Synthesis of p-trifluoroacetamidophenyl O-α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-D-mannopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside

The role of exposed tyrosine side-chains in enzyme-catalysed reactions has been studied for porcine-pancreatic alpha-amylase, sweet-potato beta-amylase, and Aspergillus niger glucamylase using N-acetylimidazole as the specific protein reagent. The changes in activity binding affinity (Δk_?1/k₊₁), and kinetic parameters (K_m,k₂) due to acetylation of the phenolic hydroxyl groups have been determined. Acetylation of each enzyme occurred by an “apparent” first-order reaction with a rate constant of 0.72–1.4 x 10^?1min^?1. Acetylation increased the apparent K_m (soluble starch as the substrate) for each enzyme (appreciably for alpha-amylase and glucamylase), whereas k² remained unchanged. Similarly, for each enzyme, the binding affinity for immobilised cyclohexa-amylose decreased appreciably, whereas the catalytic activity was reduced only to a small degree (and remained unchanged for beta-amylase). It is concluded that the tyrosine groups located in the active centre of each enzyme have a substrate-binding function.     

Synthetic Studies on Nephritogenic Glycosides. Synthesis of β-Glc-(1→6)-α-Glc-(l→6)-α-Glc-(1→Asn)

Gibberellins (GAs) A₉, A₁₅, A₁₉, A₂₀, A₂₉, A₃₅, A₄₄, A₅₀ and A₆₁ were identified by capillary gas chromatography/selected ion monitoring (GC/SIM) in immature seeds of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl). Furthermore, five unknown GA-like compounds with apparent parent ions of m/z 418, 504 or 506 (as methyl ester trimethylsilyl ether derivatives) were found by GC/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the biologically active fractions. The m/z 418 and 504 compounds may have been C-11β hydroxylated GA₉ and dehydro-GA₃₅, respectively. The bioassay and GC/MS results suggest that the major GAs were GA₅₀ and the five unknown GA-like compounds. In the immature seeds, at least two GA metabolic pathways may thus exist, one being the non-hydroxylation pathway of GA₁₅→GA₂₄→GA₉, and the other, the early C-13 hydroxylation pathway of GA₄₄→GA₁₉→GA₂₀→GA₂₉. A late C-11β hydroxylation pathway is also possible.     

Conformation of (1→3)-α-D-Glucan Tribenzoate

The molecular conformation of (1→3)-α-D-glucan tribenzoate (TBG) was studied by X-ray diffraction measurements coupled with a conformational analysis. Although the fiber pattern obtained was of very low crystallinity, the presence of a meridional reflection at the 5th layer line indicated that the TBG molecule took a five-fold helical conformation with a 19.63 A fiber repeat. A conformational analysis on the five-fold helix, which was done by calculating van der Waals’ repulsion energy between non-bonded atoms comprising the TBG chain, suggested that the most preferable energy-based conformation was –5/1, a left-handed five-fold helix.     

Multiple forms of (1 → 4)-α-d-glucan, (1 → 4)-α-d-glucan-6- glycosyl transferase from developing zea mays L. Kernels

