Synthesis of a mannose heptasaccharide of the pathogenic yeast,Candida glabrata IFO 0622 strain

An effective synthesis of the mannose heptasaccharide existing in the pathogenic yeast, Candida glabrata IFO 0622 strain was achieved via TMSOTf-promoted condensation of a tetrasaccharide donor 13 with a trisaccharide acceptor 16, followed by deprotection. The tetrasaccharide 13 was constructed by coupling of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (7) with allyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (10), followed by deallylation and trichloroacetimadation. The trisaccharide 16 was obtained by coupling of 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate with 10, and subsequent 6-O-deacetylation. The disaccharide 7 was prepared through coupling of perbenzoylated mannosyl trichloroacetimidate with 4,6-O-benzylidene-1,2-O-ethylidene-beta-D-mannopyranose, then simultaneous debenzylidenation and deethylidenation, and subsequent acetylation, selective 1-O-deacetylation, and trichloroacetimidation. The disaccharide 10 was obtained by self-condensation of 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-1,2-O-allyloxyethylidene-beta-D-mannopyranose, followed by selective 2-O-deacetylation.     

Synthesis of a mannose heptasaccharide existing in baker's yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae X2180-1A wild-type strain

A mannose heptasaccharide existing in baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae X2180-1A wild-type strain, was effectively synthesized as its allyl glycoside via TMSOTf-promoted condensation of a disaccharide donor 13 with a pentasaccharide acceptor 12, followed by deprotection. The pentasaccharide 12 was constructed by coupling of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (9) with allyl 6-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (10), followed by deacetylation. The tetrasaccharide 9 was obtained by coupling of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (5) with allyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (6), followed by deallylation and trichloroacetimidation. The disaccharides 6 and 13 were readily obtained by known methods.     

A facile regio- and stereoselective synthesis of mannose octasaccharide of the N-glycan in human CD2 and mannose hexasaccharide antigenic factor 13b

A highly concise and effective synthesis of the mannose octasaccharide of the N-linked glycan in the adhesion domain of human CD2 was achieved via TMSOTf-promoted selective 6-glycosylation of a trisaccharide 4,6-diol acceptor with a pentasaccharide donor, followed by deprotection. The pentasaccharide was constructed by selective 3,6-diglycosylation of 1,2-O-ethylidene-beta-D-mannopyranose with 2-O-acetyl-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, while the trisaccharide was obtained by selective 3-O-glycosylation of allyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-alpha-D-mannopyranoside with the same disaccharide trichloroacetimidate, followed by debenzylidenation. The mannose hexasaccharide antigenic factor 13b was synthesized by condensation of a trisaccharide donor, 2-O-acetyl-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->3)-4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, with a trisaccharide acceptor, methyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside, followed by deprotection.     

Synthesis of heparin-like oligosaccharides on polymer supports

The biological functions of a variety of proteins are regulated by heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans. In order to facilitate the elucidation of the molecular basis of glycosaminoglycan-protein interactions we have developed syntheses of heparin-like oligosaccharides on polymer supports. A completely stereoselective strategy previously developed by us for the synthesis of these oligosaccharides in solution has been extended to the solid phase using an acceptor-bound approach. Both a soluble polymer support and a polyethylene glycol-grafted polystyrene resin have been used and different strategies for the attachment of the acceptor to the support have been explored. The attachment of fully protected disaccharide building blocks to a soluble support through the carboxylic group of the uronic acid unit by a succinic ester linkage, the use of trichloroacetimidates as glycosylating agents and of a functionalized Merryfield type resin for the capping process allowed for the construction of hexasaccharide and octasaccharide fragments containing the structural motif of the regular region of heparin. This strategy may facilitate the synthesis of glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides by using the required building blocks in the glycosylation sequence.     

Synthesis of a 6(V)-sulfated mannopentasaccharide analogue related to PI-88

An efficient and convergent synthesis of a regioselectively 6(V)-sulfated mannopentasaccharide derivative 1c, octyl 6-O-sulfo-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-d-mannopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside, was achieved by a '3 + 2' strategy. The target was designed to mimic the promising anticancer agent PI-88 and was obtained from the building blocks, octyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside, allyl 2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-3-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside, and 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (11), under TMSOTf-catalyzed glycosylation conditions. Compound 1c displays a mild anti-angiogenic activity based on a chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model study.     

