The pancreatic beta-cell recognition of insulin secretagogues. 3. Effects of substituting sulphur for oxygen in the D-glucose molecule

Glucokinase intrinsically regulates glucose sensing and glucagon secretion in pancreatic alpha cells

The secretion of glucagon by pancreatic alpha cells is regulated by a number of external and intrinsic factors. While the electrophysiological processes linking a lowering of glucose concentrations to an increased glucagon release are well characterized, the evidence for the identity and function of the glucose sensor is still incomplete. In the present study we aimed to address two unsolved problems: (1) do individual alpha cells have the intrinsic capability to regulate glucagon secretion by glucose, and (2) is glucokinase the alpha cell glucose sensor in this scenario. Single cell RT-PCR was used to confirm that glucokinase is the main glucose-phosphorylating enzyme expressed in rat pancreatic alpha cells. Modulation of glucokinase activity by pharmacological activators and inhibitors led to a lowering or an increase of the glucose threshold of glucagon release from single alpha cells, measured by TIRF microscopy, respectively. Knockdown of glucokinase expression resulted in a loss of glucose control of glucagon secretion. Taken together this study provides evidence for a crucial role of glucokinase in intrinsic glucose regulation of glucagon release in rat alpha cells.

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-5-thiosucrose and (+)-5-thioisosucrose

(+)-5-Thiosucrose 1, a novel isosteric sulfur analog of sucrose, was synthesized stereoselectively for the first time via indirect β-d-fructofuranosidation involving selective β-d-psicofuranosidation, followed by stereo-inversion of the secondary hydroxy group at the C-3 position on the furanose ring. Glycosidation of protected 5-thio-d-glucose with a d-psicofuranosyl donor provided β-d-psicofuranosyl 5-thio-α-d-glucopyranoside and that with d-fructofuranosyl donor gave α-d-fructofuranosyl 5-thio-α-d-glucopyranoside. Two anomeric stereocenters of the glycosyl donor and acceptor were controlled correctly to provide a single disaccharide among four possible anomeric isomers in the glycosylation. Conversion of the resulting disaccharides afforded (+)-5-thiosucrose 1 and (+)-5-thioisosucrose 2 in excellent yields, respectively. Inhibitory activities of 1 and 2 against α-glucosidase in vitro were also examined.

Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of carbohydrate platinum(IV) complexes with thioglycoside ligands

Reactions of fac-[PtMe3(4,4'-R2bpy)(Me2CO)][BF4] (R = H, 1a; tBu, 1b) and fac-[PtMe3(OAc-kappa2O,O')(Me2CO)] (2), respectively, with thioglycosides containing thioethyl (ch-SEt) and thioimidate (ch-STaz, Taz = thiazoline-2-yl) anomeric groups led to the formation of the carbohydrate platinum(IV) complexes fac-[PtMe3(4,4-R2bpy)(ch*)][BF4] (ch* = ch-SEt, 8-14; ch-STaz, 15-23) and fac-[PtMe3(OAc-kappa2O,O')(ch*)] (ch* = ch-SEt, 24-28; ch-STaz = 29-35), respectively. NMR (1H, 13C, 195Pt) spectroscopic investigations and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 19 (ch-STaz = 2-thiazolinyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranose) revealed the S coordination of the ch-SEt glycosides and the N coordination of the ch-STaz glycosides. Furthermore, X-ray structure analyses of the two decomposition products fac-[PtMe3(bpy)(STazH-kappaS)][BF4] (21a) and 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (23a), where a cleavage of the anomeric C-S bond had occurred in both cases, gave rise to the assumption that this decomposition was mediated due to coordination of the thioglycosides to the high electrophilic platinum(IV) atom, in non-strictly dried solutions. Reactions of fac-[PtMe3(Me2CO)3][BF4] (3) with ch-SEt as well as with ch-SPT and ch-Sbpy thioglycosides (PT = 4-(pyridine-2-yl)-thiazole-2-yl; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine-6-yl), having N,S and N,N heteroaryl anomeric groups, respectively, led to the formation of platinum(IV) complexes of the type fac-[PtMe3(ch*)][BF4] (ch* = ch-SEt, 36-40, ch-SPT 42-44, ch-Sbpy 45, 46). The thioglycosides were found to be coordinated in a tridentate kappaS,kappa2O,O, kappaS,kappaN,kappaO and kappaS,kappa2N,N coordination mode, respectively. Analogous reactions with ch-STaz ligands succeeded for 2-thiazolinyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-6-O-(2,2'-bipyridine-6-yl)-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5h) resulting in fac-[PtMe3(ch-STaz)][BF4] (41, ch-STaz = 5h), having a kappa3N,N',N''coordinated thioglycoside ligand.

