Synthesis of the isomeric trisaccharides, methyl O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl- (1----3, 4, and 6)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----3)-beta- D-galactopyranoside

Benzylation of methyl 3-O-(2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside with benzyl bromide in N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of sodium hydride afforded methyl 3-O- (2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl) -2,4,6- tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (3). Reductive ring-opening of the benzylidene group of 3 gave methyl 3-O-(2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)- 2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (4). Cleavage of the 4,6-acetal group of 3 with hot, 80% aqueous acetic acid afforded the diol (5). Compounds 3, 4, and 5 were each subjected to halide ion-catalyzed glycosylation with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl bromide to produce the corresponding trisaccharide derivatives, which, on catalytic hydrogenation, furnished the title trisaccharides, respectively.     

Synthesis of O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----4)-2- acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose (N-acetyl-3'-O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyllactosamine)

Methyl 2-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6) was obtained in five, good yielding steps from methyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (1). Treatment of 1 with tert-butylchlorodiphenylsilane in N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of imidazole afforded a 6-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl) ether, which was converted into its 3,4-O-isopropylidene derivative (3). Benzylation of 3 with benzyl bromide-silver oxide in N,N-dimethylformamide, and subsequent cleavage of its acetal and ether groups then afforded 6. On similar benzylation, followed by the same sequence of deprotection, benzyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-4-O-[6-O-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)-3,4 -O- isopropylidene-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside gave the 2-O-benzyl derivative (10). Compound 10 was converted into its 4,6-O-benzylidene acetal (11). Glycosylation (catalyzed by halide-ion) of 11 with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl bromide afforded the fully protected trisaccharide derivative (13). Cleavage of the benzylidene and then the benzyl groups of 13 furnished the title trisaccharide (16). The structure of 16 was established by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha -D-xylopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha -D-xylopyranosyl-(1----4)-D-glucopyranose as a substrate analogue of alpha amylase

The tetrasaccharide a-D-Glcp-(1----4)-a-D-Xylp-(1----4)-a-D-Xylp-(1----4)-D- Glcp (1) has been synthesized, as a substrate analogue of alpha amylase, by silver perchlorate-catalyzed glycosylation of benzyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-4-O-(2,3-di-O-benzyl-a-D-xylopyranosyl)-beta-D- glucopyranoside (30) with 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-a-D- glucopyranosyl)-a-D-xylopyranosyl chloride or by methyl triflate-promoted condensation of 30 with methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-a-D-glucopyranosyl)-1-thio- beta-D-xylopyranoside, followed by removal of protecting groups of the resulting tetrasaccharide derivative 40.     

Synthesis of a fully protected derivative of O-(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminyl)-(2----3)-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1- ---3)-O- [(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminyl)-(2----6)]-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha- D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----3)-L-serine

N-(Benzyloxycarbonyl)-O-[methyl (5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-alpha-D-galact o-2- nonulopyranosyl)onate]-(2----3)-O-(2,4,6-tri-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)]-O-(2-acetamido-4-O-acetyl-2- deoxy-alpha-D- galactopyranosyl)-(1----3)-L-serine benzyl ester was synthesized by using O-[methyl (5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5- di-deoxy-D-glycero-alpha-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosyl)onate]- (2----3)-O-(2,4,6- tri-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- and -beta-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate as a key glycotetraosyl donor which, upon reaction with N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-serine benzyl ester, afforded a 44% yield of a mixture of the alpha- and beta-glycosides in the ratio of 2:5.     

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.     

X-ray analysis of 3-O-(6-O-acetyl-2,4-diazido-3-O-benzyl-2,4-dideoxy-alpha-D-gl glucopyranosyl)-1,6-anhydro-2,4-diazido-2,4-dideoxy-beta-D- glucopyranose, a disaccharide having an unusual alpha-D-(1----3) linkage

