N-Acetylmuramyl-L-Alanyl-D-Isoglutamine Glycosides: Effect of Glycoside Bond Configuration and Aglycone on Biological Activity

Hexyl, octyl, and cyclohexyl -glycosides and heptyl and cyclohexyl -glycosides of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) were synthesized. Tests in vitro and in vivo revealed lower immunostimulating activities of MDP -glycosides in comparison with the corresponding -glycosides and MDP itself. In the case of alkyl -glycosides, differences in hydrocarbon chain lengths (C₄–C₈) and in aglycone (aliphatic chain and aliphatic or aromatic ring) exerted no substantial effect on the immunostimulating activity.     

A new glycosidation method through nitrite displacement on substituted nitrobenzenes

Benzyl, benzoyl, and acetyl protected 1-OH and 1-SH glycoses in the glucose, glucosamine, galactose, mannose, and lactose series react with nitrobenzenes activated by one or two electron withdrawing substituents like nitro and cyano to afford the corresponding aryl glycosides in 50-100% yield. The S(N)Ar displacement of nitrite by 1-OH glycoses is reversible and gives predominantly the alpha-glycosides, whereas 1-SH glycoses do not anomerize and afford the beta-glycosides. Thus, the prepared dicyanophenyl gycosides are useful building blocks for the preparation of phthalocyanine-glycoconjugates via template synthesis.     

胞壁酰二肽类似物和衍生物的合成

本文报道用简便的N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺活化酯方法,从游离氨基酸制备八个免疫佐剂胞壁酰二肽类似物和衍生物。     

Synthesis and protective anti-infective action of anomeric lipophilic glycosides of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine

Anomeric pairs of alpha- and beta-dodecyl, alpha- and beta-(1-pentylhexyl), and alpha- and beta-cyclododecyl glycosides of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) were synthesized. The starting beta-D-glucosaminides were obtained by the oxazoline method, and the corresponding alpha-isomers, by the mercuric iodide-catalyzed glycosylation of alcohols with alpha-glucosaminyl chloride peracetate in nitromethane at -90 degrees C. No reliable differences between the stimulation of mouse resistance to the infection with Staphylococcus aureus (doses of 2, 20, and 200 microg/mouse) and Escherichia coli (doses of 0.05, 1, and 20 microg/mouse) with the MDP alpha- and beta-glycosides were found.     

Artificial peptide and carbohydrate antigens. Immobilization of haptens and adjuvant (MDP) on polyacrylamide

To study the influence of the polyacrylamide carrier on immunogenic properties of the peptide and oligosaccharide haptens, we have prepared artificial antigens by conjugation of a synthetic hexapeptide (homologous to the fragment 95-100 of the murine H-2Db antigen heavy chain) or of an oligosaccharide (antigenic determinant of human blood groops, Lea) with polyacrylamide. In some cases the conjugates containing also a synthetic glycopeptide adjuvant, N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP), were used. Antisera against haptens were obtained by immunization of BALB/c mice with corresponding conjugates. By the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay it was shown that these antisera had a high binding titer (up to 10 000) to corresponding hapten, and MDP immobilized on the same carrier as hapten possessed a considerable immunostimulating activity. Thus, usefulness of polyacrylamide for preparation of immunogenic artificial molecules carrying peptide and oligosaccharide haptens was demonstrated.     

Dialkylmethyl beta-glycosides of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine: synthesis and infection protective and cytotoxic activities

Symmetric secondary linear alcohols were proposed as aglycones for the synthesis of lipophilic beta-glycosides of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP). Pentadecan-8-ol, nonadecan-10-ol, and tricosan-12-ol were glycosylated by the oxazoline method. Based on the corresponding glucosaminides, alkyl beta-glycosides of 4,6-O-isopropylidene-N-acetylmuramic acid were synthesized and coupled with the dipeptide. Deprotection of isopropylidene groups by acidic hydrolysis and catalytic hydrogenolysis of benzyl esters resulted in the target muramyldipeptide glycosides. Nonadecan-10-yl and tricosan-12-yl [beta]-MDPs at doses 2 microg/mice most effectively stimulated antibacterial resistance in mice against Staphylococcus aureus. In contrast to the previously synthesized undecan-6-yl beta-MDP, pentadecan-8-yl, nonadecan-10-yl, and tricosan-12-yl beta-MDPs demonstrated direct cytotoxicity toward tumor cells E-562 and blood mononuclear cells.     