Stereospecific Synthesis of Chiral 2,3-Dihydro-1,4-benzodithiine and Methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodithiine Derivatives and their Toxic Effects on Trypanosoma brucei

Preparation of chiral 2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodithiine and methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodithiine derivatives with known absolute configurations from the easily accessible chiral synthons benzyl 4-O-trifloxy-2,3-anhydro-beta-L-ribopyranoside and benzyl 4-O-trifloxy-2,3-anhydro-alpha-D-ribopyranoside is described. These compounds showed significant in vitro toxicity of the bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei with an IC50 of 11 microM. The parasites' energy metabolism and consumption of oxygen were found to be affected during incubation.

Synthesis of 6-deoxy-5-thio-D-glucose

Three routes were investigated for the conversion of D-glucose into the title compound. In the first approach, reduction of the 5,6-thiirane ring of 5,6-dideoxy-5, 6-epithio-1,2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose (17) as well as that of its 3-O-allyl derivative (13) with lithium aluminium hydride was investigated; 17 afforded the corresponding 6-deoxy derivative besides di-, tri-, and poly-mers, whereas only polymers were formed from 13. In the second approach, the oxirane ring of 3-O-allyl-5,6-anhydro-1,2-O-isopropylidene-beta-L-idofuranose was reduced by sodium borohydride and the resulting 6-deoxy derivative was converted into the 5-thiobenzoate; the corresponding hex-4-enofuranose was formed as a byproduct. In the third approach partial mesylation of methyl 5-thio-alpha-D-glucopyranoside was attempted, but the 6-mesylate 27 could be isolated only in modest yield (28%) together with rearranged 2,5-thioanhydromannofuranoside derivatives. The mechanism of this rearrangement is discussed in detail. The 6-mesylate 27 was converted via the 6-iodo derivative into the title compound.

Glucose concentration and insulin release in 5-thio-D-glucose-treated mice

Male albino mice were given a single dose of various concentrations (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight) of 5-thio-D-glucose or daily infusions (33 mg/kg body weight) of 5-thio-D-glucose for 21 days. Elevated blood glucose and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) levels were observed in the mice treated with 5-thio-D-glucose. Fasting glucose levels reached a maximum in 30 minutes and IRI levels reached a maximum in 60 to 90 minutes in the single-dose treated animals compared to preintubation levels. In the mice treated for 21 days, the fasting and fed glucose and IRI levels were significantly increased. Single dose of glucose (1 g/kg body weight) given to fasting and fed mice did not alter the glucose and IRI levels in the treated animals. However, a single dose of 5-thio-D-glucose (33 mg/kg body weight) given to fasting and fed treated animals increased the IRI levels significantly but not the glucose concentration. These data show that both single-dose and 3-week treatment with 5-thio-D-glucose produced a hyperinsulinemic diabetes in male albino mice.

The male antifertility agents alpha chlorohydrin, 5-thio-D-glucose, and 6-chloro-6-deoxy-D-glucose interfere with sugar transport across the epithelium of the rat caput epididymidis

The effects of the male antifertility agents alpha-chlorohydrin, 5-thio-D-glucose, and 6-chloro-6-deoxy-D-glucose on sugar transport (3H-3-O-methyl-D-glucose and 3H-2-deoxy-D-glucose) across the rat caput epithelium was studied in vivo and in vitro. The compound alpha-chlorohydrin reduced sugar transport uptake in vivo but not in vitro, whereas 5-thio-D-glucose and 6-chloro-6-deoxy-D-glucose were both effective in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism of action of these compounds on sugar movement across the caput epithelium is probably complex. Direct competition for the glucose carrier situated on the basolateral membrane and intratubular effects are suggested. Thirty-day injections of 5-thio-D-glucose or alpha-chlorohydrin did not have adverse effects on sugar transport or the permeability of the blood-testis and blood-epididymis barriers as assessed by an in vitro technique.

