Sialyl-alpha 2-6-mannosyl-beta 1-4-N-acetylglucosamine, a novel compound occurring in urine of patients with beta-mannosidosis

Human beta-mannosidosis urine was fractionated by gel permeation chromatography on Bio-Gel P-2 and by high performance liquid chromatography on Partisil 10 SAX. Besides the disaccharide Man beta 1-4GlcNAc as the major component, a sialic acid-containing compound was detected in an amount of 10% compared to that of Man beta 1-4GlcNAc. Structural characterization of the oligosaccharide and of its reduced analogue by sugar composition analysis, methylation analysis, gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy gave conclusive evidence for a novel urinary constituent: NeuAc alpha 2-6Man beta 1-4GlcNAc. This linear trisaccharide can be considered as the result of an alpha 2-6-sialylation of the major accumulating compound, Man beta 1-4GlcNAc. The hitherto unknown linkage between sialic acid and mannose was shown to be susceptible to sialidase digestion.

Synthesis of a peripheral trisaccharide sequence of lutropin, a pituitary glycoprotein hormone; use of chitobiose as a key starting material

A chitobiose derivative, methyl O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1--- -4)-3,6 - di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-beta-D-glucopyranoside, was derived from the corresponding N-acetyl derivative and this was converted into the glycosyl bromide (5). Glycosidation reaction between 5 and methyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside in the presence of silver trifluoromethanesulfonate gave a beta-D-linked trisaccharide derivative. Replacement of the N,N-phthaloyl group by acetyl groups resulted in a product that was converted into methyl O-(2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----4)-O -(2- acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----2)-3,4,6- tri-O- benzyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (11) by use of a few reaction steps. The 4(3)-hydroxyl group of 11 was methanesulfonylated, and the product subjected to SN2 replacement with acetate anion, to give the D-galactosamine-containing trisaccharide derivative (12). After basic hydrolysis of 12, the 4(3)-hydroxyl group was sulfated, and all benzyl groups were removed by hydrogenolysis, giving methyl O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-sulfo-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----4)-O-(2- acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----2)-alpha-D-mannopyranosid e monosodium salt, the methyl alpha-glycoside derivative of the peripheral trisaccharide sequence of the pituitary glycoprotein hormone lutropin.

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.

Synthesis of methyl 3-O-(alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-7-O-(L-glycero-alpha-D- manno-heptopyranosyl)-L-glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptopyranoside

The title trisaccharide glycoside, which is related to part of the core region of the lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella, and the disaccharide glycosides methyl 3-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptopyranoside and methyl 7-O-L-glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptopyranosyl-L-glycero-alpha-D-manno- heptopyranoside have been synthesised. Methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-L-glycero-alpha-D-manno- heptopyranoside, obtained via a one-carbon elongation at C-6 of methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D-manno- hexodialdo-1,5-pyranoside, was used as precursor both for the heptosyl donor and acceptor.

Synthesis of a tri- and a tetra-saccharide fragment of the capsular polysaccharide of type III group B Streptococcus

Syntheses of the propyl glycosides (1-3) of beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc, beta-D-Glcp-(1----6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1----4)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc, and beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1----)]-beta-D- GlcpNAc, respectively, are reported. Reaction of allyl 2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-6-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)-beta-D-glucopyranos ide with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide under Hg(CN)2 catalysis, followed by oxidative removal of the 4-methoxybenzyl group, gave allyl 2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D- galactopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (10) O-deacetylation of which, followed by hydrogenolysis/hydrogenation, gave 1. Reaction of 10 with beta-D-glucopyranose penta-acetate and beta-lactose octa-acetate, under catalysis by trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, and treatment of the products as for 10 gave 2 and 3, respectively. Attempted glycosylation of 10 with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl bromide under catalysis by Hg(CN)2 or silver trifluoromethanesulfonate gave an orthoester. Complete assignments of the 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectra of 1-3 are reported together with their carbon spin-lattice relaxation times which indicate that 3 assumes a compact instead of an extended shape.

Stereoselective total synthesis of dodecagalacturonic acid, a phytoalexin elicitor of soybean

O-(alpha-D-Galactopyranosyluronic acid)-[(1----4)-O-(alpha-D-galactopyranosyluronic acid)]10-D-galactopyranuronic acid (1), an endogenous elicitor of the phytoalexin of soybean, was synthesized by way of highly stereoselective glycosylations that involved glycosyl fluorides as the donors and oxidation of the twelve primary hydroxyl groups in the alpha-(1----4)-linked galactododecaoside derivative.

Structure determination of five sialylated trisaccharides with core types 1, 3 or 5 isolated from bovine submaxillary mucin

In this study we have investigated the structures of five sialylated trisaccharides released from bovine submaxillary mucin by alkaline borohydride treatment and isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Three of the trisaccharides contained NeuAc while two contained NeuGc. One oligosaccharide contained core-type 1, two contained core-type 3 and two contained core-type 5. The structures, determined by a combination of one- and two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy at 270 MHz and methylation analysis involving gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, were as follows: A4b, GalNAc alpha(1----3) [NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4c, GlcNAc beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4d, Gal beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4e, GalNAc alpha(1----3)-[NeuGc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4f, GlcNAc beta(1----3)[NeuGc alpha (2----6)]GalNAcol. The oligosaccharides occurred in the approximate molar ratios 1.0:12.0:0.3:0.2:2.0. This is the first report of oligosaccharides containing core-type 5 and of the occurrence of oligosaccharides A4b, A4e, and A4f in bovine submaxillary mucin. 1H-NMR data for structure A4e, which is a novel structure, are presented for the first time.

