transformed the major ginsenoside Rb2 to more pharmacologically active minor ginsenosides including compounds Y and K. The bgp3 gene consists of 2,271?bp encoding 756 amino acids which have homology to the glycosyl hydrolase family 3 protein domain. Bgp3 is capable of hydrolyzing beta-glucose links and arabinose links. HPLC analysis of the time course of ginsenoside Rb2 hydrolysis by Bgp3 (0.1?mg?enzyme?ml(-1) in 20?mM sodium phosphate buffer at 40?°C and pH 7.0) showed that the glycosidase first hydrolyzed the inner glucose moiety attached to the C-3 position and then the arabinopyranose moiety attached to the C-20 position. Thus, Bgp3 hydrolyzed the ginsenoside Rb2 via the following pathway: Rb2?→?compound Y?→?compound K.     

Natural phosphoglycans containing glycosyl phosphate units: structural diversity and chemical synthesis

An anomeric phosphodiester linkage formed by a glycosyl phosphate unit and a hydroxyl group of another monosaccharide is found in many glycopolymers of the outer membrane in bacteria (e.g., capsular polysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides), yeasts and protozoa. The polymers (phosphoglycans) composed of glycosyl phosphate (or oligoglycosyl phosphate) repeating units could be chemically classified as poly(glycosyl phosphates). Their importance as immunologically active components of the cell wall and/or capsule of numerous microorganisms upholds the need to develop routes for the chemical preparation of these biopolymers. In this paper, we (1) present a review of the primary structures (known to date) of natural phosphoglycans from various sources, which contain glycosyl phosphate units, and (2) discuss different approaches and recent achievements in the synthesis of glycosyl phosphosaccharides and poly(glycosyl phosphates).     

Synthesis of mycothiol, 1D-1-O-(2-[N-acetyl-L-cysteinyl]amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-myo-inositol, principal low molecular mass thiol in the actinomycetes

Members of the actinomycetes produce 1D-1-O-(2-[N-acetyl-L-cysteinyl]amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-myo-inositol or mycothiol 1 as principal low molecular mass thiol. Chemical synthesis of a biosynthetic precursor of mycothiol, the pseudodisaccharide 1D-1-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-myo-inositol 13 was achieved by the following steps: (1) Enantioselective synthesis gave the glycosyl acceptors (-)-2,3,4,5,6-penta-O-acetyl-D-myo-inositol D-7 and the corresponding L-isomer L-7. (2) Condensation of D-7 and L-7 with the glycosyl donor 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(2,4-dinitrophenylamino)-alpha-D-glucopyranosylbromide afforded the corresponding alpha and beta anomeric products, which could be resolved by silica gel chromatography. (3) Deprotection of these by hydrolysis using an anion exchange resin gave 1D- and 1L-1-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-myo-inositol 13 and 15 and the corresponding beta-coupled anomers 14 and 16. Only 13, and to a much lesser extent 15, were used by enzymes present in an ammonium sulphate fraction of a cellfree extract of Mycobacterium smegmatis for the enzymatic synthesis of mycothiol. In the absence of acetyl-SCoA, the immediate biosynthetic precursor of 1, desacetylmycothiol, was the major product.     

α-Selective glycosylation affords mucin-related GalNAc amino acids and diketopiperazines active on Trypanosoma cruzi

This work addresses the synthesis and biological evaluation of glycosyl diketopiperazines (DKPs) cyclo[Asp-(αGalNAc)Ser] 3 and cyclo[Asp-(αGalNAc)Thr] 4 for the development of novel anti-trypanosomal agents and Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase (TcTS) inhibitors. The target compounds were synthetized by coupling reactions between glycosyl amino acids αGalNAc-Ser 7 or αGalNAc-Thr 8 and the amino acid (O-tBu)-Asp 17, followed by one-pot deprotection-cyclisation reaction in the presence of 20% piperidine in DMF. The protected glycosyl amino acid intermediates 7 and 8 were, in turn, obtained by α-selective, HgBr₂-catalysed glycosylation reactions of Fmoc-Ser/Thr benzyl esters 12/14 with αGalN₃Cl 11, being, subsequently, fully deprotected for comparative biological assays. The DKPs 3 and 4 showed relevant anti-trypanosomal effects (IC₅₀ 282–124 μM), whereas glycosyl amino acids 1 and 2 showed better TcTS inhibition (57–79%) than the corresponding DKPs (13–25%).     

Synthesis of a tetrasaccharide unit of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 9V

In the synthesis of 8-methoxycarbonyloctyl O-(alpha-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----3)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D- mannopyranosyl)-(1----4)-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----4)-alpha-D- glucopyranoside, which represents a component of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 9V, the key step was the coupling of alpha-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-ManpNAc-(1----4)-D-Glc as glycosyl donor with 8-ethoxy-carbonyloctyl 6-O-acetyl-2,3-di-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside as glycosyl acceptor by use of the imidate method. Only the beta-imidate of the trisaccharide could be employed in this glycosidation reaction to give stereoselectively the tetrasaccharide in high yield. The alpha-imidate of the trisaccharide led to hydrolysis of the imidate group.     

Immunogens related to the synthetic tetrasaccharide side chain of the Bacillus anthracis exosporium

The known methyl 2-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-benzyl-1-thio-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (3) was converted to the corresponding 5-methoxycarbonylpentyl glycoside 4 which was deacetylated. The product 5 was used as the initial glycosyl acceptor to construct two trirhamnoside glycosyl acceptors having HO-3(III) flanked by either benzoyl or benzyl groups, compounds 10 and 29, respectively [fully protected, except HO-3(III), alpha-L-Rha-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rha-(1-->2)-alpha-L-Rha-1-O-(CH2)5COOCH3]. When these were glycosylated with ethyl 4-azido-3-O-benzyl-4,6-dideoxy-2-O-bromoacetyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside (18), only the benzylated glycosyl acceptor 29 gave good yield of the desired tetrasaccharide 30. The alpha- and beta-linked products, together with the corresponding orthoester 23, were formed in almost equal amount when glycosylation of 10 was performed with the glycosyl donor carrying the 2-O-bromoacetyl protecting group. Deprotection at O-2 of 30, followed by further functionalization of the molecule and global deprotection, gave the 5-methoxycarbonylpentyl glycoside of the title tetrasaccharide, beta-Ant-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rha-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rha-(1-->2)-alpha-L-Rha (35). Except for differences due to presence of the anomeric 5-methoxycarbonylpentyl group, the fully assigned NMR spectra of glycoside 35 were found to be virtually identical to those reported for the parent tetrasaccharide isolated from Bacillus anthracis exosporium, thus proving the correct structure assigned to the naturally occurring substance. All theoretically possible structural fragments of 35, as well as analog of 35 lacking the 2-O-methyl group at the terminal 4,6-dideoxyglucosyl residue, compound 40, were also synthesized. Tetrasaccharide 35, its beta-linked and non-methylated analogs 2 and 40, respectively, as well as the trirhamnoside fragment of 35, glycoside 12, were further functionalized and conjugated to BSA using squaric acid chemistry, to give neoglycoconjugates with a predetermined carbohydrate-protein ratio of approximately 3 and approximately 6.