Synthesis of complex carbohydrates and glycoconjugates: enzyme-based and programmable one-pot strategies

N-Benzyl-2,3-oxazolidinone as a Glycosyl Donor for Selective α-Glycosylation and One-Pot Oligosaccharide Synthesis Involving 1,2-cis-Glycosylation

Glycosylation reactions using N-benzyl-2,3-trans-oxazolidinones as the glycosyl donors were shown to be highly alpha-selective. Advantages of the donor include facile preparation in gram-scale preparation and simple deprotection procedures. Subsequently, a one-pot oligosaccharide synthesis involving 1,2-cis glycosidic linkages was demonstrated using the novel glycosyl donors.

Cap and Capture−Release Techniques Applied to Solid-Phase Synthesis of Oligosaccharides

This paper reports a new strategy for oligosaccharide synthesis by combining solid-phase methods with cap and capture-release separation techniques, using the p-(5-(ethoxycarbonyl)pentyloxy)benzyl group (CPB) as a tag for the capture of desired oligosaccharides. After a complex carbohydrate mixture was obtained by solid-phase synthesis, the desired oligosaccharide containing a free carboxyl group derived from CPB was attached to an amino resin. The loaded resin was readily separated from side products by filtration and finally treated with acid to release the pure oligosaccharide product.

First synthesis of 1,2,3-triazolo-linked (1,6)-alpha-D-oligomannoses (triazolomannoses) by iterative Cu(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition

The iterative copper(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition (rt or microwave) between an ethynyl alpha-C-mannoside and alkyl 6-azido-alpha-C-mannoside derivatives was suited to the (1,6)-ligation between alpha-D-mannose units through 1,4-disubstituted triazole bridges, thus resulting in the formation of linear oligomers (80-90% yield) with alternating triazole and mannose fragments up to a triazolo-pentamannose derivative.

Iterative one-pot syntheses of chitotetroses

Rapid syntheses of chitotetrose derivatives were achieved in good yields using the newly developed reactivity independent iterative one-pot strategy. The protective groups on donors and acceptors were independently evaluated allowing matching of the two partners in glycosylation. No anomeric reactivity adjustments or intermediate purification were necessary thus significantly improving the overall synthetic efficiency. Only near stoichiometric amounts of building blocks were required for the assembly of target molecules further highlighting the potential of the iterative one-pot method in complex oligosaccharide synthesis.

Propargyl Glycosides as Stable Glycosyl Donors: Anomeric Activation and Glycoside Syntheses

The advantages of stable glycosyl donors for saccharide coupling are many, and we describe herein the utility of propargyl glycosides for anomeric activation and glycoside synthesis exploiting the alkynophilicity of AuCl3. Various aglycones were reacted with propargyl glycosides, resulting in the formation of an alpha,beta-mixture of glycosides and disaccharides in good yields.

Synthesis of cancer-associated glycoantigens: stage-specific embryonic antigen 3 (SSEA-3)

The synthesis of the tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens SSEA-3 and Gb3 in a semi-convergent fashion using building blocks bearing a S-thiazolinyl (STaz) moiety is reported. Complete stereoselective control of a difficult alpha-(1-->4)-galactosylation and high overall yields were achieved.

Enhancement of the immunogenicity of synthetic carbohydrates by conjugation to virosomes: a leishmaniasis vaccine candidate

Novel virosomal formulations of a synthetic oligosaccharide were prepared and evaluated as vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis. A lipophosphoglycan-related synthetic tetrasaccharide antigen was conjugated to a phospholipid and to the influenza virus coat protein hemagglutinin. These glycan conjugates were embedded into the lipid membrane of reconstituted influenza virus virosomes. The virosomal formulations elicited both IgM and IgG anti-glycan antibodies in mice, indicating an antibody isotype class switch to IgG. The antisera cross-reacted in vitro with the corresponding natural carbohydrate antigens expressed by leishmania cells. These findings support the concept of using virosomes as universal antigen delivery platform for synthetic carbohydrate vaccines.

