Toward an optimal oligosaccharide ligand for rat natural killer cell activation receptor NKR-P1

Nkrp1 family, from lectins to protein interacting molecules

The C-type lectin-like receptors include the Nkrp1 protein family that regulates the activity of natural killer (NK) cells. Rat Nkrp1a was reported to bind monosaccharide moieties in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner in preference order of GalNac > GlcNAc >> Fuc >> Gal > Man. These findings established for rat Nkrp1a have been extrapolated to all additional Nkrp1 receptors and have been supported by numerous studies over the past two decades. However, since 1996 there has been controversy and another article showed lack of interactions with saccharides in 1999. Nevertheless, several high affinity saccharide ligands were synthesized in order to utilize their potential in antitumor therapy. Subsequently, protein ligands were introduced as specific binders for Nkrp1 proteins and three dimensional models of receptor/protein ligand interaction were derived from crystallographic data. Finally, for at least some members of the NK cell C-type lectin-like proteins, the “sweet story” was impaired by two reports in recent years. It has been shown that the rat Nkrp1a and CD69 do not bind saccharide ligands such as GlcNAc, GalNAc, chitotetraose and saccharide derivatives (GlcNAc-PAMAM) do not directly and specifically influence cytotoxic activity of NK cells as it was previously described.

Re-evaluation of binding properties of recombinant lymphocyte receptors NKR-P1A and CD69 to chemically synthesized glycans and peptides

The binding of monosaccharides and short peptides to lymphocyte receptors (human CD69 and rat NKR-P1A) was first reported in 1994 and then in a number of subsequent publications. Based on this observation, numerous potentially high-affinity saccharide ligands have been synthesized over the last two decades in order to utilize their potential in antitumor therapy. Due to significant inconsistencies in their reported binding properties, we decided to re-examine the interaction between multiple ligands and CD69 or NKR-P1A. Using NMR titration and isothermal titration calorimetry we were unable to detect the binding of the tested ligands such as N-acetyl-d-hexosamines and oligopeptides to both receptors, which contradicts the previous observations published in more than twenty papers over the last fifteen years.

Facile synthesis of nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-mannopyranosides from ManNAc-oxazoline

The synthetic procedures for a large-scale preparation of o- and p-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-mannopyranoside are described. The synthetic pathway employs the glycosylation of phenol with ManNAc oxazoline, followed by nitration of the aromatic moiety yielding a separable mixture of the o- and p-nitrophenyl derivative in a 2:3 ratio.

Crystallization and diffraction analysis of β-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Aspergillus oryzae

Fungal β-N-acetylhexosaminidases are enzymes that are used in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of biologically interesting oligosaccharides. The enzyme from Aspergillus oryzae was produced and purified from its natural source and crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Diffraction data from two crystal forms (primitive monoclinic and primitive tetragonal) were collected to resolutions of 3.2 and 2.4 Å, respectively. Electrophoretic and quantitative N-terminal protein-sequencing analyses confirmed that the crystals are formed by a complete biologically active enzyme consisting of a glycosylated catalytic unit and a noncovalently attached propeptide.

Deoxynojirimycin and its hexosaminyl derivatives bind to natural killer cell receptors rNKR-P1A and hCD69

Deoxynojirimycin (1) and two new related 4-O-hexosaminyl-containing disaccharide mimics, beta-d-TalNAc-(1-->4)-DNJ (4) and beta-d-ManNAc-(1-->4)-DNJ (5), have been studied as agonists of natural killer (NK) cell receptors. As a positive and unexpected result, DNJ (1) displayed a remarkable activation effect towards both NKR-P1A (rat) and CD69 (human) receptors, and a quite similar activity was found for 4 and 5. The synthesis of the two disaccharide mimics is based on an approach that avoids the glycosylation step using known intermediates arising from lactose. The key stage of the synthesis involves the construction of the DNJ unit through an initial C-5 oxidation of the reducing d-glucopyranosyl unit followed by a stereoselective double-reductive aminocyclization of the 1,5-dicarbonyl disaccharide intermediates.

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.

