Strength in numbers: non-natural polyvalent carbohydrate derivatives

MICROFLUIDIC TOOLS FOR STUDYING THE SPECIFIC BINDING, ADSORPTION, AND DISPLACEMENT OF PROTEINS AT INTERFACES

A combination of temperature and concentration gradient microfluidic devices were employed to study the mechanistic details of biomacromolecule interactions at oxide interfaces. These lab-on-a-chip techniques allowed high-throughput, multiplexed data collection using only nanoliters of analyte. The three examples presented demonstrate rapid data acquisition relative to standard methods. First, we show ligand-receptor binding data for multivalent binding between membrane-bound ligands and incoming aqueous proteins with several binding pockets. A model is described for obtaining both the first and second dissociation constant for the reaction. The second example employs temperature gradient microfluidics to study the thermoresponsive properties of polymers and proteins. Both the folding mechanism and subsequent formation of an aqueous two-phase system were followed. Finally, these microfluidic techniques were combined with fluorescence microscopy and nonlinear optical spectroscopy to elucidate the mechanism of fibrinogen displacement from silica surfaces. This combination of methods enabled both direct and indirect observation of protein conformational changes.

Photoswitchable cluster glycosides as tools to probe carbohydrate-protein interactions: synthesis and lectin-binding studies of azobenzene containing multivalent sugar ligands

Synthetic cluster glycosides have often been used to unravel mechanisms of carbohydrate-protein interactions. Although synthetic cluster glycosides are constituted on scaffolds to achieve high avidities in lectin binding, there have been no known attempts to modulate the orientations of the sugar clusters with the aid of a functional scaffold onto which the sugar units are linked. Herein, we describe synthesis, physical, and lectin-binding studies of a series of alpha-D-mannopyranoside and beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside glycoclusters that are attached to a photoswitchable azobenzenoid core. These glycoclusters were synthesized by the amidation of amine-tethered glycopyranosides with azobenzene carbonyl chlorides. From kinetic studies, the cis forms of the azobenzene-glycopyranoside derivative were found to be more stable in aqueous solutions than in organic solvents. Molecular modeling studies were performed to estimate the relative geometries of the photoswitchable glycoclusters in the trans- and cis-isomeric forms. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was employed to assess the binding of these glycoclusters to lectins peanut agglutinin (PNA) and concanavalin A (Con A). Although binding affinities were enhanced several orders higher as the valency of the sugar was increased, a biphasic-binding profile in ITC plots was observed during few glycoclusters lectin-binding processes. The biphasic-binding profile indicates a "cooperativity" in the binding process. An important outcome of this study is that in addition to inherent clustering of the sugar units as a molecular feature, an induced clustering emanates because of the isomerization of the trans form of the azobenzene scaffold to the cis-isomeric form.

Cooperative lectin recognition of periodical glycoclusters along DNA duplexes: alternate hybridization and full hybridization

We describe herein the construction of periodically, spatially controlled glycoclusters along DNA duplexes and their cooperative lectin recognition. Site-specifically alpha-mannosylated oligodeoxynucleotide 20-mer (Man-ODN20) was synthesized via the phosphoramidite solid-phase synthesis. Alternate hybridization of the Man-ODN20 with the half-sliding complementary ODN 20-mer (hscODN20) gave an alternately prolonged Man-cluster Man-ODN20/hscODN20. The binding of the Man-cluster to FITC-labeled ConA lectin showed sigmoidal fluorescence dependency on the concentration of Man-ODN, indicating that some mannose residues along the repeating DNA duplex were cooperatively bound to ConA (apparent affinity constant: K(af)=2.4 x 10(4)M(-1) and Hill coefficient: n=3.5). The duplex of Man-ODN20 with full complementary ODN 20-mer (fcODN20) was little bound to ConA. The binding behavior of Man-ODN20/hscODN20 is compared with that of the alternately prolonged Gal-cluster Gal-ODN20/hscODN20 previously reported. Duplexes 20-mer, 40-mer, and 60-mer presenting one, two, and three periodic galactoses were also prepared by full hybridization of 20-mer beta-galactosylated oligodeoxynucleotide (Gal-ODN20) with the periodically repeating full complementary 20-mer, 40-mer, and 60-mer ODNs. RCA(120) lectin was found to little bind the 20-mer and 40-mer duplexes and to bind weakly and non-cooperatively the 60-mer duplex (K(af)=1.1 x 10(4)M(-1)). The cooperative lectin recognition of these glycoclusters in relation with the degree of association (DA) of ODN and the numbers of glycosides along the DNA duplex is discussed.

