Synthesis, from cellobiose, of a trisaccharide closely related to the GlcNAc----GlcA----GlcN segment of the antithrombin-binding sequence of heparin

O-(2-Deoxy-2-sulfamido-6-O-sulfo-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----4)- O-(beta-D- glucopyranosyluronic acid)-(1----4)-1,6-anhydro-2-deoxy-2-sulfamido-6-O-sulfo-beta-D-gl ucopyranose pentasodium salt (14) was synthesized as a heparin-related oligosaccharide. The glycosyl acceptor (derived from cellobiose) and a glycosyl donor, 6-O-acetyl-2-azido-3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide, were coupled in the presence of mercuric bromide and molecular sieves 4A to afford a 69% yield of fully protected trisaccharide, namely, 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)-3-O-acetyl- 1,6-anhydro-2 - azido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose (10), which was converted into the partially sulfated trisaccharide 14. Compound 10 also underwent acetolysis to afford the glycosyl acetate, for further elongation of the glycosyl chain.     

Regulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase in rat mammary gland. Effects of incubation with Ca2+, Mg2+ and ATP on enzyme activity in tissue extracts.

The catalytical role of the hydroxy amino acid in the "marker sequence" Asn-Xaa-Thr(Ser) for the N-glycosylation step of glycoprotein formation was investigated by using a series of hexapeptides derived from Tyr-Asn-Gly-Xaa-Ser-Val by substituting threonine, serine, cysteine, valine and O-methylthreonine respectively for Xaa. The results, which were obtained with calf liver microsomal fractions as enzyme source and dolichyl diphosphate di-N-acetyl [14C] chitobiose as glycosyl donor showed that the threonine-, serine- and cysteine-containing derivatives could be glycosylated, although at very different rates, whereas the valine and O-methylthreonine analogues did not work as glycosyl acceptors. Replacement of threonine by serine resulted in a 4-fold decrease in Vmax, and about a 10-fold increase in Km for glycosyl transfer. Replacement of serine by cysteine again decreased acceptor activity 2-3-fold. The various results, taken together, indicate an absolute requirement for a hydrogen-bond-donor function in the side chain of the hydroxy amino acid of the "marker sequence" and furthermore, point to a considerable influence of the structure of this amino acid on binding as well as on the glycosyl transfer itself. In order to explain the observed differences in the glycosyl-transfer rates, a model is proposed with a hydrogen-bond interaction between the amide of asparagine as the hydrogen-bond donor and the oxygen of the hydroxy group of the hydroxy amino acid as the hydrogen-bond acceptor. The participation of the hydroxy group in the catalytic mechanism of glycosyl transfer in the kind of proton-relay system is discussed.     

Synthesis of a mucin-type O-glycosylated amino acid, beta-Gal-(1----3)-[alpha-Neu5Ac-(2----6)]-alpha-GalNAc-(1----3)- Ser

Total synthesis of O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-[(5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy- D-glycero-alpha-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonic acid)-(2----6)]-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----3 )-L- serine was achieved by use of the key glycosyl donor O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----3)-O- [methyl (5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-alpha-D-galact o-2- nonulopyranosyl)onate-(2----6)]-4-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-a lpha-D- galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate and the key glycosyl acceptor N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L- serine benzyl ester in a regiocontrolled way.     

N,N-Diacetylsialyl chloride—a novel readily accessible sialyl donor in reactions with neutral and charged nucleophiles in the absence of a promoter

N,N-Diacetylneuraminic acid glycosyl chloride was prepared for the first time and made to react with various nucleophiles to give the corresponding α-glycosyl phosphate, β-glycosyl dibenzyl phosphate, α-glycosyl azide, α-phenyl thioglycoside and α-glycosyl xanthate in 65-82% yields and high stereoselectivity while its reactions with simple alcohols were not stereoselective. The new sialyl donor made possible the first stereoselective synthesis of sialic acid glycosyl phosphate with α-configuration and highly efficient synthesis of β-configured sialic acid glycosyl dibenzyl phosphate.     

Stereoselective syntheses of phosphorylated and sulfated glycosyl serines in glycosaminoglycan for biological probes.