Synthesis, surface active and antimicrobial properties of new alkyl 2,6-dideoxy-L-arabino-hexopyranosides

Synthesis of alkyl 2,6-dideoxy-L-arabino-hexopyranosides was accomplished by the reaction of 1,5-anhydro-2,6-dideoxy-L-arabino-hex-1-enitol with fatty alcohols in dichloromethane, catalyzed by triphenylphosphine hydrobromide. Reaction with octanol and dodecanol gave the corresponding alpha-glycosides in 50% and 42% yield, the beta-glycosides in 20% and 21% yield and the alpha-anomer of the Ferrier product in 10% and 9% yield, respectively. Deacetylation of the alpha-/beta-glycosides with sodium methoxide in methanol afforded the amphiphilic L-arabino-hexopyranosides in 94-99% yield. The surface tension at the air-water interface of the octyl L-glycosides and of the dodecyl alpha-L-glycoside aqueous solutions at 35 degrees C was measured with a du Noüy ring tensiometer and surface properties such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), relative surface excess, molecular area at the interface and Gibbs micellization free energy were evaluated. The stereochemistry of the hexopyranoside ring in unimers and aggregates is correlated to the hydrophobicity and packing efficiency on the air-water interface. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the surface-active glycosides were evaluated using the paper disk diffusion method. The dodecyl alpha-L-arabino-hexopyranoside was quite active over Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis, while low activity was found for this glycoside over Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria monocytogenes. The octyl glycosides tested showed low activity over almost all the above-mentioned bacteria, and also over the fungus Candida albicans. No inhibition of Salmonella enteritidis and of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger was detected for any of the compounds tested.     

Syntheses of polymeric vesicles containing partial structures of N-acetyl-muramyl-dipeptide (MDP)

The syntheses of 11-methacroylaminoundecanoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (3) and 2-[2-(11-methacroylaminoundecanoyl)aminoethoxy]propanoyl-L- alanyl-D-isoglutamine (13) are described. Each of these monomers has been copolymerized with 11-methacroyloxyundecyltrimethylammonium bromide (16), yielding polymeric vesicles that contain partial structures of N-acetyl muramyl dipeptide (MDP). All products have been characterized by 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy and the polymeric vesicles have been studied by electron microscopy. The potential use of these structures as immunostimulating products is discussed.     

Syntheses of the L-manno and some other analogs of the terminal determinants of the O-PS of Vibrio cholerae O:1

Analogs of the methyl alpha-glycosides of the terminal residues of the O-specific polysaccharides (O-PS) of Vibrio cholerae O:1, serotype Inaba and Ogawa, have been prepared as probes to study their interaction with anti V. cholerae O:1 antibodies. They differ from the termini of the respective O-PSs in anomeric or absolute configuration of perosamine, position of the O-methyl group in D-perosamine, and nature of the N-acyl side chain.     

Preparation of oligomeric beta-glycosides from cellulose and hemicellulosic polysaccharides via the glycosyl transferase activity of a trichoderma reesei cellulase

Oligoglycosyl (allyl, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl, ethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, and methyl) beta-glycosides were generated by endo -transglycosylation reactions catalyzed by commercially available Trichoderma reesei cellulase. A polymeric donor substrate (xyloglucan or cellulose) was incubated with the enzyme in an aqueous solution containing 20% of the acceptor alcohol (allyl alcohol, glycerol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, and methanol, respectively). The products of these reactions included oligomeric alkyl beta-glycosides and reducing oligosaccharides. The high yield of alkyl beta-glycosides may be explained by the resistance of the xyloglucan beta-glycosides to cellulase-mediated hydrolysis. The resistance of the oligoxyloglucan beta-glycosides to endo glucanase catalyzed hydrolysis supports the hypothesis that productive binding of the glycan substrate depends on its interaction with enzyme subsites on both sides of the cleavage point, leading to distortion of the ring geometry of the residue whose glycosidic bond is cleaved. Oligoxyloglucan beta-glycosides were purified by a combination of gel-permeation and reversed-phase HPLC and were structurally characterized by MS and NMR spectroscopy. These results demonstrate that novel oligosaccharide beta-glycosides can be efficiently produced by enzyme-catalyzed fragmentation/transglycosylation reactions starting with a polysaccharide donor substrate. This class of reactions may represent a convenient source of beta-glycosides to be used as synthons for the rapid synthesis of complex glycans.     