The therapeutic potential of synthetic multivalent carbohydrates

Recent progress has been made in constructing synthetic multivalent carbohydrate ligands targeted at known or probable multivalent carbohydrate ligand receptors. Multivalency can dramatically compensate for the weak affinities of individual carbohydrate ligand moieties. Multivalent branched ligand mimetics have been described bearing multiple mannoside, galactoside, lactoside and Sialyl Lewis X (SLe(x)) moieties. New methods for polymeric backbone construction have provided glyco-polymers of defined and controllable size. Promising examples of multivalent ligands giving significant increases in binding potency are being pursued. These types of agents have extensive therapeutic potential in treating infectious diseases or host abnormalities, and also offer exciting potential as drug-conjugate cell-targeting agents.

Multivalent HSA Conjugates of 3′-Sialyllactose are Potent Inhibitors of Adenoviral Cell Attachment and Infection

Adenoviruses of serotypes 8, 19 and 37 are the major cause of the severe eye infection EKC (epidemic keratoconjunctivitis). In general, all adenoviruses interact with their cellular receptors through the fibre proteins, which extend from the virus particle. Recently, adenovirus type 37 (Ad37) was found to bind and infect human corneal cells through attachment to carbohydrate structures that carry terminal alpha-(2-3)-linked sialic acids. Herein we present a synthetic route to a 3'-sialyllactose derivative and corresponding multivalent HSA conjugates with varying orders of valency. The potential of these compounds as inhibitors of EKC-causing adenovirus of serotype Ad37, was studied with both a binding assay and an infectivity assay. The results revealed that these compounds effectively prevent Ad37 from binding to and infecting human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells. Moreover, the inhibition is significantly increased with higher orders of multivalency.

Multivalent Host-Guest Interactions between β-Cyclodextrin Self-Assembled Monolayers and Poly(isobutene-alt-maleic acid)s Modified with Hydrophobic Guest Moieties

Poly(isobutene-alt-maleic acid)s modified with p-tert-butylphenyl or adamantyl groups interact with beta-cyclodextrin self-assembled monolayers (beta-CD SAMs) by inclusion of the hydrophobic substituents in the beta-cyclodextrin cavities. The adsorption was shown to be strong, specific, and irreversible. Even with a monovalent competitor in solution, adsorption to the beta-CD SAMs was observed, and desorption proved impossible. The adsorbed polymer layer was very thin as evidenced by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and AFM. Apparently, all or most hydrophobic groups of the polymers were employed efficiently in multivalent binding, as was further supported by the absence of specific binding of beta-CD-modified gold nanoparticles to the polymer surface assemblies. Supramolecular microcontact printing of the polymers onto the beta-CD SAMs led to assembly formation in the targeted areas of the substrates.

A facile route to dynamic glycopeptide libraries based on disulfide-linked sugar-peptide coupling

We report here that disulfide-linked dynamic glycopeptide libraries can be constructed from 1-thiosugar and cysteine-rich oligopeptide building blocks upon gentle air oxidation of a slightly basic (pH 7.8) aqueous solution thereof. A mixture of 1-thiogalactose and two oligopeptides H2N-CysGlyCysGly-CO2H and H2N-GlyCycCysGlyGly-CO2H, for example, affords a poorly HPLC-resolved disulfide library composed of various sugar-peptide conjugates and cyclic peptides, at least 10 of which can be identified by ESI mass spectrometry. The building components of disulfide members are exchangeable with each other in the presence of dithiothreitol as an initiator to allow dynamic equilibration. A preliminary SPR examination shows that the thiogalactose-derived library indeed contains active divalent galactoside species capable of cross-linking peanut lectin molecules.

Rapid Binding of Concanavalin A and Maltose−Polyrotaxane Conjugates Due to Mobile Motion of α-Cyclodextrins Threaded onto a Poly(ethylene glycol)

Maltose-polyrotaxane conjugates (Mal-PRXs), in which maltose-conjugated alpha-cyclodextrins (alpha-CDs) are threaded onto a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain capped with benzyloxycarbonyl-L-tyrosine, were characterized in terms of their molecular motion and the relation to multivalent interactions between the maltose moiety and concanavalin A from Canavalia ensiformis (Con A). Spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) and spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of alpha-CD C(1), maltosyl C(1), and PEG methylene protons in the Mal-PRXs revealed that the mobile motion of alpha-CDs in the polyrotaxane governed the molecular motion of maltosyl groups in alpha-CDs and threading PEG chain. The association constant (Ka) of the Mal-PRXs with 22, 38 and 53% of alpha-CD threading was 5.7 x 10(4), 1.1 x 10(6), and 5.3 x 10(5) (M(-1)-maltose), respectively. The largest Ka value of the Mal-PRX with 38% of alpha-CD threading was well correlated with the T1 and T2 values of maltosyl groups and alpha-CD, suggesting that the mobile motion of maltose-conjugated alpha-CDs in the Mal-PRX contributes to the highest affinity with Con A. Initial rate of binding with Con A was also governed by the mobile motion of maltose-conjugated alpha-CDs. Therefore, we concluded that both highly molecular motion due to the mobile motion of maltose-conjugated alpha-CDs and multivalency of the Mal-PRXs contributes to inducing rapid Con A binding.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes displaying multivalent ligands for capturing pathogens

A single-walled carbon nanotube was exploited for its semi-flexible pseudo-one-dimensional nanostructure as a unique scaffold to display multivalent carbohydrate ligands, with a specific demonstration showing that galactosylated carbon nanotubes were effective in the capturing of pathogenic Escherichia coli in solution.