Practical preparation of 2-azido-2-deoxy-β-d-mannopyranosyl carbonates and their application in the synthesis of oligosaccharides

1-O-Allyloxycarbonyl (or ethyloxycarbonyl)-2-azido-2-deoxy-3-O-benzyl (or allyl, or benzoyl)-4,6-O-isopropylidene-beta-d-mannopyranose derivatives were prepared from the corresponding 2-hydroxy-beta-d-glucopyranosyl carbonates in high yields via triflation of the 2-hydroxyl group and subsequent SN2 displacement with azide ion. An N-acetyl-mannosamine-containing trisaccharide, a fragment of the putative O10 antigen from Acinetobacter baumannii, was efficiently synthesized using these derivatives.

RETRACTED: N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine substituted calix[4]arenes as stimulators of NK cell-mediated antitumor immune response

A series of calixarenes substituted with 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose linked by a thiourea spacer was prepared and tested for binding activity to heterogeneously expressed activation receptors of the rat natural killer cells NKR-P1, and the receptor CD69 (human NK cells, macrophages). In the case of NKR-P1, the binding affinity of beta-D-GlcNAc-substituted calixarenes carrying two or four sugar units was in a good agreement with the inhibitory potencies of the linear chitooligomers (chitobiose to chitotetraose) reported previously. The influence of GlcNAc substitution of the calixarene skeleton on binding affinity for CD69 receptor was more profound and the 5,11,17,23-tetrakis[N-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-thioureido]-25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxycalix[4]arene (cone) (1) proved to be the best CD69 ligand identified to date. Lower GlcNAc substitution led to dramatic decrease of the binding activity (by about 1.5 order of magnitude per one GlcNAc unit). The immunostimulating activity results with the newly synthesized GlcNAc tetramers on calixarene scaffolds exhibited stimulation of natural cytotoxicity of human PBMC in concentrations 10(-4) and 10(-8)M. These calix-sugar compounds were superior to the previously tested PAMAM-GlcNAc(8)5.

Structure of the dimeric N-glycosylated form of fungal beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase revealed by computer modeling, vibrational spectroscopy, and biochemical studies

Background

Fungal β-N-acetylhexosaminidases catalyze the hydrolysis of chitobiose into its constituent monosaccharides. These enzymes are physiologically important during the life cycle of the fungus for the formation of septa, germ tubes and fruit-bodies. Crystal structures are known for two monomeric bacterial enzymes and the dimeric human lysosomal β-N-acetylhexosaminidase. The fungal β-N-acetylhexosaminidases are robust enzymes commonly used in chemoenzymatic syntheses of oligosaccharides. The enzyme from Aspergillus oryzae was purified and its sequence was determined.

Results

The complete primary structure of the fungal β-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Aspergillus oryzae CCF1066 was used to construct molecular models of the catalytic subunit of the enzyme, the enzyme dimer, and the N-glycosylated dimer. Experimental data were obtained from infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and biochemical studies of the native and deglycosylated enzyme, and are in good agreement with the models. Enzyme deglycosylated under native conditions displays identical kinetic parameters but is significantly less stable in acidic conditions, consistent with model predictions. The molecular model of the deglycosylated enzyme was solvated and a molecular dynamics simulation was run over 20 ns. The molecular model is able to bind the natural substrate – chitobiose with a stable value of binding energy during the molecular dynamics simulation.

Conclusion

Whereas the intracellular bacterial β-N-acetylhexosaminidases are monomeric, the extracellular secreted enzymes of fungi and humans occur as dimers. Dimerization of the fungal β-N-acetylhexosaminidase appears to be a reversible process that is strictly pH dependent. Oligosaccharide moieties may also participate in the dimerization process that might represent a unique feature of the exclusively extracellular enzymes. Deglycosylation had only limited effect on enzyme activity, but it significantly affected enzyme stability in acidic conditions. Dimerization and N-glycosylation are the enzyme's strategy for catalytic subunit stabilization. The disulfide bridge that connects Cys⁴⁴⁸ with Cys⁴⁸³ stabilizes a hinge region in a flexible loop close to the active site, which is an exclusive feature of the fungal enzymes, neither present in bacterial nor mammalian structures. This loop may play the role of a substrate binding site lid, anchored by a disulphide bridge that prevents the substrate binding site from being influenced by the flexible motion of the loop.