Two major forms of branching enzyme from developing kernels of maize have been detected after DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Branching-enzyme I, which contained 24% of the activity based on a phosphorylase-stimulation assay, but 74% of the activity based on the branching of amylose as monitored by change in spectra of the iodine-glucan complex, eluted with the column wash and was unassociated with starch-synthase activity. Branching-enzyme II was bound to DEAE-cellulose and was coeluted with both primed and unprimed starch-synthase activities. Both fractions were further purified by chromatography on aminoalkyl-Sepharose columns. Single peaks were observed for both fractions by gel filtration on BioGel A_1.5m columns and native molecular weights were estimated at 70,000–90,000 for both enzymes. Subunit molecular weights of branching-enzymes I and II were estimated by dodecyl sodium sulfate-gel electrophoresis at 89,000 and 80,000, respectively. Thus both enzymes are primarily monomeric. Branching-enzymes I and II could be distinguished by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose or 4-aminobutyl-Sepharose, and by disc-gel electrophoresis with activity staining. Branching-enyme I had a lower ratio of activity (phosphorylase stimulation-amylose branching; based on enzyme units). The ratio varied from 30–60 as compared to about 300–500 for branching-enzyme II. Likewise, branching-enzyme I had a lower K_m value for amylose than branching- enzyme II, the values being 160 and 500 μg/ml, respectively. Both enzymes could introduce further branches into amylopectin, as decreases in the overall absorption and wavelength maxima of the iodine complexes were observed. Combined action of the branching enzymes and rabbit-muscle phosphorylase a (12:1 ratio based on enzyme units) resulted in similar patterns of incorporation of d-glucose into the growing α-d-glucan and the synthesis of high molecular-weight polymers. However, the α-d-glucans differed, as shown by spectra of iodine complexes and average unit-chain length. Branching-enzyine II was separated into two fractions (IIa and IIb) by chromatography on 4-aminobutyl-Sepharose. These Fractions differed only in the branching of amylopectin, fractional IIb being more active than IIa.     

Conformational properties of a cyclic oligosaccharide: cyclotrikis-(1→6)-[α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]

The title compound is a cyclic oligosaccharide having six glucopyranose residues linked alternatively by -(14) and -(16) glycosidic linkages. Like cyclodextrin analogues it is expected to exhibit an internal cavity and to form inclusion complexes with other species. In order to investigate its conformational preferences, an extensive conformational search was carried out using a combination of Metropolis Monte-Carlo (MMC) procedure in the glycosidic torsion angle space and molecular mechanics procedures. To this end a specific program (METROCYCLIX) was developed. To reduce the MMC search, conformational maps of parent disaccharides were considered as starting entries. Fully minimized conformations were gathered into families using a clustering technique based on RMS fitting over the glycosidic torsion angle values. A wide range of local energy minima were identified in spite of ring closure conditions that constrained the structure of the oligosaccharide. Low energy conformers were stabilized by intramolecular interactions between distant residues. From the Bolzmann population of the best structures derived from the clustering results, various average properties were calculated and compared with experimental data obtained by high resolution NMR. Interpretation of these experimental values (heteronuclear coupling constants, rotating frame nuclear Overhauser effects, relaxation times) relies on the use of Karplus like equations (coupling constants) and analysis of the full relaxation rate matrix treatment (ROE). The quality of the molecular modelling strategy used is assessed by the agreement obtained between calculated and measured observables.     

Chemical analysis of new water-soluble (1→6)-, (1→4)-α, β-glucan and water-insoluble (1→3)-, (1→4)-β-glucan (Calocyban) from alkaline extract of an edible mushroom, Calocybe indica (Dudh Chattu)

Two different glucans (PS-I, water-soluble; and PS-II, water-insoluble) were isolated from the alkaline extract of fruit bodies of an edible mushroom Calocybe indica. On the basis of acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and NMR analysis ((1)H, (13)C, DEPT-135, TOCSY, DQF-COSY, NOESY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC), the structure of the repeating unit of these polysaccharides were established as: PS-I: →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→6)-β-D-glcp-(1→6)-)-β-D-Glcp-(1→ α-D=Glcp (Water-soluble glucan). PS-II: →3)-β-D-Glcp-(1→3)-β-D-glcp-(1→3)-)-β-D-Glcp-(1→3)-β-D-Glcp-(1→ β-D-Glcp (Water-insoluble glucan, Calocyban).     

Synthese von O-(3-desoxy-α-d-manno-2-octulopyranosylonsäure)-(2→4)-O-(3-desoxy-α-d-manno-2-octulopyranosylonsäure)- (2→6)-O-(2-amino-2-desoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→6)-2-amino-2-desoxy-d-glucopyranose

