Binding of sulfonium-ion analogues of di-epi-swainsonine and 8-epi-lentiginosine to Drosophila Golgi alpha-mannosidase II: the role of water in inhibitor binding

Retaining glycosidases operate by a two-step catalytic mechanism in which the transition states are characterized by buildup of a partial positive charge at the anomeric center. Sulfonium-ion analogues of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitors, swainsonine and 8-epi-lentiginosine, in which the bridgehead nitrogen atom is replaced by a sulfonium-ion, were synthesized in order to test the hypothesis that a sulfonium salt carrying a permanent positive charge would be an effective glycosidase inhibitor. Initial prediction based on computational docking indicated three plausible binding modes to Drosophila Golgi alpha-mannosidase II (dGMII), the most likely being close to that of swainsonine. Observation of the binding of di-epi-thioswainsonine and 8-epi-thiolentiginosine to dGMII from crystallographic data, however, revealed an orientation different from swainsonine in the active site. Screening these two compounds against dGMII shows that they are inhibitors with IC(50) values of 2.0 and 0.014 mM, respectively. This dramatic difference in affinity between the two compounds, which differ by only one hydroxyl group, is rationalized in terms of bound water molecules and the water molecule substructure in the active site, as identified by comparison of high resolution X-ray crystal structures of several dGMII-inhibitor complexes.     

Synthesis, enzymatic activity, and X-ray crystallography of an unusual class of amino acids

The synthesis of two novel amino acids, nitrogen analogues of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor, salacinol, containing a carboxylate inner salt are described, along with the crystal structure of one of these analogues in the active site of Drosophila melanogaster Golgi mannosidase II (dGMII). Salacinol, a naturally occurring sulfonium ion, is one of the active principals in the aqueous extracts of Salacia reticulata that are traditionally used in Sri Lanka and India for the treatment of diabetes. The synthetic strategy relies on the nucleophilic attack of 2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino l- or d-arabinitol at the least hindered carbon of 5,6-anhydro-2,3-di-O-benzyl-l-ascorbic acid to yield coupled adducts. Deprotection, stereoselective catalytic reduction, and hydrolysis of the coupled products give the target compounds. The compound derived from d-arabinitol inhibits dGMII, one of the critical enzymes in the glycoprotein processing pathway, with an IC(50) of 0.3mM. Inhibition of GMII has been identified as a target for control of metastatic cancer. An X-ray crystal structure of the complex of this compound with dGMII provides insight into the requirements for an effective inhibitor. The same compound inhibits recombinant human maltase glucoamylase, one of the key intestinal enzymes involved in the breakdown of glucose oligosaccharides in the small intestine, with a K(i) value of 21microM.     

Structure of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II: a target for inhibition of growth and metastasis of cancer cells.

Golgi alpha-mannosidase II, a key enzyme in N-glycan processing, is a target in the development of anti- cancer therapies. The crystal structure of Drosophila Golgi alpha-mannosidase II in the absence and presence of the anti-cancer agent swainsonine and the inhibitor deoxymannojirimycin reveals a novel protein fold with an active site zinc intricately involved both in the substrate specificity of the enzyme and directly in the catalytic mechanism. Identification of a putative GlcNAc binding pocket in the vicinity of the active site cavity provides a model for the binding of the GlcNAcMan(5)GlcNAc(2) substrate and the consecutive hydrolysis of the alpha1,6- and alpha1,3-linked mannose residues. The enzyme-inhibitor interactions observed provide insight into the catalytic mechanism, opening the door to the design of novel inhibitors of alpha-mannosidase II.     