Chemical and chemoenzymatic synthesis of a trisaccharide fragment of Tsukamurella paurometabola lipoarabinomannan

The synthesis of a trisaccharide fragment (1) of the lipoarabinomannan from Tsukamurella paurometabola is reported. Two approaches were investigated for the synthesis of the target. One was purely chemical, while the other involved the addition of one of the monosaccharide residues via a mannosyltransferase-catalyzed reaction. Both approaches produced the target in good overall yields. Thus, this chemoenzymatic approach appears to be a useful addition to the arsenal of methods for the synthesis of lipoarabinomannan-derived oligosaccharides.Key words: lipoarabinomannan, oligosaccharide, mannosyltransferase, enzymatic synthesis.

Structure of dihydroxyacetone phosphate dimethyl acetal, a stable dihydroxyacetone phosphate precursor, in the crystalline state

Crystal and molecular structures of four different salts of a dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) precursor, its dimethyl acetal [2,2-dimethoxy-1,3-propanediol phosphate, C(5)H(13)O(7)P, (MeO)(2)DHAP]: (cha)(2)[(MeO)(2)DHAP].H(2)O (6a), (cha)[(MeO)(2)DHAP] (6b), Na(2)[(MeO)(2)DHAP].5.75H(2)O (6c) and K(2)[(MeO)(2)DHAP].H(2)O (6d), along with the cyclohexylammonium (cha) salt of its phenyl ester (cha)[(MeO)(2)DHAP(Ph)] (6e) are described. In the (MeO)(2)DHAP mono- and dianions, slightly different orientation of the phosphate group in relation to the acetal carbon atom is observed, with a delicate tendency of phosphate group to be located antiperiplanar in the monoanions and anticlinal in the dianions. The 2,2-dimethoxy-1,3-propandiol moiety, (MeO)(2)DHA, seems to be very rigid and its conformation is independent of phosphorylation, the ionization state of the inserted phosphate group and its additional substitution. The overall structures of the cyclohexylammonium (6a,b) and potassium salts (6d) have a double-layered architecture, while the sodium cation network in 6c forms the system of channels, which are filled up with the [(MeO)(2)DHAP](2-) ions. The different architectures of 6c and 6d crystals result from the different ways in which the relevant dianions coordinate to sodium and potassium ions and affect also the hydrogen bonding system observed in 6c and 6d crystals.

Neoglycorandomization and chemoenzymatic glycorandomization: two complementary tools for natural product diversification

In an effort to explore the contribution of the sugar constituents of pharmaceutically relevant glycosylated natural products, chemists have developed glycosylation methods that are amenable to the generation of libraries of analogues with a broad array of glycosidic attachments. Recently, two complementary glycorandomization strategies have been described, namely, neoglycorandomization, a chemical approach based on a one-step sugar ligation reaction that does not require any prior sugar protection or activation, and chemoenzymatic glycorandomization, a biocatalytic approach that relies on the substrate promiscuity of enzymes to activate and attach sugars to natural products. Since both methods require reducing sugars, this review first highlights recent advances in monosaccharide generation and then follows with an overview of recent progress in the development of neoglycorandomization and chemoenzymatic glycorandomization.

Highly productive autocondensation and transglycosylation reactions with Sulfolobus solfataricus glycosynthase

Transglycosylation reactions (autocondensation of the substrate or transfer of the glycon donor moiety to different acceptors) with the hyperthermophilic glycosynthase from Sulfolobus solfataricus acting in dilute sodium formate buffer at pH 4.0 are reported; the use of 4-nitrophenyl beta-glucopyranoside as both donor and acceptor in the self-transfer reaction and a highly productive reaction with 1.1 M 2-nitrophenyl beta-glucopyranoside were possible. Interesting effects, governed by the anomeric configuration and lipophilicity of heteroacceptors, on the regioselectivity and yield of reactions were found for the first time with this enzyme and are discussed. The results demonstrate the unexplored synthetic potential of this glycosynthase; the tuning of the reaction conditions and the choice of different donors/acceptors can lead to products of applicative interest.