Benzyl-3-O-benzyl-2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-6-O-[2-benzyloxycarbonyl-amino-2-deoxy-3,4-O-(tetraisopropyldisiloxane-1,3-diyl)- β-d-glucopyranosyl]-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranoside was coupled with methyl (4,5,7,8-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-α-d-manno-2-octulopyranosyl bromide)onate (13) to yield the α-glycosidically linked trisaccharide. After deacetylation and selective introduction of a second 7′,8′-O-tetraisopropyldisiloxane group, a further glycosidation reaction with 13 led regioselectively to the tetrasaccharide benzyl O-[methyl (4,5,7,8-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-α-d-manno-2-octulopyranosyl)onate]-(2→4)-O-{methyl [3-deoxy-7,8-O-(tetraisopropyldisiloxane-1,3-diyl)-α-d-manno-2-octulopyranosyl]-onate}-(2→6)-O- [2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-deoxy-3,4-O-(tetraisopropyldisiloxane-1,3-diyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]- (1→6)-3-O-benzyl-2-benzyloxycarbonyl-amino-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranoside. A series of deblocking steps gave O-(3-deoxy-α-d-manno-2-octulopyranosylonic acid)-(2→4)-O-(3-deoxy-α-d-manno-2-octulopyranosylonic acid)- (2→6)-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→6)-2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose which was identical with a tetrasaccharide that had been isolated by hydrazinolysis of the lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella minnesota R 595. Hence, synthetic proof is provided for the linkages in this part of the inner core region of lipopolysaccharides.     

Cell wall (1 → 3)- and (1 → 3, 1 → 4)-β-glucans during early grain development in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Immunogold labeling was used to study the distribution of (1 → 3)-β-glucans and (1 → 3, 1 → 4)-β-glucans in the rice grain during cellularization of the endosperm. At approximately 3–5 d after pollination the syncytial endosperm is converted into a cellular tissue by three developmentally distinct types of wall. The initial free-growing anticlinal walls, which compartmentalize the syncytium into open-ended alveoli, are formed in the absence of mitosis and phragmoplasts. This stage is followed by unidirectional (centripetal) growth of the anticlinal walls mediated by adventitious phragmoplasts that form between adjacent interphase nuclei. Finally, the periclinal walls that divide the alveoli are formed in association with centripetally expanding interzonal phragmoplasts following karyokinesis. The second and third types of wall are formed alternately until the endosperm is cellular throughout. All three types of wall that cellularize the endosperm contain (1 → 3)-β-glucans but not (1 → 3, 1 → 4)-β-glucans, whereas cell walls in the surrounding maternal tissues contain considerable amounts of (1 → 3, 1 → 4)-β-glucans with (1 → 3)-β-glucans present only around plasmodesmata. The callosic endosperm walls remain thin and cell plate-like throughout the cellularization process, appearing to exhibit a prolonged juvenile state. Received: 7 January 1997 / Accepted: 11 February 1997     

Synthesis of methyl O-(3-deoxy-3-fluoro-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→6)-β-d-galactopyranoside and methyl O-(3-deoxy-3-fluoro-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→6)-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-galactopyranoside

Condensation of 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-α-d-galactopyranosyl bromide (3) with methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (4) gave a fully acetylated (1→6)-β-d-galactobiose fluorinated at the 3′-position which was deacetylated to give the title disaccharide. The corresponding trisaccharide was obtained by reaction of 4 with 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-O-chloroacetyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl bromide (5), dechloroacetylation of the formed methyl O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-O-chloroacetyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→6)- 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranoside to give methyl O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→6)-2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (14), condensation with 3, and deacetylation. Dechloroacetylation of methyl O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-O-chloroacetyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→6)-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl- β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→6)-2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranoside, obtained by condensation of disaccharide 14 with bromide 5, was accompanied by extensive acetyl migration giving a mixture of products. These were deacetylated to give, crystalline for the first time, the methyl β-glycoside of (1→6)-β-d-galactotriose in high yield. The structures of the target compounds were confirmed by 500-MHz, 2D, ¹H- and conventional ¹³C- and ¹⁹F-n.m.r. spectroscopy.     