A combined STD-NMR/molecular modeling protocol for predicting the binding modes of the glycosidase inhibitors kifunensine and salacinol to Golgi alpha-mannosidase II

A combined STD-NMR/molecular modeling protocol to probe the binding modes of the glycosidase inhibitors kifunensine and salacinol to Drosophila melanogaster Golgi alpha-mannosidase II (dGMII) was tested. Saturation-transfer difference (STD) NMR experiments were carried out for the complexes of dGMII with these two inhibitors. The program AutoDock 3.0 was then used to optimize the interactions of the inhibitors with the residues in the active site of dGMII. Theoretical STD effects of the ligand protons in the complexes were calculated for the different binding modes with the recently developed CORCEMA-ST protocol. Comparison of experimental and theoretical effects then permitted selection of the likely binding modes of the ligands. The more rigid kifunensine was used initially to test the protocol. Excellent correlation between experimental and theoretical data was obtained for one of the binding modes that also corresponded to that observed in the crystal structure of the complex. The protocol was then extended to the more flexible salacinol. For the selected binding mode, good correlation of experimental and theoretical data for the five-membered ring was obtained; however, poor correlation for protons on the acyclic chain was obtained, suggesting flexibility in this portion of the molecule. Comparison of the selected binding mode with that from a crystal structure of salacinol with dGMII showed excellent superimposition of the five-membered ring but another orientation of the acyclic chain. The results suggest that reliable structural binding modes of a ligand to protein in aqueous solution can be provided with the combined use of STD-NMR spectroscopy, molecular modeling, and CORCEMA-ST calculations, although highly flexible portions of the ligand may be poorly defined.     

Evidence for an alpha-mannosidase in endoplasmic reticulum of rat liver

An alpha-mannosidase activity has been identified in a preparation of rat liver endoplasmic reticulum and shown to be distinct from the previously described Golgi alpha-mannosidases I and II and the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase. The enzyme was solubilized with deoxycholate and separated from other alpha-mannosidases by passage over concanavalin A-Sepharose to which it does not bind. The endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase cleaves alpha-1,2-linked mannoses from high mannose oligosaccharides and, unlike Golgi alpha-mannosidase I, is active against p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannoside (Km = 0.17 mM). It has no activity toward GlcNAc-Man5GlcNAc2 peptide, the specific substrate of the Golgi alpha-mannosidase II. The endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase activity toward p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannoside is relatively insensitive to swainsonine, an inhibitor of both the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase and Golgi alpha-mannosidase II. We propose that the endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase is responsible for the removal of mannose residues from asparagine-linked high mannose type oligosaccharides prior to their entry into the Golgi.     

Glycosidase inhibition by cyclic sulfonium compounds

Inhibitory activities of various cyclic sulfonium compounds including salacinol against several glycosidases were studied and some compounds showed significant inhibition. The sulfonium ion structure was found to be essential for the inhibitory activity. Specific inhibition of salacinol toward rice alpha-glucosidase was ascribed to the tether arm.     

Synthesis of phosphate derivatives related to the glycosidase inhibitor salacinol

The syntheses of polyhydroxylated imino- and anhydro thio-alditol compounds related to the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor, salacinol, containing a phosphate group in the side chain are described. The compounds lack hydroxyl groups on the acyclic side chain and are prototypes of the exact salacinol analogue. The synthetic strategy relies on the Mitsunobu reaction of N- and S-hydroxyalkyl derivatives of 2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol and 1,4-anhydro-2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-D-arabinitol with dibenzyl phosphate to yield the corresponding protected heteroalditol phosphates. Screening of these compounds against recombinant human maltase glucoamylase (MGA), a critical intestinal glucosidase involved in the processing of oligosaccharides of glucose into glucose itself, shows that they are not effective inhibitors of MGA and demonstrates the importance of the hydroxyl and/or sulfate substituents present on the side chain for effective inhibition. The attempted synthesis of the exact analogue of salacinol by opening of cyclic phosphates is also described.     