Automated synthesis of oligosaccharides as a basis for drug discovery

Carbohydrates present both potential and problems - their biological relevance has been recognized, but problems in procuring sugars rendered them a difficult class of compounds to handle in drug discovery efforts. The development of the first automated solid-phase oligosaccharide synthesizer and other methods to assemble defined oligosaccharides rapidly has fundamentally altered this situation. This review describes how quick access to oligosaccharides has not only contributed to biological, biochemical and biophysical investigations, but also to drug discovery. Particular focus will be placed on the development of carbohydrate-based vaccines, defined heparin oligosaccharides and aminoglycosides that have recently begun to affect drug discovery.

A General Strategy for Stereoselective Glycosylations

The principal challenge that the synthesis of oligosaccharides of biological importance presents is the development of a general approach for the stereoselective introduction of a glycosidic linkage. It is shown here that a (1S)-phenyl-2-(phenylsulfanyl)ethyl moiety at C-2 of a glycosyl donor can perform neighboring group participation to give a quasi-stable anomeric sulfonium ion. Due to steric and electronic factors, the sulfonium ion is formed as a trans-decalin ring system. Displacement of the sulfonium ion by a hydroxyl leads to the stereoselective formation of alpha-glycosides. NMR experiments were employed to show convincingly the presence of the beta-linked sulfonium ion intermediate. The (1S)-phenyl-2-(phenylsulfanyl)ethyl moiety could be introduced by reaction of a sugar alcohol with acetic acid (1S)-phenyl-2-(phenylsulfanyl)ethyl ester in the presence of BF(3)-OEt(2). Furthermore, it could be removed by conversion into acetate by treatment with BF(3)-OEt(2) in acetic anhydride. The introduction as well as the cleavage reaction proceeds through the formation of an intermediate episulfonium ion. The use of the new methodology in combination with traditional neighboring group participation by esters to introduce beta-glycosides makes it possible, for the first time, to synthesize a wide variety of oligosaccharides by routine procedures. The latter was demonstrated by the synthesis of the Galili trisaccharide, which has been identified as an epitope that can trigger acute rejections in xeno-transplantations, by the one-pot two-step glycosylation sequence.

‘Five at One Stroke’: Proline and Small Peptides in the Stereoselectivede novo Synthesis and Enantiotopic Functionalization of Carbohydrates

Asymmetric catalysis with the simple amino acid proline (so called 'enamine catalysis') arrested big attention in the last few years since the re-discovery of the Hajos-Parrish-Eder-Sauer-Wiechert reaction. After basic mechanistic studies, probing scope and limitations of the catalyst and the corresponding reactions, this concept has now emerged to a state where it is applied to the assembly of up to five stereogenic centers of carbohydrates, not really 'at one stroke', but in only two simple synthetic operations. Beyond, it is not only possible to build up complicated natural products elegantly, but also to address selectively the similar functional groups of carbohydrates by small peptidic catalysts. This short review covers the recent developments of organocatalysis in both fields, with special emphasis on the asymmetric assembly and selective derivatization of carbohydrates.

An Acidic Layered Clay Is Combined with A Basic Layered Clay for One-Pot Sequential Reactions

A Ti4+-exchanged montmorillonite (Ti4+-mont) and a hydrotalcite (HT) are strong solid Brønsted acid and base, and these two clay catalysts could be used in a single reactor without neutralization of active sites. Because the Ti4+-mont have active acid site in the narrow interlayers, the base sites of large HT particles show no interaction with the acid sites. A variety of acid and base reactions, such as esterification, acetalization, deacetalization, aldol reaction, Michael reaction, and epoxidation, proceeded using both the Ti4+-mont and the HT in a single reactor.