Glycoconjugates for the recognition of Bacillus spores

Carbohydrates act as ligands in many biological processes, including the folding and secretion of proteins, cell-cell recognition, adhesion, and sporulation in the Bacillus genus. Fluorescent-labeled disaccharide glycoconjugates have been applied to evaluate binding to bacterial spores assuming that the spore surface is covered with carbohydrates. This study has shown that specific recognition of bacterial spores is based on interactions between disaccharide glycoconjugates acting as ligands and monosaccharide units expressed on the exterior of bacterial spores. Using fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE), carbohydrates that are expressed on the exterior of the spores were enumerated. The findings have an impact on how to improve ligand selection, essential for sensor development. In addition, the findings provide new information for inhibition of bacterial spores, and in general, demonstrate how carbohydrates function as recognition signals in nature.

Gold glyconanoparticles as new tools in antiadhesive therapy

Gold glyconanoparticles (GNPs) have been prepared as new multivalent tools that mimic glycosphingolipids on the cell surface. GNPs are highly soluble under physiological conditions, stable against enzymatic degradation and nontoxic. Thereby GNPs open up a novel promising multivalent platform for biological applications. It has recently been demonstrated that specific tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (glycosphingolipids and glycoproteins) are involved in the initial step of tumor spreading. A mouse melanoma model was selected to test glyconanoparticles as possible inhibitors of experimental lung metastasis. A carbohydrate-carbohydrate interaction is proposed as the first recognition step for this process. Glyconanoparticles presenting lactose (lacto-GNPs) have been used successfully to significantly reduce the progression of experimental metastasis. This result shows for the first time a clear biological effect of lacto-GNPs, demonstrating the potential application of this glyconanotechnology in biological processes.

New carbohydrate specificity and HIV-1 fusion blocking activity of the cyanobacterial protein MVL: NMR, ITC and sedimentation equilibrium studies

Carbohydrate-binding proteins that bind their carbohydrate ligands with high affinity are rare and therefore of interest because they expand our understanding of carbohydrate specificity and the structural requirements that lead to high-affinity interactions. Here, we use NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry techniques to determine carbohydrate specificity and affinities for a novel cyanobacterial protein, MVL, and show that MVL binds oligomannosides such as Man(6)GlcNAc(2) with sub-micromolar affinities. The amino acid sequence of MVL contains two homologous repeats, each comprising 54 amino acid residues. Using multi-dimensional NMR techniques, we show that MVL contains two novel carbohydrate recognition domains composed of four non-contiguous regions comprising approximately 15 amino acid residues each, and that these residues make numerous intermolecular contacts with their carbohydrate ligands. NMR screening of a comprehensive panel of di-, tri-, and high-mannose oligosaccharides establish that high-affinity binding requires at least the presence of a discrete conformation presented by Manbeta(1-->4)GlcNAc in the context of larger oligomannosides. As shown by sedimentation equilibrium and gel-filtration experiments, MVL is a monodisperse dimer in solution, and NMR data establish that the three-dimensional structure must be symmetric. MVL inhibits HIV-1 Envelope-mediated cell fusion with an IC(50) value of approximately 30 nM.

The Contribution of d-Mannose, l-Fucose, N-Acetylglucosamine, and Selectin Residues on the Binding of Glycodelin Isoforms to Human Spermatozoa1

Previous data showed that glycodelin-A from amniotic fluid and glycodelin-F from follicular fluid inhibited sperm-zona pellucida binding. Solubilized zona pellucida reduced the binding of glycodelin-F to sperm extract dose dependently. This study demonstrated that the zona pellucida proteins also reduced the binding of glycodelin-A to sperm extract. Ionophore-induced acrosome reaction reduced the binding of iodinated glycodelin-A and -F to sperm, indicating that the glycodelin-binding sites are on the outer acrosomal membrane or on the sperm plasma membrane overlying the acrosome. While the binding of glycodelin-A to sperm was suppressed by mannose and fucose neoglycoproteins, that of glycodelin-F was also reduced by acetylglucosamine neoglycoprotein. Pretreatment of sperm with inhibitors of mannosidase and acetylglucosaminidase reduced the binding of glycodelin-F to sperm. On the other hand, inhibitor of mannosidase but not of acetylglucosaminidase inhibited the binding of glycodelin-A. In a competition binding assay, mannosidase reduced both glycodelin-A and -F binding whereas acetylglucosaminidase reduced only glycodelin-F binding. While fucosidase reduced the binding of both glycodelins, fucosidase inhibitor was marginally active in suppressing the binding of glycodelins to human sperm. Among the selectins tested, only E-selectin had a slight inhibitory effect on the binding of glycodelin-A to sperm. The binding of glycodelin-F was unaffected by selectins and their antibodies. In conclusion, the binding of glycodelin-A to sperm involves mannose, fucose, and possibly E- selectin residues, while that of glycodelin-F involves mannose, fucose, and N-acetylglucosamine but not the selectin residue.