Synthesis of novel ammonium and selenonium ions and their evaluation as inhibitors of UDP-galactopyranose mutase

The syntheses of two ammonium salts of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-galactitol containing erythritol sulfate side chains are described. The parent compound is a known inhibitor of the enzyme UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UDP-galactopyranose furanomutase, E.C. 5.4.99.9), which is responsible for the conversion of UDP-galactopyranose into UDP-galactofuranose and is presumably protonated in its active form. The side chain was chosen because it is present in a known sulfonium ion alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, salacinol. The syntheses of the selenonium analogues derived from 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-seleno-d-galactitol are also described. The synthetic strategy in the syntheses of all four salts involved the nucleophilic attack of a protected derivative of the alditol at the least hindered carbon of 2,4-O-benzylidene d- or l-erythritol-1,3-cyclic sulfate to give adducts that were subsequently deprotected. The importance of different protecting groups used in the various syntheses is also highlighted. Enzyme inhibition assays carried out on these compounds, and the corresponding sulfonium ions synthesized previously, show that they are poor inhibitors of UDP-galactopyranose mutase.     

Synthesis of new analogues of salacinol containing a pendant hydroxymethyl group as potential glycosidase inhibitors

The synthesis of new analogues of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor, salacinol, and its ammonium analogue, ghavamiol is described. These analogues contain an additional hydroxymethyl group at C-1, which was intended to form additional polar contacts within the active site of glycosidase enzymes. The target zwitterionic compounds were synthesized by means of nucleophilic attack at the least hindered carbon atom of 2,4-O-benzylidene-l (or d)-erythritol 1,3-cyclic sulfate by 2,5-anhydro-1,3:4,6-di-O-benzylidene-2,5-dideoxy-5-thio (or 1,5-imino)-l-iditol.     

Synthesis of a novel class of sulfonium ions as potential inhibitors of UDP-galactopyranose mutase

Two sulfonium salts of 1,4-anhydro-4-thio-D-galactitol, with structures related to the known sulfonium salt glycosidase inhibitor, salacinol, have been synthesized as potential inhibitors of UDP-galactopyranose mutase. The synthetic strategy relies on the alkylation reaction of 1,4-anhydro-2,3,5,6-tetra-O-benzyl-4-thio-D-galactitol at the sulfur atom with 2,4-O-benzylidene-D- or -L-erythritol-1,3-cyclic sulfate. In each case, the reaction proceeded stereoselectively to yield only one stereoisomer at the stereogenic sulfur atom. The effect of the polar solvent, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), in promoting high-yielding reactions is highlighted. The target compounds are then obtained by hydrogenolysis.     

Synthesis of 2-amido, 2-amino, and 2-azido derivatives of the nitrogen analogue of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor salacinol and their inhibitory activities against O-GlcNAcase and NagZ enzymes

Seven 2-substituted derivatives of the nitrogen analogue of salacinol, a naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor, were synthesized for structure-activity studies with hexosaminidase enzymes. The target zwitterionic compounds were synthesized by means of nucleophilic attack of the 2-azido-1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol at the least hindered carbon atom of 2,4-O-benzylidene-L-erythritol-1,3-cyclic sulfate. Hydrogenation of the azido zwitterionic compound in methanol resulted in the reduction of the azide and subsequent methylation of the resulting amine in one pot. A similar reaction, with ethanol as the solvent, gave the N-ethyl derivative. The 2-amino analogues were finally obtained by the reduction of the azide function using triphenylphosphine. Acylation of the amine using acetic, propionic, or valeric anhydride afforded the corresponding 2-amido derivatives. Deprotection of the acylated, coupled products using 80% trifluoroacetic acid proceeded smoothly. Unlike their sulfonium ion counterparts, these compounds were stable and did not undergo ring opening. We also report the synthesis of the parent nitrogen heterocycles, N-Boc-1,2,4-trideoxy-2-amino-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol, and 1,2,4-trideoxy-2-acetamido-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol and its corresponding N-Boc protected compound. The 2-substituted analogues and the parent iminoalditol showed marginal activity (<33% at 250 microM) against human O-GlcNAcase and Vibrio cholerae NagZ enzymes.     