Phosphorylated glycosyl serines of glycosaminoglycan with/without sulfate: beta-D-Xyl(2P)-Ser (1) and beta-D-Gal(+/-6S)-(1->4)-beta-D-Xyl(2P)-Ser (2, 3) were suitably designed for biological probes. These oligosaccharides were synthesized in a stereocontrolled manner.     

Glycosyl transferase activity of the Escherichia coli penicillin-binding protein 1b: specificity profile for the substrate

The glycosyl transferase of the Escherichia coli bifunctional penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 1b catalyzes the assembly of lipid-transported N-acetylglucosaminyl-beta-1,4-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-Ala-gamma-D-Glu-meso-A2pm-D-Ala-D-Ala units (lipid II) into linear peptidoglycan chains. These units are linked, at C1 of N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc), to a C55 undecaprenyl pyrophosphate. In an in vitro assay, lipid II functions both as a glycosyl donor and as a glycosyl acceptor substrate. Using substrate analogues, it is suggested that the specificity of the enzyme for the glycosyl donor substrate differs from that for the acceptor. The donor substrate requires the presence of both N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and MurNAc and a reactive group on C1 of the MurNAc and does not absolutely require the lipid chain which can be replaced by uridine. The enzyme appears to prefer an acceptor substrate containing a polyprenyl pyrophosphate on C1 of the MurNAc sugar. The problem of glycan chain elongation that presumably proceeds by the repetitive addition of disaccharide peptide units at their reducing end is discussed.     

Synthesis of a glycolipid for studying mechanisms of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins

Glucose-O-omega-palmitic acid is an amphipathic molecule that is useful as a tool for studying the mechanism of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins. The synthesis of this glycolipid is described herein. The study of the reaction of a series of glycosyl donors with appropriate acceptors derived from 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid showed that a glycosyl trichloroacetimidate donor was more efficient than thioglycoside, glycosyl halide and glycosyl acetate donors for synthesis of this glycolipid.     

Synthesis and Potent Anti-HCMV Activity of 2′,5′,5′-trifluoro-3′-hydroxy-apiosyl Nucleoside Phosphonic Acid Analogues

As antiviral nucleosides containing a fluorine atom at 2′-position are endowed with increased stabilization of glycosyl bond, it was of interest to investigate the influence of three fluorine atoms at 2′- and 5′-positions of apiosyl nucleoside phosphonate analogues. Various pyrimidine and purine 2′,5′,5′-trifluoro-3′-hydroxy-apiose nucleoside phosphonic acid analogues were synthesized from 1,3-dihydroxyacetone. Electrophilic fluorination of lactone was performed using N-fluorodibenzenesulfonimide. Difluorophosphonation was performed by direct displacement of triflate intermediate with diethyl(lithiodifluoromethyl) phosphonate to give the corresponding (α,α-difluoroalkyl) phosphonate. Condensation successfully proceeded from a glycosyl donor with persilylated bases to yield nucleoside phosphonate analogues. Deprotection of diethyl phosphonates provided the final phosphonic acid sodium salts. The synthesized nucleoside analogues were subjected to antiviral screening against various viruses.     

Catalytic properties of a mutant beta-galactosidase from Xanthomonas manihotis engineered to synthesize galactosyl-thio-beta-1,3 and -beta-1,4-glycosides

The identity of the acid/base catalyst of the Family 35 beta-galactosidases from Xanthomonas manihotis (BgaX) has been confirmed as Glu184 by kinetic analysis of mutants modified at that position. The Glu184Ala mutant of BgaX is shown to function as an efficient thioglycoligase, which synthesises thiogalactosides with linkages to the 3 and 4 positions of glucosides and galactosides in high (>80%) yields. Kinetic analysis of the thioglycoligase reveals glycosyl donor K(m) values of 1.5-21 microM and glycosyl acceptor K(m) values from 180 to 500 microM. This mutant should be a valuable catalyst for the synthesis of metabolically stable analogues of this important glycosidic linkage.     