Creating Fluid and Air-Stable Solid Supported Lipid Bilayers

Solid supported lipid bilayers are rapidly delaminated when drawn through the air/water interface. We have discovered that a close packed monolayer of specifically bound protein prevents this process. The protection mechanism worked in two ways. First, when protein-protected bilayers were drawn through the air/water interface, a thin bulk water layer was visible over the entire bilayer region, thereby preventing air from contacting the surface. Second, a stream of nitrogen was used to remove all bulk water from a protected bilayer, which remained fully intact as determined by fluorescence microscopy. The condition of this dried bilayer was further probed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. It was found that lipids were not two-dimensionally mobile in dry air. However, when the bilayer was placed in a humid environment, 91% of the bleached fluorescence signal was recovered, indicating long-range two-dimensional mobility. The diffusion coefficient of lipids under humid conditions was an order of magnitude slower than the same bilayer under water. Protected bilayers could be rehydrated after drying, and their characteristic diffusion coefficient was reestablished. Insights into the mechanism of bilayer preservation were suggested.

Synthesis and X-ray single crystal structure of a bivalent glycocluster

The crystal structure of a bivalent glycocluster containing aromatic amides reveals that alkylation of secondary amides alters amide configuration and thus carbohydrate presentation. This also facilitates non covalent interactions (azide-azide, carbonyl-pyranose and aromatic-pyranose) and thus carbohydrate-carbohydrate stacking.

RGD modified polymers: biomaterials for stimulated cell adhesion and beyond

Since RGD peptides (R: arginine; G: glycine; D: aspartic acid) have been found to promote cell adhesion in 1984 (Cell attachment activity of fibronectin can be duplicated by small synthetic fragments of the molecule, Nature 309 (1984) 30), numerous materials have been RGD functionalized for academic studies or medical applications. This review gives an overview of RGD modified polymers, that have been used for cell adhesion, and provides information about technical aspects of RGD immobilization on polymers. The impacts of RGD peptide surface density, spatial arrangement as well as integrin affinity and selectivity on cell responses like adhesion and migration are discussed.

Supramolecular Design for Multivalent Interaction: Maltose Mobility along Polyrotaxane Enhanced Binding with Concanavalin A

High molecular mobility of maltose-conjugated alpha-cyclodextrins (alpha-CDs) along a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain due to the mechanically locked structure of polyrotaxanes enhanced multivalent interactions between maltose and concanavalin A (Con A). When maltose groups are conjugated with alpha-CDs that were threaded onto a PEG capped with benzyloxycarbonyl l-tyrosine (polyrotaxane), Con A-induced hemagglutination was greatly inhibited by polyrotaxanes with a certain threading % of alpha-CDs. Such an inhibitory effect was significantly superior to the other type of conjugates, in which poly(acrylic acid) was used as a backbone for maltose conjugation. The spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of the maltose C(1) proton in the polyrotaxane at a typical alpha-CD threading % was significantly larger than that of any other conjugate, which was well related to the inhibitory effect. Therefore, we concluded that the high mobility of maltose groups along the polyrotaxane structure contributes to enhanced Con A recognition.

Solid-phase synthesis for the identification of high-affinity bivalent lectin ligands

The development of carbohydrate-based therapeutics has been frustrated by the low affinities that characterize protein-carbohydrate complexation. Because of the oligomeric nature of most lectins, the use of multivalency may offer a successful strategy for the creation of high-affinity ligands. The solid-phase evaluation of libraries of peptide-linked multivalent ligands facilitates rapid examination of a large fraction of linker structure space. If such solid-phase assays are to replicate solution binding behavior, the potential for intermolecular bivalent binding on bead surfaces must be eliminated. Here we report the solid-phase synthesis and analysis of peptide-linked, spatially segregated mono- and bivalent ligands for the legume lectin concanavalin A. Bead shaving protocols were used for the creation of beads displaying spatially segregated binding sequences on the surface of Tentagel resins. The same ligands were also synthesized on PEGA resin to determine the effect of ligand presentation on solid-phase binding. While we set out to determine the lower limit of assay sensitivity, the unexpected observation that intermolecular bivalent ligand binding is enhanced for bivalent ligands relative to monovalent ligands allowed direct observation of the level of surface blocking required to prevent intermolecular bivalent ligand binding. For a protein with binding sites separated by 65 A, approximately 99.9% of Tentagel(1) surface sites and 99.99% of the total sites on a PEGA bead must be blocked to prevent intermolecular bivalent binding. We also report agglutination and calorimetric solution-phase binding studies of mono- and bivalent peptide-linked ligands.

