De novo synthesis of the enantiomers Ins(1,2,3,4)P4 and Ins(1,2,3,6)P4—regiospecificity of their enzymatic dephosphorylation

Preparation of pure lower-order myo-Inositol phosphates on laboratory scale for physiological and enzymatic studies

A simple method for the preparative production of lower-order myo-inositol phosphates was developed. Enzymatic phytate dephosphorylation was applied, because phytate-degrading enzymes generate usually predominantly one single myo-inositol phosphate isomer with five, four, three, two and one phosphate residue(s) bound to the myo-inositol ring in a regio- and stereoselective manner. The relative concentrations of the different lower-order myo-inositol phosphates in the reaction mixture were controlled by adjusting incubation time at 37 °C and a fixed phytate concentration and phytase activity. Purification of the individual lower-order myo-inositol phosphates was realized by anion-exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose using a stepwise elution with ammonium formate:formic acid pH 2.5. Ethanol precipitation was successfully used to concentrate the pure lower-order myo-inositol phosphates. In a single approach 2-3 mg of pure myo-inositol tetrakis- or -trisphosphate isomers were obtained. About 60% of the initially applied phytate were converted into pure lower-order myo-inositol phosphates. The purified myo-inositol phosphate isomers were virtually free of other myo-inositol phosphate esters and could be used for enzymatic and physiological studies.

Stereospecific Synthesis of 1,4-di-O-methyl-myo-inositol (liriodendritol)

1,4-di- O-methyl- myo-inositol, a natural product, was synthesised starting from p-benzoquinone. The treatment of 5,6-dibromocyclohex-2-ene-1,4-diol with Na/ROH-system afforded a C2-symmetric conduritol-B derivative key intermediate followed by acetylation. The OsO4 oxidation and followed by acetylation gave the tetraacetates. The hydrolysis of the acetate groups furnished the desired the myo-inositol derivatives in high yield.

Catalytic Enantioselective Conversion of Epoxides to Thiiranes

A highly efficient and enantioselective Brønsted acid catalyzed conversion of epoxides to thiiranes has been developed. The reaction proceeds in a kinetic resolution, furnishing both epoxide and thiirane in high yields and enantiomeric purity. Heterodimer formation between the catalyst and sulfur donor affords an effective way to prevent catalyst decomposition and enables catalyst loadings as low as 0.01 mol %.

Production of partially phosphorylated myo-inositol phosphates using phytases immobilised on magnetic nanoparticles

Phytases of different origin were covalently bound onto Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (12 nm). Binding efficiencies of all three phytases were well above 70% relative to the number of aldehyde groups available on the surface of the magnetic nanoparticles. Temperature stability for all three phytases was enhanced as a consequence of immobilisation, whereas pH dependence of enzyme activity was not affected. Maximum catalytic activity of the immobilised phytases was found at 60°C (rye), 65°C (Aspergillus niger) and 70°C (Escherichia albertii). The immobilised enzymes exhibited the same excellent substrate specificities and unique myo-inositol phosphate phosphatase activities as their soluble counterparts. However, the catalytic turnover number dropped drastically for the immobilised phytases. The amount of the desired partially phosphorylated myo-inositol phosphate isomer could be easily controlled by the contact time of substrate solution and immobilised enzymes. The immobilised phytases showed a high operational stability by retaining almost full activity even after fifty uses.

De novo synthesis and lectin binding studies of unsaturated carba-pyranoses

Starting from branched para-benzoquinones a practical and highly flexible route is described for the preparation of unsaturated carbapyranoses. The potential of the synthesized galactose analogues to act as competitive inhibitors in lectin-carbohydrate interactions is investigated by means of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Spectroscopy.

Lewis Acid Mediated Regioselective Ring Opening of Benzylglycidol with Dibenzyl Phosphate: Short and Attractive Synthesis of Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate

A novel, mild, and efficient method was described to introduce a dibenzyl phosphate by ring opening of benzylglycidol mediated by Lewis acids. This methodology was used as a key step for synthesizing the dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) in only three steps with an overall yield of 74% from the commercially available racemic benzylglycidol.

