The metabolism of d-glucarate by Pseudomonas acidovorans

1. Dehydratases that converted d-glucarate into 4-deoxy-5-oxoglucarate were partially purified from Klebsiella aerogenes and Pseudomonas acidovorans. 2. When d-glucarate was metabolized to 2,5-dioxovalerate it appeared that water and carbon dioxide were removed from 4-deoxy-5-oxoglucarate in one enzymic step: 4,5-dihydroxy-2-oxovalerate was not an intermediate in this reaction. 3. A method for the enzymic determination of d-glucarate is described.     

Purification and characterization of a membrane-bound sialidase from pig liver

A membrane-bound sialidase in pig liver microsomes was solubilized with a nonionic detergent, IGEPAL CA630, and purified to homogeneity by sequential chromatographies on SP-Toyopearl, Butyl-Toyopearl (1st), SuperQ-Toyopearl, Hydroxyapatite, Butyl-Toyopearl (2nd), GM1-Cellulofine affinity, and sialic acid-Cellulofine affinity columns. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 57 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The pH optimum was 4.8 for the activity measured using 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-N-acetylneuraminic acid (4MU-Neu5Ac) as the substrate. The enzyme activity was inhibited by 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid, iodoacetamide and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid. While the enzyme could effectively hydrolyze 4MU-Neu5Ac, it failed to significantly cleave a sialic acid residue(s) from sialyllactose, glycoproteins or gangliosides at pH 4.8. These results suggest that the purified enzyme is a novel sialidase with a substrate specificity distinct from those of known membrane-bound sialidases in mammalian tissues.     

A substrate for the fluorogenic assay of exo-beta-N-acetylmuramidase: synthesis and purification of 4-methylumbelliferyl N-acetylmuramide.

A fluorogenic substrate for exo-β-N-acetylmuramidase from Bacillus subtilis B was synthesized. 4-Methyl-2-oxo-1,2-benzopyran-7-yl 2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranoside was prepared from 4-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-benzopyran-7-yl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranoside, condensed with dl-2-chloropropionic acid, the benzylidene residue removed by acetolysis and the 4-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-benzopyran-7-yl 2-amino-3-O-(d-1-carboxyethyl)-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranoside purified by chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex G-10 and by high-voltage paper electrophoresis. The identity of the product was confirmed by pmr studies, acid hydrolysis followed by chromatography of the products, and enzymic digestion.     

Flavobacterium heparinum 3-O-sulphatase for N-substituted glucosamine 3-O-sulphate

A novel bacterial sulphatase has been discovered in an extract of Flavobacterium heparinum. The enzyme hydrolyses the 3-O-sulphate from 2-deoxy-2-sulphamido-3-O-sulpho-D-glucose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-sulpho-D-glucose. The activity was purified 10 800-fold by chromatography successively on CM-Sepharose CL-6B, hydroxyapatite, taurine-Sepharose CL-4B and CM-Sepharose CL-6B. Sodium dodecylsulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed the enzyme to be homogeneous and of relative molecular mass 56 000. Two novel assays were developed using 2-[14C]acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-sulpho-D-glucose and 2-deoxy-2-sulphamido-3-O-sulpho-D-glucose as respective substrates. The purified 3-O-sulphatase was shown to be free of all other known heparin-degrading enzymes. Optimal activity was at pH 7.5 for the disulphated substrate and pH 8.0 for the N-acetylated substrate. Enzyme activity was virtually unaffected by Na+, K+ or Mg2+ ions. A 1.2-fold enhancement of activity was effected by 0.002 mol dm-3 Ca2+. Inorganic phosphate and sulphate inhibited 3-O-sulphatase activity. The Km value of the N-acetylated substrate was determined to be 42 mumol dm-3. No activity was detected with 2-amino-2-deoxy-3-O-sulpho-D-glucose.     

The use of deoxyfluoro-d-galactopyranoses in a study of yeast galactokinase specificity

1. 2-Deoxy-2-fluoro-d-galactose, 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-d-galactose, 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-d-galactose, 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-d-galactose and 2-deoxy-d-lyxo-hexose are substrates for yeast galactokinase. 2. The variation in K(m) values for the d-hexose derivatives was not associated with a variation in the value of K(m) for MgATP(2-) indicating that the binding of MgATP(2-) is not modified by the binding of the sugar substrate. 3. Donated H bonds from OH-3, OH-4 and OH-6 and an accepted H bond to OH-2 of the d-hexose are important for the binding of the sugar substrate to galactokinase. 4. Yeast galactokinase exhibits similar kinetics to the galactokinase from Escherichia coli and operates by a similar random sequential mechanism. 5. 4-Deoxy-4-fluoro-d-glucose was neither a substrate for nor an inhibitor of yeast galactokinase.     

