Adducts of uridine and glycals as potential substrates for glycosyltransferases

We report on the synthesis of 2-deoxyglycosyl derivatives of uridine as potential donor substrates for glycosyltransferases. The totally stereoselective synthesis is accomplished by two sequential addition reactions of uridine derivatives to glycals promoted by triphenylphosphine-hydrogen bromide.     

Ferrier sulfamidoglycosylation of glycals catalyzed by nitrosonium tetrafluoroborate: Towards new carbonic anhydrase glycoinhibitors

Ferrier sulfamidoglycosylation of glycals catalyzed by nitrosonium tetrafluoroborate allowed the preparation of hydroxysulfamide glycosides in good yields with a good α stereoselectivity. A variety of mono-saccharide derivatives was synthesized using this new methodology leading to selective and powerful glycoinhibitors of the tumor associated carbonic anhydrases (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms CA IX and CA XII.     

A simple and convenient method for the synthesis of pyranoid glycals

A simple, mild, and environmentally benign synthesis procedure of pyranoid glycals is described. In a novel fashion, protected glycopyranosyl bromides undergo the reductive elimination in the presence of zinc in phosphate buffer at room temperature. The pyranoid glycals were obtained in good-to-excellent yields (18 examples).     

Synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated C-glycosides by HClO4-SiO2 catalyzed Ferrier rearrangement of glycals

Alkyl 2,3-unsaturated C-glycopyranosides have been prepared by Ferrier rearrangement of acyl or alkyl protected glycals catalyzed by HClO(4)-SiO(2).     

Inhibition of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase by ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate epimerization and degradation products

Xylulose-1,5-bisphosphate in preparations of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (ribulose-P₂) arises from non-enzymic epimerization and inhibits the enzyme. Another inhibitor, a diketo degradation product from ribulose-P₂, is also present. Both compounds simulate the substrate inhibition of ribulose-P₂ carboxylase/oxygenase previously reported for ribulose-P₂. Freshly prepared ribulose-P₂ had little inhibitory activity. The instability of ribulose-P₂ may be one reason for a high level of ribulose-P₂ carboxylase in chloroplasts where the molarity of active sites exceeds that of ribulose-P₂. Because the K_D of the enzyme/substrate complex is ≤1 μM, all ribulose-P₂ generated in situ may be stored as this complex to prevent decomposition.     

1,5-anhydro-D-fructose from D-fructose

1,5-Anhydro-d-fructose was efficiently prepared from d-fructose via regiospecific 1,5-anhydro ring formation of 2,3-O-isopropylidene-1-O-methyl(tolyl)sulfonyl-d-fructopyranose and subsequent deprotection.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new 1,5-diazaanthraquinones with cytotoxic activity

A series of 1,5-diazaanthraquinone derivatives was synthesized and their in vitro cytotoxic activities were evaluated against several human cancer cell lines. The 1,5-diazaanthraquinone chromophore has been synthesized either on the basis of hetero Diels–Alder reactions involving different quinoline-5,8-diones and ,β-unsaturated aldehyde N,N-dimethylhydrazones or by thermolysis of different arylaminomethylene Meldrum’s acid derivatives. Some of these compounds showed cytotoxic activity comparable to that of mitoxantrone against most of the cell lines tested. Compounds 20, 30, 31 and 37 were 4–54 times more potent that mitoxantrone against A549, H116, PSN1 and T98G cancer cell lines but, interestingly, they were 3–16 times less potent against the human breast carcinoma SKBR3. Some structure–activity relationships are described, the most significant one being the increase in cytotoxicity resulting from the introduction of a halogen atom at the C-4 position.     

Discovery of novel 1,5-benzodiazepine-2,4-dione derivatives as potential anticancer agents

A series of novel 1,5-benzodiazepine-2,4-dione derivatives with C-6 amide substituents were designed and synthesized using three-component reactions. The preliminary assays showed that most of them displayed moderate to good antitumor activities against human lung carcinoma (A549), human breast epithelial carcinoma (MCF-7), human colon carcinoma (HCT116), human cervical carcinoma (Hela) and Lewis lung carcinoma (2LL). Exhilaratingly, the activity level of 6m rivaled that of 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) against MCF-7 cell lines, which might be used as novel lead scaffold for potential anticancer development.     

An efficient synthesis of 2,3-dideoxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated carbohydrate enals by mixed Lewis acid (HfCl4 and ZnI2) catalyzed hydration of glycals

A new, efficient method has been developed for converting acyl-, arylalkyl- and alkyl-protected glycals into corresponding 2,3-dideoxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated carbohydrate enals utilizing the in situ generated push-pull effect resulting from the synergistic combination of HfCl4 and ZnI2 in catalytic amounts. This new procedure eliminates the use of highly toxic Hg2+ ions and acidic conditions (0.01-0.02 N H2SO4), besides radically shortening the reaction time.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 1,5-diaryl-substituted tetrazoles as novel selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors

A series of 1,5-diaryl-substituted tetrazole derivatives was synthesized via conversion of readily available diaryl amides into corresponding imidoylchlorides followed by reaction with sodium azide. All compounds were evaluated by cyclooxygenase (COX) assays in vitro to determine COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory potency and selectivity. Tetrazoles 3a-e showed IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.42 to 8.1 mM for COX-1 and 2.0 to 200 μM for COX-2. Most potent compound 3c (IC₅₀ (COX-2) = 2.0 μM) was further used in molecular modeling docking studies.     

