Alternansucrase acceptor reactions with methyl hexopyranosides

Alternansucrase (EC 2.4.1.140, sucrose: (1-->6), (1-->3)-alpha-D-glucan 6(3)-alpha-D-glucosyltransferase) is a D-glucansucrase that synthesizes an alternating alpha-(1-->3), (1-->6)-linked D-glucan from sucrose. It also synthesizes oligosaccharides via D-glucopyranosyl transfer to various acceptor sugars. We have studied the acceptor products arising from methyl glycosides as model compounds in order to better understand the specificity of alternansucrase acceptor reactions. The initial product arising from methyl beta-D-glucopyranoside was methyl beta-isomaltoside, which was subsequently glucosylated to yield methyl beta-isomaltotrioside and methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside. These products are analogous to those previously described from methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside. The major initial acceptor product from methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside was methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside, but several minor products were also isolated and characterized, including a 3,6-di-O-substituted mannopyranoside. Methyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside yielded two initial products, methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-D-galactopyranoside and methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-D-galactopyranoside, in a 2.5:1 molar ratio. Methyl D-allopyranosides were glucosylated primarily at position 6, yielding methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-D-allopyranosides. The latter subsequently gave rise to methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-D-allopyranosides. In general, the methyl alpha-D-hexopyranosides were better acceptors than the corresponding beta-glycosides.     

Glucosylation of alpha-butyl- and alpha-octyl-D-glucopyranosides by dextransucrase and alternansucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides

For the first time, glucosylation of alpha-butyl- and alpha-octylglucopyranoside was achieved using dextransucrase (DS) of various specificities, and alternansucrase (AS) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides. All the glucansucrases (GS) tested used alpha-butylglucopyranoside as acceptor; in particular, DS produced alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-O-butyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside and alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-O-butyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside. In contrast, alpha-octylglucopyranoside was glucosylated only by AS which was shown to be the most efficient catalyst. The conversion rates, obtained with this enzyme at sucrose to acceptor molar ratio of 2:1 reached 81 and 61% for alpha-butylglucopyranoside and alpha-octylglucopyranoside, respectively. Analyses obtained from liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry revealed that different series of alpha-alkylpolyglucopyranosides regioisomers of increasing polymerization degree can be formed depending on the specificity of the catalyst.     

Novel oligosaccharides synthesized from sucrose donor and cellobiose acceptor by alternansucrase

Cellobiose was tested as acceptor in the reaction catalyzed by alternansucrase (EC 2.4.1.140) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-23192. The oligosaccharides synthesized were compared to those obtained with dextransucrase from L. mesenteroides NRRL B-512F. With alternansucrase and dextransucrase, overall oligosaccharide synthesis yield reached 30 and 14%, respectively, showing that alternansucrase is more efficient than dextransucrase for cellobiose glucosylation. Interestingly, alternansucrase produced a series of oligosaccharides from cellobiose. Their structure was determined by mass spectrometry and [13C-1H] NMR spectroscopy. Two trisaccharides are first produced: alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-D-glucopyranose (compound A) and alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-glucopyranose (compound B). Then, compound B can in turn be glucosylated leading to the synthesis of a tetrasaccharide with an additional alpha-(1-->6) linkage at the non-reducing end (compound D). The presence of the alpha-(1-->3) linkage occurred only in the pentasaccharides (compounds C1 and C2) formed from tetrasaccharide D. Compounds B, C1, C2 and D were never described before. They were produced efficiently only by alternansucrase. Their presence emphasizes the difference existing in the acceptor reaction selectivity of the various glucansucrases.     

