Synthesis of Neoglycoconjugates Containing 4-Amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinose Epitopes Corresponding to the Inner Core of Burkholderia and Proteus Lipopolysaccharides

ArnD is a deformylase involved in polymyxin resistance

The modification of lipid A with cationic 4-amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinose residues serves to confer resistance against cationic peptide antibiotics in Gram-negative bacteria. In this work, the enzyme ArnD is shown to act as a metal-dependent deformylase in the biosynthesis of this carbohydrate.

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of the Equatorial Glycosides of 3-Deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic Acid: Role of Side Chain Conformation

The pseudosymmetric relationship of the bacterial sialic acid, pseudaminic acid, and 3-deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (KDO) affords the hypothesis that suitably protected KDO donors will adopt the trans, gauche conformation of their side chain and consequently be highly equatorially selective in their coupling reactions conducted at low temperature. This hypothesis is borne out by the synthesis, conformational analysis, and excellent equatorial selectivity seen on coupling of per-O-acetyl or benzyl-protected KDO donors in dichloromethane at -78 °C. Mechanistic understanding of glycosylation reactions is advancing to a stage at which predictions of selectivity can be made. In this instance, predictions of selectivity provide the first highly selective entry into KDO equatorial glycosides such as are found in the capsular polysaccharides of numerous pathogenic bacteria.

Synthesis of C-glycosyl phosphonate derivatives of 4-amino-4-deoxy-α-ʟ-arabinose

The incorporation of basic substituents into the structurally conserved domains of cell wall lipopolysaccharides has been identified as a major mechanism contributing to antimicrobial resistance of Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Inhibition of the corresponding enzymatic steps, specifically the transfer of 4-amino-4-deoxy-ʟ-arabinose, would thus restore the activity of cationic antimicrobial peptides and several antimicrobial drugs. C-glycosidically-linked phospholipid derivatives of 4-amino-4-deoxy-ʟ-arabinose have been prepared as hydrolytically stable and chain-shortened analogues of the native undecaprenyl donor. The C-phosphonate unit was installed via a Wittig reaction of benzyl-protected 1,5-arabinonic acid lactone with the lithium salt of dimethyl methylphosphonate followed by an elimination step of the resulting hemiketal, leading to the corresponding exo- and endo-glycal derivatives. The ensuing selective monodemethylation and hydrogenolysis of the benzyl groups and reduction of the 4-azido group gave the α-ʟ-anomeric arabino- and ribo-configured methyl phosphonate esters. In addition, the monomethyl phosphonate glycal intermediates were converted into n-octyl derivatives followed by subsequent selective removal of the methyl phosphonate ester group and hydrogenation to give the octylphosphono derivatives. These intermediates will be of value for their future conversion into transition state analogues as well as for the introduction of various lipid extensions at the anomeric phosphonate moiety.

(2-Ketulosonyl)onate 2,3-O-thionocarbonate donors for the synthesis of KO and KDO α-glycosides and a one-pot glycosylation method for 2-keto acid donors

Bifunctional (2-ketulosonyl)onate thionocarbonates are effective donors for the synthesis of KO and KDO α-glycosides with perfect control in stereoselectivity.

Polysaccharides from Burkholderia species as targets for vaccine development, immunomodulation and chemical synthesis

Covering: up to 2018 Burkholderia species are a vast group of human pathogenic, phytopathogenic, and plant- or environment-associated bacteria. B. pseudomallei, B. mallei, and B. cepacia complex are the causative agents of melioidosis, glanders, and cystic fibrosis-related infections, respectively, which are fatal diseases in humans and animals. Due to their high resistance to antibiotics, high mortality rates, and increased infectivity via the respiratory tract, B. pseudomallei and B. mallei have been listed as potential bioterrorism agents by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Burkholderia species are able to produce a large network of surface-exposed polysaccharides, i.e., lipopolysaccharides, capsular polysaccharides, and exopolysaccharides, which are virulence factors, immunomodulators, major biofilm components, and protective antigens, and have crucial implications in the pathogenicity of Burkholderia-associated diseases. This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account regarding the structural elucidation and biological activities of surface polysaccharides produced by Burkholderia species. The chemical synthesis of oligosaccharides mimicking Burkholderia polysaccharides is described in detail. Emphasis is placed on the recent research efforts toward the development of glycoconjugate vaccines against melioidosis and glanders based on synthetic or native Burkholderia oligo/polysaccharides.