Preparative production and separation of 2-acetamido-2-deoxymannopyranoside-containing saccharides using borate-saturated polyolic exclusion gels

A new separation method based on the combination of exclusion and ion exchange chromatography in borate buffer was developed. It allows semi-preparatory and preparatory separation of isobaric N-acylhexosamines (C-2 epimers) and corresponding methyl glycosides (anomers and tautomers). Three types of polyolic gels were tested for these separations. Ion-exchange HPLC was used as a rapid and reliable method for the quantification of the respective analytes. NMR studies of the interactions of N-acetylhexosamines with borate confirmed the importance of a proper stereochemical arrangement of acetamido sugars for their interactions with borate anions.

Species differences in the carbohydrate binding preferences of surfactant protein D

Interactions of surfactant protein D (SP-D) with micro-organisms and organic antigens involve binding to the trimeric neck plus carbohydrate recognition domain (neck+CRD). In these studies, we compared the ligand binding of homologous human, rat, and mouse trimeric neck+CRD fusion proteins, each with identical N-terminal tags remote from the ligand-binding surface. Although rat and mouse showed similar affinities for saccharide competitors, both differed markedly from the human protein. The human neck+CRD preferentially recognized N-acetyl-mannosamine, whereas the rat and mouse proteins showed greater affinity for myoinositol, maltose, and glucose. Although human neck+CRDs bound to maltosyl-agarose and fungal mannan, only rat and mouse neck+CRDs showed significant binding to maltosyl-Toyopearl beads, solid-phase maltosyl-albumin neo-glycoprotein, or the Phil82 strain of influenza A virus. Likewise, human SP-D dodecamers and trimeric subunits of full-length rat, but not full-length human SP-D trimers, bound to maltosyl-Toyopearl. Site-directed mutagenesis of the human neck+CRD demonstrated an important role of Asp324-Asp325 in the recognition of N-acetyl-mannosamine, and substitution of the corresponding murine sequence (Asn324-Asn325) conferred a capacity to interact with immobilized maltose. Thus, ligand recognition by human SP-D involves a complex interplay between saccharide presentation, the valency of trimeric subunits, and species-specific residues that flank the primary carbohydrate binding site.

Improved synthesis of 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-α-d-mannopyranose

By improved (anhydrous) work-up conditions of a triflate displacement reaction, the yield in the preparation of the versatile synthetic intermediate 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha-d-mannopyranose has been significantly enhanced. This important precursor is now available in three efficient steps from d-glucose.

A chemoenzymatic route to mannosamine derivatives bearing different N-acyl groups

The chemoenzymatic route to 2-deoxy-2-propionamido-D-mannose (1b), 2-butyramido-2-deoxy-D-mannose (2b) and 2-deoxy-2-phenylacetamido-D-mannose (3b) involved N-acylation of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose followed by alkaline C-2 epimerization and selective microbial removal of the epimers with gluco-configuration. The latter step employed whole cells of Rhodococcus equi A4 able to degrade 2-deoxy-2-propionamido-D-glucose (1a), 2-butyramido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2a) and 2-deoxy-2-phenylacetamido-D-glucose (3a) but inactive towards the corresponding manno-isomers. The metabolism of the gluco-isomers probably involved phosphorylation and subsequent deacylation. 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-6-O-phospho-D-glucose amidohydrolase [EC 3.5.1.25] but not 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose amidohydrolase was detected in the cell extract, the former enzyme being partially purified (15.8-fold with an overall yield of 18.1% and a specific activity of 0.95 units mg-1 protein). According to SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, gel filtration and mass spectrometry, the enzyme was a monomer with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 42 kDa. The optimum temperature and pH of the enzyme were 60 degrees C and 8.0-9.0, respectively. 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-6-O-phospho-D-glucose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-6-O-sulfo-D-glucose but not 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1-O-phospho-D-glucose or 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose were substrates of the enzyme. Its activity was slightly inhibited by the addition of 1 mM Al3+, Ca2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Mn2+ or Zn2+ and activated by 1 mM Mg2+. The concentrated enzyme is highly stable at 4 degrees C in the presence of 0.1 M ammonium sulfate.