Evaluation of docking programs for predicting binding of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II inhibitors: a comparison with crystallography

Golgi alpha-mannosidase II (GMII), a zinc-dependent glycosyl hydrolase, is a promising target for drug development in anti-tumor therapies. Using X-ray crystallography, we have determined the structure of Drosophila melanogaster GMII (dGMII) complexed with three different inhibitors exhibiting IC50's ranging from 80 to 1000 microM. These structures, along with those of seven other available dGMII/inhibitor complexes, were then used as a basis for the evaluation of seven docking programs (GOLD, Glide, FlexX, AutoDock, eHiTS, LigandFit, and FITTED). We found that small inhibitors could be accurately docked by most of the software, while docking of larger compounds (i.e., those with extended aromatic cycles or long aliphatic chains) was more problematic. Overall, Glide provided the best docking results, with the most accurately predicted binding around the active site zinc atom. Further evaluation of Glide's performance revealed its ability to extract active compounds from a benchmark library of decoys.     

Alpha-mannosidases involved in N-glycan processing show cell specificity and distinct subcompartmentalization within the Golgi apparatus of cells in the testis and epididymis.

The Golgi apparatus is enriched in specific enzymes involved in the maturation of carbohydrates of glycoproteins. Among them, alpha-mannosidases IA, IB and II are type II transmembrane Golgi-resident enzymes that remove mannose residues at different stages of N-glycan maturation. alpha-Mannosidases IA and IB trim Man9GlcNAc2 to Man5GlcNAc2, while alpha-mannosidase II acts after GlcNAc transferase I to remove two mannose residues from GlcNAcMan5GlcNAc2 to form GlcNAcMan3GlcNAc2 prior to extension into complex N-glycans by Golgi glycosyltransferases. The objective of this study is to examine the expression as well as the subcellular localization of these Golgi enzymes in the various cells of the male rat reproductive system. Our results show distinct cell-and region-specific expression of the three mannosidases examined. In the testis, only alpha-mannosidase IA and II were detectable in the Golgi apparatus of Sertoli and Leydig cells, and while alpha-mannosidase IB was present in the Golgi apparatus of all germ cells, only the Golgi apparatus of steps 1-7 spermatids was reactive for alpha-mannosidase IA. In the epididymis, principal cells were unreactive for alpha-mannosidase II, but they expressed alpha-mannosidase IB in the initial segment and caput regions, and alpha-mannosidase IA in the corpus and cauda regions. Clear cells expressed alpha-mannosidase II in all epididymal regions, and alpha-mannosidase IB only in the caput and corpus regions. Ultrastructurally, alpha-mannosidase IB was localized mainly over cis saccules, alpha-mannosidase IA was distributed mainly over trans saccules, and alpha-mannosidase II was localized mainly over medial saccules of the Golgi stack. Thus, the cell-specific expression and distinct Golgi subcompartmental localization suggest that these three alpha-mannosidases play different roles during N-glycan maturation.     

Zwitterionic glycosidase inhibitors: salacinol and related analogues

Natural products with interesting biological properties and structural diversity have often served as valuable lead drug candidates for the treatment of human diseases. Salacinol, a naturally occurring alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, was shown to be one of the active principles of the aqueous extract of a medicinal plant that has been prescribed traditionally as an Ayurvedic treatment for type II diabetes. Salacinol contains an intriguing zwitterionic sulfonium-sulfate structure that comprises a 1,4-anhydro-4-thio-D-arabinitol core and a polyhydroxylated acyclic chain. Due to the unique structural features and its potential to become a lead drug candidate in the treatment of type II diabetes, a great deal of attention has been focused on salacinol and its analogues. Since the isolation of salacinol, several papers describing various synthetic routes to salacinol and its analogues have appeared in the literature. This review is aimed at highlighting the synthetic aspects of salacinol and related compounds as well as their structure-activity relationship studies.     