Regioselective synthesis of cyclodextrin mono-substituted conjugates of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at C-2 secondary hydroxyl by protease in non-aqueous media

Three beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) conjugates of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were synthesized by enzymatic methods. Transesterification of beta-CD with vinyl ester of indomethacin, ketoprofen and etodolac was performed by the catalysis of alkaline protease from Bacillus subtilis in anhydrous DMF for 3 days. The drug molecules were selectively conjugated onto one of the secondary hydroxyl groups of beta-CD through ester-linkage to improve their poor water solubility and absorption characteristics. The products were characterized by ESI-MS, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR. The structures of products with monoacylation occurring at the C-2 secondary hydroxyl groups of beta-CD were confirmed.

Protein Glycosylation: New Challenges and Opportunities

Protein glycosylation is the most complex post-translational modification process. More than 50% of proteins in humans are glycosylated, while bacteria such as E. coli does not have this modification machinery. Many small-molecule natural products also require glycosylation in order to express their function. Development of effective synthetic tools for use in understanding the effect of glycosylation on the structure and function of biomolecules will lead to the development of new strategies to tackle major problems associated with carbohydrate-mediated biological recognitions.

Developing Promiscuous Glycosidases for Glycoside Synthesis: Residues W433 and E432 in Sulfolobus solfataricus β-Glycosidase are Important Glucoside- and Galactoside-Specificity Determinants

Two residues that have been implicated in determining the substrate specificity of the thermophilic beta-glycosidase from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus (SsbetaG), a member of the glycosyl hydrolase family 1, have been mutated by site-directed mutagenesis so as to create more versatile catalysts for carbohydrate chemistry. The wild-type and mutated sequences were expressed in E. coli with a His(7)-tag to allow one-step chromatographic purification. The E432C and W433C mutations removed key interactions with the OH-4 and OH-3 of the sugar substrates, thus reducing the discrimination of glucose, galactose and fucose with respect to other glycosides. This resulted in two glycosidases with greatly broadened substrate specificities. Observed changes include a 24-fold increase in Man:Gal activity and an 18-fold increase in GalA:Gal activity. This promiscuous substrate tolerance was further illustrated by the parallel synthesis of a beta-glycoside library of glucose, galactose, xylose and mannose in one pot at 50 degrees C, in organic solvent. The synthetic potential of the catalysts was further evaluated through alkyl glycoside transglycosylation yields, including the first examples of synthesis of beta-mannosides and beta-xylosides with SsbetaG.

Solution Syntheses of Protected Type II Lewis Blood Group Oligosaccharides: Study for Automated Synthesis

Glycosyl phosphate and trichloroacetimidate monosaccharide building blocks were used in a stepwise solution-phase synthesis of three Lewis blood group oligosaccharides. The syntheses were conducted to establish general routes for the automated assembly of the oligosaccharide portion of biologically important glycolipids. The H-type II pentasaccharide, Le(x) pentasaccharide, and Le(y) hexasaccharide were prepared in high yield. These syntheses served to evaluate the utility and limitations of the 2-(azidomethyl)benzoate ester (AZMB) for the construction of complex carbohydrates. Development of a glucosamine building block containing a N-trichloroacetamide group to mask the C2 amine improved coupling yields and was key for completion of the Le(x) and Le(y) structures.

Mimicking Dihydroxy Acetone Phosphate-Utilizing Aldolases through Organocatalysis: A Facile Route to Carbohydrates and Aminosugars

[reaction: see text] A practical and environmentally friendly organocatalytic strategy designed to mimic the DHAP aldolases has been developed and shown to be effective in the preparation of carbohydrates and aminosugars. (S)-Proline and (S)-2-pyrrolidine-tetrazole catalyzed the aldol reaction between dihydroxy acetone variants such as 1,3-dioxan-5-one and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-5-one with aldehydes to give the corresponding polyols in good yields with very high ees.

Carbohydrate Microarrays: An Advanced Technology for Functional Studies of Glycans

The biological significance of glycans in the post-genomic era requires the development of new technologies to enable functional studies of carbohydrates in a high-throughput manner. Recently, carbohydrate microarrays have been exploited as an advanced technology for this purpose. Efficient immobilization methods for carbohydrate probes on the proper surface are essential for the successful fabrication of carbohydrate microarrays. Up to date, several techniques have been developed to attach simple or complex carbohydrates to a solid surface. The developed glycan microarrays have been applied for functional glycomics, drug discovery, and diagnosis. In this concept article, we discuss the progress of immobilization methods of carbohydrates on solid surfaces, their potential uses for biological research and biomedical applications, and possible solutions for some remaining challenges to improve this new technology.