A concise synthesis of 4-nitrophenyl 2-azido-2-deoxy- and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-mannopyranosides

4-nitrophenyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha- and beta-D-mannopyranosides were prepared from methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-alpha-D-glucopyranoside and 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranose, respectively. Chemoselective reduction of both azides with hydrogen sulfide readily afforded 4-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D- and -beta-D-mannopyranosides in higher yields than reduction with triphenylphosphine or a polymer-supported triarylphosphine. Subsequent de-O-acetylation yielded 4-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-mannopyranoside and 4-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-mannopyranoside in 20% and 44% overall yields, respectively.

Fluorescent labelled thiourea-bridged glycodendrons

GlcNAc-coated glycodendrimers, which are polyvalent glycomimetics, display strong in vitro affinity for the rat natural killer cell protein-1A (NKR-P1A), a C-type lectin-like receptor of natural killer (NK) cells in rats, humans and some strains of mice. Administration of these compounds in vivo results in a substantial increase in the antitumour activity with involvement of the natural cell immunity. To clarify the in vitro and in vivo fate of these molecules, we synthesized labelled glycodendron analogues of the previously studied glycodendrimers. Labelling with fluorescent tags enabled the localization of the glycodendrons in white blood cells, tumours and other tissues by using different imaging techniques such as fluorescence and confocal microscopy. These studies are useful for probing the mechanism of action and fate of artificial ligands and the cell receptors involved.

Enzymatic synthesis of complex glycosaminotrioses and study of their molecular recognition by hevein domains

Hevein, a protein found in Hevea brasiliensis, has a CRD domain, which is known to bind chitin and GlcNAc-containing oligosaccharides. By using NMR and molecular modeling as major tools we have demonstrated that trisaccharides containing GalNAc and ManNAc residues are also recognized by hevein domains. Thus far unknown trisaccharides GlcNAcbeta(1-->4)GlcNAcbeta(1-->4)ManNAc (1) and GalNAcbeta(1-->4)GlcNAcbeta(1-->4)ManNAc (2) were synthesized with the use of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Aspergillus oryzae. This method is based on the rather unique phenomenon that some fungal beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases cannot hydrolyze disaccharide GlcNAcbeta(1-->4)ManNAc (5) contrary to chitobiose GlcNAcbeta(1-->4)GlcNAc (4) that is cleaved and, therefore, cannot be used as an acceptor for further transglycosylation. Both trisaccharides 1 and 2 were prepared by transglycosylation from disaccharidic acceptor in good yields ranging from 35% to 40%. Our observations strongly indicate that the present nature of the modifications of chitotriose (GlcNAcbeta(1-->lcNAcbeta(1-->4)GlcNAc, 3) at either the non-reducing end (GalNAc instead of GlcNAc) or at the reducing end (ManNAc instead of GlcNAc) do not modify the mode of binding of the trisaccharide to hevein. The association constant values indicate that chitotriose (3) binding is better than that of 1 and 2, and that the binding of (with ManNAc at the reducing end) is favored with respect to that of 2 (with ManNAc at the reducing end with a non-reducing GalNAc moiety).

Synthesis of 2-Amino-2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranosides: Using Various 2-Deoxy-2-phthalimido-D-galactopyranosyl Donors and Acceptors

A systematic study is presented of the efficiency of the most common glycosylation methods using standard 2-deoxy-2-phthalimidogalactopyranosyl donors ethyl 4-O-acetyl-3,6-di-O- benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-1-thio-β-D-galactopyranoside (3a), 4-O-Acetyl-3,6-di-O-benzyl- 2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-galactopyranosyl bromide (4), 4-O-acetyl-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-galactopyranosyl fluoride (5b), O-(4-O-acetyl-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-galactopyranosyl) trichloroacetimidate (7) and ethyl 3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-1-thio-β-D-galactopyranoside (8), pent-4-enyl 3,6-di-O-benzyl- and 3-O-allyl-6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-galactopyranoside (10a) and (10b) and pent-4-enyl 3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-4-O-(trimethylsilyl)-β-D-galactopyranoside (11) as glycosyl acceptors in the synthesis of 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranosides 12, 16a and 17a. It was found that due to a low reactivity of the axial OH(4) group of glycosyl acceptors, disaccharides 16b and 17b with α(1→4) bond were also formed. The unexpected intermolecular migration of ethylsufanyl group from the reducing end of glycosyl acceptor 8 the reducing end of the activated form of glycosyl donor 4 in the glycosylation step to give ethylsulfanyl derivative 3a was proved. For preparation of the glycosyl donors and glycosyl acceptors with galacto configuration an approach based on epimerization of 4-O-mesyl derivatives of appropriate synthons with gluco configuration 2a and 2b was employed.

