Chemical structure analysis of water-soluble sulfated polysaccharide fromSchizymenia dubyi (Rhodophyta,Gigartinales)

Chemical and spectroscopic methods showed that the water-soluble polysaccharide extracted fromSchizymenia dubyi from Sicily was composed of 1/0.75/1.3 galactose, glucuronic acids and sulfate groups; 45% of total galactose was present as the L-form and no 3,6-anhydrogalactose was detected. The structural characteristics of this galactan of molecular weight 290 000 were close to sulfated polysaccharide with 1,3-, 1,4- and terminal-linked galactose units and secondary ramifications in 1,3,6; 1,4,6; 1,3,4 and 1,6. Permethylation analysis suggested the presence of sulfate groups on positions O-2 and/or O-3 of 1,4-linked galactose and on O-2 and/or O-4 of 1,3-linked residues.Author for correspondence     

Sphingolipids in bean leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Phytoglycolipid has been isolated for the first time from plant leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris). The purified product (almost identical with the phytoglycolipid isolated from flax seed) was a ceramide attached through phosphate diester linkage to an oligosaccharide, which consisted of the usual trisaccharide unit (inositol, hexuronic acid, hexosamine) to which were attached mannose, galactose, and arabinose. The major fatty acids were the saturated 2-hydroxy C(22), C(24), and C(26) acids; the major long-chain bases were dehydrophytosphingosine (d-ribo-1,3,4-trihydroxy-2-amino-8-trans-octadecene) (53%) and phytosphingosine (d-ribo-1,3,4-trihydroxy-2-amino-octadecane) (32%). A ceramide and a cerebroside were also isolated. In the ceramide the major fatty acids and the major long-chain bases were the same as in the phytoglycolipid. In the cerebroside, the fatty acid composition was similar to that in the ceramide and phytoglycolipid, but the long-chain bases consisted of dehydrophytosphingosine and phytosphingosine (7:1) with a substantial amount of unidentified long-chain base. The sugar component was glucose.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of the 3-sulfated Lewisa pentasaccharide

The sulfated pentasaccharide benzyl O-(3-O-sulfo-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-O-[(alpha-L-fucopyranosyl)-(1-->4)]-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-O-(beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside sodium salt was synthesized using a chemo-enzymatic approach. Lacto-N-tetraose, obtained from two disaccharides [4-methoxybenzyl O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-2-phtalimido-beta-D-glucopyranoside and benzyl 2,6-di-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside], was regioselectively sulfated at the 3 OH position of the terminal galactose using the stannylene procedure. The fucosylation of the sulfated tetrasaccharide was performed using soluble or immobilized fucosyltransferase FucT-III to give the title compound.     

An expeditious preparation of various sulfoforms of the disaccharide beta-D-Galp-(1-->3)-D-Galp, a partial structure of the linkage region of proteoglycans, as their 4-methoxyphenyl beta-D-glycosides

An expeditious preparation of various sulfoforms of the disaccharide 4-methoxyphenyl O-(beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-beta-D-galactopyranoside, namely the 4(I)- and 6(I)-sulfate, the 4(II)- and 6(II)-sulfate, and the 6(I),6(II)-disulfate derivatives, is reported for the first time. These molecules will be useful for the study of the early steps of the biosynthesis and sorting of proteoglycans. All target compounds were readily obtained from the common key intermediate 4-methoxyphenyl O-(2,3-di-O-benzoyl-4,6-di-O-levulinoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-2-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-beta-D-galactopyranoside, easily prepared from the common starting material 4-methoxyphenyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-beta-D-galactopyranoside. Noticeable is the possible preparation of the different 6-O-sulfonated species through a one-pot procedure starting from a tetrol precursor.     

Sphingolipid base metabolism. Chemical syntheses and properties of N-acetyl derivatives of 4R-, 4S-S, 5R-, and 5S-hydroxysphinganine

The following compounds were prepared by chemical synthesis from tribenzoylsphingosine: (2S,3S,4S)-2-acetamido-1,3,4-trihydroxyoctadecane, (2S,3S,4R)-2-acetamido-1,3,4-triydroxyoctadecane, (2S,3S,5S)-2-acetamido-1,3,5-trihydroxyoctadecane, and (2S,3S,5R)-2-acetamido-1,3,5-trihydroxyoctadecane. These compounds were characterized by melting point determination, low and high resolution mass spectra, infrared, optical rotation, chromatographic, and chemical degradation studies. In addition, each of the compounds was converted to the corresponding free base and N-benzoyl derivative. (2S,3S,4R)-2-Benzylamino-1,3,4-trihydroxyoctadecane was prepared from the N-benzoyl derivative of authentic phytosphingosine.     