Thioglycosides in sequential glycosylation strategies

This tutorial review surveys the use of thioglycosides in the development of sequential glycosylation methodologies, with a focus on chemoselective, orthogonal and iterative glycosylation strategies reported since the beginning of this century. Both fundamental aspects of glycosidic bond formation and ingenious state-of-the-art methodologies are presented.

Large-scale chemical and chemo-enzymatic synthesis of a spacer-containing Pk-trisaccharide

The Pk-trisaccharide, linked to a solid carrier, is a potential agent for neutralization of shiga-like toxin in the gastrointestinal tract. Two approaches to the multigram-scale synthesis of a linkable Pk-trisaccharide derivative were therefore investigated. A four-step chemical synthesis yielded 8-methoxycarbonyloctyl beta-lactoside in 75% yield from lactose. Further conversion of this derivative through either multistep organic synthesis or one-step enzymatic galactosylation with UDP-galactose and recombinant alpha-1,4-galactosyltransferase gave the Pk-trisaccharide derivative 8-methoxycarbonyloctyl alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside in 25% and 68% overall yields from commercial lactose, respectively.

Directed Evolution of a Glycosynthase via Chemical Complementation

Recently, we reported a general assay for enzyme catalysis based on the yeast three-hybrid assay, Chemical Complementation, which is intended to expand the range of chemical reactions to which directed evolution can be applied. Here, Chemical Complementation was applied to a glycosynthase derived from a retaining glycosidase, an important class of enzymes for carbohydrate synthesis. Using the yeast three-hybrid assay, the glycosynthase activity of the E197A mutant of the Cel7B from Humicola insolens was linked to transcription of a LEU2 reporter gene, making cell growth dependent on glycosynthase activity in the absence of leucine. Then the LEU2 selection was used to isolate the most active glycosynthase from a Glu197 saturation library, yielding an E197S Cel7B variant with a 5-fold increase in glycosynthase activity. These results not only establish Chemical Complementation as a platform for the directed evolution of glycosynthases, but also show the generality of this approach and the ease with which it can be applied to new chemical reactions.

The disarming effect of the 4,6-acetal group on glycoside reactivity: torsional or electronic?

An evaluation of whether the well-known deactivating effect of a 4,6-acetal protection group on glycosyl transfer is caused by torsional or an electronic effect from fixation of the 6-OH in the tg conformation was made. Two conformationally locked probe molecules, 2,4-dinitrophenyl 4,8-anhydro-7-deoxy-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-beta-D-glycero-D-gluco-octopyranoside (18R) and the L-glycero-D-gluco isomer (18S), were prepared, and their rate of hydrolysis was compared to that of the flexible 2,4-dinitrophenyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (21) and the locked 2,4-dinitrophenyl 4,6-O-methylidene-2,3-di-O-methyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (26). The rate of hydrolysis at pH 6.5 was 21 > 18R > 18S > 26, which showed that the deactivating effect of the 4,6-methylene group is partially torsional and partially electronic. A comparison of the rate of acidic hydrolysis of the corresponding methyl alpha-glycosides likewise showed that the probe molecules 17S and 17R hydrolyzed significantly slower than methyl tetra-O-methyl-glucoside 19, confirming a deactivating effect of locking the saccharide in the (4)C(1) conformation. The experiments showed that the hydroxymethyl rotamers deactivate the rate of glycoside hydrolysis in the order tg >> gt > gg.

A Four-Component One-Pot Synthesis of α-Gal Pentasaccharide

A four-component one-pot sequential synthesis of alpha-Gal pentasaccharide 2 with minimal protecting group manipulations in a very short period of time is described in this paper. [structure: see text]