Carbohydrate and Non-Carbohydrate Ligands for the C-Type Lectin-Like Receptors of Natural Killer Cells. A Review

The superfamily of C-type animal lectins is defined by a sequence motif of the carbohydrate- recognition domains (CRDs) and comprises seven groups of molecules. The soluble proteins are group I proteoglycans, group III collectins, and group VII containing the isolated CRDs. Type I membrane proteins include group IV selectins and group VI macrophage receptors and related molecules. Type II membrane proteins are group II hepatic lectins and group V natural killer cell receptors. The latter group has recently attracted considerable attention of the biomedical community. These receptors are arranged at the surface of lymphocytes as homo- or heterodimers composed of two polypeptides consisting of N-terminal peptide tails responsible for signaling, transmembrane domain, neck regions of varying length, and C-terminal lectin-like domains (CTLDs). Since this group is evolutionarily most distant from the rest of C-type animal lectins, the sequence of the C-terminal ligand-binding domain has diversified to accommodate other ligands than calcium or carbohydrates. These domains are referred to as natural killer domains (NKDs) forming a large percentage of CTLDs in vertebrates. Here are summarized the data indicating that calcium, carbohydrates, peptides, and large proteins such as major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I can all be ligands for NKDs. The wide range of ligands that can be recognized by NKDs includes some new, unexpected compounds such as signal peptide-derived fragments, heat shock proteins, or oxidized lipids. The biological importance of this extended range of recognition abilities is also discussed. A review with 134 references.

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.

Molecular characterization of binding of calcium and carbohydrates by an early activation antigen of lymphocytes CD69

CD69 is the earliest leukocyte activation antigen playing a pivotal role in cellular signaling. Here, we show that a globular C-terminal domain of CD69 belonging to C-type lectins binds calcium through Asp 171, Glu 185, and Glu 187 with K(d) approximately 54 microM. Closure of the calcium-binding site results in a conformational shift of Thr 107 and Lys 172. Interestingly, structural changes in all of these amino acids lead to the formation of high-affinity binding sites for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Similarly, a structural change in Glu 185 and Glu 187 contributes to a high-affinity site for N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. Site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling allowed us to describe the structural details of binding sites for both carbohydrates. These studies explain the importance of calcium for recognition of carbohydrates by CD69 and provide an important paradigm for the role of weak interactions in the immune system.

Synthesis of 4-Nitrophenyl 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-mannopyranoside and 4-Nitrophenyl 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-mannopyranoside

The title compounds were synthesized by the selective reduction of the azido group in 4-nitrophenyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-α-D-mannopyranoside (8) and 4-nitrophenyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-β-D-mannopyranoside (11), and by subsequent acetylation. Compound8was prepared by opening of the epoxide ring in methyl 2,3-anhydro-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranoside (1) with sodium azide, followed by inversion of the configuration at C-3 in the resulting altropyranoside and glycosidation with 4-nitrophenol.

Synthesis of chitooligomer-based glycoconjugates and their binding to the rat natural killer cell activation receptor NKR-P1

NKR-P1 protein is an important activating receptor at the surface of the rat natural killer cells. GlcNAc and chitooligomers were identified as strong activation ligands in vitro and in vivo. Their clustering brings about increase of their affinity to the NKR-P1 by 3-6 orders. Here we describe novel methodology for preparation of neoglycoproteins based on BSA carrying the chitooligomers (n = 2-5). Further on we developed novel methodology of the coupling of glycosylamines via aromatic-SCN activated linker both to protein or synthetic cores. Inhibition studies of chitooligomer glycoconjugates with the NKR-P1 receptor show that our neoglycoproteins are very strong ligands with high binding affinity (-log IC(50) = 13-15). In analogy with our previous observations with GlcNAc clustered on protein or PAMAM backbones the synthetic chitooligomer clusters should provide considerably better ligands in the in vivo antitumor treatment.