Further probing of the substrate specificities and inhibition of enzymes involved at an early stage of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthesis

1-D-6-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-1-O-hexadecyl-myo-inositol (14), 1-D-6-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-myo-inositol 1-(octadecyl phosphate) (18), 1-D-6-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-myo-inositol 1-(1,2-di-O-hexadecanoyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate) (24), 1-D-6-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-myo-inositol 1-(1,2-di-O-hexadecanoyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate) (30) and the corresponding 2-amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl analogue 36 have been prepared and tested in cell-free assays as substrate analogues/inhibitors of alpha-(1 --> 4)-D-mannosyltransferases that are active early on in the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthetic pathways of Trypanosoma brucei and HeLa (human) cells. The corresponding N-acetyl derivatives of these compounds were similarly tested as candidate substrate analogues/inhibitors of the N-deacetylases present in both systems. Following on from an early study, 1-L-6-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-2-O-methyl-myo-inositol 1-(1,2-di-O-hexadecanoyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate) (44) was prepared and tested as an inhibitor of the trypanosomal alpha-(1 --> 4)-D-mannosyltransferase. A brief summary of the biological evaluation of the various analogues is provided.     

Synthesis of 2-deoxy-2-C-alkylglucosides of myo-inositol as possible inhibitors of a N-deacetylase enzyme in the biosynthesis of mycothiol

Two new analogues of 1-D-1-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-myo-inositol, a biosynthetic intermediate in the production of mycothiol in the Mycobacteria have been synthesized. Both the 2-deoxy-2-C-(2'-hydroxypropyl)-D-glucoside 5, and the 2-deoxy-2-C-(2'-oxopropyl)-D-glucoside 6, are derived from fully benzylated 1-D-1-O-(2-C-allyl-2-deoxy)-D-glucopyranosyl)-myo-inositol 20, readily assembled via a protected 2-C-allyl-2-deoxyglucosyl fluoride. Both 5 and 6 inhibit the incorporation of [3H]inositol by whole cells of Mycobacterium smegmatis into a number of metabolites which contain inositol.     

Selective inhibitors of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthetic pathway of Trypanosoma brucei.

Synthetic analogues of D-GlcNalpha1-6D-myo-inositol-1-HPO(4)-3(sn-1, 2-diacylglycerol) (GlcN-PI), with the 2-position of the inositol residue substituted with an O-octyl ether [D-GlcNalpha1-6D-(2-O-octyl)myo-inositol-1-HPO(4)-3-sn-1, 2-dipalmitoylglycerol; GlcN-(2-O-octyl) PI] or O-hexadecyl ether [D-GlcNalpha1-6D-(2-O-hexadecyl)myo-inositol-1-HPO(4)-3-sn-1, 2-dipalmitoylglycerol; GlcN-(2-O-hexadecyl)PI], were tested as substrates or inhibitors of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthetic pathways using cell-free systems of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei (the causative agent of human African sleeping sickness) and human HeLa cells. Neither these compounds nor their N-acetyl derivatives are substrates or inhibitors of GPI biosynthetic enzymes in the HeLa cell-free system but are potent inhibitors of GPI biosynthesis in the T.brucei cell-free system. GlcN-(2-O-hexadecyl)PI was shown to inhibit the first alpha-mannosyltransferase of the trypanosomal GPI pathway. The N-acetylated derivative GlcNAc-(2-O-octyl)PI is a substrate for the trypanosomal GlcNAc-PI de-N-acetylase and this compound, like GlcN-(2-O-octyl)PI, is processed predominantly to Man(2)GlcN-(2-O-octyl)PI by the T.brucei cell-free system. Both GlcN-(2-O-octyl)PI and GlcNAc(2-O-octyl)PI also inhibit inositol acylation of Man(1-3)GlcN-PI and, consequently, the addition of the ethanolamine phosphate bridge in the T.brucei cell-free system. The data establish these substrate analogues as the first generation of in vitro parasite GPI pathway-specific inhibitors.     