Synthesis and characterisation of methyl 2-O-(beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside

The branched trisaccharide, 2-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-D-glucopyranos e (2), is regarded as the sugar moiety of an anthocyanin pigment isolated from the fruits and flowers of certain Begonia, Clivia, Rubus, Prunus, and Ribis species. The cyanidin-3-glycoside of 1 has been identified as one of the major pigments of Montmorency cherries (Prunus cerasus). It has also been isolated as quercetin and kaempherol glycosides from the flowers of potato (Solanum tuberosum). Synthesis of the methyl glycoside of 1, methyl 2-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-alpha-D-glucop yranoside (2) is reported.

G.l.c.-m.s. of partially methylated and acetylated derivatives of L-glycero-D-manno- and D-glycero-D-manno-heptopyranoses and -heptitols

Methylated or acetylated heptopyranose derivatives were prepared variously from L-glycero-D-manno- and D-glycero-D-manno-heptopyranose, O-L- glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptopyranosyl-(1----3)-L-glycero-D-manno- heptopyranose, O-L-glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptopyranosyl-(1----7)-L-glycero- D-manno-heptopyranose, and O-L-glycero-alpha-D-manno- heptopyranosyl-(1----7)-O-L-glycero-alpha-D-manno- heptopyranosyl-(1----3)-L-glycero-D-manno- heptopyranose, which are structural elements of the heptose region of enterobacterial lipopolysaccharides. Each derivative was investigated by g.l.c. and g.l.c.-m.s., and the retention times and fragmentation patterns were used to identify partial structures of the heptose region of the core oligosaccharide of bacterial LPS.

1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of reducing-residue anomeric protons of pertrifluoroacetylated carbohydrates

Eight monosaccharides (L-arabinoside, L-fucose, D-galactose, D-glucose, D-lyxose, D-mannose, L-rhamnose, and D-xylose), eight disaccharides (cellobiose, gentiobiose, isomaltose, lactose, maltose, nigerose, sophorose, and xylobiose), and three trisaccharides (isomaltotriose, maltotriose, and xylotriose) were derivatized with N-methylbis-(trifluoroacetamide) in pyridine solution to form trifluoroacetylated derivatives. These were analyzed by 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy to determine the characteristics of the spectra and distributions of the reaction products. Peaks corresponding to reducing-residue anomeric protons were located significantly downfield of all others, and were in general 0.4 p.p.m. or more downfield of equivalent signals from the same carbohydrates when they were free or derivatized with other groups. Neither the location of anomeric proton peaks relative to each other nor the degree of spin-spin coupling between H-1 and H-2 varied greatly with type of derivatization. Spin-spin coupling, however, decreased for some beta-pyranose forms of xylobiose and the three trisaccharides. In all examples except some where H-2 was oriented equatorially to a pyranose ring, the proportion of the alpha-pyranose was either enhanced or not changed in concentration by trifluoroacetylation.

NOEMOL: integrated molecular graphics and the simulation of Nuclear Overhauser effects in NMR spectroscopy

Nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) are a widely used method of determining the spatial proximity of spins in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. This paper describes a C program developed for the Sun-3 workstation family that allows the computation of multispin NOE effects for a given molecular structure and given NMR parameters (i.e., resonance frequency and correlation time for molecular reorientation). The integration of these facilities with simple molecular graphics display routines allows modifications to the molecular conformation (such as bond rotations) to be performed, and the effect of these modifications on the NOE effects can then be rapidly calculated and easily visualized. Using the Sun windowing system, the NOE effects can be calculated for two (or more) candidate structures and compared to experimental NMR results. The overall molecular reorientation can be modeled by either isotropic or symmetric top diffusion models, and the internal motions of methyl groups are modeled using an algorithm reported by Tropp.

Reactivity of human anti-alpha-galactosyl IgG antibody with alpha(1-->3)-linked galactosyl epitopes exposed on basement membranes and on glomerular epithelial cells: an in vitro and in vivo study in the mouse

Anti-alpha-galactosyl antibody (a-Gal Ab) is a human natural antibody belonging to the IgG class, found in high titres in all normal sera regardless of blood group, and specifically recognizing alpha (1-->3)-linked galactosyl residues. We have observed by radioimmunoassay, ELISA, passive haemagglutination and immunofluorescence blocking studies that affinity-purified a-Gal Ab reacted with mouse laminin, but not with the other mouse basement membrane proteins tested; it was able to fix complement in vitro. When injected intravenously into mice, the a-Gal Ab was found to mainly accumulate in kidneys, liver, spleen and lungs. No acute respiratory distress syndrome was observed shortly after the i.v. injection of 100 or 200 microg of antibodies. These doses of a-Gal Ab were also unable to induce acute glomerular injury. However, in primary cultures, the a-Gal Ab (100 or 200 microg per ml of medium) was shown to impair the attachment of mouse glomerular epithelial cells to mouse laminin and to elicit complement-dependent cell damage. The data indicate that the a-Gal Ab can interact in vitro and/or in vivo with alpha (1-->3)-linked galactosyl residues exposed on murine laminin or on murine cultured glomerular epithelial cells. Although this antibody fails to be pathogenic when administered at low doses in the intact animal, similar doses can alter some metabolic properties of these cells in vitro.