Chemo-enzymatic supported synthesis of the 3-sulfated Lewis a pentasaccharide on a multimeric polyethylene glycol

The 3-sulfated Lewis(a) pentasaccharide was synthesized on multimeric-based polyethylene glycol support. Coupling of O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-beta-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate with (2,6-di-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-(2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside) bound onto the polymer afforded lacto-N-tetraose, which was then regioselectively sulfated at the 3-OH position of the terminal galactose using the stannylene procedure. Fucosylation of the sulfated tetrasaccharide was performed using an immobilized fucosyltransferase FucTIII to give the title compound after cleavage.     

Studies toward a conjugate vaccine for anthrax. Synthesis and characterization of anthrose [4,6-dideoxy-4-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanamido)-2-O-methyl-D-glucopyranose] and its methyl glycosides

The key step in the first chemical synthesis of anthrose (16) and its methyl alpha- (6) and beta-glycoside (22) was inversion of configuration at C-2 in triflates 10, 2, and 18, respectively, obtained from the common intermediate, methyl 4-azido-3-O-benzyl-4,6-dideoxy-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (1). To prepare methyl alpha-anthroside (6), methylation at O-2 of the gluco product 3, obtained from 2, was followed by hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis of the formed 2-methyl ether 4, to simultaneously remove the protecting benzyl group and reduce the azido function. Subsequent N-acylation of the formed amine 5 with 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid gave the target methyl alpha-glycoside 6. Synthesis of methyl beta-anthroside (22) comprised the same sequence of reactions, starting from the known methyl 4-azido-3-O-benzyl-4,6-dideoxy-beta-D-mannopyranoside (17), which was prepared from 1. In the synthesis of anthrose (16), 1-thio-beta-glucoside 11, obtained from 1 through 10, was methylated at O-2, and the azido function in the resulting benzylated 1-thioglycoside 12 was selectively reduced to give amine 13. After N-acylation with 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid, 1-thioglycoside 14 was hydrolyzed to give the corresponding reducing sugar, aldol 15, which was debenzylated to afford anthrose.     

Isolation and structural characterization of a polysaccharide FCAP1 from the fruit of Cornus officinalis

A water-soluble polysaccharide, FCAP1, was isolated from an alkaline extract from the fruits of Cornus officinalis. Its molecular weight was 34.5 kDa. Monosaccharide composition analysis revealed that it was composed of fucose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, and galactose in a molar ratio of 0.29:0.19:1.74:1:3.30:1.10. On the basis of partial acid hydrolysis and methylation analysis, FCAP1 was shown to be a highly branched polysaccharide with a backbone of β-(1→4)-linked-glucose partially substituted at the O-6 position with xylopyranose residues. The branches were composed of (1→3)-linked-Ara, (1→4)-linked-Man, (1→4,6)-linked-Man, (1→4)-linked-Glc, and (1→2)-linked-Gal. Arabinose, fucose, and galactose were located at the terminal of the branches. The structure was further elucidated by a specific enzymatic degradation with an endo-β-(1→4)-glucanase and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. Oligosaccharides generated from FCAP1 indicated that FCAP1 contained XXXG-type and XXG-type xyloglucan fragments.     