Synthesis of 1-D-6-O-[2-(N-hydroxyaminocarbonyl)amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]-myo-inositol 1-(n-octadecyl phosphate): a potential metalloenzyme inhibitor of glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis

1-D-6-O-[2-(N-hydroxyaminocarbonyl)amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]-myo-inositol 1-(n-octadecyl phosphate) was prepared to probe the reaction mechanism of the putative zinc-dependent metalloenzyme 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-phosphatidylinositol de-N-acetylase of glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis.     

Parasite-specific inhibition of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthetic pathway by stereoisomeric substrate analogues

The natural substrate for the first alpha-D-mannosyltransferase of glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei is D-GlcNalpha1-6-D-myo-inositol-1-P-sn-1, 2-diacylglycerol. Here we show that a diastereoisomer, D-GlcNalpha1-6-L-myo-inositol-1-P-sn-1,2-diacylglycerol, is an inhibitor of this enzyme in a trypanosomal cell-free system. Tests with other L-myo-inositol-containing compounds revealed that L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate is the principal inhibitory component and that methylation of the 2-OH group of the L-myo-inositol residue abolishes any inhibition. Comparisons between the natural substrate and the inhibitors suggested that the inhibitors bind to the first alpha-D-mannosyltransferase by means of charge interactions with the 1-phosphate group and/or hydrogen bonds involving the 3-, 4-, and 5-OH groups of the L-myo-inositol residue, which are predicted to occupy orientations identical to those of the 1-phosphate and 5-, 4-, and 3-OH groups, respectively, of the D-myo-inositol residue of the natural substrate. However, additional experiments indicated that the 4-OH group of the D-myo-inositol residue is unlikely to be involved in substrate recognition. None of the L-myo-inositol-containing compounds that inhibited glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthesis in a parasite cell-free system had any effect on GPI biosynthesis in a comparable human (HeLa) cell-free system, suggesting that other related parasite-specific inhibitors of this essential pathway might be developed.     

Biochemistry of the initial steps of mycothiol biosynthesis

Mycothiol is the major thiol produced by mycobacteria and is required for growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The final three steps in the biosynthesis of mycothiol have been fully elucidated but the initial steps have been unclear. A glycosyltransferase, MshA, is required for production of the mycothiol precursor, 1-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-D-myo-inositol, but its substrates and immediate products were unknown. In this study, we show that the N-acetylglucosamine donor is UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and that the N-acetylglucosamine acceptor is 1L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate. The reaction generates UDP and 1-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-D-myo-inositol 3-phosphate. Using cell-free extracts of M. smegmatis mc(2)155, little activity was obtained with myo-inositol, 1D-myo-inositol 1-phosphate, or myo-inositol 2-phosphate as the N-acetylglucosamine acceptor. A phosphatase, designated MshA2, is required to dephosphorylate 1-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-glucopyranosyl)-D-myo-inositol 3-phosphate to produce 1-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-D-myo-inositol. The latter is deacetylated, ligated with cysteine, and the cysteinyl amino group acetylated by acetyl-CoA to complete the mycothiol biosynthesis pathway. Uptake and concentration of myo-[14C]inositol is rapid in Mycobacterium smegmatis and leads to production of radiolabeled inositol 1-phosphate and mycothiol. This demonstrates the presence of a myo-inositol transporter and a kinase that generates 1L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate. The biochemical pathway of mycothiol biosynthesis is now fully elucidated.     

Specificities of enzymes of glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis in Trypanosoma brucei and HeLa cells