Alternansucrase acceptor reactions with D-tagatose and L-glucose

Alternansucrase (EC 2.4.1.140) is a d-glucansucrase that synthesizes an alternating alpha-(1-->3), (1-->6)-linked d-glucan from sucrose. It also synthesizes oligosaccharides via d-glucopyranosyl transfer to various acceptor sugars. Two of the more efficient monosaccharide acceptors are D-tagatose and L-glucose. In the presence of d-tagatose, alternansucrase produced the disaccharide alpha-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->1)-beta-D-tagatopyranose via glucosyl transfer. This disaccharide is analogous to trehalulose. We were unable to isolate a disaccharide product from L-glucose, but the trisaccharide alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-l-glucose was isolated and identified. This is analogous to panose, one of the structural units of pullulan, in which the reducing-end D-glucose residue has been replaced by its L-enantiomer. The putative L-glucose disaccharide product, produced by glucoamylase hydrolysis of the trisaccharide, was found to be an acceptor for alternansucrase. The disaccharide, alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-L-glucose, was a better acceptor than maltose, previously the best known acceptor for alternansucrase. A structure comparison of alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-L-glucose and maltose was performed through computer modeling to identify common features, which may be important in acceptor affinity by alternansucrase.     

Structural characterization of enzymatically synthesized dextran and oligosaccharides from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1426 dextransucrase

Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1426 dextransucrase synthesized a high molecular mass dextran (>2 × 10⁶ Da) with ～85.5% α-(1→6) linear and ～14.5% α-(1→3) branched linkages. This high molecular mass dextran containing branched α-(1→3) linkages can be readily hydrolyzed for the production of enzyme-resistant isomalto-oligosaccharides. The acceptor specificity of dextransucrase for the transglycosylation reaction was studied using sixteen different acceptors. Among the sixteen acceptors used, isomaltose was found to be the best, having 89% efficiency followed by gentiobiose (64%), glucose (30%), cellobiose (25%), lactose (22.5%), melibiose (17%), and trehalose (2.3%) with reference to maltose, a known best acceptor. The β-linked disaccharide, gentiobiose, showed significant efficiency for oligosaccharide production that can be used as a potential prebiotic.     

Enzymatic synthesis and anti-coagulant effect of salicin analogs by using the Leuconostoc mesenteroides glucansucrase acceptor reaction

Glucansucrases from Leuconostoc mesenteroides catalyze the transfer of glucosyl units from sucrose to other carbohydrates by acceptor reaction. We modified salicyl alcohol, phenol and salicin by using various glucansucrases and with sucrose as a donor of glucosyl residues. Salicin, phenyl glucose, isosalicin, isomaltosyl salicyl alcohol, and a homologous series of oligosaccharides, connected to the acceptors and differing from one another by one or more glucose residues, were produced as major reaction products. By using salicin and salicyl alcohol as acceptors, B-1355C2 and B-1299CB-BF563 dextransucrases synthesized most widely diverse products, producing more than 12 and 9 different kinds of saccharides, respectively. With phenol, two acceptor products and oligosaccharides were synthesized by using the B-1299CB-BF563 dextransucrase. Salicyl derivatives, as acceptor products, showed higher anti-coagulation activity compared with that of salicin or salicyl alcohol that were used as acceptors.     

Penta-, hexa-, and heptasaccharide acceptor products of alternansucrase

In the presence of suitable acceptor molecules, dextransucrase makes a homologous series of oligosaccharides in which the isomers differ by a single glucosyl unit, whereas alternansucrase synthesizes one trisaccharide, two tetrasaccharides, etc. For the example of maltose as the acceptor, if one considers only the linear, unbranched possibilities for alternansucrase, the hypothetical number of potential products increases exponentially as a function of the degree of polymerization (DP). Experimental evidence indicates that far fewer products are actually formed. We show that only certain isomers of DP >4 are formed from maltose in measurable amounts, and that these oligosaccharides belong to the oligoalternan series rather than the oligodextran series. When the oligosaccharide acceptor products from maltose were separated by size-exclusion chromatography and HPLC, only one pentasaccharide was isolated. Its structure was alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-D-Glc. Two hexasaccharides were formed in approximately equal quantities: alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-D-Glc and alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-D-Glc. Just one heptasaccharide was isolated from the reaction mixture, alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-D-Glc. We conclude that the enzyme is incapable of forming two consecutive alpha-(1-->3) linkages, and does not form products with more than two consecutive alpha-(1-->6) linkages. The distribution of products may be kinetically determined.     