Artificial metalloglycoclusters: compact saccharide shell to induce high lectin affinity as well as strong luminescence

Tris-bipyridine ferrous and ruthenium complexes carrying various saccharide appendages have been investigated to develop sensory systems for monitoring saccharide-binding phenomena. Ferrous O-glycoclusters having spacer moieties inserted between saccharide appendages and the complex core showed enhanced affinities to lectins, but ferrous N-glycoclusters, in which the saccharide-appendages are directly linked to the complex core via amide linkage, had low lectin-affinities. Molecular dynamics calculation indicated that the O-glycoclusters have flexible and densely packed saccharide clusters, in contrast to the octahedrally fixed saccharide arrays of N-glycoclusters. Flexibility of saccharide clusters is essential for their enhanced affinity, probably to induce conformational change to fit the recognition sites of lectins. According to these insights, ruthenium O-glycoclusters have been designed as luminescence biosensors. The ruthenium complexes carrying alpha-manno clusters exhibited excellent affinities (IC(min) = 9.0 x 10(-)(8) M) to concanavalin A (ConA). It is suggested from conformational analysis that densely packed mannoclusters can be fit properly to the recognition site of ConA. The binding was enthalpicaly driven (deltaH degrees = -21.8 kcal/mol). This binding behavior is quite similar to that of 1-3/1-6 trimannoside to ConA. They have strongly amplified luminescence (Phi(em) = 0.15), and their luminescence intensities were changed (approximately 40%) upon binding to the specific lectins. The ruthenium glycoclusters can be a suitable sensory system for saccharide-binding phenomena.

Surface plasmon resonance imaging studies of protein-carbohydrate interactions

Carbohydrate arrays fabricated on gold films were used to study carbohydrate-protein interactions with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging. An immobilization scheme consisting of the formation of a surface disulfide bond was used to attach thiol-modified carbohydrates onto gold films and to fabricate carbohydrate arrays. The carbohydrate attachment steps were characterized using polarization modulation Fourier transform infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy; and poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchannels were used to immobilize probe compounds at discrete locations on a gold film. The binding of the carbohydrate-binding proteins concanavalin A (ConA) and jacalin to arrays composed of the monosaccharides mannose and galactose was monitored with SPR imaging. SPR imaging measurements were employed to accomplish the following: (i) construct adsorption isotherms for the interactions of ConA and jacalin to the carbohydrate surfaces, (ii) monitor protein binding to surfaces presenting different compositions of the immobilized carbohydrates, and (iii) measure the solution equilibrium dissociation constants for ConA and jacalin toward mannose and galactose, respectively. Adsorption coefficients (K(ADS)) of 2.2 +/- 0.8 x 10(7) M(-)(1) and 5.6 +/- 1.7 x 10(6) M(-)(1) were obtained for jacalin adsorbing to a galactose surface and ConA adsorbing to a mannose surface, respectively. The solution equilibrium dissociation (K(D)) constant for the interaction of jacalin and galactose was found to be 16 +/- 5 microM, and for ConA and mannose was found to be 200 +/- 50 microM.

Investigations of bivalent antibody binding on fluid-supported phospholipid membranes: the effect of hapten density

Investigations of ligand-receptor binding between bivalent antibodies and membrane-bound ligands are presented. The purpose of these studies was to explore binding as a function of hapten density in a two-dimensionally fluid environment. A novel microfluidic strategy in conjunction with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy was designed to achieve this. The method allowed binding curves to be acquired with excellent signal-to-noise ratios while using only minute quantities of protein solution. The specific system investigated was the interaction between anti-DNP antibodies and phospholipid membranes containing DNP-conjugated lipids. Binding curves for ligand densities ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 mol % were obtained. Two individual dissociation constants could be extracted from the data corresponding to the two sequential binding events. The first dissociation constant, K(D1), was 2.46 x 10(-)(5) M, while the second was K(D2) = 1.37 x 10(-)(8) mol/m(2). This corresponded to a positively cooperative binding effect with an entropic difference between the two events of 62.3 +/- 2.7 J/(mol.K). Furthermore, the percentage of monovalently and bivalently bound protein was determined at each ligand density.

Thiol-disulfide exchange yields multivalent dendrimers of melamine

[reaction: see text] Thiol-disulfide exchange can be used to prepare multivalent conjugates of a small molecule or octapeptide displayed on dendrimers based on melamine. Exchange of four or eight thiopyridyl groups by captopril occurs at room temperature in methanol almost quantitatively. Exchange using the peptide requires higher temperatures and guanidinium chloride in DMF. While exchange on the tetravalent scaffold with four peptides is almost quantitative, sterics retard formation of the octavalent conjugate: the hexavalent conjugate forms readily.

