Synthesis ofN-Acetylallosamine-Derived Disaccharides

Synthetic Studies on the Incorporation of N-Acetylallosamine in Hyaluronic Acid-Inspired Thiodisaccharides

Two approaches for the synthesis of the thiodisaccharide β-S-GlcA(1→3)β-S-AllNAc are described here. The target disaccharide was a C-3 epimer and thio-analogue of the hyaluronic acid repetitive unit, tuned with a thiopropargyl anomeric group for further click conjugation. Thus, we analysed and tested two convenient sequences, combining the two key steps required to introduce the thioglycosidic bonds and consequently reach the target molecule: the SN2 substitution of a good leaving group (triflate) present at C-3 of a GlcNAc derivative and the introduction of the anomeric thiopropargyl substituent. The use of a 2-azido precursor showed to be a convenient substrate for the SN2 step. Nevertheless, further protecting group manipulation and the introduction of the thiopropargyl anomeric residue were then required. This approach showed to provide access to a variety of thiodisaccharide derivatives as interesting building blocks for the construction of neoglycoconjugates.

Synthesis, antiasthmatic, and insecticidal/antifungal activities of allosamidins

Allosamidins come from the secondary metabolites of Streptomyces species, and they have the pseudotrisaccharide structures. Allosamidins are chitinase inhibitors that can be used to study the physiological effects of chitinases in a variety of organisms. They have the novel antiasthmatic activity and insecticidal/antifungal activities. Herein, the synthesis and activities of allosamidins were summarized and analyzed.

High-efficient synthesis and biological activities of allosamidins

The pseudo-trisaccharide allosamidin 1 is a potent inhibitor of all family-18 chitinases, and it is confirmed to have insecticidal and antifungal activities. But the synthesis of allosamidins is very difficult, and it is a challengeable subject. Allosamidins were synthesized in solid-liquid phase, total solid-phase and total liquid-phase, respectively. Solid-liquid phase method realizes the partial solid-phase synthesis of allosamidins. Total solid-phase method greatly simplifies the purification process. Total liquid-phase method shortens the synthetic steps of allosamidins. The insecticidal and antifungal activities of allosamidins were also reported herein.

Synthetic N-acetyl-D-glucosamine based fully branched tetrasaccharide, a mimetic of the endogenous ligand for CD69, activates CD69+ killer lymphocytes upon dimerization via a hydrophilic flexible linker

On the basis of the highly branched ovomucoid-type undecasaccharide that had been shown previously to be an endogenous ligand for CD69 leukocyte receptor, a systematic investigation of smaller oligosaccharide mimetics was performed based on linear and branched N-acetyl-d-hexosamine homooligomers prepared synthetically using hitherto unexplored reaction schemes. The systematic structure-activity studies revealed the tetrasaccharide GlcNAcbeta1-3(GlcNAcbeta1-4)(GlcNAcbeta1-6)GlcNAc (compound 52) and its alpha-benzyl derivative 49 as the best ligand for CD69 with IC(50) as high as 10(-9) M. This compound thus approaches the affinity of the classical high-affinity neoglycoprotein ligand GlcNAc(23)BSA. Compound 68, GlcNAc tetrasaccharide 52 dimerized through a hydrophilic flexible linker, turned out to be effective in activating CD69(+) lymphocytes. It also proved efficient in enhancing natural killing in vitro, decreasing the growth of tumors in vivo, and activating the CD69(+) tumor infiltrating lymphocytes examined ex vivo. This compound is thus a candidate for carbohydrate-based immunomodulators with promising antitumor potential.

Synthesis of Linear and Branched Regioisomeric Chitooligosaccharides as Potential Mimetics of Natural Oligosaccharide Ligands of Natural Killer Cells NKR-P1 and CD69 Lectin Receptors

Regioisomer of chitobiose13with β(1→3) glycosidic bond and branched analog of chitotriose25having β(1→4) and β(1→3) glycosidic bonds, were prepared and tested as potential mimetics of natural oligosaccharide ligands for activating lectin receptors NKR-P1A and CD69 of natural killer (NK) cells. The structural requirements of NKR-P1 lectin receptor on effective mimetics of its natural ligands has been discussed. A significant binding activity of the branched trisaccharide25to the receptor CD69 was observed.

Key involvement of all three GlcNAc hydroxyl groups in the recognition of beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Glcp-OR by N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-V

N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase-V (GlcNAc T-V) transfers a beta-linked GlcNAc residue from UDP-GlcNAc to OH-6' (of the alpha Man residue) in oligosaccharides terminating in the sequence beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Glcp(or Manp)-OR (3, R = (CH2)7CH3). It was previously found that OH-4" (of the GlcNAc residue) in 3 was a critical element for substrate recognition by this enzyme. We show here that OH-3" and OH-6" are also key recognition elements. Four analogs of trisaccharide 3 where OH-3" and OH-6" were replaced, independently, by NH2 and NHAc groups, were prepared by multi-step chemical synthesis and kinetically evaluated as substrates for GlcNAc T-V from hamster kidney. These substitutions were selected since they replaced the OH groups with groups probing both hydrogen bonding and steric bulk. The 3"-modified compounds were found to be very poor substrates with Km values more than 50-fold elevated over that for 3 (26 microM) while the 6"-modified compounds were completely inactive. An intact 3,4,6 triol system in the terminal GlcNAc residue therefore appears to be the key polar group system that is recognized by this enzyme.