Acceptor reactions of maltodextrins with Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512FM dextransucrase

The acceptor products of maltose with Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512FM dextransucrase are panose (6(2)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl maltose) and a homologous series of 6(2)-isomaltodextrinosyl maltoses. The structures of the acceptor products of dextransucrase with other maltodextrins, maltotriose to maltooctaose (G3-G8), were determined by using the known specificities of alpha-glucosidase and porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase, and by methylation analysis. It has been found that dextransucrase transfers a D-glucopyranosyl residue to C-6 of either the nonreducing end or the reducing end residues of the maltodextrins, G3-G8, forming an alpha(1----6) linkage. When a D-glucose was transferred to the nonreducing residue, the first product was also an acceptor to give the second product, which served as an acceptor to give the third product, etc. to give a homologous series. When D-glucose was transferred to the reducing residue, the first product did not readily serve as an acceptor to give products or it served only as a very poor acceptor to give a small amount of the next homologue. The effectiveness of maltodextrins as acceptors decreased as the size of the maltodextrin chain increased. Maltotriose was 40% as effective as maltose and maltooctaose was only 6% as effective.     

The mechanism of acceptor reactions of leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512F dextransucrase

Reactions of dextransucrase and sucrose in the presence of sugars (acceptors) of low molecular weight have been observed to give a dextran of low molecular weight and a series of oligosaccharides. The acceptor reaction of dextransucrase was examined in the absence and presence of sucrose by using d-[¹⁴C]glucose, d-[¹⁴C]fructose, and ¹⁴C-reducing-end labeled maltose as acceptors. A purified dextransucrase was pre-incubated with sucrose, and the resulting d-fructose and unreacted sucrose were removed from the enzyme by chromatography on columns of Bio-Gel P-6. The enzyme, which migrated at the void volume, was collected and referred to as “charged enzyme”. The charged enzyme was incubated with ¹⁴C-acceptor in the absence of sucrose. Each of the three acceptors gave two fractions of labeled products, a high molecular weight product, identified as dextran, and a product of low molecular weight that was an oligosaccharide. It was found that all three of the acceptors were incorporated into the products at the reducing end. Similar results were obtained when the reactions were performed in the presence of sucrose, but higher yields of labeled products were obtained and a series of homologous oligosaccharides was produced when d-glucose or maltose was the acceptor. We propose that the acceptor reaction proceeds by nucleophilic displacement of glucosyl and dextranosyl groups from a covalent enzyme-complex by a specific, acceptor hydroxyl group, and that this reaction effects a glycosidic linkage between the d-glucosyl and dextranosyl groups and the acceptor. We conclude that the acceptor reactions serve to terminate polymerization of dextran by displacing the growing dextran chain from the active site of the enzyme; the acceptors, thus, do not initiate dextran polymerization by acting as primers.     

Occurrence of glucosylsucrose [alpha-D-glucopyranosyl- (1-->2)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fructofuranoside] and glucosylated homologues in cyanobacteria. Structural properties, cellular contents and possible function as thermoprotectants

Little is known about the structure and function of oligosaccharides in cyanobacteria. In this study, a new class of saccharides from Nostoc was identified by MS and NMR techniques, consisting of alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)]n-beta-D-fructofuranosides ranging from the trisaccharide (n = 1) to decasaccharide (n = 8). In Nostoc ellipsosporum the cell content of saccharides increased 10-20-fold after heat stress (1 day, 40 degrees C) or during prolonged cultivation. Under these conditions the abundance of homologues of higher molecular mass (> pentasaccharide) increased and finally exceeded that of homologues of lower molecular mass including sucrose. Total intracellular content of the saccharides after heat stress was 5-10 mg x (g dry weight)(-1) corresponding to intracellular concentrations of 0.25-0.5% (w/v). A possible role of the oligosaccharides identified is in the protection of enzymes against heat inactivation. Whereas amylase from Nostoc was only weakly protected by the decasaccharide, alpha-amylase from porcine pancreas was more efficiently stabilized by the octasaccharide and decasaccharide. Evidence is presented for the widespread occurrence of the newly identified saccharides in cyanobacteria. The results are discussed including previous reports on cyanobacterial oligosaccharides and with respect to possible functions of these compounds in the living cell.     