Identification of active-site residues of the pro-metastatic endoglycosidase heparanase

Heparanase is a beta-D-endoglucuronidase that cleaves heparan sulfate (HS) and has been implicated in many important physiological and pathological processes, including tumor cell metastasis, angiogenesis, and leukocyte migration. We report herein the identification of active-site residues of human heparanase. Using PSI-BLAST and PHI-BLAST searches of sequence databases, similarities were identified between heparanase and members of several of the glycosyl hydrolase families (10, 39, and 51) from glycosyl hydrolase clan A (GH-A), including strong local identities to regions containing the critical active-site catalytic proton donor and nucleophile residues that are conserved in this clan of enzymes. Furthermore, secondary structure predictions suggested that heparanase is likely to contain an (alpha/beta)(8) TIM-barrel fold, which is common to the GH-A families. On the basis of sequence alignments with a number of glycosyl hydrolases from GH-A, Glu(225) and Glu(343) of human heparanase were identified as the likely proton donor and nucleophile residues, respectively. The substitution of these residues with alanine and the subsequent expression of the mutant heparanases in COS-7 cells demonstrated that the HS-degrading capacity of both was abolished. In contrast, the alanine substitution of two other glutamic acid residues (Glu(378) and Glu(396)), both predicted to be outside the active site, did not affect heparanase activity. These data suggest that heparanase is a member of the clan A glycosyl hydrolases and has a common catalytic mechanism that involves two conserved acidic residues, a putative proton donor at Glu(225) and a nucleophile at Glu(343).     

Synthesis of β-galactosyl-(hydroxy amino acid) derivatives using β-galactosidase activity ofAchatina achatina digestive juice

Summary The transglycosylation activity of β-galactosidase fromAchatina achatina digestive juice was tested for glycosylating protected hydroxy amino acids. Attractive yields of β-galactosyl-(Z-Ser-OMe) (35%) and β-galactosyl-(Z-Hyp-OMe) (28%) could be obtained using lactose as glycosyl donor and the corresponding amino acid methyl esters N-protected by a benzyloxycarbonyl group (Z) as glycosyl acceptors.     

Studies on the alpha-(1-->4)- and alpha-(1-->8)-fucosylation of sialic acid for the total assembly of the glycan portions of complex HPG-series gangliosides

A synthetic study on alpha-(1-->4) and alpha-(1-->8)-fucosylation of sialic acid is reported, with the ultimate aim being the total assembly of the glycan portion of HPG-series gangliosides. In both types of fucosylations, the combination of a phenylthio fucosyl donor and a 1,5-lactamized acceptor provided high-yielding glycosylations to afford alpha-fucosyl-sialic acid sequences. The obtained alpha-Fucp-(1-->8)-NeupNAc glycan having a 1,5-lactam bridge has been successfully transformed into the corresponding glycosyl donor.     

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

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

Lactotriaose-containing carbosilane dendrimers: syntheses and lectin-binding activities

Carbosilane dendrimers periphery-functionalized with lactotriaose (GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Glc) with valencies of three, four, six, and twelve were prepared for use in a lectin-binding assay. A lactotriaose derivative was prepared from D-glucosamine and D-lactose derivatives. The N-Troc-protected glucosamine glycosyl donor and 3'-O-unprotected lactose glycosyl acceptor were condensed in the presence of silver trifluoromethanesulfonate and methylsulfenyl bromide to provide corresponding trisaccharide with new beta-1-3 linkages in 92% yield. The protection group of the trisaccharide was transformed into an acetyl group. The 4-pentenyl glycoside was prepared from the acetate via glycosyl bromide. The alkene was converted into acetyl sulfide by addition of thioacetic acid under radical conditions. The lactotriaose unit was linked with carbosilane dendrimers to afford acetyl-protected glycodendrimers. De-O-acetylation of the dendrimers was carried out in the presence of sodium methoxide and then aq NaOH to give the desired lactotriaose clusters using a carbosilane dendrimer backbone. Their biological activities toward WGA were evaluated by fluorescence methods. The binding constants of free lactotriaose and trivalent, tetravalent, hexavalent, and dodecavalent glycodendrimers to WGA were determined to be 1.1x10(3), 4.4x10(4), 5.1x10(4), 2.8x10(6), and 1.3x10(6) M-1, respectively. The hexavalent glycodendrimer showed a 2500-fold larger binding effect than that of free lactotriaose.     

Synthesis of oligosaccharides containing the X-antigenic trisaccharide (alpha-L-Fucp-(1----3)-[beta-D-Galp-(1----4)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc) at their nonreducing ends.