In vitro anti-herpetic activity of sulfated polysaccharide fractions from Caulerpa racemosa

A sulfated polysaccharide fraction was isolated from the hot water extract of the green alga Caulerpa racemosa and designated HWE. This polymer, which contained galactose, glucose, arabinose and xylose as the major component sugars, had [alpha](D)(30) + 46.2 degrees in water and contained 9% sulfate hemiester groups. Sugar linkage analysis indicates that HWE was branched and mainly contained 1,3- and 1,3,6-linked galactose, 1,3,4-linked arabinose, 1,4-linked glucose and terminal- and 1,4-linked xylose residues. Sulfation was deduced from infrared spectroscopy and methylation analysis to occur on O-6 of galactose and O-3 of arabinose. The native polysaccharide could be fractionated by size exclusion chromatography into two overlapping fractions and the major fraction has a hydrodynamic volume similar to that of 70 kDa dextran. HWE was a selective inhibitor of reference strains and TK(-) acyclovir-resistant strains of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) in Vero cells, with antiviral effective concentration 50% (EC(50)) values in the range of 2.2-4.2 microg/ml and lacking cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, HWE did not exhibit anticoagulant properties at concentrations near the EC(50).     

Synthesis of novel ganglioside GM4 analogues containing N-deacetylated and lactamized sialic acid: probes for searching new ligand structures for human L-selectin

Novel ganglioside GM4 analogues, which contain N-deacetylated or lactamized sialic acid instead of usual N-acetylneuraminic acid, were synthesized in a highly efficient manner. (Methyl 4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-5-trifluoroacetamido-D-glycero-alpha-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonate)-(2-->3)-4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-O-benzoyl-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate was coupled with 2-(tetradecyl)hexadecanol to give the desired beta-glycoside in high yield. Successive O- and N-deacylation, and saponification of the methyl ester group afforded the N-deacetylated sialyl derivative that was converted by treatment with 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride in Me2SO into the lactamized sialic acid-containing ganglioside GM4 analogue.     

Synthesis of lacto-N-neotetraose and lacto-N-tetraose using the dimethylmaleoyl group as amino protective group.

The disaccharide donor O-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D- galactopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-dimethylmaleimido - alpha,beta-D-glucopyranosyl] trichloroacetimidate (7) was prepared by reacting O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl- alpha-D-galactopyranosyl) trichloroacetimidate with tert-butyldimethylsilyl 3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2- dimethylmaleoylamido-glucopyranoside to give the corresponding disaccharide 5. Deprotection of the anomeric center and then reaction with trichloroacetonitrile afforded 7. Reaction of 7 with 3'-O-unprotected benzyl (2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)- (1-->4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8) as acceptor afforded the desired tetrasaccharide benzyl (2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-(3,6-di-O- benzyl-2-deoxy-2-dimethylmaleimido-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->3)- (2,4,6- tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D- glucopyranoside. Replacement of the N-dimethylmaleoyl group by the acetyl group, O-debenzylation and finally O-deacetylation gave lacto-N-neotetraose. Similarly, reaction of O-[(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta- D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-2-dimethylmalei mido- alpha,beta-D-glycopyranosyl] trichloroacetimidate as donor with 8 as acceptor afforded the desired tetrasaccharide benzyl (2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D- galactopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-(4,6-benzylidene-2-deoxy-2-dimethylmaleimid o- beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-(2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranos yl)- (1-->4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside. Removal of the benzylidene group, replacement of the N-dimethylmaleoyl group by the acetyl group and then O-acetylation afforded tetrasaccharide intermediate 15, which carries only O-benzyl and O-acetyl protective groups. O-Debenzylation and O-deacetylation gave lacto-N-tetraose (1). Additionally, known tertbutyldimethylsilyl (2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-4,6-O-benzylide ne- 2-deoxy-2-dimethylmaleimido-beta-D-glucopyranoside was transformed into O-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)- (1-->3)-4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-dimethylmaleimido-alpha,beta-D- glucopyranosyl] trichloroacetimidate as glycosyl donor, to afford with 8 as acceptor the corresponding tetrasaccharide 22, which is transformed into 15, thus giving an alternative approach to 1.     

The synthesis of racemic purpurosamine B

Starting from methyl 4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside (1), D-chalcose (4,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-D-xcylo-hexopyranose) (5) was prepared by dechlorination with tributyltin hydride, selective benzoylation with benzoyl cyanide at O-2, methylation at O-3, and acid hydrolysis. D-Chalcose (5) was obtained as well by direct methylation of 1 with diazomethane at O-3, reduction with tin hydride, and hydrolysis. Chalcosyl bromide prepared from 5 was not very suitable for β-glycoside synthesis under Koenigs-Knorr conditions, and better results were obtained with 2- O-acetyl-4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-α-D-galactopyranosyl bromide, which gave β-glycosides with methanol, cyclohexanol, benzyl alcohol, 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactopyranose, and methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-6-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside. After dechlorination with tributyltin hydride, the corresponding β-glycosides of D-chalcose were obtained in good yield.     