Synthesis and evaluation of β-carboline derivatives as potential monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Previous studies have shown that harmine is a reversible inhibitor of human monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). Moreover, the crystal structure of human MAO-A in complex with harmine has been recently solved. This crystal structure shows that close to the methoxy group of the harmine moiety, a lipophilic pocket is left vacant within the binding site of human MAO-A. Our objective was to optimize the ??-carboline series against human MAO-A in order to explore this pocket. Therefore, a series of ??-carboline derivatives has been synthesized. The compounds were evaluated for their human monoamine oxidase A and B inhibitory potency and their K_i values were estimated. The results show that O-alkylated compounds with lipophilic groups like cyclohexyl, phenyl and aliphatic chains increase the inhibition of MAO-A compared to harmine. Compound 3e, with the trifluorobutyloxy group, was the most active of this series, with a K_i against MAO-A of 3.6 nM. Molecular docking studies show that the trifluorobutyloxy chain occupies the hydrophobic pocket vacant with harmine. The O-alkylated compounds are less active on MAO-B than on MAO-A. However, several compounds show a better inhibition on MAO-B compared to harmine. Compound 3f, with the cyclohexylmethoxy chain, displayed the best inhibitory activity against MAO-B with a K_i value of 221.6 nM. This cyclohexyl bearing analogue is also a potent MAO-A inhibitor with a K_i value of 4.3 nM. Molecular docking studies show that the cyclohexyl chain also occupies a hydrophobic pocket but in different ways in MAO-A or MAO-B.     

Biological activity of synthetic subunits of streptococcus peptidoglycan. III. Relationship of subunit and analogue structure to adjuvant activity in cell-mediated immunity

Each of a series of synthetic peptidoglycan subunits and subunit analogues was injected in combination with streptococcus type M24 antigen extract. The substances tested were: (8a) N-acetylmuramyldipeptide (MDP) and the following derivatives thereof: MDP modified in positions C3 and C4, or with L-alanine substituted by L-2-aminobutyric acid or with the peptide chain prolonged (by three lysines or a polylysine); (b) some synthetically prepared peptides: a hexapeptide, a tridecapeptide and an octadecapeptide. Configurations in positions C3 and C4 were found essential for the adjuvant effect. Adjuvant activity, though somewhat lower than in MDP, was pronounced in the analogue containing the L-2-aminobutyryl residue. Surprisingly, potent adjuvant effect was displayed by the hexapeptide; prolongation of the peptidic chain was not effective. The use of a polymeric carrier for MDP increased the adjuvant effect. Contrary to expectation, streptococcal antigens used with immunoadjuvant materials showed that induced delayed hypersensitivity was type related.     

Synthesis of N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-glutamic-alpha-amide(MDP) or -alpha-methyl ester derivatives, bearing a lipophilic group at the C-terminal peptide end

We report the synthesis of nine lipophilic derivatives of N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-glutamic-alpha-amide (MDP) or -alpha-methyl ester in which the gamma-carboxyl function of the D-glutamyl residue is either esterified by a medium chain alcohol or substituted by an L-alanyl residue esterified by a medium or long chain alcohol. A new method is described which easily allows one to obtain derivatives of MDP, bearing a free or substituted amino-acyl or peptidyl residue on the gamma-carboxyl function.     

Synthesis of a series of methyl beta-glycosides of (1----6)-beta-D-galacto-oligosaccharides having one residue deoxygenated at position 3

Methyl beta-glycosides of beta-(1----6)-linked D-galactobioses (13 and 16) and -galactotrioses (21, 24, and 26) containing a 3-deoxy-beta-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl moiety either as one of the end units or the internal unit have been synthesized. The extension of the oligosaccharide chain was achieved, inter alia, by the use of two newly synthesized glycosyl donors derived from 3-deoxy-D-xylo-hexopyranose, namely, 2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-3-deoxy-a-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl chloride (8) and 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-6-O-bromoacetyl-3-deoxy-a-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl chloride (10). Glycosylation reactions were mediated by silver triflate under base-deficient conditions.     

Dendritic cell maturation induced by muramyl dipeptide (MDP) derivatives: monoacylated MDP confers TLR2/TLR4 activation