Nanostructured materials designed for cell binding and transduction

The surface-functionalization of shell cross-linked (SCK) nanoparticles with the oligomeric peptide sequence YGRKKRRQRRR, the protein transduction domain (PTD) from the human immunodeficiency virus TAT protein, is described, and the cell binding interactions these nanobioconjugates exhibit are demonstrated. A convergent synthetic strategy was employed, whereby the SCK nanoparticles and the PTD were prepared independently and then coupled together during immobilization of the PTD component on a solid support. The SCK nanoparticles were prepared by the micellization of amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(epsilon-caprolactone-b-acrylic acid), followed by amidation-based cross-linking of the acrylic acid residues located within the micellar corona. The PTD sequence was constructed upon a solid support, from C-terminus to N-terminus, followed by extension with four glycine residues, leaving the amino chain end for subsequent coupling with remaining acrylic acid functionalities present on the surface of the SCK. Finally, cleavage from the solid support was performed, which also facilitated deprotection of the peptide side chain functionalities as well as hydrolysis of the poly(epsilon-caprolactone) segments composing the SCK core domain, to yield PTD-derivatized nanocage structures (PTD-nanocage). Covalent labeling of the SCK precursor with fluorescein-5-thiosemicarbazide provided fluorescently tagged PTD-nanocage nanobioconjugates to allow for their detection by fluorescence microscopy. The fluorescent PTD-nanocage bioconjugates were found to interact with CHO cells and HeLa cells, whereas the analogous structure lacking the PTD component did not. CHO cells bound with fluorescent PTD-nanocage bioconjugates were analyzed using flow cytometry and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Fluorescence confocal microscopy of isolated bioconjugate-bound CHO cells indicated that the bioconjugated nanoparticles were primarily located near the cell periphery; however, transduction of the nanoparticle into the cells also occurred.

Synthesis and lectin recognition of polystyrene core-glycopolymer corona nanospheres

Polymeric nanospheres with a polystyrene core and a glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate (GEMA) oligomer corona were synthesized by the free radical coplymerization of styrene (M(1)) plus a GEMA macromonomer (M(2)) at various molar ratios (M(1)/M(2) = 50-150) in the presence of AIBN (1 mol % to the total monomer) in an ethanol/water (3/2, v/v) solvent. The size of the nanospheres was controlled from 300 to 620 nm by altering the monomer ratio. The size distributions were significantly narrow. The amount of glucose conjugated per unit surface area of the nanosphere, which was analyzed by the anthron-sulfuric acid method, was 1.01-2.28 microg cm(-1), which increased with an increase in size. The transmittance of a solution of dispersed nanospheres (the corresponding glucose concentration was 73 microM) increased by the addition of the glucose-binding protein concanavalin A (Con A) (1-50 microM), indicating that the nanospheres were being precipitated by the cross-linking of ConA. An enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) revealed that Con A bound to the glucose on the nanospheres 250-700-fold more than to monomeric glucose. The binding activity to the nanospheres was less than that to a GEMA oligomer, and decreased with an increase in the amount of GEMA oligomer grafted onto the nanosphere, possibly because of steric hindrance of the lectin binding to the glucose on the nanospheres. The polystyrene core-glycopolymer corona nanosphere is a useful material for studying sugar-biomolecule recognition.

Influencing receptor-ligand binding mechanisms with multivalent ligand architecture

Multivalent ligands can function as inhibitors or effectors of biological processes. Potent inhibitory activity can arise from the high functional affinities of multivalent ligand-receptor interactions. Effector functions, however, are influenced not only by apparent affinities but also by alternate factors, including the ability of a ligand to cluster receptors. Little is known about the molecular features of a multivalent ligand that determine whether it will function as an inhibitor or effector. We envisioned that, by altering multivalent ligand architecture, ligands with preferences for different binding mechanisms would be generated. To this end, a series of 28 ligands possessing structural diversity was synthesized. This series provides the means to explore the effects of ligand architecture on the inhibition and clustering of a model protein, the lectin concanavalin A (Con A). The structural parameters that were varied include scaffold shape, size, valency, and density of binding elements. We found that ligands with certain architectures are effective inhibitors, but others mediate receptor clustering. Specifically, high molecular weight, polydisperse polyvalent ligands are effective inhibitors of Con A binding, whereas linear oligomeric ligands generated by the ring-opening metathesis polymerization have structural properties that favor clustering. The shape of a multivalent ligand also influences specific aspects of receptor clustering. These include the rate at which the receptor is clustered, the number of receptors in the clusters, and the average interreceptor distance. Our results indicate that the architecture of a multivalent ligand is a key parameter in determining its activity as an inhibitor or effector. Diversity-oriented syntheses of multivalent ligands coupled with effective assays that can be used to compare the contributions of different binding parameters may afford ligands that function by specific mechanisms.