Total synthesis of the mollu-series glycosyl ceramides alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-beta-D-Manp-(1----4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----1)-Cer and alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-[beta-D-Xylp-(1----2)]-beta-D-Manp-(1----4)-beta- D-Glcp-(1----1)-Cer

The mollu-series glycosphingolipids, O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-beta-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-bet a-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----1)-2-N-tetracosanoyl-(4E)-sphingeni ne and O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----2])-O- beta-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----1)-2-N- tetracosanoyl-(4E)-sphingenine, were synthesized for the first time by using 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-D-xylopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-alpha-D-mannopyranoside, benzyl O-(4,6-di-O-benzyl-beta-D-mannopyranosyl)-(1----4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-be ta-D- glucopyranoside 9, and (2S,3R,4E)-2-azido-3-O-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)-4-octade cene-1,3-diol 6 as the key intermediates. The hexa-O-benzyl disaccharide 9 was prepared by coupling two monosaccharide synthons, namely, 2,3-di-O-allyl-4,6-di-O-benzyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide and benzyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside. It was demonstrated that azide 6 was highly efficient as a synthon for the ceramide part in the coupling with both glycotriaosyl and glycotetraosyl donors, particularly in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate.     

Xyloglucan from the leaves of Hymenaea courbaril

A fucosylated xyloglucan was isolated from the leaves of Hymenaea courbaril by alkaline extraction, followed by ethanol precipitation and ion-exchange chromatography. The isolated polysaccharide showed Glc:Xyl:Gal:Fuc in molar ratio of 8:5:2.5:1 and (D)(25) +40.5 degrees. Composition and linkage analyses, supported by NMR spectroscopic measurements, showed that the polysaccharide has a glucan backbone which is highly substituted at O-6 with D-xylopyranose residues, about a half of which are substituted at O-2 by D-galactopyranosyl units. Some of the galactose residues are further substituted by L-fucopyranose at O-2. The M(r), as determined by HPSEC, was 49,500.     

A comparative study of the O-3 reactivity of isomeric N-dimethylmaleoyl-protected D-glucosamine and D-allosamine acceptors

Four isomeric N-dimethylmaleoyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-protected d-hexosamine acceptors (2, 3, 4, and 5) with all possible configurations at C-1 and C-3 (e.g., derived from d-glucosamine and D-allosamine) were prepared, and the assessment of their O-3 relative reactivity through competition experiments using the known per-O-acetylated D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate donor (15) was then carried out. The reactivities are in the order 4?2>5>3. The analysis of the NMR spectra of 2-5 at different temperature and modeling experiments carried out on analogs of 2-5 (DFT) and on the acceptors themselves (MM) are coincident, and have helped to establish the stability of the different hydrogen bonds, and of the conformers which carry them. The whole results suggest that the electronic effects (hydrogen bonds) are required to explain the observed trend, in spite of the axial conformation of the most reactive hydroxyl group. The steric effects appear only when hydrogen bonds are weak.     

Synthesis of the optically active 4-O-phosphono-D-glucosamine derivatives related to the nonreducing-sugar subunit of bacterial lipid A

The optically active lipid A-subunit homologs named GLA-46, GLA-47, GLA-59, and GLA-60 have been synthesized stepwise by successive acylation at N-2 and O-3 of benzyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-glucopyranoside with the 3-9O-(benzyloxy)methyl or 39O-tetradecanoyl derivative of optically active 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid, and phosphorylation at O-4 of the D-glucosamine residue.     