The "armed" methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-beta-L-fucopyranoside was reacted with "disarmed" phenyl O-(tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----4)-6-O-benzyl-2- deoxy-2-phthalimido-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside in the presence of CuBr2-Bu4NBr complex to give phenyl O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----4)-O- [(2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl)-(1----3])-6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy -2- phthalimido-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6) as a novel glycosyl donor. The glycosylating capability of 6 was further examined using N-iodosuccinimide-triflic acid as a reagent. This led to the synthesis of a tetrasaccharide and a pentasaccharide incorporating the X-antigenic structure represented by 6.     

Enantioselective synthesis of phenylacetamides in the presence of high organic cosolvent concentrations catalyzed by stabilized penicillin G acylase. Effect of the acyl donor

Immobilization of penicillin G acylase on glyoxyl agarose and its further hydrophilization by physicochemical modification with ionic polymers has made it possible to perform the direct condensation between (+/-)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylamine [(+/-)-1] and different acyl donors in the presence of high concentrations of organic cosolvent (up to 90%) in the reaction medium. Using 50 mM phenyl acetic acid and these drastic reaction conditions, too harsh for any other PGA preparation, we have achieved an almost quantitative transformation (more than 99%) of 10 mM (+/-)-1 into the corresponding amide. Remarkably, the enantioselectivity of the enzyme immobilized on the amine was strongly dependent on the acyl donor employed. Thus, using phenylacetic acid (2), the enantioselectivity was almost negligible (1.3 favoring the S isomer), whereas using S-mandelic acid [(S)-4], the E factor reached a value of 21 (also favoring the S isomer). By using R-mandelic acid [(R)-4], we observed a different enantioselectivity (E was 3.6 favoring the R). At 4 degrees C, the E value reached a value higher than 100 when (S)-4 was used as the acyl donor. The reaction performed under these conditions allowed us to produce (2S,2'S)-N-2'-hydroxy-2'-phenyl)-2-hydroxyphenylacetamide [(2S,2'S)-7] with a diasteromeric excess higher than 98%.     

alpha-Mannosidase-catalyzed synthesis of a (1-->2)-alpha-D-rhamnodisaccharide derivative

Enzymatic transglycosylation using p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-rhamnopyranoside as the glycosyl donor and 6equiv of ethyl 1-thio-alpha-D-rhamnopyranoside as the glycosyl acceptor yielded a D-rhamnooligosaccharide derivative. The reaction was catalyzed by jack bean alpha-mannosidase in a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of 0.1 M sodium citrate buffer (pH4.5)-MeCN at 25 degrees C. The enzyme exhibited high catalytic activity for the reaction, to afford in 32.1% isolated yield (based on donor substrate) ethyl alpha-D-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-1-thio-alpha-D-rhamnopyranoside, which is a derivative of the common oligosaccharide unit of the antigenic lipopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas.     

Synthesis of a library of fucopyranosyl-galactopyranosides consisting of a complete set of anomeric configurations and linkage positions

A library composed of a complete set of fucopyranosyl-galactopyranosides was synthesized. A perbenzylated phenylthio fucopyranoside and a series of tri-O-benzyl-galactopyranosyl fluorides having single hydroxyl groups at the 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-positions were used as the glycosyl donor and glycosyl acceptors, respectively. The chosen set of functionalities at the anomeric centers enabled rapid access to the oligosaccharides based on chemoselective activation. The first coupling reaction was achieved by the action of dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate (DMTST). The resulting disaccharide fluoride was readily activated by hafnocene bistrifluoromethanesulfonate [Cp2Hf(OTf)2] and glycosidated with n-octanol.     

Synthesis of glycosylated serine and threonine derivatives employing glycosidases

The galactosyl derivatives Galβ-Ser(N-Boc) and Galβ-Thr(N-Boc) of N-Boc-protected serine and threonine were prepared with galactose or lactose as the glycosyl donor employing β-galactosidase as the catalyst. Similarly, the mannosyl derivatives Manα-Ser(N-Boc) and Manα-Thr(N-Boc) were prepared with mannose as the glycosyl donor (equilibrium reaction) employing α-mannosidase as the catalyst.     

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

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