Concentrated hydriodic acid in simultaneous deprotections of multifunctional inositols

l-1-Deoxy-1-fluoro-6-O-methyl-myo-inositol was epimerized by chloral/DCC in boiling 1,2-dichloroethane yielding D-1-O-cyclohexylcarbamoyl-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-3-O-methyl-5,6-O-[(R/S)-2,2,2-trichloroethylidene]-chiro-inositol. The latter and l-4-O-benzyl-3-O-cyclohexylcarbamoyl-5-O-methyl-1,2-O-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)-muco-inositol, l-4-O-benzyl-3-O-cyclohexylcarbamoyl-1,2-O-ethylidene-5-O-methyl-muco-inositol, d-1-O-cyclohexylcarbamoyl-2-deoxy-5,6-O-ethylidene-2-fluoro-3-O-methyl-chiro-inositol, as well as D-5-O-benzyl-4-O-cyclohexylcarbamoyl-3-deoxy-3-(N,N'-dicyclohexylureido)-6-O-methyl-1,2-O-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)-chiro-inositol were deprotected with boiling 57% aq hydrogen iodide. Ether, urethane and ethylidene acetal functions were simultaneously cleaved by the reagent, whereas the trichloroethylidene groups were still intact or were only removed in small quantities. Especially, the urea function of D-5-O-benzyl-4-O-cyclohexylcarbamoyl-3-deoxy-3-(N,N'-dicyclohexylureido)-6-O-methyl-1,2-O-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)-chiro-inositol was decomposed to a cyclohexylamino group. The hydrodechlorination of D-1-O-cyclohexylcarbamoyl-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-3-O-methyl-5,6-O-[(R/S)-2,2,2-trichloroethylidene]-chiro-inositol using Raney-Nickel yielded a mixture of the corresponding 5,6-O-ethylidene- and 5,6-O-chloroethylidene derivatives. The three synthetic steps-hydrodehalogenation, HI-deprotection and peracylation- were combined without purification of the intermediates.     

The use of deoxyfluoro-d-glucopyranoses and related compounds in a study of yeast hexokinase specificity

1. 2-Deoxy-2-fluoro-d-glucose, 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-d-mannose and 2-deoxy-2,2-difluoro-d-arabino-hexose are good substrates for yeast hexokinase. 2. 3-Deoxy-3-fluoro-d-glucose and 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-d-glucose are poor substrates and have very similar K(m) values (8x10(-2)m). 3. Neither alpha- nor beta-d-glucopyranosyl fluoride is a substrate or inhibitor. 4. Studies with 2-chloro-2-deoxy- and 2-O-methyl derivatives of d-glucose and d-mannose have revealed that little chemical modification is possible at position 2 without substantial loss in substrate binding. 5. The variation in the value of K(m) for the d-hexose derivatives was associated with a corresponding change in the value of K(m) for MgATP(2-) showing that the binding of MgATP(2-) is modified by the binding of the sugar.     

Chondroitinase C activity of Streptococcus intermedius

Chondroitin 6-sulfate depolymerizing activity was examined in the culture supernatant of Streptococcus intermedius ATCC 27335. 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(beta-D-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-6-O-sulfo-D-galactose was split from the substrate. The enzyme(s) was not active upon chondroitin 4-sulfate or dermatan sulfate, which indicated that the enzyme responsible for the depolymerization is chondroitinase C.     

Sugar derivatives as new 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase inhibitors selective for the parasite Trypanosoma brucei

Sugar derivatives mimicking compounds which take part in the catalysed reaction have been assayed as alternative substrates and/or competitive inhibitors of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Trypanosoma brucei and sheep liver. Phosphonate analogues have been synthesised and the new compound 5-deoxy-5-phosphono-D-arabinonate shows good selectivity towards the parasite enzyme. A number of 4-carbon and 5-carbon aldonates are strong inhibitors of the parasite enzyme with K(i) values below the substrate K(m) and some acyl derivatives are also potent inhibitors. At least five of the compounds showing a significant selectivity for the parasite enzyme represent leads for trypanocidal drugs against this recently validated target.     