Insect cells encode a class II alpha-mannosidase with unique properties

Previously, we cloned and characterized an insect (Sf9) cell cDNA encoding a class II alpha-mannosidase with amino acid sequence and biochemical similarities to mammalian Golgi alpha-mannosidase II. Since then, it has been demonstrated that other mammalian class II alpha-mannosidases can participate in N-glycan processing. Thus, the present study was performed to evaluate the catalytic properties of the Sf9 class II alpha-mannosidase and to more clearly determine its relationship to mammalian Golgi alpha-mannosidase II. The results showed that the Sf9 enzyme is cobalt-dependent and can hydrolyze Man(5)GlcNAc(2) to Man(3)GlcNAc(2), but it cannot hydrolyze GlcNAcMan(5)GlcNAc(2). These data establish that the Sf9 enzyme is distinct from Golgi alpha-mannosidase II. This enzyme is not a lysosomal alpha-mannosidase because it is not active at acidic pH and it is localized in the Golgi apparatus. In fact, its sensitivity to swainsonine distinguishes the Sf9 enzyme from all other known mammalian class II alpha-mannosidases that can hydrolyze Man(5)GlcNAc(2). Based on these properties, we designated this enzyme Sf9 alpha-mannosidase III and concluded that it probably provides an alternate N-glycan processing pathway in Sf9 cells.     

Marked differences in the swainsonine inhibition of rat liver lysosomal alpha-D-mannosidase, rat liver Golgi mannosidase II, and jack bean alpha-D-mannosidase

Swainsonine, a plant toxin, strongly inhibits certain alpha-D-mannosidases but has no effect on others [D. R. P. Tulsiani, T. M. Harris, and O. Touster (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 7936-7939]. The reversible inhibition of jack bean and lysosomal alpha-D-mannosidases has previously been suggested to be similar in nature but quite complex. Specific differences in the action of swainsonine on these two enzymes and on Golgi mannosidase II are reported. (a) The inhibition of the jack bean mannosidase, but not rat liver lysosomal alpha-D-mannosidase or Golgi mannosidase II, is increased by preincubation with the alkaloid. (b) The inhibition of the jack bean and lysosomal enzymes, but not mannosidase II, is competitive at inhibitor concentrations of less than or equal to 0.5 microM. (c) The inhibition of jack bean alpha-mannosidase is largely irreversible, its very limited reversibility being partially dependent upon the swainsonine concentration used and on the time of preincubation with the inhibitor. On the other hand, the inhibition of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase is largely reversible, as shown by dilution experiments and by the use of [3H]swainsonine. Golgi mannosidase II shows intermediate reversibility, the results indicating two modes of binding; one rapid and irreversible, the other much slower and reversible.     

Effect of swainsonine on the processing and turnover of lysosomal beta-galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase from mouse peritoneal macrophages

The effect of swainsonine, an inhibitor of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II and lysosomal alpha-mannosidase, on the synthesis, processing, and turnover of two glycoproteins, lysosomal beta-galactosidase and lysosomal beta-glucuronidase, has been studied in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages. No effect of the inhibitor on the relative rates of synthesis of the precursor form of either enzyme was observed. On the other hand, carbohydrate processing of beta-galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase was markedly altered by swainsonine, consistent with a blockage by the inhibitor of the removal of the alpha-1,3- and alpha-1,6-linked mannose residues which occurs in normal processing. In homogenates of both normal and swainsonine-treated cells, the precursor forms of the enzymes were found exclusively in the light membrane fraction on Percoll gradients and the mature forms exclusively in the lysosomal fractions indicating that translocation from Golgi to lysosomes and proteolytic processing in the lysosome were not impaired by the presence of abnormal oligosaccharide side chains. There was no detectable effect of swainsonine during a 4-day chase period on the total cellular turnover of these enzymes which involves two processes, secretion and degradation. In the absence of swainsonine, secretion represented about 40% of the total turnover of beta-galactosidase and about 50% with beta-glucuronidase. The presence of swainsonine increased these proportions to about 60 and 70%, respectively.     

