β-Mannosidase and β-hexosaminidase inhibitors: synthesis of 1,2-bis-epi-valienamine and 1-epi-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-valienamine from d-mannose

Synthesis of C7/C8-cyclitols and C7N-aminocyclitols from maltose and X-ray crystal structure of Streptomyces coelicolor GlgEI V279S in a complex with an amylostatin GXG–like derivative

C₇/C₈-cyclitols and C₇N-aminocyclitols find applications in the pharmaceutical sector as α-glucosidase inhibitors and in the agricultural sector as fungicides and insecticides. In this study, we identified C₇/C₈-cyclitols and C₇N-aminocyclitols as potential inhibitors of Streptomyces coelicolor (Sco) GlgEI-V279S based on the docking scores. The protein and the ligand (targets 11, 12, and 13) were prepared, the states were generated at pH 7.0 ± 2.0, and the ligands were docked into the active sites of the receptor via Glide™. The synthetic route to these targets was similar to our previously reported route used to obtain 4-⍺-glucoside of valienamine (AGV), except the protecting group for target 12 was a p-bromobenzyl (PBB) ether to preserve the alkene upon deprotection. While compounds 11–13 did not inhibit Sco GlgEI-V279S at the concentrations evaluated, an X-ray crystal structure of the Sco GlgE1-V279S/13 complex was solved to a resolution of 2.73 Å. This structure allowed assessment differences and commonality with our previously reported inhibitors and was useful for identifying enzyme–compound interactions that may be important for future inhibitor development. The Asp 394 nucleophile formed a bidentate hydrogen bond interaction with the exocyclic oxygen atoms (C(3)-OH and C(7)-OH) similar to the observed interactions with the Sco GlgEI-V279S in a complex with AGV (PDB:7MGY). In addition, the data suggest replacing the cyclohexyl group with more isosteric and hydrogen bond–donating groups to increase binding interactions in the + 1 binding site.

Carbohydrate-Processing Enzymes of the Lysosome: Diseases Caused by Misfolded Mutants and Sugar Mimetics as Correcting Pharmacological Chaperones

Lysosomal storage diseases are hereditary disorders caused by mutations on genes encoding for one of the more than fifty lysosomal enzymes involved in the highly ordered degradation cascades of glycans, glycoconjugates, and other complex biomolecules in the lysosome. Several of these metabolic disorders are associated with the absence or the lack of activity of carbohydrate-processing enzymes in this cell compartment. In a recently introduced therapy concept, for susceptible mutants, small substrate-related molecules (so-called pharmacological chaperones), such as reversible inhibitors of these enzymes, may serve as templates for the correct folding and transport of the respective protein mutant, thus improving its concentration and, consequently, its enzymatic activity in the lysosome. Carbohydrate-processing enzymes in the lysosome, related lysosomal diseases, and the scope and limitations of reported reversible inhibitors as pharmacological chaperones are discussed with a view to possibly extending and improving research efforts in this area of orphan diseases.

Biosynthesis and Biological Activity of Carbasugars

The first synthesis of carbasugars, compounds in which the ring oxygen of a monosaccharide had been replaced by a methylene moiety, was described in 1966 by Professor G. E. McCasland’s group. Seven years later, the first true natural carbasugar (5a-carba-R-D-galactopyranose) was isolated from a fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. MA-4145. In the following decades, the chemistry and biology of carbasugars have been extensively studied. Most of these compounds show interesting biological properties, especially enzymatic inhibitory activities, and, in consequence, an important number of analogues have also been prepared in the search for improved biological activities. The aim of this review is to give coverage on the progress made in two important aspects of these compounds: the elucidation of their biosynthesis and the consideration of their biological properties, including the extensively studied carbapyranoses as well as the much less studied carbafuranoses.

2-Vinyl Threoninol Derivatives via Acid-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution of Bisimidates

A diastereoselective synthesis of 4-vinyl oxazolines syn-2 was developed based on an acid-catalyzed cyclization of bistrichloroacetimidates (E)-1. The reaction likely involves an allyl carbenium ion intermediate in which the adjacent stereocenter directs the stereoselectivity for C-N bond formation. Oxazolines syn-2 were transformed to C-quaternary threoninol, threoninal, and threonine derivatives which can be further incorporated into complex natural compounds.

Short synthesis of a benzyl ether-protected building block for the synthesis of carbocyclic galactopyranose mimics

A versatile intermediate for the synthesis of galactose-mimicking carbasugars was synthesised from tetrabenzyl galactose in five steps and 30% overall yield. The reaction sequence uses an L-proline-mediated aldol reaction as key step. The reaction sequence was run on several grams of material.