Conformational analysis and dynamics of mannobiosides and mannotriosides using Monte Carlo/stochastic dynamics simulations

The conformation and dynamics of alpha-(1-->2)-mannobioside, alpha-(1-->6)-mannobioside, and of the trisaccharide alpha-Man-(1-->2)-alpha-Man-(1-->6)-alpha- Man-OMe were studied using Monte Carlo/stochastic dynamics (MC/SD) simulations, the AMBER* force field, and the GB/SA implicit water solvation model. The results are in agreement with available experimental data.     

The role of formic acid in solution stability and crystallization of silk protein polymer

In this paper, the regenerated silk fibroin (SF) solution dissolved in formic acid was used as a model protein to understand the role of formic acid in solution stability and crystallization of protein-based materials. The molecular decomposition of SF did not occur for the dissolution process in formic acid within 1–2 days of storage times. The β-sheet crystallization of SF molecules was occurred by the elimination of formic acid upon drying. The SF molecules in formic acid solution are stable and have low hydrodynamic radius values. This may be closely related to the fact that formic acid has two opposite functions of dissolution and crystallization simultaneously. The turbidity, dynamic light scattering and FTIR measurements elucidate that the solution stability and crystallization of SF are attributed to compact molecular shape of SF in formic acid, resulted from the molecular interactions between formic acid and polar groups in SF molecules.     

Enzymatic synthesis of a 6-sialyl lactose analogue using a pH-responsive water-soluble polymer support

The Letter describes a strategy for the enzymatic synthesis of glycans based on a pH-responsive water-soluble polymer. In neutral condition, the polymer is water-soluble and convenient for in-solution enzymatic synthesis, whereas in acidic condition (pH lower than 4.0), the polymer disconnects with the product and becomes insoluble, which can be easily removed. A 6-Sialyl lactose analogue was synthesized as a model reaction using this approach.     

Immobilization of Penicillium funiculosum cellulase on a soluble polymer

The three cellulase [see 1,4-(1,3;1,4)-β-d-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.4] components of Penicillium funiculosum have been immobilized on a soluble, high molecular weight polymer, poly(vinyl alcohol), using carbodiimide. The immobilized enzyme retained over 90% of cellulase [1,4-(1,3;1,4)-β-d-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.4], and exo-β-d-glucanase [1,4-β-d-glucan cellobiohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.91] and β-d-glucosidase [β-d-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.21] activities. The bound enzyme catalysed the hydrolysis of alkali-treated bagasse with a greater efficiency than the free cellulase. The potential for reuse of the immobilized system was studied using membrane filters and the system was found to be active for three cycles.     

Facile synthesis of arabinomannose penta- and decasaccharide fragments of the lipoarabinomannan of the equine pathogen, Rhodococcus equi

Pentasaccharide repeating unit 20 of the lipoarabinomannan from the equine pathogen, Rhodococcus equi, and its dimer 31, were synthesized. The pentasaccharide was obtained by assembling a benzoylated 2,6-branched mannosyl trisaccharide acceptor 13 with a free hydroxyl group at C-2' of the mannose residue attached to the core mannose residue by (1 --> 6)-linkage, followed by coupling with 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-arabinofuranosyl-(1 --> 2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (18), and by deacylation. Meanwhile, the decamer 31 was obtained by firstly preparing a benzoylated mannose (1 --> 6)-linked tetrasaccharide backbone 26 with 2-, 2"-O-ClAc, and 2'-, 2'-O-Ac groups, respectively, then by dechloroacetylation and subsequent condensation with perbenzoylated trichloroacetimidate, and then by deacetylation and subsequent coupling with 18, and finally, by deacylation.     

Structure of the phosphopeptidomannans from flocculent and non-flocculent yeast Kluyveromyces lactis