Spacer-modified, photolabile tetrasaccharides as analogues of maltopentaose are versatile probes for porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase.

The syntheses are described of methyl 4'-O-[4-S-(3-azi-4-alpha-D-glucopyranosyloxybutyl)-6-deoxy-4 -thio-alpha-D-xylo-hex-5-enopyranosyl]-alpha-maltoside (28), methyl 4-O-[4-S-(3-azi-4-alpha-maltosyloxybutyl)-6-deoxy-4-thio- alpha-D-xylo-hex-5-enopyranosyl]-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (29), and methyl 4-S-(3-azi-4-alpha-maltotriosyloxybutyl)-6-deoxy-4-thio- alpha-D-xylo-hex-5-enopyranoside (30), which are analogues of maltopentaose in which a central glucosyl unit is replaced by an acyclic, four-membered hydrocarbon spacer carrying a photolabile azi group. Only 30 was slowly cleaved by high concentrations of pancreatic alpha-amylase. The Ki values (mM) were 0.15 (28), 2.1 (29), and 2.5 (30). Deactivation of the enzyme by irradiation in the presence severely of 28-30 was 96.4%, 98.1%, and 40%, respectively. There is an indication for regiospecific photoaffinity labelling of the binding subsites of the enzyme.     

Synthesis of carbohydrate analogs (positional,configurational, and optical) of N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine,and their immunoadjuvant activities

2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-4- and -6-O-(d-2-propanoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine)-d-glucopyranose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(d-2-propanoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine)-d-allopyranose, -d-gulopyranose, -d-galactopyranose, -d-mannopyranose, and -l-idopyranose, and 3-O-(d-2-propanoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine)-d- and -l-glucopyranose were synthesized, in order to clarify the structural requirements for the immunoadjuvant activity of the carbohydrate moiety in N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine. Immunoadjuvant activity of the N-acetylmuramoyl-dipeptide analogs was examined in guinea-pigs.     

2-Deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glycosyl fluorides. A new class of specific mechanism-based glycosidase inhibitors

Mechanism-based glycosidase inhibitors are of considerable use in studies of enzyme mechanism, in studies of glycoprotein processing, and possibly therapeutically in control of sugar uptake. This paper describes a new general approach to mechanism-based inactivation of glycosidases which involves trapping a covalent glycosyl enzyme intermediate. This is achieved by use of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glycosyl fluorides, for which the rate of hydrolysis of the fluoroglycosyl enzyme intermediate is extremely slow, resulting in accumulation of the intermediate. Eleven different glycosidases were tested with their corresponding 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glycosyl fluorides. Eight of the eleven were inactivated, four of them according to pseudo first-order kinetics and four according to a more complex kinetic scheme. The specificity of these inhibitors was investigated by assaying for inhibition of one enzyme with four different 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glycosyl fluorides. Large differences in inactivation rate were observed which paralleled previously observed substrate specificities.     

Characterisation and X-ray crystallography of products from the Bucherer-Bergs reaction of methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-lyxo-pentodialdo-1,4-furanoside

Methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-mannofuranosidurononitrile [alternative name: methyl (5R)-5-C-cyano-2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-lyxofuranoside] (2), methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-mannofuranosiduronamide [methyl (5S)-5-C-carbamoyl-2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-lyxofuranoside; methyl (5S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-lyxo-hexofuranosiduronamide] (3), methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-mannofuranosiduronic acid [methyl (5S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-lyxo-hexofuranosiduronic acid] (4), methyl 5-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-5-ureido-beta-L-gulofuranosiduronamide [methyl (5R)-5-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-5-ureido-alpha-D-lyxo-hexofuranosiduronamide (5), and (4S,5S,6R)-5,6-dihydro-6-hydroxy-4,5-isopropylidenedioxy-4H-pyrido[2,1-e]imidazolidine-2',4'-dione [IUPAC name: (3aS,4R,8aS)-4-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-3a,8a-dihydro-4H-1,3-dioxa-4a,6-diaza-s-indacene-5,7-dione] (6), instead of the expected hydantoin derivative, were obtained from the Bucherer-Bergs reaction of methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-lyxo-pentodialdo-1,4-furanoside (1). The structure of 6 was deduced from NMR and mass spectral data and confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The configuration at C-5 in 2-5 was confirmed by establishing the 5S configuration of 3 by X-ray crystallography. Conformations of the six- and five-membered rings in 3 and 6 are also discussed.     