A series of synthetic analogues of d-GlcN alpha 1-6-d-myo-inositol-1-HPO(4)-sn-1,2-dipalmitoylglycerol, consisting of 22 variants of the d-GlcN or lipid components, were tested in trypanosomal and human (HeLa) cell-free systems. The assays measured the abilities of the analogues to act as substrates or inhibitors of the enzymes of glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis downstream of GlcNAc-phosphatidylinositol (GlcNAc-PI) de-N-acetylase. One compound, 4-deoxy-d-GlcN alpha 1-6-d-myo-inositol-1-HPO(4)-sn-1,2-dipalmitoylglycerol, proved to be an inhibitor of both the trypanosomal and HeLa pathways, whereas 4-O-methyl-d-GlcN alpha 1-6-d-myo-inositol-1-HPO(4)-sn-1,2-dipalmitoylglycerol and the 4'-epimer, d-GalN-alpha1-6-d-myo-inositol-1-HPO(4)-sn-1,2-dipalmitoylglycerol, were neither substrates nor inhibitors. The results with other analogues showed that the 6-OH of the alpha-d-GlcN residue is not required for substrate recognition in the trypanosomal and human pathways, whereas the 3-OH group is essential for both. Parasite-specific recognition of the beta-linked analogue d-GlcN beta 1-6-d-myo-inositol-1-HPO(4)-sn-1,2-dipalmitoylglycerol is striking. This suggests that, like the GlcNAc-PI de-N-acetylase, the trypanosomal glycosylphosphatidylinositol alpha-mannosyltransferases, inositol acyltransferse and ethanolamine phosphate transferase, do not recognize the 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-OH groups of the d-myo-inositol residue, whereas the human inositol acyltransferase and/or first alpha-mannosyltransferase recognizes one or more of these groups. All of the various lipid analogues tested served as substrates in both the trypanosomal and HeLa cell-free systems, suggesting that a precise lipid structure and stereochemistry are not essential for substrate recognition. However, an analogue containing a single C18:0 alkyl chain in place of sn-1,2-dipalmitoylglycerol proved to be a better substrate in the trypanosomal than in the HeLa cell-free system. These findings should have a bearing on the design of future generations of specific inhibitors of the trypanosomal glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthetic pathway.     

Improved synthesis of dicyclohexylidene protected quebrachitol and its use in the synthesis of L-chiro-inositol derivatives

A modified synthesis of 1L-1,2:3,4-di-O-cyclohexylidene-5-O-methyl-chiro-inositol has been accomplished that improves the overall procedure, yield, and environmental aspects of its formation. Several inositol analogues have been prepared from this intermediate for testing as biosynthetic inhibitors of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor formation.     

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.     

Synthesis of some D-mannosyl-oligosaccharides containing the methyl and 4-nitrophenyl beta-D-mannopyranoside units

Methyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-mannopyranoside (2), methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-mannopyranoside (11), and 4-nitrophenyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-mannopyranoside (12) were each condensed with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide (1) in the presence of mercuric cyanide, to give after deprotection, methyl 2-(5) and 6-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-beta-D-mannopyranoside (15), and 4-nitrophenyl 6-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-beta-D-mannopyranoside (20), respectively. A similar condensation of 11 with 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-a lpha-D- mannopyranosyl bromide (21) and 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-a lpha D-mannopyranosyl bromide (25), followed by removal of protecting groups, afforded methyl O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----2)-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----6)-beta -D- mannopyranoside (24) and methyl O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----6)-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----6)-beta -D- mannopyranoside (28), respectively. Bromide 25 was also condensed with 12 to give a trisaccharide derivative which was deprotected to furnish 4-nitrophenyl O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----6)-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----6)-beta-D - mannopyranoside (31). Phosphorylation of methyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-2-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-beta-D-mannopyranoside and 15 with diphenyl phosphorochloridate in pyridine gave the 6'-phosphates 6 and 16, respectively. Hydrogenolysis of the benzyl and phenyl groups provided methyl 2-O-(disodium alpha-D-mannopyranosyl 6-phosphate)-beta-D-mannopyranoside (7) and methyl 6-O-(disodium alpha-D-mannopyranosyl 6-phosphate)-beta-D-mannopyranoside (17) after treatment with Amberlite IR-120 (Na+) cation-exchange resin. The structures of compounds 5, 7, 15, 17, 20, 24, 28, and 31 were established by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of methyl glycoside derivatives of tri- and penta-saccharides related to the antithrombin III-binding sequence of heparin, employing cellobiose as a key starting-material

