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.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of glycopolypeptides carrying alpha-Neu5Ac-(2-->3)-beta-D-Gal-(1-->3)-alpha-D-GalNAc, beta-D-Gal-(1-->3)-alpha-D-GalNAc, and related compounds and analysis of their specific interactions with lectins

Glycopolypeptide (1) carrying the beta-D-Gal-(1-->3)-alpha-D-GalNAc unit as a kind model of asialo-type mucin was synthesized through three steps: enzymatic synthesis of p-nitrophenyl disaccharide glycoside, reduction of the p-nitrophenyl group, and coupling of the amino group with the carboxyl group of poly(L-glutamic acid)s (PGA). In a similar manner, glycopolypeptides (2-7) carrying beta-D-Gal-(1-->3)-beta-D-GalNAc, beta-D-Gal-(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcNAc, beta-D-Gal-(1-->6)-alpha-D-GalNAc, beta-D-Gal-(1-->6)-beta-D-GalNAc, alpha-D-GalNAc, and beta-D-GalNAc, respectively, were synthesized as analogous polymers of polymer 1. Glycopolypeptides 8 and 9 as a mimic of sialo-type mucin were further prepared from polymers 1 and 2 as the acceptor of CMP-Neu5Ac by alpha2,3-(O)-sialyltransferase, respectively. Interactions of these glycopolypeptides with lectins were investigated with the double-diffusion test and the hemagglutination-inhibition assay and in terms of an optical biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance. Polymers 1 and 2 reacted strongly with peanut (Arachis hypogaea) agglutinin (PNA) and Agaricus bisporus agglutinin (ABA). On the other hand, polymers 8 and 9 through sialylation from polymers 1 and 2 reacted with ABA, but did not with PNA. Other polymers 3-7 did not show any reactivity for both the lectins. These results show that PNA acts precisely in an exo manner on the beta-D-Gal-(1-->3)-D-GalNAc sequence, while ABA acts in an endo manner. Polymers 6 and 7 substituted with GalNAc reacted strongly with soybean (Glycine max) agglutinin and Vicia villosa agglutinin B4, regardless of the configuration of the glycosidic linkage. The interaction of all polymers with Bauhinia purpurea agglutinin was much stronger than that of the corresponding sugars. Polymers 8 and 9 reacted with wheat germ (Triticum vulgaris) agglutinin (WGA), to which Neu5Ac residues are needed for binding, but polymers 1 and 2 did not. These sugar-substituted glycopolypeptides interacted specifically with the corresponding lectins. Furthermore, polymers 4-7 reacted with WGA, but the corresponding sugars did not. It suggests that the N-acetyl group along the PGA backbone has a cluster effect for WGA. The artificial glycopolypeptides were shown to be useful as tools and probes of carbohydrate recognition and modeling in the analysis of glycoprotein-lectin interactions.     

Synthesis of natural beta-D-(1-->3)-glucopyranosyl oligosaccharides

beta-D-(1-->3)-Glucan core structure derivatives corresponding to schizophyllan, epiglucan and lentinan were synthesized efficiently. 4,6-O-Benzylidenated glucopyranosyl acceptors were found to be helpful in the attempted beta-D-(1-->3) bond formation. The epiglucan pentasaccharide showed a weak anti-tumor activity in preliminary mice tests.     

Effect of (1-->3)- and (1-->4)-linkages of fully sulfated polysaccharides on their anticoagulant activity

Chemically fully sulfated polysaccharides including xylan (-->4Xylbeta-(1-->4)Xylbeta1-->), amylose (-->4Glcalpha-(1-->4)Glcalpha1-->), cellulose (-->4Glcbeta-(1-->4)Glcbeta1-->), curdlan (-->3Glcbeta-(1-->3)Glcbeta1-->) and galactan (-->3Galbeta-(1-->3)Galbeta1-->), which have been isolated from Korean clam, were prepared, and their anticoagulant activity was investigated. The results strongly suggest that the activity might not be depending on anomeric configuration (alpha or beta) or monosaccharide species but on the glycosidic linkage, either (1-->3) or (1-->4). 1H NMR studies of these modified polysaccharides show that the neighboring sulfate groups at the C-2 and C-3 positions might have caused the conformational changes of each monosaccharide from 4C(1) to 1C(4). Furthermore, the effect of 6-sulfate residues on the anticoagulant activity was investigated using a specific desulfated reaction for the chemically fully sulfated polysaccharides. The 6-sulfate group is very important in determining anticoagulant activity of (1-->3)-linked polysaccharides, whereas the activity is not affected by presence or absence of the 6-sulfate group in (1-->4)-linked polysaccharides.     