Improving upon nature: active site remodeling produces highly efficient aldolase activity toward hydrophobic electrophilic substrates

The substrate specificity of enzymes is frequently narrow and constrained by multiple interactions, limiting the use of natural enzymes in biocatalytic applications. Aldolases have important synthetic applications, but the usefulness of these enzymes is hampered by their narrow reactivity profile with unnatural substrates. To explore the determinants of substrate selectivity and alter the specificity of Escherichia coli 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG) aldolase, we employed structure-based mutagenesis coupled with library screening of mutant enzymes localized to the bacterial periplasm. We identified two active site mutations (T161S and S184L) that work additively to enhance the substrate specificity of this aldolase to include catalysis of retro-aldol cleavage of (4S)-2-keto-4-hydroxy-4-(2'-pyridyl)butyrate (S-KHPB). These mutations improve the value of k(cat)/K(M)(S-KHPB) by >450-fold, resulting in a catalytic efficiency that is comparable to that of the wild-type enzyme with the natural substrate while retaining high stereoselectivity. Moreover, the value of k(cat)(S-KHPB) for this mutant enzyme, a parameter critical for biocatalytic applications, is 3-fold higher than the maximal value achieved by the natural aldolase with any substrate. This mutant also possesses high catalytic efficiency for the retro-aldol cleavage of the natural substrate, KDPG, and a >50-fold improved activity for cleavage of 2-keto-4-hydroxy-octonoate, a nonfunctionalized hydrophobic analogue. These data suggest a substrate binding mode that illuminates the origin of facial selectivity in aldol addition reactions catalyzed by KDPG and 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonate aldolases. Furthermore, targeting mutations to the active site provides a marked improvement in substrate selectivity, demonstrating that structure-guided active site mutagenesis combined with selection techniques can efficiently identify proteins with characteristics that compare favorably to those of naturally occurring enzymes.     

Synthesis and structure determination of some sugar amino acids related to alanine and 6-deoxymannojirimycin.

(5'R)-5'-Methyl-5'-[methyl (4S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-beta-L-erythrofuranosid-4-C-yl]-imidazolidin-2',4'-dione was synthesised starting from methyl 6-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-lyxo-hexofuranosid-5-ulose applying the Bucherer-Bergs reaction. Its 5'-R configuration was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Corresponding alpha-amino acid-methyl (5R)-5-amino-5-C-carboxy-5,6-dideoxy-alpha-D-lyxo-hexofuranoside (alternative name: 2-[methyl (4S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-beta-L-erythrofuranosid-4-C-yl]-D-alanine) was obtained from the above hydantoin by acid hydrolysis of the isopropylidene group followed by basic hydrolysis of the hydantoin ring. Total deprotection afforded 5-C-carboxy-6-deoxymannojirimycin. Analogously, methyl (5S)-5-amino-5-C-carboxy-5,6-dideoxy-alpha-L-lyxo-hexofuranoside and 5-C-carboxy-6-deoxy-L-mannojirimycin were prepared from the corresponding (5'S)-5'-methyl-5'-[methyl (4R)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-erythrofuranosid-4-C-yl]-imidazolidin-2',4'-dione starting from methyl 6-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-L-lyxo-hexofuranosid-5-ulose.     

New and highly sensitive assay for l-5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase activity by high-performance liquid chromatography—voltammetry

This paper describes a new, inexpensive and highly sensitive assay for aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) activity, using l-5-hydroxytryptophan (l-5-HTP) as substrate, in rat and human brains and serum by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with voltammetric detection. l-5-HTP was used as substrate and d-5-HTP for the blank. After isolating serotonin (5-HT) formed enzymatically from l-5-HTP on a small Amberlite CG-50 column, the 5-HT was eluted with hydrochloric acid and assayed by HPLC with a voltammetric detector. N-Methyldopamine was added to each incubation mixture as an internal standard. This method is sensitive enough to measure 5-HT, formed by the enzyme, 100 fmol to 140 pmol or more. An advantage of this method is that one can incubate the enzyme for longer time (up to 150 min), as compared with AADC assay using l-DOPA as substrate, resulting in a very high sensitivity. By using this new method, AADC activity was discovered in rat serum.     