The crystal structure of 3-O-(6-O-acetyl-2,4-diazido-3-O-benzyl-2,4-dideoxy-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl)-1,6-anhydro- 2,4-diazido-2,4-dideoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose, C21H24N12O7, mol. wt. 556.5, was investigated by X-ray analysis. The disaccharide crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1, with a = 889.3(5), b = 869.6(5), and c = 999.5(6) pm, and alpha = 105.83(4) degrees, beta = 116.22(4) degrees, gamma = 88.42(4) degrees, Z = 1, and rho = 1.394 g.cm-3. Phase determination failed with direct methods, but, as the 1,6-anhydride component of the molecule was already known from a previous structure analysis, the vector-search method could be applied in solving the structure. Diffractometer data were refined to an R value of 0.063 (Rw = 0.080) for 2102 observed reflections. The anhydro-bridged system has a distorted 1C4(D) conformation, in agreement with that of other anhydropyranoses so far investigated. A comparison shows that, for the specific kind of distortion, mainly the anti-reflex effect is responsible, whereas 1,3-diaxial interactions have a minor influence. The nonbridged ring adopts an almost perfect 4C1(D) conformation. The anomeric effect is observed in both of the sugar-ring systems in terms of bond-length shortening. The disaccharide has an alpha-D-Glc-4C1-(1a----3e)-D-Glc-1C4 glycosidic linkage. No previous X-ray investigation of a compound of this type is known. The pyranoid rings are almost perpendicular to each other. The phi, psi angles of the glycosidic linkage are +78.1(5) and -86.0(4) degrees.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Synthesis of N-[2-O-(2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-5-thio-d-glucopyranose-3-yl)-d-lactoyl]-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine

N-[2-O-(2-Acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-5-thio-d-glucopyranose-3-yl)-d-lactoyl]-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine, in which the ring-oxygen atom of the sugar moiety in N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine (MDP) has been replaced by sulfur, was synthesized from 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-5-thio-α-d-glucopyranose (1). O-Deacetylation of the acetylated acetal, derived from the methyl α-glycoside of 1 by 4,6-O-isopropylidenation and subsequent acetylation, gave methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-5-thio-α-d-glucopyranoside (4). Condensation of 4 with l-2-chloropropanoic acid, and subsequent esterification, afforded the corresponding ester, which was converted, viaO-deisopropylidenation, acetylation, and acetolysis, into 2-acetamido-1,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-3-O-[d-1-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-5-thio-α-d-glucopyranose (12). Coupling of the acid, formed from 12 by hydrolysis, with the methyl ester of l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine, and de-esterification, yielded the title compound.     

Modified assay-procedure for guanosine diphosphate-L-fucose: 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside-(1 leads to 4)-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase with the aid of synthetic phenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-3-O-beta-D-galactopy-ranosyl -beta-D-glucopyranoside as a reference compound

Starting from phenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4,6-O-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), chemical syntheses were developed for phenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4) and phenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl -beta-D-glucopyranoside (8). Thin-layer chromatography in the solvent system 6:4:1:5 (v/v) 2-propanol-ethyl acetate-ammonium hydroxide-water clearly separated the synthetic trisaccharide 8 (RF 0.69) from synthetic disaccharide 4 (RF 0.78), fucose (RF 0.56), and GDP-fucose (which remained at the origin). Based upon this observation, a modified method for the determination of GDP-L-fucose: N-acetylglucosaminide-(1 leads to 4)-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase was developed that employed the synthetic disaccharide 4 as an acceptor, and compound 8 as an authentic reference-compound. This modified assay-procedure can simultaneously monitor possible competing reactions which may interfere with determination of alpha-(1 leads to 4)-L-fucosyltransferase activity; these include phosphorylase and alpha-L-fucosidase activities, and incorporation of alpha-L-[14C]-fucose into endogenous acceptors of enzyme preparations. Thus, the modified assay-procedure should facilitate determination of alpha-(1 leads to 4)-L-fucosyltransferase.     

Biosynthesis of disialylated beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----3)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopy ran osyl oligosaccharide chains. Identification of a beta-D-galactoside alpha-(2----3)- and a 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucoside alpha-(2----6)-sialyltransferase in regenerating rat liver and other tissues