A practical synthesis of beta-D-GlcA-(1-->3)-beta-D-Gal-(1-->3)-beta-D-Gal-(1-->4)-D-Xyl,a part of the common linkage region of a glycosaminoglycan

A practical synthesis of beta-D-GlcA-(1-->3)-beta-D-Gal-(1-->3)-beta-D-Gal-(1-->4)-beta-D-Xyl-(1-->OMe) was achieved by coupling of methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronate trichloroacetimidate with a trisaccharide acceptor. The trisaccharide acceptor was obtained by condensation of 3-O-allyl-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate with methyl 2,3-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside, followed by deallylation. The beta-(1-->3)-linked disaccharide was prepared readily with p-methoxyphenyl 3-O-allyl-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside as the key synthon. The alpha-(1-->3)-linkage was formed in considerable amount with galactose mono- and disaccharide trichloroacetimidate donors with C-2 neighboring group participation.     

A convergent synthesis of trisaccharides with alpha-Neu5Ac-(2 --> 3)-beta-D-gal-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-GlcNAc and alpha-Neu5Ac-(2 --> 3)-beta-D-gal-(1 --> 3)-alpha-D-GalNAc sequences

The syntheses of three trisaccharides: alpha-Neu5Ac-(2 --> 3)-beta-D-Gal-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-GlcNAc --> OMe, alpha-Neu5Ac-(2 --> 3)-beta-D-Gal6SO3Na-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-GlcNAc --> OMe, and alpha-Neu5Ac-(2 --> 3)-beta-D-Gal-(1 --> 3)-alpha-D-GalNAc --> OBn were accomplished by using either methyl (phenyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-beta-D-glycero-D-g alacto-2-nonulopyranoside)onate or methyl (phenyl N-acetyl-5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-beta-D-gl ycero-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranoside)onate as the sialyl donor. The N,N-diacetylamino sialyl donor appears to be more reactive than its parent acetamido sugar when allowed to react with an disaccharide acceptor under the same glycosylation conditions. The trisaccharides, as well as the intermediate products, were fully characterized by 2D DQF 1H-1H COSY and 2D ROESY spectroscopy.     

A practical synthesis of alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-[alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)]-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp, an O-specific heterohexasaccharide fragment of Citrobacter braakii O7a, 3b, 1c

An O-specific heterohexasaccharide fragment of Citrobacter braakii O7a, 3b, 1c, alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-[alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)]-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp was synthesized as its methyl glycoside. Acetylation of allyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-alpha-D-mannopyranoside, followed by debenzylidenization and benzoylation gave allyl 2,3-di-O-acetyl-4,6-di-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (3), and subsequent deacetylation of 3 with CH(3)COCl-MeOH gave the monosaccharide acceptor 4. Condensation of isopropyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6) with 4 selectively afforded the alpha-(1-->3)-linked disaccharide 7. Condensation of 7 with the (1-->3)-linked disaccharide donor 9, followed by deallylation and trichloroacetimidation, afforded the tetrasaccharide donor 12. Coupling of 12 with disaccharide acceptor 13, followed by debenzylation and deacylation, furnished the target heterohexasaccharide 16.     

Synthesis of beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)]-beta-D-GlcpOLauryl, an oligosaccharide with anti-tumor activity

A concise and effective synthesis of lauryl heptasaccharide 17 was achieved from the key intermediates lauryl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (10) and isopropyl 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-allyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-2,4-di-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside (15). The key trisaccharide glycosyl acceptor 10 was constructed by coupling 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (3) with lauryl 6-O-acetyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (9), followed by deacetylation. The thioglycoside donor 15 was obtained by condensation of 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-allyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-2,4-di-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (11) with isopropyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside (12), followed by debenzylidenation and acetylation. A bioassay of the inhibition of S180 noumenal tumors showed that lauryl heptasaccharide 17 could be employed as a potential agent for cancer treatment.     

Evaluation of sulfated Lentinus edodes alpha-(1-->3)-D-glucan as a potential antitumor agent

Alpha-glucan L-FV-II and beta-glucan L-FV-I were shown to co-exist in the extract of fruiting bodies of Lentinus edodes with aq. 5% NaOH/0.05% NaBH4 in previous work. Water-insoluble alpha-(1-->3)-D-glucan (L-FV-II) was treated with sulfur trioxide-pyridine complex at 25 degrees C to synthesize the water-soluble sulfated derivative SL-FV-II with a degree of substitution (DS) 1.1 in non-selective sulfation. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of sulfated glucan SL-FV-II is 57% of that of the original alpha-glucan L-FV-II. The alpha-glucan administered by gavaging at a dose of 50 mg/kg of body weight to BALB/C mice having implanted solid Sarcoma 180 was effective at an inhibition rate of 42%. In vitro experiments using human and murine tumor cell lines showed that SL-FV-II had antiproliferation activity at the concentration of 20 microg/mL towards four tumor cell lines. The sulfated alpha-(1-->3)-D-glucan had potent antiproliferation action (52%) on human MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells.     