Cyclic (1→2)-β-d-Glucan-hydrolyzing Enzymes from Acremonium sp. 15 Purification and Some Properties of Endo-( 1 → 2)-α-d-glucanase and β-d-Glucosidase

Acremonium sp. 15 a fungus isolated from soil, produces an extracellular enzyme system degrading cyclic (1→2)-β-d-glucan. This enzyme was found to be a mixture of endo-(1→2)-β-d-glucanase and β-d-glucosidase. The (1→2)-β-d-glucanase was purified to homogeneity shown by disc-electrophoresis after SP-Sephadex column chromatography, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, and rechromatography on SP-Sephadex. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 3.6 × 10⁴ by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was pH 9.6. The enzyme was most active at pH 4.0—4.5, and stable up to 40°C in 20 mm acetate buffer (pH 5.0) for 2 hr of incubation. This enzyme hydrolyzed only (l→2)-β-d-glucan and did not hydrolyze laminaran, curdlan, or CM-cellulose. The hydrolysis products from cyclic (1→2)-β-d-glucan were mainly sophorose.

The β-d-glucosidase was purified about 4000-fold. The rate of hydrolysis of the substrates by this β-d-glucosidase decreased in the following order: β-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucoside, sophorose, phenyl-β-d-glucoside, laminaribiose, and salicin. This enzyme has strong transfer action even at the low concentration of 0.75 mm substrate.     

The synthesis of O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→4)-N-acetylnormuramoyl-l-α-aminobutanoyl-d-isoglutamine

Benzyl 2-acetamido-3-O-allyl-6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-4-O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl)- α-d-glucopyranoside (4) was obtained in high yield on using the silver triflate method in the absence of base. Compound 4 was converted in six steps into benzyl 2-acetamido-4-O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-benzyl-3-O-(carboxymethyl)-2-deoxy-α-d- glucopyranoside, which was coupled with the benzyl ester of l-α-aminobutanoyl-d-isoglutamine and the product hydrogenolyzed to afford the title compound. O-Benzylation of benzyl 2-acetamido-4-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-3-O-allyl-6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranoside with benzyl bromide and barium hydroxide in N,N-dimethylformamide is strongly exhanced by sonication of the reaction mixture.     

Molecular and crystal structure of the regenerated form of (1→3)-α-d-glucan

The crystal structure of a regenerated form of (1→3)-α-d-glucan, obtained by solid state deacetylation of the triacetate derivative, has been determined by combined X-ray diffraction analysis and stereochemical model refinement. The structure crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell with parameters $\text{a = 16.46}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, b = 9.55}\text{A}\text{?}$ and c (fibre repeat)=8.44 Å, and space group P2₁2₁2₁. The chain conformation is nearly completely extended and is very close to a 2/1 helix, even though the dimer residue is the crystallographic repeat unit. An intramolecular O(2)  O(4)′ hydrogen bond stabilizes the conformation and extensive intermolecular hydrogen-bonding abilizes the packing. The resulting structure is sheet-like, with an alternating polarity of chain directions within the sheet. In its sheet-like character, extensive hydrogen-bonding, and insolubility in water, this polymorph of (1→3)-α-d-glucan resembles regenerated cellulose. The reliability of the structure analysis is indicated by the X-ray residual R=0.206.     

Interaction of (1→4)- and (1→6)-linked disaccharides with the fenton reagent under physiological conditions

Reactions of (1→4)- and (1→6)-linked disaccharides, mainly of maltose and isomaltose, with the Fenton reagent under physiological conditions were studied. Chemical characterization of oxidation products was conducted by g.l.c. and g.l.c.-m.s. of their trimethylsilyl derivatives, and the results demonstrated that (1→6)-linked disaccharides are more reactive with the hydroxyl radical (·OH) generated by the Fenton reagent than (1→4)-linked disaccharides. About 35–40% of (1→6)-and 15–20% of (1→4)-linked disaccharides were oxidatively degraded to smaller molecules after incubation for 24 h. Of the four disaccharides examined, namely, maltose, isomaltose, cellobiose, and gentiobiose, the α-(1→6)-linked disaccharide isomaltose exhibited the highest reactivity, whereas the β-(1→4)-linked disaccharide cellobiose showed the lowest. These results suggest the existence of a relationship between the configuration of the glycosidic linkage and the reactivity with ·OH in aqueous solution.