Regenerating rat liver microsomes contain a beta-D-galactoside alpha-(2----3)- and a 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucoside alpha-(2----6)-sialyltransferase that are involved in the synthesis of the terminal alpha-NeuAc-(2----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-alpha-[NeuAc-(2----6)]-beta- D-GlcpNAc-(1----R) group occurring in human milk oligosaccharides and the glycan chains of several N-glycoproteins. Analysis by liquid chromatography and methylation of the products of sialylation obtained when lacto-N-tetraose [beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----4) -D-Glc] was used as a substrate in the incubations in vitro indicated that the disialylated sequence is formed for greater than 95% through the tetrasaccharide alpha-NeuAc-(2----3)-beta-D-Gal-(1----3)-beta-D-GlcNAc-(1----3)-beta-D-G al- (1----4)-D-Glc as one of two possible intermediates. This indicates that in the synthesis of the disialylated sequence the alpha-(2----3)- and the alpha-(2----6)-sialyltransferase act in a highly preferred order in which the alpha-(2----3) enzyme acts first. This order is imposed by the specificity of the alpha-(2----6)-sialyltransferase, which requires an alpha-NeuAc-(2----3)-beta-D-Gal-(1----3)-beta-D-GlcNAc-(1----R) sequence for optimal activity, and shows very low and no activity with beta-D-Gal-(1----3)-beta-D-GlcNAc-(1----R) and beta-D-GlcNAc-(1----R) acceptor structures, respectively. Results obtained with normal rat, fetal calf, rabbit and human liver, and human placenta indicated that very similar or identical sialyltransferases occur in these tissues. It is suggested that these enzymes differ from the sialyltransferases that previously had been identified in fetal calf liver and human placenta.     

Fluorinated carbohydrates as potential plasma membrane modifiers and inhibitors. Synthesis of 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-6-fluoro-D-galactose

Reaction of benzyl 2-acetamido-3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-6-O-mesyl-alpha-D-galactopyran oside with cesium floride gave benzyl 2-acetamido-3,6-anhydro-4-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside instead of the desired 6-fluoro derivative. Acetonation of benzyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-6-O-mesyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside gave the corresponding 3,4-O-isopropylidene derivative. The 6-O-mesyl group was displaced by fluorine with cesium fluoride in boiling 1,2-ethanediol, and hydrolysis and subsequent N-acetylation gave the target compound. In another procedure, treatment of 2-acetamido-1,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactose with N-(diethylamino)sulfur trifluoride gave 2-acetamido-1,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-6-fluoro-D-galactose which, on acid hydrolysis followed by N-acetylation, gave 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-6-fluoro-D-galactose.     

Synthesis of four novel trisaccharides by induction of loose acceptor specificity in Gal beta 1----4 transferase (EC 2.4.1.22): Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(X)Glc where X = beta 1----3: beta 1----4: beta 1----6: alpha 1----4.

Development of tandem mass spectral methods for direct linkage determination in oligosaccharides requires sets of trisaccharides differing only in one structural parameter. In this case, we chose the position of linkage to the reducing-end hexose. These sets of compounds would also be useful for the development of high-resolution separation techniques geared to resolve linkage types. Conventional organic synthesis of such a set could take as long as 2-5 months for each member of the set. Each trisaccharide would require 10-20 steps of synthesis. Instead, we utilized low pH to induce a loose acceptor specificity for bovine milk galactosyltransferase (lactose synthase: EC 2.4.1.22) and by this method, within 2 weeks, generated four novel oligosaccharides for NMR and mass spectral studies. The disaccharides cellobiose (beta 1----4), laminaribiose (beta 1----3), gentiobiose (beta 1----6) and maltose (alpha 1----4) acted as acceptors for EC 2.4.1.22 under these conditions. The beta 1----2-linked disaccharide, sophorose, was not commercially available and is not included in this study. The alpha-linked disaccharides were also examined, but except for the alpha 1----4 disaccharide maltose, were very poor acceptors under a variety of conditions. From these four acceptors, the following four novel trisaccharides were synthesized in micromole amounts, suitable for studies of linkage position using low-energy collision-induced-dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (FAB-MS-CID-MS), and for NMR: Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(beta 1----3)-Glc, Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(beta 1----4)Glc, Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(beta 1----6)-Glc and Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(alpha 1----4)Glc.     

Hydrolysis of (1----3)- and (1----2)-beta-D-xylosidic linkages by an endo-(1----4)-beta-D-xylanase of Cryptococcus albidus

The substrate specificity of an endo-(1----4)-beta-D-xylanase of the yeast Cryptococcus albidus was investigated using a series of methyl beta-D-xylotriosides. In addition to (1----4) linkages, the enzyme could cleave (1----3) and (1----2) linkages adjacent to a (1----4) linkage and further from the non-reducing end of the substrate. The enzyme could hydrolyse a (1----3) linkage that attached a terminal xylopyranosyl group to a (1----4)-linked xylobiosyl moiety. The enzyme did not attack alpha-D-xylosidic linkages. The rate of cleavage of (1----4) linkages was much higher than those of other linkages at 0.5mM substrate, but the rates were comparable at 20mM substrate when transglycosylation reactions also occurred that facilitated degradation of the substrates.