After extraction from whole cells, and purification by gel filtration, the chemical composition and molecular mass estimation of the cell-wall phosphopeptidomannan (PPM) showed no significant difference respectively between flocculent, weakly, very weakly and non-flocculent Kluyveromyces lactis yeast strains. However, when PPMs were tested as ligands of a lectin, extracted from the flocculent strain, the PPM isolated from the flocculent and weakly flocculent strain were recognized to a higher degree than those isolated from the non and very weakly flocculent strains. Acetolysis of PPM extracted from the four strains produced five oligosaccharide fractions corresponding to mono-, di-, tri-, penta-and hexa-saccharides. The flocculent strain was characterised by a high content of di-and penta-saccharides. The ¹H NMR analysis of the oligosaccharides demonstrated that the flocculent strain contained equivalent levels of the two mannobioses: Man( 1 → 2)Man and Man( 1 → 3)Man and of the two mannotrioses Man( 1 → 2)Man( 1 → 2)Man and Man( 1 → 3)Man( 1 → 2)Man. In contrast, the non-flocculent and the very weakly flocculent strains contained a single type of mannobiose Man( 1 → 2)Man and one type of mannotriose Man( 1 → 2)Man( 1 → 2)Man.     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of 1,3-1,4-beta-glucosyl oligosaccharides by 1,3-1,4-beta-glucanase from Synechocystis PCC6803: a comparison with assays using polymer and chromophoric oligosaccharide substrates

The specificity of 1,3-1,4-β-glucanase from Synechocystis PCC6803 (SsGlc) was investigated using novel substrates 1,3-1,4-β-glucosyl oligosaccharides, in which 1,3- and 1,4-linkages are located in various arrangements. After the enzymatic reaction, the reaction products were separated and determined by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD). As a result, SsGlc was found to hydrolyze the pentasaccharides, which possess three contiguous 1,4-β-glycosidic linkages (cellotetraose sequence) adjacent to 1,3-β-linkage, but none of the other oligosaccharides were hydrolyzed. To further analyze the specificity, kinetic measurements were performed using polymeric substrates and 4-methylumbelliferyl derivatives of laminaribiose and cellobiose (1,3-β-(Glc)₂-MU and 1,4-β-(Glc)₂-MU). The k_cat/K_m value obtained for barley β-glucan was considerably larger than that for lichenan, indicating that SsGlc prefers 1,3-1,4-β-glucan possessing a larger amount of cellotetraose sequence. This is consistent with the data obtained for 1,3-1,4-β-glucosyl oligosaccharides. However, the k_cat/K_m value obtained for 1,4-β-(Glc)₂-MU was considerably lower than that for 1,3-β-(Glc)₂-MU, suggesting inconsistency with the data obtained from the other natural substrates. It is likely that the kinetic data obtained from such chromophoric substrates do not always reflect the true enzymatic properties.     

Hydrodynamic modelling of protein conformation in solution: ELLIPS and HYDRO

The last three decades has seen some important advances in our ability to represent the conformation of proteins in solution on the basis of hydrodynamic measurements. Advances in theoretical modeling capabilities have been matched by commensurate advances in the precision of hydrodynamic measurements. We consider the advances in whole-body (simple ellipsoid-based) modeling—still useful for providing an overall idea of molecular shape, particularly for those systems where only a limited amount of data is available—and outline the ELLIPS suite of algorithms which facilitates the use of this approach. We then focus on bead modeling strategies, particularly the surface or shell–bead approaches and the HYDRO suite of algorithms. We demonstrate how these are providing great insights into complex issues such as the conformation of immunoglobulins and other multi-domain complexes.     

Synthesis of 5'-phosphorylated oligonucleotides on a polymer support

Highly lipophilic trityloxyethylamine (TEAm) or trityloxyethylaniline (TEAn) were prepared and used for the protection of the 5'-terminal phosphate. We synthesized 5'-phosphorylated oligodeoxyribonucleotides by the solid phase synthesis. TEAm or TEAn groups enabled us to isolate the desired oligonucleotide easily by the reversed phase column due to their high lipophilicity and could be removed by the aq. AcOH treatment.     

Properties and applications of Penicillium funiculosum cellulase immobilized on a soluble polymer

Summary The cellobiase and xylanase activities of Penicillium funiculosum were immobilized on a soluble polymer poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The kinetic parameters and the adsorption characteristics of the bound and free enzymes were compared. The Km value of the immobilized preparation was the same as the free enzyme. The hydrolysis of different cellulosic substrates by the bound enzyme is investigated.     