Synthesis of divalent beta-(1-->6)-branched (1-->3)-glucohexaose and trivalent beta-(1-->6)-branched (1-->3)-glucotriose

Hexaose, beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-Glcp, based dimers were synthesized by twofold glycosidation of the hexaosyl trichloroacetimidate with hexylene 1,6-diol, diethylene glycol and triethylene glycol, respectively. Meanwhile, a triose, beta-1D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-Glcp, based trimer was obtained by glycosidation of the triosyl trichloroacetimidate with a glycerol-derived triol scaffold.     

Synthesis of biantennary beta-D-(1-->6) glucosamine oligosaccharides

Biantennary beta-D-(1-->6) glucosamine hexa-, octa-, and dodecaoligosaccharide derivatives were synthesized convergently using isopropyl thioglycosides as donors in NIS/TMSOTf-catalyzed glycosylation.     

An efficient and concise regioselective synthesis of alpha-(1 --> 5)-linked L-arabinofuranosyl oligosaccharides

A series of alpha-(1 --> 5)-linked L-arabinofuranosyl di-, tetra-, hexa- and octameric derivatives were synthesized efficiently. The process was carried out in a regio- and stereoselective manner using perbenzoylated arabinofuranosyl trichloroacetimidates as glycosyl donors and unprotected or partially protected arabinofuranosides as glycosyl acceptors in the presence of a catalytic amount of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf).     

Systematic synthesis of sulfated sialyl-alpha-(2 --> 3)-neolactotetraose derivatives and their acceptor specificity for an alpha-(1 --> 3)-fucosyltransferase (Fuc-TVII) involved in the biosynthesis of L-selectin ligand

Sulfated sialyl-alpha-(2 --> 3)-neolactotetraose (IV3NeuAcnLcOse4) derivatives at C-6 of GlcNAc (6-O-sulfo), terminal Gal (6'-O-sulfo), and both GlcNAc and Gal (6,6'-di-O-sulfo) residues have systematically been synthesized. (Methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9- tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-alpha-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosy lonate)-(2 --> 3)-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-6-O-levulinoyl-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate was coupled with 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (2-acetamido-2-deoxy- 3-O-benzyl-6-O-p-methoxyphenyl-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 to give the suitably protected pentasaccharide which, upon selective removal of the p-methoxyphenyl and/or levulinoyl groups at C-6 of the GlcNAc and the terminal Gal residues, successive O-sulfation(s) and deprotection, afforded the desired three sulfated IV3NeuAcnLcOse4 derivatives. Acceptor specificity of the synthetic IV3NeuAcnLcOse4 probes for a human alpha-(1 --> 3)-fucosyltransferase (Fuc-TVII) was examined to study the biosynthetic pathway of L-selectin ligand. Only the 6-sulfated derivative at C-6 of GlcNAc was recognized by Fuc-TVII to give 6-O-sulfo sialyl LeX.     

Identification of bound water molecules in the cyclic tetrasaccharide, cyclo-{-->6}-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->)

A structural characterization of bound water molecules in the cyclic tetrasaccharide, cyclo-{-->6}-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->), was carried out by NMR spectroscopy. H-1', 2'-OH, H-3', and 4'-OH of the 3-O-glycosylated residue and H-1 of the 6-O-glycosylated residue were found to cross-relax with protons of bound waters using the double-pulsed field-gradient spin-echo ROESY experiment. In the crystal structure, one water molecule is located in the center of the plate, and its temperature factor is very low, indicating that this water molecule is an intrinsic component.     