Two key synthons for the title pentasaccharide derivative, methyl O-(methyl 2-O-benzoyl-3-O-benzyl-alpha-L-idopyranosyluronate)-(1----4)-6-O-acetyl- 2-azido - 3-O- benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside and O-(methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-O- chloroacetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyluronate)-(1----4)-3,6-di-O-acetyl-2-az ido-2- deoxy-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl bromide, were prepared from a common starting material, cellobiose. They were coupled to give a tetrasaccharide derivative that underwent O-dechloroacetylation to the corresponding glycosyl acceptor. Its condensation with the known 6-O-acetyl-2-azido-3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide afforded a 77% yield of suitably protected pentasaccharide, methyl O-(6-O- acetyl-2-azido-3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----4)- O- (methyl 2,3- di-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyluronate)-(1----4)-O-(3,6-di-O-acetyl-2- azido-2 - deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----4)-O-(methyl 2-O-benzoyl-3-O-benzyl-alpha-L- idopyranosyluronate)- (1----4)-6-O-acetyl-2-azido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside. Sequential deprotection and sulfation gave the decasodium salt of methyl O-(2- deoxy-2-sulfamido-6-O-sulfo-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----4)-O-(be ta-D- glucopyranosyl-uronic acid)-(1----4)-O-(2-deoxy-2-sulfamido-3,6-di-O-sulfo-alpha-D-gluco pyranosyl)- (1----4)-O-(2-O-sulfo-alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic acid)-(1----4)-2-deoxy-2- sulfamido-6-O- sulfo-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3). In a similar way, the trisaccharide derivative, the hexasodium salt of methyl O-(2-deoxy-2-sulfamido-6-O-sulfo-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl)- (1----4)-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-(1----4)-2-deoxy-2-sulfamido-3,6- di-O- sulfo-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (4) was synthesized from methyl O-(6-O-acetyl-2- azido- 3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----4)-O-(methyl 2,3-di-O- benzyl-beta- D-glucopyranosyluronate)-3,6-di-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha-D- glucopyranoside. The pentasaccharide 3 binds strongly to antithrombin III with an association constant almost equivalent to that of high-affinity heparin, but the trisaccharide 4 appears not to bind.     

Synthesis of kanamycin A analogs containing a 6-amino-6-deoxyglycofuranose moiety

Three kanamycin A analogs containing 6-amino-6-deoxyglycofuranoses have been prepared as candidates for potential activity against resistant bacteria producing 6'-N-acetyltransferase. They are 4-O-(6-amino-3,5,6-trideoxy-alpha-D-, -beta-D-, and -beta-L-erythro -hexofuranosyl)-6-O-(3-amino-3-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-2,5-dideoxy-5-epi-5-fluorostreptamine. Structure-activity relationships of these compounds are discussed.     

Acylated protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides from the root of Panax ginseng

Six new protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides, named ginsenosides Ra(4) -Ra(9) (1-6, resp.), along with 14 known dammarane-type triterpene saponins, were isolated from the root of Panax ginseng, one of the most important Chinese medicinal herbs. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR, HR-MS, and chemical transformation as (20S)- 3-O-{β-D-6-O-[(E)-but-2-enoyl]glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl}-20-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]protopanaxadiol (1), (20S)-3-O-[β-D-6-O-acetylglucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]protopanaxadiol (2), (20S)-3-O-{β-D-6-O-[(E)-but-2-enoyl]glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl}-20-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]protopanaxadiol (3), (20S)-3-O-{β-D-6-O-[(E)-but-2-enoyl]glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl}-20-O-[α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]protopanaxadiol (4), (20S)-3-O-{β-D-4-O-[(E)-but-2-enoyl]glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl}-20-O-[α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]protopanaxadiol (5), (20S)-3-O-{β-D-6-O-[(E)-but-2-enoyl]glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl}-20-O-[α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]protopanaxadiol (6). The sugar moiety at C(3) of the aglycone of each new ginsenoside is butenoylated or acetylated.     

The role of inositol acylation and inositol deacylation in GPI biosynthesis in Trypanosoma brucei.