A new two-dimensional thallium(I) coordination polymer with 4-hydroxybenzylidene-4-aminobenzoate: Thermal, structural, solution and solvatochromic studies

A new one-dimensional thallium(I) coordination polymer with a Schiff base ligand, {[Tl(L)(HL)](H₂O)_0.77}_n (1) [HL = 4-hydroxybenzylidene-4-aminobenzoic acid], has been synthesized and characterized. The single-crystal X-ray data of compound 1 show the coordination number of the Tl^I ions to be seven. The thermal stability of 1 was studied by thermal gravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analyses (DTA). The overall stoichiometry in the solid state is 1:2, but both spectrophotometric and conductometric methods did not support formation of a complex with this stoichiometry in solution. The solvatochromic behaviour of 4-hydroxybenzylidene-4-aminobenzoic acid was also investigated by studying its spectra in a selection of different organic solvents. The observed bands are assigned to electronic transitions.     

Lipase-catalysed hydrolysis of short-chain substrates in solution and in emulsion: a kinetic study

We have studied the enzymatic hydrolysis of solutions and emulsions of vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate and tripropionin by lipases of various origin and specificity. Kinetic studies of the hydrolysis of short-chain substrates by microbial triacylglycerol lipases from Rhizopus oryzae, Mucor miehei, Candida rugosa, Candida antarctica A and by (phospho)lipase from guinea-pig pancreas show that these lipolytic enzymes follow the Michaelis–Menten model. Surprisingly, the activity against solutions of tripropionin and vinyl esters ranges from 70% to 90% of that determined against emulsions. In contrast, a non-hyperbolic (sigmoidal) dependence of enzyme activity on ester concentration is found with human pancreatic lipase, triacylglycerol lipase from Humicola lanuginosa (Thermomyces lanuginosa) and partial acylglycerol lipase from Penicillium camembertii and the same substrates. In all cases, no abrupt jump in activity (interfacial activation) is observed at substrate concentration corresponding to the solubility limit of the esters. Maximal lipolytic activity is always obtained in the presence of emulsified ester. Despite progress in the understanding of structure–function of lipases, interpretation of the mode of action of lipases active against solutions of short-chain substrates remains difficult. Actually, it is not known whether these enzymes, which possess a lid structure, are in open or/and closed conformation in the bulk phase and whether the opening of the lid that gives access to the catalytic triad is triggered by interaction of the enzyme molecule with monomeric substrates or/and multimolecular aggregates (micelles) both present in the bulk phase. From the comparison of the behaviour of lipases used in this study which, in some cases, follow the Michaelis–Menten model and, in others, deviate from classical kinetics, it appears that the activity of classical lipases against soluble short-chain vinyl esters and tripropionin depends not only on specific interaction with single substrate molecules at the catalytic site of the enzyme but also on physico-chemical parameters related to the state of association of the substrate dispersed in the aqueous phase. It is assumed that the interaction of lipase with soluble multimolecular aggregates of tripropionin or short-chain vinyl esters or the formation of enzyme–substrate mixed micelles with ester bound to lipase, might represent a crucial step that triggers the structural transition to the open enzyme conformation by displacement of the lid.     

Steps in the biosynthesis of mosquito cell membrane glycoproteins and the effects of tunicamycin

A cultured cell line of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is sensitive to tunicamycin as expected from the ability of crude membrane preparations to catalyse the formation of N-acetylglucosamine-linked dolichyl pyrophosphate. Formation of dolichylphosphomannose was also detected and this reaction was totally insensitive to tunicamycin. Incorporation of radioactive mannose into total acid-precipitable glycoproteins was inhibited greater than 90% in whole cells by tunicamycin, while the incorporation of leucine and glucosamine was less affected. Separation of the radioactive hexosamines from acid hydrolysates of cells incubated with [¹⁴C]glucosamine and tunicamycin showed predominant labelling of galactosamine, whereas in control cells not treated with the drug both glucosamine and galactosamine were labelled equally. Evidently, mosquito cells synthesise N-glycosidically linked carbohydrate chains assembled through tunicamycin-sensitive steps involving dolichyl pyrophospho-oligosaccharides, and O-glycosidically linked chains rich in N-acetylgalactosamine, the assembly of which is unaffected by tunicamycin. These results support structural evidence (Butters, T.D. and Hughes, R.C. (1981) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 640, 655–671) for the presence of high mannose N-glycans and N-acetylgalactosamine-richO-glycans in mosquito cell glycoproteins. The absence of complex N-glycans was confirmed by the demonstration of negligible activities of N-acetylglucosaminyl-, galactosyl- and sialyltransferases responsible for assembly of the terminal sequences of N-glycans of mature mammalian glycoproteins.