Design and synthesis of sialyl Lewis(x) mimics as E- and P-selectin inhibitors

The selectins are a family of cell-adhesion proteins that mediate the rolling of leukocytes on activated endothelial cells through the recognition of the carbohydrate epitope sialyl Lewis(x) (sLe(x)). Control of the leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion process may prove useful in cases where excess recruitment of leukocytes can contribute to acute diseases such as stroke and reperfusion injury and chronic diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. The development of molecules that block the interactions between sLe(x) and the selectins has become an active area of research. In this review, we will highlight the various approaches taken toward the development of sLe(x) mimetics as antagonists of E- and P-selectin, including the use of structural information about the selectins and their interactions with sLe(x) that have been revealed through the use of NMR, protein crystallography and molecular modeling.

Synthesis of a multivalent display of a CD22-binding trisaccharide

Multivalent interactions have been implicated in the binding of B-cell surface glycoprotein CD22 to its physiological ligands. Because CD22 can influence B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling, multivalent ligands that cluster CD22 may influence B-cell responses. Here, we report an efficient synthesis of a fluorophore-labeled multivalent display of a CD22-binding trisaccharide, Neu5Acalpha2,6Galbeta1,4Glc, using the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Our synthetic strategy involves the modification of an N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester-substituted polymer generated by ROMP with the aminopropyl glycoside of the trisaccharide. The conjugation efficiency for the coupling is high; when 0.3 equiv of the trisaccharide derivative were used relative to NHS ester groups, the mole fraction (chi) of trisaccharide ligand incorporated onto the backbone was 0.3. A fluorescein-labeled version of the multivalent ligand binds to cells expressing CD22.

Application of the anomeric samarium route for the convergent synthesis of the C-linked trisaccharide alpha-D-Man-(1-->3)-[alpha-D-Man-(1-->6)]-D-Man and the disaccharides alpha-D-Man-(1-->3)-D-Man and alpha-D-Man-(1-->6)-D-Man

Studies are reported on the assembly of the branched C-trisaccharide, alpha-D-Man-(1-->3)-[alpha-D-Man-(1-->6)]-D-Man, representing the core region of the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides. The key step in this synthesis uses a SmI(2)-mediated coupling of two mannosylpyridyl sulfones to a C3,C6-diformyl branched monosaccharide unit, thereby assembling all three sugar units in one reaction and with complete stereocontrol at the two anomeric carbon centers. Subsequent tin hydride-based deoxygenation followed by a deprotection step produces the target C-trimer. In contrast to many of the other C-glycosylation methods, this approach employes intact carbohydrate units as C-glycosyl donors and acceptors, which in many instances parallels the well-studied O-glycosylation reactions. The synthesis of the C-disaccharides alpha-D-Man-(1-->3)-D-Man and alpha-D-Man-(1-->6)-D-Man is also described, they being necessary for the following conformational studies of all three carbohydrate analogues both in solution and bound to several mannose-binding proteins.

Conserved amplification of chemotactic responses through chemoreceptor interactions

Many bacteria concentrate their chemoreceptors at the cell poles. Chemoreceptor location is important in Escherichia coli, since chemosensory responses are sensitive to receptor proximity. It is not known, however, whether chemotaxis in other bacteria is similarly regulated. To investigate the importance of receptor-receptor interactions in other bacterial species, we synthesized saccharide-bearing multivalent ligands that are designed to cluster relevant chemoreceptors. As has been shown with E. coli, we demonstrate that the behaviors of Bacillus subtilis, Spirochaete aurantia, and Vibrio furnissii are sensitive to the valence of the chemoattractant. Moreover, in B. subtilis, chemotactic responses to serine were increased by pretreatment with saccharide-bearing multivalent ligands. This result indicates that, as in E. coli, signaling information is transferred among chemoreceptors in B. subtilis. These results suggest that interreceptor communication may be a general mechanism for modulating chemotactic responses in bacteria.

Synthesis and applications of end-labeled neoglycopolymers

[reaction: see text] Neoglycopolymers that vary in length and contain a single fluorescent reporter group were synthesized using ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The utility of these materials is demonstrated by the development of a cellular binding assay for L-selectin, a cell surface protein that plays a role in inflammation. The data reveal that these multivalent ligands interact with multiple copies of L-selectin.

Polymeric inhibitor of influenza virus attachment protects mice from experimental influenza infection

Synthetic sialic acid-containing macromolecules inhibit influenza virus attachment to target cells and suppress the virus-mediated hemagglutination and neutralize virus infectivity in cell culture. To test the protective effects of attachment inhibitors in vivo, mice were infected with mouse-adapted influenza virus A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) and treated with synthetic polyacrylamide-based sialylglycopolymer PAA-YDS bearing moieties of (Neu5Acalpha2-6Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-2Manalpha1)2-3,6Manbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-4GlcNAc. Single intranasal inoculations with PAA-YDS 30 min before or 10 min after infection increased the survival of mice (P<0.01). Multiple treatments with aerosolized PAA-YDS on days 2-5 post infection also increased survival (P<0.01), alleviated disease symptoms, and decreased lesions in the mouse lungs. These data suggest that synthetic polyvalent inhibitors of virus attachment can be used for prevention and treatment of influenza.