The compound diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) selectively inhibits an inositol deacylase activity in living trypanosomes that, together with the previously described phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF)-sensitive inositol acyltransferase, maintains a dynamic equilibrium between the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor precursor, glycolipid A [NH2(CH2)2PO4-6Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4GlcN alpha 1-6myo-inositol-1-PO4-sn-1,2-dimyristoylglycerol], and its inositol acylated form, glycolipid C. Experiments using DFP in living trypanosomes and a trypanosome cell-free system suggest that earlier GPI intermediates are also in equilibrium between their inositol acylated and nonacylated forms. However, unlike mammalian and yeast cells, bloodstream form trypanosomes do not appear to produce an inositol acylated form of glucosaminylphosphatidylinositol (GlcN-PI). A specific function of inositol acylation in trypanosomes may be to enhance the efficiency of ethanolamine phosphate addition to the Man3GlcN-(acyl)PI intermediate. Inositol deacylation appears to be a prerequisite for fatty acid remodelling of GPI intermediates that leads to the exclusive presence of myristic acid in glycolipid A and, ultimately, in the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). In the presence of DFP, the de novo synthesis of GPI precursors cannot proceed beyond glycolipid C' (the unremodelled version of glycolipid C) and lyso-glycolipid C'. Under these conditions glycolipid C'-type GPI anchors appear on newly synthesized VSG molecules. However, the efficiencies of both anchor addition to VSG and N-glycosylation of VSG were significantly reduced. A modified model of the GPI biosynthetic pathway in bloodstream form African trypanosomes incorporating these findings is presented.     

Regulation of Paramecium primaurelia glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol biosynthesis via dolichol phosphate mannose synthesis

A set of glycosylinositol-phosphoceramides, belonging to a family of glycosylphosphatidyl-inositols (GPIs) synthesized in a cell-free system prepared from the free-living protozoan Paramecium primaurelia has been described. The final GPI precursor was identified and structurally characterized as: ethanolamine-phosphate-6Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6(mannosylphosphate) Man alpha 1-4glucosamine-inositol-phospho-ceramide. During our investigations on the biosynthesis of the acid-labile modification, the additional mannosyl phosphate substitution, we observed that the use of the nucleotide triphosphate analogue GTP gamma S (guanosine 5-O-(thiotriphosphate)) blocks the biosynthesis of the mannosylated GPI glycolipids. We show that GTP gamma S inhibits the synthesis of dolichol-phosphate-mannose, which is the donor of the mannose residues for GPI biosynthesis. Therefore, we investigated the role of GTP binding regulatory 'G' proteins using cholera and pertussis toxins and an intracellular second messenger cAMP analogue, 8-bromo-cAMP. All the data obtained suggest the involvement of classical heterotrimeric G proteins in the regulation of GPI-anchor biosynthesis through dolichol-phosphate-mannose synthesis via the activation of adenylyl cyclase and protein phosphorylation. Furthermore, our data suggest that GTP gamma S interferes with synthesis of dolichol monophosphate, indicating that the dolichol kinase is regulated by the heterotrimeric G proteins.     

金铁锁的两个新三萜皂苷

从石竹科植物金铁锁(Psammosilene tunicoides W．C．Wu et C．Y．Wu)根部分离得到4个齐墩果酸型五环三萜皂苷。它们的结构通过波谱和化学方法分别鉴定为：3-O-β-D-galac-topyranosyl-(1→2 )-β-D-6-O-methylgtucuronopymnosyl-quillaic acid (1),3-O-β-D-galactopymnosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-gtucuronopyranosyl-quillaic acid (2),3-O-β-D-galactopyrano-syl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-6-O-methylgtucuronopyranosyl-quillaic acid(3),3-O-β-D-galactopymnosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-6-O-ethylgtucuronopyranosyl-quillaic acid(4)。其中1为木鳖子中发现的次甙,3和4为新化合物。     

Transfer of apiose from UDP-apiose to 7-O-(beta-D-glucosyl)-apigenin and 7-O-(beta-D-glucosyl)-chrysoeriol with an enzyme preparation from parsley

An enzyme preparation from parsley (Petroselinum hortense Hoffm.) catalyses the formation of apiin (7-O-[beta-D-apio-furanosyl(1-->2)beta-D-glycosyl]-5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone) from 7-O-(beta-D-glycosyl)-apigenin and UDP-apiose and of the corresponding chrysoeriol-7-apiosyl-glucoside from 7-O(beta-D-glucosyl)-chrysoeriol and UDP-apiose. Neither free apiose nor cyclic apiose-1,2-phosphate can function as a substrate for the transfer reaction.     