Synthesis of alpha-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-Manp-(1-->3)-Manp, the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of Escherichia coli O9a, and alpha-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-Manp-(1-->3)-Manp, the pentasaccharide repeating unit of E. coli O9 and Klebsiella O3

The tetrasaccharide repeating unit of Escherichia coli O9a, alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-D-Manp, and the pentasaccharide repeating unit of E. coli O9 and Klebsiella O3, alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-D-Manp, were synthesized as their methyl glycosides. Thus, selective 3-O-allylation of p-methoxyphenyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside via a dibutyltin intermediate gave p-methoxyphenyl 3-O-allyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (2) in good yield. Benzoylation (-->3), then removal of 1-O-methoxyphenyl (right arrow4), and subsequent trichloroacetimidation afforded the 3-O-allyl-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (5). Condensation of 5 with methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (6) selectively afforded the (1-->3)-linked disaccharide 7. Benzoylation of 7, debenzylidenation, benzoylation, and deallylation gave methyl 2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (11) as the disaccharide acceptor. Coupling of 11 with (1-->2)-linked mannose disaccharide donor 17 or trisaccharide donor 21, followed by deacylation, furnished the target tetrasaccharide and pentasaccharide, respectively.     

Enzymatic synthesis of a library of beta-(1-->4) hetero- D-glucose and D-xylose-based oligosaccharides employing cellodextrin phosphorylase

Enzymatic synthesis was attempted of six trisaccharides and 14 tetrasaccharides comprising beta-(1-->4)-linked D-glucose and D-xylose residues, using cellodextrin phosphorylase (CDP, EC 2.4.1.49) as the enzyme catalyst, with alpha-D-glucose 1-phosphate (1) or alpha-D-xylose 1-phosphate (2) as the donor substrates, and cellobiose (3), xylobiose (4), betaGlc-(1-->4)-Xyl (5), or betaXyl-(1-->4)-Glc (6) as the acceptor substrates. All enzymatic reactions were performed at pH 7.0 and the products purified by gel-filtration chromatography. We successfully synthesized all six hetero-trisaccharides and 10 of the 14 possible hetero-tetrasaccharides. It was not found possible to synthesize the four tetrasaccharides with a Xyl-->Glc sequence at their non-reducing ends employing this method. The stereochemistries of the isolated products were assessed by analysis of their 2D NMR spectra (DQF-COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, HMBC), confirming that all of the glycosidic bonds in the products were beta-(1-->4) linkages.     

Chemical analysis of a new (1-->3)-, (1-->6)-branched glucan from an edible mushroom, Pleurotus florida

A glucan that was soluble in aqueous sodium chloride was isolated from the aqueous extract of the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus florida. On the basis of total hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, and NMR studies (1H, 13C, TOCSY, DQF-COSY, NOESY, and HSQC), the structure of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide is established as: This glucan stimulates the phagocytic activity of macrophages.     

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.     

Solution properties of antitumor sulfated derivative of alpha-(1-->3)-D-glucan from Ganoderma lucidum

Four fractions of a water-insoluble alpha-(1-->3)-D-glucan GL extracted from fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum were dissolved in 0.25 M LiCl/DMSO, and then reacted with sulfur trioxide-pyridine complex at 80 degrees C to synthesize a series of water-soluble sulfated derivatives S-GL. The degree of substitution of DS was measured by using IR infrared spectra, elemental analysis, and 13C NMR to be 1.2-1.6 in the non-selective sulfation. Weight-average molecular weight Mw and intrinsic viscosity [eta] of the sulfated derivatives S-GL were measured by multi-angle laser light scattering and viscometry. The Mw value (2.4 x 10(4)) of sulfated glucan S-GL-1 was much lower than that (44.5 x 10(4)) of original alpha-(1-->3)-D-glucan GL-1. The Mark-Houwink equation and average value of characteristic ratio C(infinity) for the S-GL in 0.2 M NaCl aqueous solution at 25 degrees C were found to be: [eta] = 1.32 x 10(-3) Mw(1.06) (cm3 g(-1)) and 16, respectively, in the Mw range from 1.1 x 10(4) to 2.4 x 10(4). It indicated that the sulfated derivatives of the alpha-(1-->3)-D-glucan in the aqueous solution behave as an expanded chain, owing to intramolecular hydrogen bonding or interaction between charge groups. Interestingly, two sulfated derivatives synthesized from the alpha-(1-->3)-D-glucan and curdlan, a beta-(1-->3)-D-glucan, all had significant higher antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) than the originals. The effect of expanded chains of the sulfated glucan in the aqueous solution on the improvement of the antitumor activity could not be negligible.     

Synthesis of mannose-containing analogues of (1-->6)-branched (1-->3)-glucohexaose

Coupling of the trisaccharide acceptor 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-5-O-acetyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose (2) with the trisaccharide donor 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-annopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-2,4-di-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (1) gave an alpha-linked hexasaccharide 3, while coupling of 2 with the trisaccharide donor 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-2,4-di-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (7) produced alpha- 8 and beta-linked 12 hexasaccharides in a ratio of 3:2. Deprotection of 3, 8, and 12 afforded the analogues of the immunomodulator beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-D-Glcp (A).