Synthesis of cellobiose-containing oligosaccharides by intermolecular transglucosylation of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Paenibacillus sp. A11

Intermolecular transglucosylation of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) was investigated for its use in oligosaccharide synthesis. From the kinetic parameters of the CGTase-catalyzed transglucosylation reaction, using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) as the glucosyl donor and various saccharides or derivatives as acceptors, the efficient acceptors of the Paenibacillus sp. A11 enzyme were glucose, sorbose, lactose and cellobiose. Amongst these acceptors, cellobiose showed the highest k_cat/K_m value. The transglucosylation yields of the reactions for cellobiose, sorbose and glucose acceptors were 78, 57 and 54%, respectively, making cellobiose the most efficient acceptor of the tested saccharides in coupling with β-CD. The optimal condition for the coupling reaction was determined as: 2% (w/v) β-CD and 0.5% (w/v) cellobiose, incubated with 64 U/mL of CGTase at 30 °C for 2 h. Two main transfer products detected by HPLC, PC1 and PC2, with retention times of 3.81 and 4.42 min, respectively, and a product ratio of 3:1, had a molecular mass of 504 and 666 Da, respectively, as analyzed by mass spectrometry. The structures suggested by NMR were a trisaccharide and a novel tetrasaccharide-containing cellobiose of the structures glc (α1 → 4) glc (β1 → 4) glc and glc (α1 → 4) glc (α1 → 4) glc (β1 → 4) glc, respectively. The products were found to be resistant to hydrolysis by α-amylase.     

Difference in transglycosylation between human pancreatic and salivary alpha-amylases

Transglycosylation reactions of alpha-amylases from human pancreatic juice and saliva were examined by using O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-D-glucopyranose as a substrate and O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-1-deoxy-1-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-D-glucitol as an acceptor. The transfer reaction was estimated by quantitation of O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-1-deoxy-1-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-D-glucitol produced by the enzymes from the transfer products, because the acceptor was not hydrolyzed. The amount of O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-1-deoxy-1-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-D-glucitol in the digest with pancreatic alpha-amylase was six times that in the digest with salivary alpha-amylase at the stage when the substrate was completely consumed, and the difference increased gradually on further incubation. The phenomenon can be applied to differentiate the two alpha-amylases in human serum.     

Synthesis of Neu5Ac- and Neu5Gc-alpha-(2-->6')-lactosamine 3-aminopropyl glycosides

In order to prepare 3-aminopropyl glycosides of Neu5Ac-alpha-(2-->6')-lactosamine trisaccharide 1, and its N-glycolyl containing analogue Neu5Gc-alpha-(2-->6')-lactosamine 2, a series of lactosamine acceptors with two, three, and four free OH groups in the galactose residue was studied in glycosylations with a conventional sialyl donor phenyl [methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-D-glycero-alpha- and beta-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onates (3) and a new donor phenyl [methyl 4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-5-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylacetamido)-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-D-glycero-alpha- and beta-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onates (4), respectively. The lactosamine 4',6'-diol acceptor was found to be the most efficient in glycosylation with both 3 and 4, while imide-type donor 4 gave slightly higher yields with all acceptors, and isolation of the reaction products was more convenient. In the trisaccharides, obtained by glycosylation with donor 4, the 5-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylacetamido) moiety in the neuraminic acid could be efficiently transformed into the desired N-glycolyl fragment, indicating that such protected oligosaccharide derivatives are valuable precursors of sialo-oligosaccharides containing N-modified analogues of Neu5Ac.     

Purification and characterization of a carbohydrate: acceptor oxidoreductase from Paraconiothyrium sp. that produces lactobionic acid efficiently

A carbohydrate:acceptor oxidoreductase from Paraconiothyrium sp. was purified and characterized. The enzyme efficiently oxidized beta-(1-->4) linked sugars, such as lactose, xylobiose, and cellooligosaccharides. The enzyme also oxidized maltooligosaccharides, D-glucose, D-xylose, D-galactose, L-arabinose, and 6-deoxy-D-glucose. It specifically oxidized the beta-anomer of lactose. Molecular oxygen and 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol were reduced by the enzyme as electron acceptors. The Paraconiothyrium enzyme was identified as a carbohydrate:acceptor oxidoreductase according to its specificity for electron donors and acceptors, and its molecular properties, as well as the N-terminal amino acid sequence. Further comparison of the amino acid sequences of lactose oxidizing enzymes indicated that carbohydrate:acceptor oxidoreductases belong to the same group as glucooligosaccharide oxidase, while they differ from cellobiose dehydrogenases and cellobiose:quinone oxidoreductases.     