Anti-diabetic effects of a kaempferol glycoside-rich fraction from unripe soybean (Edamame, Glycine max L. Merrill. 'Jindai') leaves on KK-A(y) mice

The anti-diabetic effects of a kaempferol glycoside-rich fraction (KG) prepared from leaves of unripe Jindai soybean (Edamame) and kaempferol, an aglycone of kaempferol glycoside, were determined in genetically type 2 diabetic KK-A(y) mice. The hemoglobin A(?c) level was decreased and tended to be decreased by respectively feeding KG and kaempferol (K). The area under the curve (AUC) in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) tended to be decreased by feeding K and KG. The liver triglyceride level and fatty acid synthase activity were both decreased in the mice fed with KG and K when compared to those parameters in the control mice. These results suggest that KG and K would be useful to improve the diabetes condition. The major flavonoids in KG were identified as kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-D-galactopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl) galactopyranoside and kaempferol 3-O-β-D-(2,6-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl) galactopyronoside, suggesting that these compounds or some of them may be concerned with mitigation of diabetes.     

A highly convergent and effective synthesis of the phytoalexin elicitor hexasaccharide.

The peracetylated hexasaccharide 1,2,4-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-6- O- (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-O-(2,4-di-O-acetyl-3,6-di-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acety l- beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-alp ha, beta-D-glucopyranose 21 was synthesized in a blockwise manner, employing trisaccharide trichloroacetimidate 2,4-di-O-acetyl-3,6-di-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)- alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate 17 as the glycosyl donor, and trisaccharide 4-O-acetyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(2,3,4 -tri -O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2-O-(R,S)ethylidene-alpha-D-glucopyra nose 18 as the acceptor. The donor 17 and acceptor 18 were readily prepared from trisaccharides 3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acet yl- 6-O-chloroacetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2-O-(R,S)ethylidene-alpha-D- glucopyranose 10 and 3,6-di-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2-O-(R,S) ethylidene-alpha-D-glucopyranose 11, respectively, which were obtained from rearrangement of orthoesters 3,4-di-O-acetyl-6-O-chloroacetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranose 1,2-(3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2-O-(R,S) ethylidene-alpha-D-glucopyranosid-6-yl orthoacetate) 8 and 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranose 1,2-(3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2-O-(R,S) ethylidene-alpha-D-glucopyranosid-6-yl orthoacetate) 9, respectively. The orthoesters were prepared from selective coupling of the disaccharide 3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2-O-(R,S) ethylidene-alpha-D-glucopyranose 4 with 'acetobromoglucose' (tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide) and 6-O-chloroacetylated 'acetobromoglucose', respectively. To confirm the selectivity of the orthoester formation and rearrangement, the disaccharide 4-O-acetyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2-O-(R,S ) ethylidene-alpha-D-glucopyranose 7 was prepared from 4 by selective tritylation, acetylation and detritylation. The title compound, an elicitor-active D-glucohexaose 3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(6-O-(3,6-di-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-b eta -D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-alpha,beta-D-glucopyranose 1, was finally obtained by Zemplén deacetylation of 21 in quantitative yield.     

Inhibitors of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor biosynthesis

Glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) is a complex glycolipid structure that acts as a membrane anchor for many cell-surface proteins of eukaryotes. GPI-anchored proteins are particularly abundant in protozoa such as Trypanosoma brucei, Leishmania major, Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii, and represent the major carbohydrate modification of many cell-surface parasite proteins. Although the GPI core glycan is conserved in all organisms, many differences in additional modifications to GPI structures and biosynthetic pathways have been reported. Therefore, the characteristics of GPI biosynthesis are currently being explored for the development of parasite-specific inhibitors. In vitro and in vivo studies using sugars and substrate analogues as well as natural compounds have shown that it is possible to interfere with GPI biosynthesis at different steps in a species-specific manner. Here we review the recent and promising progress in the field of GPI inhibition.