Novel purification of the catalytic domain of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II. Characterization and comparison with the intact enzyme

Rat liver alpha-mannosidase II, a hydrolase involved in the processing of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides, is an integral membrane glycoprotein facing the lumen of Golgi membranes. We have previously shown (Moremen, K. W., and Touster, O. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 10945-10951) that mild chymotrypsin digestion of permeabilized or solubilized Golgi membranes will result in the cleavage of the intact 124,000-dalton alpha-mannosidase II subunit, releasing a 110,000-dalton hydrophilic polypeptide which contains the catalytic site. Consistent with the removal of a membrane binding domain, the chymotrypsin-generated 110,000-dalton peptide was found exclusively in the aqueous phase in Triton X-114 phase separation studies, whereas the intact enzyme was found in the detergent phase. Taking advantage of this conversion in phase partitioning behavior, a purification procedure was developed to isolate the 110,000-dalton proteolytic digestion product as a homogeneous polypeptide for further characterization and protein sequencing at a yield of greater than 65% from a rat liver Golgi-enriched membrane fraction. An improved purification procedure for the intact enzyme was also developed. The two forms of the enzyme were compared yielding the following results. (a) The catalytic activity of the intact and cleaved forms of alpha-mannosidase II were indistinguishable in Km, Vmax, inhibition by the alkaloid, swainsonine, and in their activity toward the natural substrate GlcNAc-Man5GlcNAc. (b) Both the intact and cleaved forms of the enzyme appear to be disulfide-linked dimers. (c) The two forms of the enzyme contain different NH2-terminal sequences suggesting that the cleaved NH2 terminus contains the membrane-spanning domain. (d) Additional peptide sequences were obtained from proteolytic fragments and cyanogen bromide digestion products in order to create a partial protein sequence map of the enzyme. These results are consistent with a model common among Golgi processing enzymes of a hydrophilic catalytic domain anchored to the lumenal face of Golgi membranes through an NH2-terminal hydrophobic membrane-anchoring domain.     

Inhibition of recombinant human maltase glucoamylase by salacinol and derivatives

Inhibitors targeting pancreatic alpha-amylase and intestinal alpha-glucosidases delay glucose production following digestion and are currently used in the treatment of Type II diabetes. Maltase-glucoamylase (MGA), a family 31 glycoside hydrolase, is an alpha-glucosidase anchored in the membrane of small intestinal epithelial cells responsible for the final step of mammalian starch digestion leading to the release of glucose. This paper reports the production and purification of active human recombinant MGA amino terminal catalytic domain (MGAnt) from two different eukaryotic cell culture systems. MGAnt overexpressed in Drosophila cells was of quality and quantity suitable for kinetic and inhibition studies as well as future structural studies. Inhibition of MGAnt was tested with a group of prospective alpha-glucosidase inhibitors modeled after salacinol, a naturally occurring alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, and acarbose, a currently prescribed antidiabetic agent. Four synthetic inhibitors that bind and inhibit MGAnt activity better than acarbose, and at comparable levels to salacinol, were found. The inhibitors are derivatives of salacinol that contain either a selenium atom in place of sulfur in the five-membered ring, or a longer polyhydroxylated, sulfated chain than salacinol. Six-membered ring derivatives of salacinol and compounds modeled after miglitol were much less effective as MGAnt inhibitors. These results provide information on the inhibitory profile of MGAnt that will guide the development of new compounds having antidiabetic activity.     

Absolute stereostructure of potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, Salacinol, with unique thiosugar sulfonium sulfate inner salt structure from Salacia reticulata

A most potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitor named salacinol has been isolated from an antidiabetic Ayurvedic traditional medicine, Salacia reticulata WIGHT, through bioassay-guided separation. The absolute stereostructure of salacinol was determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence, which included the alkaline degradation of salacinol to 1-deoxy-4-thio-D-arabinofuranose and the X-ray crystallographic analysis, to be the unique spiro-like configuration of the inner salt comprised of 1-deoxy-4-thio-D-arabinofuranosyl sulfonium cation and 1'-deoxy-D-erythrosyl-3'-sulfate anion. Salacinol showed potent inhibitory activities on several alpha-glucosidases, such as maltase, sucrase, and isomaltase, and the inhibitory effects on serum glucose levels in maltose- and sucrose-loaded rats (in vivo) were found to be more potent than that of acarbose, a commercial alpha-glucosidase inhibitor.