6-O-acyl-muramyldipeptides (MDP) with various lengths of fatty acid chains were examined for their dendritic cell (DC) maturation activity expressed through TLRs. Judging from anti-TLR mAb/inhibitor-blocking analysis, MDP derivatives with a single octanoyl or stearoyl fatty acid chain were found to activate TLR2 and TLR4 on human DCs, although intact and diacylated MDP expressed no ability to activate TLRs. Human DC activation profiles by the monoacylated MDP were essentially similar to those by Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-cell wall skeleton (CWS) and BCG-peptidoglycan (PGN) based on their ability to up-regulate costimulators, HLA-DR, beta(2)-microglobulin, and allostimulatory MLR. Monoacylated MDP induced cytokines with similar profiles to BCG-CWS or -PGN, although their potency for induction of TNF-alpha, IL-12p40, and IL-6 was less than that of BCG-CWS or -PGN. The MDP derivatives initiated similar activation in normal mouse macrophages, but exhibited no effect on TLR2/4-deficient or MyD88-deficient mouse macrophages. Mutation of d-isoGln to l-isoGln in monoacylated MDP did not result in loss of the DC maturation activity, suggesting marginal participation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2, if any, in monoacyl MDP-dependent DC maturation. These results define the adjuvant activity of 6-O-acyl MDP compounds at the molecular level. They target TLR2/TLR4 and act through the MyD88-dependent pathway in DCs and macrophages. Hence, the unusual combined activation of TLR2 and TLR4 observed with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is in part reflected in the functional properties of monoacylated MDP compounds. These findings infer that the essential minimal requirement for TLR2/4-mediated adjuvancy of BCG lies within a modified MDP.     

Muramyl dipeptide induces acute joint inflammation in the mouse

Acute joint inflammation was produced in BALB/c mice by a single intravenous injection of synthetic muramyl dipeptide (MDP), its stereoisomers and 6-O-acyl derivatives of MDP. Four adjuvant-active, but not five adjuvant-inactive MDP analogs induced acute swelling and erythema of the ankles and wrists which were detected around 6-10 hr, reached the maximum severity by 18-24 hr and subsided by days 3 to 4 after injection. Introduction of the stearoyl group, but not the alpha-branched long chain fatty acid group into the C-9 hydroxyl group of MDP enhanced and prolonged the joint lesions compared with MDP.     

Syntheses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vanillyl-nonanamide glycosides using amyloglucosidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizopus</Emphasis> and β-glucosidase from sweet almond

Enzymatic syntheses of N-vanillyl-nonanamide, 1, glycosides with D-glucose, 2, D-galactose, 3, D-mannose, 4, D-ribose, 5, maltose, 6, and lactose, 7, were carried out using amyloglucosidase from Rhizopus and beta-glucosidase from sweet almond. The latter catalysed the syntheses of N-vanillyl-nonanamide glycosides (8-13) and exclusively yielded beta-glycosides with carbohydrates 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, while amyloglucosidase yielded C1-alpha- and beta-glycosides and 6-O-aryl derivatives (8, 9, 11 and 12).     

Practical synthesis of the 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucosides of Fmoc-serine and Fmoc-threonine and their benzyl esters

Mercuric bromide-promoted glycosylation of Fmoc-Ser-OBn and Fmoc-Thr-OBn with 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl chloride in refluxing 1,2-dichloroethane gave the corresponding beta-glycosides in good yields (64 and 62%, respectively). Direct coupling of the commercially available Fmoc-Ser-OH and Fmoc-Thr-OH carboxylic acids under similar conditions gave the corresponding beta-glycosides, possessing free carboxyl groups, in moderate yields (50 and 40%, respectively).     

A short lipopeptide,representative of a new family of immunological adjuvants devoid of sugar

From crude extracts of a Streptomyces strain exhibiting nonspecific immunopotentiating effects, a tetrapeptide was isolated and its structure established as L Ala→D isoGlu→ L,L Dap←Gly. This peptide was devoid of biological activity but its chemical coupling with lauric acid gave a substance endowed with adjuvant and immunostimulating properties. N²-[N-(N-lauroyl L alanyl)-gg-D glutamyl]N N⁶-(glycyl) DD, LL 2,6-diaminopimelamic acid prepared by chemical synthesis was shown to be as active, in stimulating antibody production and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions in guinea pigs and mice and in enhancing resistance of mice to a bacterial infection, as N-acetylmuramyl-L alanyl-D isoglutamine (muramyl dipeptide, MDP) thus far considered as the minimal adjuvant-active structure of bacterial cell walls. It is concluded that the presence of a sugar moiety (muramic acid) is not an essential prerequisite for immunopotentiating activities and that lipopeptides represent a novel class of potentially useful immunopharmacological agents.     

Privileged structure based ligands for melanocortin-4 receptors--aliphatic piperazine derivatives

Aliphatic carbocyclic replacement of the benzyl group of compound 1 yielded compounds with high affinity for the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R). Compounds with a cyclohexyl group showed a consistent high affinity, while different polar groups with less basicity were good replacements for the original diethyl amines. Substitution of the polar group found in these privileged structures with an aliphatic moiety produced compounds with high affinity for MC4R.