A new chemical synthesis of Ascopyrone P from 1,5-anhydro-D-fructose

The naturally occurring antioxidant Ascopyrone P (1,5-anhydro-4-deoxy-D-glycero-hex-1-en-3-ulose, 1) was prepared from the rare sugar 1,5-anhydro-D-fructose (AF, 3) in three steps in an overall yield of 36%. Thus, acetylation of 3 afforded the enolone 3,6-di-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-4-deoxy-D-glycero-hex-3-en-2-ulopyranose (4), which could be isomerised to 2,6-di-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-4-deoxy-D-glycero-hex-1-ene-3-ulose (6). Deacetylation of 6 under mild conditions gave crystalline Ascopyrone P (1).     

A point mutation in the N-terminus of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase affects ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate binding

Mutagenesis in vitro of the gene encoding the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39) from Anacystis nidulans was used to generate novel enzymes. Two conserved residues, threonine 4 and lysine 11 in the N-terminus were changed. The substitution of threonine 4 with serine or valine had little effect on the kinetic parameters. The substitution of lysine 11 with leucine, which is non-polar, increased the K _m for ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate from 82 to 190 M but its replacement with glutamine, which has polar properties, had no appreciable effect.Abbreviations Rubisco ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - RuBP ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate - LSU large sub-unit of Rubisco - SSU small subunit of Rubisco We thank Dr. S. Gutteridge (DuPont, Wilmington, USA) for structural information and for his comments on the results described. The technical assistance of Mr. A. Cowland and Mr. I. Major was invaluable.     

Complete inactivation of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus by 1,5-iodonaphthylazide

Hydrophobic alkylating compounds like 1,5-iodonaphthylazide (INA) partitions into biological membranes and accumulates selectively into the hydrophobic domain of the lipid bilayer. Upon irradiation with far UV light, INA binds selectively to transmembrane proteins in the viral envelope and renders them inactive. Such inactivation does not alter the ectodomains of the membrane proteins thus preserving the structural and conformational integrity of immunogens on the surface of the virus. In this study, we have used INA to inactivate Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV). Treatment of VEEV with INA followed by irradiation with UV light resulted in complete inactivation of the virus. Immuno-fluorescence for VEEV and virus titration showed no virus replication in-vitro. Complete loss of infectivity was also achieved in mice infected with INA treated plus irradiated preparations of VEEV. No change in the structural integrity of VEEV particles were observed after treatment with INA plus irradiation as assessed by electron microscopy. This data suggest that such inactivation strategies can be used for developing vaccine candidates for VEEV and other enveloped viruses.     

一步法生产1,5-戊二胺谷氨酸棒杆菌基因工程菌的构建

1,5-戊二胺是一种重要的化工原料,发酵法生产1,5-戊二胺是一条新颖且具有潜在竞争力的生产途径。以蜂房哈夫尼菌(Hafnia alvei)AS1.1009基因组为模板,通过PCR扩增,得到大小约为2.2kb的赖氨酸脱羧酶基因ldc。以大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)/谷氨酸棒杆菌(Corynebacterium glutamicum)穿梭质粒pXMJl9为载体,将扩增得到的目的基因片段克隆至谷氨酸棒杆菌C.glutamicum TK260512,获得重组菌株C.glutamicum TK260512/pXMJl9-ldc.在摇瓶发酵水平上,通过IPTG诱导ldc基因的表达,并采用反相高效液相色谱方法测定了发酵液中1,5-戊二胺的含量,结果显示,经36h发酵,工程菌C.glutamicum TK260512/pXMJ19-ldc的1,5-戊二胺产量为0.96g/L。     

Synthesis of 2-deoxy-D-arabino/lyxo-hexopyranosyl disaccharides

Synthesis of 2-deoxy-D-arabino/lyxo-hexopyranosyl disaccharides is reported. In these, the disaccharides contain 2-deoxy-arabino-hexopyranosyl and 2-deoxy-lyxo-hexopyranosyl sugars as either the reducing or the non-reducing or both the sugar units of the disaccharides. The activated 2-deoxy-1-thioglycosides served as the common precursors to prepare the 2-deoxy disaccharides with the above configurations.     

Synthesis and co-polymerization of an unsaturated 1,5-anhydro-D-fructose derivative

An unsaturated derivative, 3,6-di-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-4-deoxy-D-glycero-hex-3-enopyranos-2-ulose (3), was obtained via regioselective elimination and acetylation of monohydrated 1,5-anhydro-D-fructose (1) in a single step reaction. High yield (80%) was achieved without any dimeric by-products. Its co-polymerization to saccharide polymers was investigated with different commercial vinyl co-monomers. Co-polymers were obtained and characterized.     

Synthesis of 2-deoxy-hexopyranosyl derivatives of uridine as donor substrate analogues for glycosyltransferases

A series of 2-deoxy-hexopyranosyl derivatives of uridine have been synthesized as analogues of UDP-sugar. These compounds were tested as inhibitors against bovine β-1,4-galactosyltransferase I in fluorescent assays and showed no significant inhibition.