New and highly sensitive assay for l-5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase activity by high-performance liquid chromatography—voltammetry

This paper describes a new, inexpensive and highly sensitive assay for aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) activity, using l-5-hydroxytryptophan (l-5-HTP) as substrate, in rat and human brains and serum by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with voltammetric detection. l-5-HTP was used as substrate and d-5-HTP for the blank. After isolating serotonin (5-HT) formed enzymatically from l-5-HTP on a small Amberlite CG-50 column, the 5-HT was eluted with hydrochloric acid and assayed by HPLC with a voltammetric detector. N-Methyldopamine was added to each incubation mixture as an internal standard. This method is sensitive enough to measure 5-HT, formed by the enzyme, 100 fmol to 140 pmol or more. An advantage of this method is that one can incubate the enzyme for longer time (up to 150 min), as compared with AADC assay using l-DOPA as substrate, resulting in a very high sensitivity. By using this new method, AADC activity was discovered in rat serum.     

An Oligogalacturonate Transeliminase from Erwinia aroideae

An oligogalacturonate transeliminase (oligogalacturonate lyase) was isolated from the cell extract of Erwinia aroideae. This enzyme was purified by adsorption on columns of calcium phosphate on cellulose, treatment with Duolite CS-101 and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. It cleaved the first glycosidic linkage from the reducing end of the substrate molecule, the product found in the reaction mixture being 4-deoxy-5-keto-d-fructuronic acid. It attacked preferentially the short-chain uronides. The enzyme preparation showed only a slight activity toward high molecular pectic acid. The pH optimum was at 7.0. Calcium ion had no effect on the enzyme activity. Unsaturated oligogalacturonates were degraded more rapidly than oligogalacturonates having no unsaturated galacturonic acid residue. For this reason it might be appropriate to call this enzyme unsaturated oligogalacturonate transeliminase.     

Interactions glycanne-protéine. Synthése des 4-méthylombelliféryl-(2-acétamido-2-désoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside), -DI-N-acétyl-β-chitobioside et -tri-N-acétyl-β-chitotrioside. Interaction de ces osides avec le lysozyme

4-Methylumbelliferyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside, 2-acetamido-4-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside (di-N-acetyl-β-chitobioside), and O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1→4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside (tri-N-acetyl-β-chitotrioside) were obtained in good yield from the corresponding peracetylated glycosyl chlorides by condensation with the sodium salt of 4-methylumbelliferone in N,N-dimethylformamide. The trisaccharide glycoside is hydrolyzed by lysozyme and is, therefore, a convenient substrate for this enzyme; the 4-methylumbelliferone produced can be determined by the increase of the fluorescence intensity at 442 nm. The intensity of the fluorescence of 4-methylumbelliferyl tri-N-acetyl-β-chitotrioside is enhanced upon binding with lysozyme without modification of the position of the absorption maximum. The binding constant and the rate of hydrolysis of the trisaccharide glycoside by lysozyme are higher than those obtained with p-nitrophenyl tri-N-acetyl-β-chitotrioside.     

Characterization and crystal structure of Escherichia coli KDPGal aldolase

2-Keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG) and 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonate (KDPGal) aldolases catalyze an identical reaction differing in substrate specificity in only the configuration of a single stereocenter. However, the proteins show little sequence homology at the amino acid level. Here we investigate the determinants of substrate selectivity of these enzymes. The Escherichia coli KDPGal aldolase gene, cloned into a T7 expression vector and overexpressed in E. coli, catalyzes retro-aldol cleavage of the natural substrate, KDPGal, with values of k(cat)/K(M) and k(cat) of 1.9x10(4)M(-1)s(-1) and 4s(-1), respectively. In the synthetic direction, KDPGal aldolase efficiently catalyzes an aldol addition using a limited number of aldehyde substrates, including d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (natural substrate), d-glyceraldehyde, glycolaldehyde, and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde. A preparative scale reaction between 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde and pyruvate catalyzed by KDPGal aldolase produced the aldol adduct of the R stereochemistry in >99.7% ee, a result complementary to that observed using the related KDPG aldolase. The native crystal structure has been solved to a resolution of 2.4A and displays the same (alpha/beta)(8) topology, as KDPG aldolase. We have also determined a 2.1A structure of a Schiff base complex between the enzyme and its substrate. This model predicts that a single amino acid change, T161 in KDPG aldolase to V154 in KDPGal aldolase, plays an important role in determining the stereochemical course of enzyme catalysis and this prediction was borne out by site-directed mutagenesis studies. However, additional changes in the enzyme sequence are required to prepare an enzyme with both high catalytic efficiency and altered stereochemistry.