Enzymatic synthesis of a 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl cyclic tetrasaccharide by kojibiose phosphorylase

The glucosyl transfer reaction of kojibiose phosphorylase (KPase) from Thermoanaerobacter brockii ATCC35047 was examined using cyclo-{-->6)-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->} (CTS) as an acceptor. KPase produced four transfer products, saccharides 1-4. The structure of a major product, saccharide 4, was 2-O-alpha-d-glucopyranosyl-CTS, cyclo-{-->6)-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->6)-[alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->2)]-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->}. The other transfer products, saccharides 1-3, were 2-O-alpha-kojibiosyl-, 2-O-alpha-kojitriosyl-, and 2-O-alpha-kojitetraosyl-CTS, respectively. These results showed that KPase transferred a glucose residue to the C-2 position at the ring glucose residue of CTS. This enzyme also catalyzed the chain-extending reaction of the side chain of 2-O-alpha-d-glycopyranosyl-CTS.     

Synthesis of methyl alpha-D-glucooligosaccharides by entrapped dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-1299

The synthesis of methyl alpha-D-glucooligosaccharides, using sucrose as glucosyl donor and methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside as acceptor, was studied with dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1299. The enzyme was immobilized by entrapment in alginate. By NMR and mass spectrometry we identified three homologous series (S1-S3) of methyl alpha-D-glucooligosaccharides. Series S2 and S3 were characterized by the presence of alpha(1-->2) linkages, in combination with alpha(1-->6) bonds. Two parameters, sucrose to acceptor concentration ratio (S/A) and the total sugar concentration (TSC) determined the yield of methyl alpha-D-glucooligosaccharides. The maximum concentration achieved of the first acceptor product, methyl alpha-D-isomaltoside, was 65 mM using a S/A 1:4 and a TSC of 336 g l(-1). When increasing temperature, a shift of selectivity towards compounds containing alpha(1-->2) bonds was observed. The formation of leucrose as a side process was very significant (reaching values of 32 g l(-1)) at high sucrose concentrations.     

Regioselective synthesis of p-nitrophenyl glycosides of beta-D-galactopyranosyl-disaccharides by transglycosylation with beta-D-galactosidases

The beta-D-galactosidase from porcine liver induced regiospecific transglycosylation of beta-D-galactose from beta-D-Gal-OC6H4NO2-o to OH-6 of, respectively, p-nitrophenyl glycoside acceptors of Gal, GlcNAc and GalNAc to afford beta-Gal-(1-->6)-alpha-Gal-OC6H4NO2-p, beta-Gal-(1--> 6)-beta-Gal-OC6H4NO2-p, beta-Gal-(1-->6)-alpha-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2-p, beta-Gal-(1-->6)-beta-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2-p, beta-Gal-(1-->6)-alpha-GlcNAc-OC6H4NO2-p, and beta-Gal-(1-->6)-beta-GlcNAc-OC6H4NO2-p. The enzyme showed much higher transglycosylation activity for the alpha-glycoside acceptors than the corresponding beta-glycoside acceptors. The regioselectivity of the beta-D-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans ATCC 31382 greatly depended on the nature of the acceptor. When alpha-D-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2-p and alpha-D-GlcNAc-OC6H4NO2-p were used as acceptors, the enzyme showed high potency for regioselective synthesis of beta-Gal-(1-->3)-alpha-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2-p and beta-Gal-(1-->3)-alpha-GlcNAc-OC6H4NO2-p in high respective yields of 75.9 and 79.3% based on the acceptors added. However, replacement of beta-D-Gal-OC6H4NO2-p by beta-D-GalNAc-OC6H4NO2-p did change the direction of galactosylation. The enzyme formed regioselectively beta-Gal-(1-->6)-beta-Gal-OC6H4NO2-p with (beta-Gal-1-->(6-beta-Gal-1-->)n6-beta-Gal-OC6H4NO2-p, n = 1-4). No beta-(1-->3)-linked product was detected during the reaction. Use of the two readily available beta-D-galactosidases facilitates the preparation of (1-->3)- and (1-->6)-linked disaccharide glycosides of beta-D-Gal-GalNAc and beta-D-Gal-GlcNAc.     