Structural analysis and antiviral activity of a sulfated galactan from the red seaweed Schizymenia binderi (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta)

Aqueous extraction of gametophytic Schizymenia binderi afforded a polysaccharide composed of galactose and sulfate groups in a molar ratio of 1.0:0.89 together with uronic acids (6.8 wt%) and minor amounts of other neutral sugars. Alkali-treatment of the polysaccharide afforded a polysaccharide devoid of 3,6-anhydrogalactose. 13C NMR spectroscopy of the desulfated alkali-treated polysaccharide showed a backbone structure of alternating 3-linked beta-D-galactopyranosyl and 4-linked alpha-galactopyranosyl units that are predominantly of the D-configuration and partly of the L-configuration. Methylation, ethylation and NMR spectroscopic studies of the alkali-treated polysaccharide indicated that the sulfate groups are located mainly at positions O-2 of 3-linked beta-D-galactopyranosyl residue and at position O-3 of 4-linked-alpha-galactopyranosyl residues, the latter is partially glycosylated at position O-2. The sulfated galactan from S. binderi exhibited highly selective antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, with selectivity indices (ratio cytotoxicity/antiviral activity) >1000 for all assayed virus strains. This compound was shown to interfere with the initial adsorption of viruses to cells.     

Synthesis of determinant oligosaccharides of the ABH (type 1) blood group antigen and Leb tetrasaccharide from a common precursor

Synthesis of blood group ABH (type 1) determinant oligosaccharides and Leb tetrasaccharide has been performed using the same trisaccharide precursor-benzyl 2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-[4,6-O-benzylidene-2-O-[2-O-benzyl-3,4-di- O- (4-nitrobenzoyl)-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl]-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-2-deoxy - alpha-D-glucopyranoside. A- and B-determinants were prepared by alpha-galactosaminylation and alpha-galactosylation of the title trisaccharide, respectively. Leb-determinant was synthesized by a series of simple blocking and deblocking steps followed by alpha-fucosylation.     

Structural features of immunologically active polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum.

Three polysaccharides, two heteroglycans (PL-1 and PL-4) and one glucan (PL-3), were solubilized from the fruit bodies of Ganoderma lucidum and isolated by anion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. Their structural features were elucidated by glycosyl residue and glycosyl linkage composition analyses, partial acid hydrolysis, acetolysis, periodate oxidation, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and ESI-MS experiments. The data obtained indicated that PL-1 had a backbone consisting of 1,4-linked alpha-D-glucopyranosyl residues and 1,6-linked beta-D-galactopyranosyl residues with branches at O-6 of glucose residues and O-2 of galactose residues, composed of terminal glucose, 1,6-linked glucosyl residues and terminal rhamnose. PL-3 was a highly branched glucan composed of 1,3-linked beta-D-glucopyranosyl residues substituted at O-6 with 1,6-linked glucosyl residues. PL-4 was comprised of 1,3-, 1,4-, 1,6-linked beta-D-glucopyranosyl residues and 1,6-linked beta-D-mannopyranosyl residues. These polysaccharides enhanced the proliferation of T- and B-lymphocytes in vitro to varying contents and PL-1 exhibited an immune-stimulating activity in mice.     

Structure of a highly pyruvylated galactan sulfate from the Pacific green alga Codium yezoense (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta)

A polysaccharide fraction consisting of d-galactose, sulfate, and pyruvate in a molar proportion of 4:2:1 was isolated from the green seaweed Codium yezoense by water extraction followed by ion-exchange chromatography. To elucidate its structure, modified polysaccharides were prepared by desulfation, depyruvylation, and by total removal of non-carbohydrate substituents. Structures of the native polysaccharide and of the products of its chemical modifications were investigated by methylation analysis as well as by 1D and 2D (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The polysaccharide devoid of sulfate and pyruvate was subjected to two subsequent Smith degradations to afford a rather low-molecular and essentially linear (1-->3)-beta-d-galactan. A highly ramified structure was suggested for the native polysaccharide, which contains linear backbone segments of 3-linked beta-d-galactopyranose residues connected by (1-->6) linkages, about 40% of 3-linked residues being additionally substituted at C-6, probably by short oligosaccharide residues also containing (1-->3) and (1-->6) linkages. Sulfate groups were found mainly at C-4 and in minor amounts at C-6. Pyruvate was found to form mainly five-membered cyclic ketals with O-3 and O-4 of the non-reducing terminal galactose residues. The minor part of pyruvate forms six-membered cyclic ketals with O-4 and O-6. The absolute configurations of ketals (R for six-membered ketals and S for five-membered ones) were established using NMR spectral data.