Potential of 5-thio-D-glucose as an agent for controlling male fertility

This paper reviews experimental work bearing on the feasibility of using the analog of glucose, 5-thio-D-glucose, to control human male fertility. The initial experiments in mice indicated that suitable oral doses of thioglucose caused reversible infertility unaccompanied by loss of libido or evidence of extratesticular toxicity. Subsequent work in mice and rats showed that treatment of 7 or 8 weeks appeared to cause irreversible sterility in many of the animals. In both species the smallest doses causing infertility also caused transient hyperglycemia. In rats a large dose of thioglucose was found to raise the concentration of nonesterified fatty acids in the blood and repeated smaller doses increased the excretion of catecholamines. These reports, suggesting that it can cause sterility and has extratesticular effects on metabolism, do not augur well for the acceptibility of thioglucose as a suitable chemical with which to control fertility in the human male.

On insulin secretion

Aspects of insulin secretory mechanisms and models of diabetogenic B cell damage are discussed. Measurements of fluxes of 3H-labelled triphenylmethylphosphonium ion, 86Rb+, 42K+, 22Na+, and 45Ca2+ in isolated islets indicate that the triggering of insulin release depends on alterations in the interaction of ions with the B cells. One difficulty in the detailed analysis of these alterations are uncertainties which arise when macroscopic concepts for homogenous phases are applied to microscopic and heterogenous compartments, as exemplified by the meaning of pH in insulin secretory granules and of membrane electric potential. Nonetheless, the importance of an apparent decreased K+ permeability in mediating the insulin-releasing action of glucose, and of an apparent increased Na+ permeability in mediating the potentiating action of acetylcholine is emphasized. Fluorescent probing of Ca2+ by chlorotetracycline revealed effects of glucose alone as well as glucose-dependent and atropine-sensitive effects of acetylcholine. Although acetylcholine, sulfonylureas, and certain thiol-blocking agents may stimulate insulin release by direct effects on the B cell plasma membrane, a high capacity for D-glucose transmembrane transport has probably evolved in order that the interior of the B cells can always sense the circulating glucose concentration. A signal to secretion is thought to be transmitted from glucose metabolism to altered ion fluxes by intervention of reduced pyridine nucleotides and hypothetical redox protein for which thioredoxin may be a model. The insulin secretory defect in hereditary diabetic C57BL/KsJ-db/db-mice is apparently linked to a decreased basal permeability for K+ and a failure of the B cells to decrease further this permeability in response to glucose. Functioning B cells are acutely damaged when exposed to heterologous serum or alloxan in vitro; cytotoxic activation of complement by the alternative pathway could perhaps occur during islet inflammation. Protection experiments with free-radical scavengers in vitro and in vivo support the theory that hydroxyl radicals are instrumental in the production of alloxan diabetes. Rapid reduction of alloxan by thioredoxin in the presence of molecular oxygen and NADPH leads to strong chemiluminescence from luminol indicative of an intense radical protection. The sensitivity of B cells to alloxan may be due to physiological specializations of their plasma membranes, involving the highly effective glucose carrier or the hypothetical oxidation/reduction systems or both.

Proinsulin biosynthesis by pancreatic islets of the rat and the study of alloxan cytotoxicity in vitro

Incorporation of L-[4,5-3H] leucine into proinsulin plus insulin by isolated pancreatic islets was shown to be severely inhibited by previous brief exposure to 1.25 mM alloxan, but incorporation into other islet proteins was not affected. The system proved valuable for the study of the prevention of alloxan cytotoxicity by various carbohydrates and carbohydrate derivatives. D-glucose, 3-O-methyl-D-glucose, D-mannose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose effectively prevented the injury by alloxan. D-Mannoheptulose, D-glucosamine, 1-thio-beta-D-glucose, 5-thio-D-glucose, 2,6-deoxy-D-glucose, D-glyceraldehyde, and dihydroxyacetone had either insignificant or no protective effect.