Synthesis of thioswainsonine as a potential glycosidase inhibitor

Galacto configured N-aminoaziridines: a new type of irreversible inhibitor of β-galactosidases

N-Aminoaziridines are potent irreversible inhibitors of galactosidases.

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: an update for the period 2005-2006

This review is the fourth update of the original review, 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 2006. The review covers fundamental studies, fragmentation of carbohydrate ions, method developments, and applications of the technique to the analysis of different types of carbohydrate. Specific compound classes that are covered include carbohydrate polymers from plants, N- and O-linked glycans from glycoproteins, glycated proteins, glycolipids from bacteria, glycosides, and various other natural products. There is a short section on the use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the study of enzymes involved in glycan processing, a section on industrial processes, particularly the development of biopharmaceuticals and a section on the use of MALDI-MS to monitor products of chemical synthesis of carbohydrates. Large carbohydrate-protein complexes and glycodendrimers are highlighted in this final section.

Zwitterionic glycosidase inhibitors: salacinol and related analogues

Natural products with interesting biological properties and structural diversity have often served as valuable lead drug candidates for the treatment of human diseases. Salacinol, a naturally occurring alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, was shown to be one of the active principles of the aqueous extract of a medicinal plant that has been prescribed traditionally as an Ayurvedic treatment for type II diabetes. Salacinol contains an intriguing zwitterionic sulfonium-sulfate structure that comprises a 1,4-anhydro-4-thio-D-arabinitol core and a polyhydroxylated acyclic chain. Due to the unique structural features and its potential to become a lead drug candidate in the treatment of type II diabetes, a great deal of attention has been focused on salacinol and its analogues. Since the isolation of salacinol, several papers describing various synthetic routes to salacinol and its analogues have appeared in the literature. This review is aimed at highlighting the synthetic aspects of salacinol and related compounds as well as their structure-activity relationship studies.

Synthesis of S-alkylated sulfonium-ions and their glucosidase inhibitory activities against recombinant human maltase glucoamylase

The syntheses of nine S-alkylated, cyclic sulfonium-ions with varying alkyl chain lengths, as mimics of N-alkylated imino sugars, and their glucosidase inhibitory activities are described. The target compounds were synthesized by alkylation of 2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-1,4-anhydro-4-thio-d-arabinitol at the ring sulfur atom using various alkyl halides, followed by deprotection using boron trichloride. Enzyme inhibitory assays against recombinant human maltase glucoamylase (MGA), a critical enzyme in the small intestine involved in the breakdown of glucose oligosaccharides into glucose itself, shows that they are effective inhibitors of MGA with K(i) values ranging from 6 to 75 microM.

A peptide with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory activity from the medicinal mushroom Russula paludosa

Hot water extracts of 16 species of mushrooms, including both edible and medicinal mushrooms, were screened for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitory activity. Extracts of Lactarius camphoratus, Trametes suaveolens, Sparassis crispa, Pleurotus sajor-caju, Pleurotus pulmonarius, and Russula paludosa elicited over 50% inhibition when tested at the concentration of 1 mg/ml. The extract of R. paludosa demonstrated the highest inhibitory activity on HIV-1 RT (97.6%). Fraction SU2, purified from R. paludosa extract by anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Superdex 75, exhibited potent inhibitory activity on HIV-1 RT. At the concentrations of 1 mg/ml, 0.2 mg/ml, and 0.04 mg/ml, the inhibition ratios were 99.2%, 89.3%, and 41.8%, respectively, giving an IC50 of 11 microM. The molecular mass of SU2 was 4.5 kDa and its N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined to be KREHGQHCEF. The peptide was devoid of hemagglutinating, ribonuclease, antifungal, protease, protease inhibitory, and laccase activities.