Divergent Synthesis of 3-Deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic Acid (Kdo) Glycosides Containing α-(2→4)-Linked Kdo-Kdo Unit

A convenient and divergent approach was developed to prepare diverse bacterial 3-deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) oligosaccharides containing a Kdo-α-(2→4)-Kdo fragment. The orthogonal protected α-(2→4) linked Kdo-Kdo disaccharide 3, serving as a common precursor, was divergently transformed into the corresponding 8-, 8'-, and 4'-hydroxy disaccharides 5, 7, and 14, respectively. Then, these alcohols were glycosylated, respectively, with the 5,7-O-di-tert-butylsilylene (DTBS) protected Kdo thioglycoside donors 1 or 2 in an α-stereoselective and high-yielding manner to afford a range of Kdo oligosaccharides. Finally, removal of all protecting groups of the newly formed glycosides resulted in the desired free Kdo oligomer.

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: An update for 2011-2012

This review is the seventh update of the original article published in 1999 on the application of MALDI mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2012. General aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, and fragmentation are covered in the first part of the review and applications to various structural types constitute the remainder. The main groups of compound are oligo- and poly-saccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides, and biopharmaceuticals. Much of this material is presented in tabular form. Also discussed are medical and industrial applications of the technique, studies of enzyme reactions, and applications to chemical synthesis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 36:255-422, 2017.

Progress in Kdo-glycoside chemistry

Glycosylation chemistry of 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid units has been considerably developed within the last decade. This review covers major achievements with respect to improved yields and anomeric selectivity as well as suppression of the elimination side reaction via selection of dedicated protecting groups and appropriate activation of the anomeric center.

Synthesis of the tetrasaccharide outer core fragment of Burkholderia multivorans lipooligosaccharide

The first synthesis of the outer core fragment of Burkholderia multivorans lipooligosaccharide [β-D-Glc-(1→3)-α-D-GalNAc-(1→3)-β-D-GalNAc-(1→3)-L-Rha] as α-allyl tetrasaccharide was accomplished. The glycosylations involving GalNAc units were studied in depth testing them under several conditions. This allowed the building of both the α- and the β-configured glycosidic bonds by employing the same GalNAc glycosyl donor, thus considerably shortening the total number of synthetic steps. The target tetrasaccharide was synthesized with an allyl aglycone to allow its future conjugation with an immunogenic protein en route to the development of a synthetic neoglycoconjugate vaccine against the Burkholderia cepacia pathogens.

Synthesis of conjugation-ready zwitterionic oligosaccharides by chemoselective thioglycoside activation

A method to chemoselectively activate thioglycosides in the presence of thioethers is developed and applied in the total synthesis of repeating units of S. pneumoniae Sp1 and B. fragilis PS A1. Biochemical evaluation of these glycans is performed after conjugation to reporter moieties.

Diversity-oriented synthesis of inner core oligosaccharides of the lipopolysaccharide of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent virulence factor of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. To better understand the role of LPS in host-pathogen interactions and to elucidate the antigenic and immunogenic properties of LPS inner core region, a collection of well-defined L-glycero-D-manno-heptose (Hep) and 3-deoxy-α-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo)-containing inner core oligosaccharides is required. To address this need, we developed a diversity-oriented approach based on a common orthogonal protected disaccharide Hep-Kdo. Utilizing this new approach, we synthesized a range of LPS inner core oligosaccharides from a variety of pathogenic bacteria including Y. pestis, H. influenzae, and Proteus that cause plague, meningitis, and severe wound infections, respectively. Rapid access to these highly branched core oligosaccharides relied on elaboration of the disaccharide Hep-Kdo core as basis for the elongation with various flexible modules including unique Hep and 4-amino-4-deoxy-β-L-arabinose (Ara4N) monosaccharides and branched Hep-Hep disaccharides. A regio- and stereoselective glycosylation of Kdo 7,8-diol was key to selective installation of the Ara4N moiety at the 8-hydroxyl group of Kdo moiety of the Hep-Kdo disaccharide. The structure of the LPS inner core oligosaccharides was confirmed by comparison of (1)H NMR spectra of synthetic antigens and isolated fragments. These synthetic LPS core oligosaccharides can be covalently bound to carrier proteins via the reducing end pentyl amine linker, to explore their antigenic and immunogenic properties as well as potential applications such as diagnostic tools and vaccines.