Alternansucrase acceptor products

The regioselectivity of alternansucrase (EC 2.4.1.140) differs from dextransucrase (EC 2.4.1.5) in ways that can be useful for the synthesis of novel oligosaccharide structures. For example, it has been recently shown that the major oligosaccharides produced when maltose is the acceptor include one trisaccharide structure, two tetrasaccharides, one pentasaccharide, two hexasaccharides, one heptasaccharide, and at least two octasaccharides, containing no adjacent α-(1→3) linkages and no more than two consecutive α-(1→6) linkages. This may shed some light on how the enzyme works to produce the alternating structure. Another characteristic of alternansucrase that distinguishes it from dextransucrase is its greater ability to use leucrose as an acceptor. Leucrose, produced by glucosyl transfer to fructose released from the initial sucrose substrate, represents a very poor substrate for Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512F dextransucrase. Alternansucrase, however, continues to transfer glucosyl units to leucrose, resulting in some unusual glucosyl-fructose oligosaccharides.     

Concise syntheses of arabinogalactans with beta-(1-->6)-linked galactopyranose backbones and alpha-(1-->3)- and alpha-(1-->2)-linked arabinofuranose side chains

4-methoxyphenyl glycosides of 2,3'-bis-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl branched beta-D-(1-->6)-linked galactopyranosyl tetraose (16), 3',2'-bis-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl branched beta-D-(1-->6)-linked galactopyranosyl hexaose (27), and a twentyose (42) consisting of beta-(1-->6)-linked D-galactopyranosyl pentadecaoligosaccharide backbone with alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl side chains alternately attached at C-2 and C-3 of the middle galactose residue of each consecutive beta-(1-->6)-linked galactotriose unit of the backbone, were synthesized with isopropyl 3-O-allyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6), 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (7), 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate (12), 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (17), 4-methoxyphenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (19), and 2,6-di-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (28) as the key synthons. Condensation of 6 with 7 gave the disaccharide donor 8, and subsequent condensation of 8 with 4-methoxyphenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->6)-2-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (9) followed by selective deacetylation afforded the tetrasaccharide acceptor 11. Coupling of 11 with 12 gave the pentasaccharide 13, its deallylation followed by coupling with 12, and debenzoylation gave the hexasaccharide 16 with beta-(1-->6)-linked galactopyranose backbone and 2- and 3'-linked alpha-L-arabinofuranose side chains. The octasaccharide 27 was similarly synthesized, while the twentyoside 42 was synthesized with tetrasaccharides 33 or 24 as the donors and 23, 36, 38, and 40 as the acceptors by consecutive couplings followed by deacylation.     

Synthesis of the alpha-L-Araf-(1-->2)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-[alpha-L-Araf-(1-->2)]-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-D-Gal hexasaccharide as a possible repeating unit of the cell-cultured exudates of Echinacea purpurea arabinogalactan.

For the characterization of the supposed epitope of an arabinogalactan, isolated from the extract of the cell-cultured Echinacea purpurea, the title hexasaccharide was synthesized. The whole synthetic route was based on the 6-O-(methoxydimethyl)methyl ether (MIP) protecting group strategy. 2-O-Benzyl-3,4-O-isopropylidene-6-O-(methoxydimethyl)methyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->6)-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-galactopyranose was used to prepare the desired glycosyl donor and glycosyl acceptor both carrying a persistent O-benzyl group at position 2'. Reaction of the digalactose donor and the digalactose acceptor resulted in a beta-(1-->6)-linked galactose-containing tetrasaccharide in which OH-2' and OH-2"' were substituted with benzyl groups. Hydrogenolytic removal of the benzyl groups of the tetragalactose compound gave the diol aglycon which was diarabinosylated in one step to furnish the protected target compound, whose deprotection led to the title hexasaccharide. All of the synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectra, as well as by MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometry measurements.