Molecular dynamics simulations of glycoclusters and glycodendrimers

Protein-carbohydrate recognition plays a crucial role in a wide range of biological processes, required both for normal physiological functions and the onset of disease. Nature uses multivalency in carbohydrate-protein interactions as a strategy to overcome the low affinity found for singular binding of an individual saccharide epitope to a single carbohydrate recognition domain of a lectin. To mimic the complex multi-branched oligosaccharides found in glycoconjugates, which form the structural basis of multivalent carbohydrate-protein interactions, so-called glycoclusters and glycodendrimers have been designed to serve as high-affinity ligands of the respective receptor proteins. To allow a rational design of glycodendrimer-type molecules with regard to the receptor structures involved in carbohydrate recognition, a deeper knowledge of the dynamics of such molecules is desirable. Most glycodendrimers have to be considered highly flexible molecules with their conformational preferences most difficult to elucidate by experimental methods. Longtime molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with inclusion of explicit solvent molecules are suited to explore the conformational space accessible to glycodendrimers. Here, a detailed geometric and conformational analysis of 15 glycodendrimers and glycoclusters has been accomplished, which differ with regard to their core moieties, spacer characteristics and the type of terminal carbohydrate units. It is shown that the accessible conformational space depends strongly on the structural features of the core and spacer moieties and even on the type of terminating sugars. The obtained knowledge about possible spatial distributions of the sugar epitopes exposed on the investigated hyperbranched neoglycoconjugates is detailed for all examples and forms important information for the interpretation and prediction of affinity data, which can be deduced from biological testing of these multivalent neoglycoconjugates.

Glycodendrimers: novel glycotope isosteres unmasking sugar coding. case study with T-antigen markers from breast cancer MUC1 glycoprotein

Glycodendrimers are relatively novel synthetic biomacromolecules that are made of biologically relevant carbohydrate ligands constructed at the periphery of a wide range of highly functionalized and repetitive scaffolds having varied molecular weights and structures. They were aimed to fill the gap between glycopolymers, having generally dispersed higher molecular weight, and small glycoclusters, in the study of multivalent carbohydrate protein interactions. In a way, glycodendrimers, with their spheroidal or dendritic (wedge) type structures, were initially designed as bioisosteres of cell surface multiantennary glycans. Taken as a curiosity and elegant molecules at their beginning, they are now considered as potent inhibitors of microbial adhesins. They have also been shown to play some roles in signal transduction and in receptor cross-linking. This brief report will describe advances that have been made toward the syntheses of a range of glycodendrimers bearing the immunodominant T-antigen disaccharide [beta-D-Gal-(1-3)-alpha-D-GalNAc] found on malignant cells of carcinomas, particularly related to breast cancer. This antigen, usually cryptic on healthy tissues, is greatly increased on cancer cells as a result of aberrant glycosylation. It is considered to be an important cancer marker. The high incidence of these carcinomas to invade other tissues such as lymph nodes, lung, and liver by metastasis was one of the arguments raised to generate T-antigen dendrimers that might have the potential to block the receptor sites following surgery. The synthesis of the T-antigen disaccharide will be briefly described, followed by the elaboration of neoglycoproteins and glycopolymers used to raise monoclonal antibodies against the T-antigen and for screening purpose, respectively. Scaffolds made of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM), poly(propylene imine), N,N'-bis(acrylamido)acetic acid, and finally hyperbranched L-lysine were used to construct relatively small glycodendrimers bearing T-antigen moieties. Few glycodendrimers were also linked to fluorescein and biotin probes to generate ligands that can be used to detect T-Ag receptor sites.

Control of multivalent interactions by binding epitope density

Receptor clustering by multivalent ligands can activate signaling pathways. In principle, multivalent ligand features can control clustering and the downstream signals that result, but the influence of ligand structure on these processes is incompletely understood. Using a series of synthetic polymers that vary systematically, we studied the influence of multivalent ligand binding epitope density on the clustering of a model receptor, concanavalin A (Con A). We analyze three aspects of receptor clustering: the stoichiometry of the complex, rate of cluster formation, and receptor proximity. Our experiments reveal that the density of binding sites on a multivalent ligand strongly influences each of these parameters. In general, high binding epitope density results in greater numbers of receptors bound per polymer, faster rates of clustering, and reduced inter-receptor distances. Ligands with low binding epitope density, however, are the most efficient on a binding epitope basis. Our results provide insight into the design of ligands for controlling receptor-receptor interactions and can be used to illuminate mechanisms by which natural multivalent displays function.