A concise synthetic route to the conduritols from pentoses

A short synthetic strategy for preparation of the conduritols is described. The key step employs a zinc-mediated fragmentation of protected methyl 5-deoxy-5-iodo-d-pentofuranosides followed by an allylation of the intermediate aldehyde in the same pot. The allylation is performed with 3-bromopropenyl benzoate and occurs with good diastereoselectivity. An amino group can be introduced in the product by trapping the intermediate aldehyde as the imine prior to the allylation. The functionalised 1,7-octadienes, thus obtained, are converted into protected conduritols by ring-closing olefin metathesis.

Stereo- and regiospecificity of yeast phytases-chemical synthesis and enzymatic conversion of the substrate analogues neo- and L-chiro-inositol hexakisphosphate

Phytases are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphate esters in myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (phytic acid). The precise routes of enzymatic dephosphorylation by phytases of the yeast strains Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia rhodanensis have been investigated up to the myo-inositol trisphosphate level, including the absolute configuration of the intermediates. Stereoselective assignment of the myo-inositol pentakisphosphates (D-myo-inositol 1,2,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate and D-myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5-pentakisphosphate) generated was accomplished by a new method based on enantiospecific enzymatic conversion and HPLC analysis. Via conduritol B or E derivatives the total syntheses of two epimers of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate, neo-inositol hexakisphosphate and L-chiro-inositol hexakisphosphate were performed to examine the specificity of the yeast phytases with these substrate analogues. A comparison of kinetic data and the degradation pathways determined gave the first hints about the molecular recognition of inositol hexakisphosphates by the enzymes. Exploitation of the high stereo- and regiospecificity observed in the dephosphorylation of neo- and L-chiro-inositol hexakisphosphate made it possible to establish enzyme-assisted steps for the synthesis of D-neo-inositol 1,2,5,6-tetrakisphosphate, L-chiro-inositol 1,2,3,5,6-pentakisphosphate and L-chiro-inositol 1,2,3,6-tetrakisphosphate.

Divergent syntheses of all possible optically active regioisomers of myo-inositol tris- and tetrakisphosphates

Since the discovery of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, which plays a pivotal role as a second messenger in transmembrane signaling, the scope of the phosphoinositide-based signaling processes has been continually expanding. However, the clear understanding of the molecular signal transduction mechanisms including the functions of newly found IP(n) is still lacking. As a continuing effort to our previously reported syntheses of all possible 39 optically inactive regioisomers of myo-inositol phosphates (IP(n); n = 1-6), we synthesized all possible optically active regioisomers of myo-IP(3) and myo-IP(4) using chiral IBz(3)s and IBz(2)s, respectively. A series of procedures involving CRL-catalyzed enzymatic resolution of racemic 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-myo-inositol and base-catalyzed benzoyl migration in tri- and dibenzoyl-isopropylidene-myo-inositol afforded eight enantiomeric pairs of IBz(3) and six enantiomeric pairs of IBz(2), respectively. Phosphorylation of these intermediates by the phosphitylation and oxidation procedure gave the target products.

Regiospecific phosphohydrolases from Dictyostelium as tools for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of the enantiomers D-myo-inositol 1,2,4-trisphosphate and D-myo-inositol 2,3,6-trisphosphate: non-physiological, potential analogues of biologically active D-myo-inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate

A new de novo synthesis of the enantiomeric pair D-myo-inositol 1,2,4-trisphosphate and D-myo-inositol 2,3,6-trisphosphate is described. Starting from enantiopure dibromocyclohexenediol, several C2 symmetrical building blocks were synthesized which gave access to D-myo-inositol 1,2,4,5-tetrakisphosphate and D-myo-inositol 1,2,3,6-tetrakisphosphate. Exploiting the high regiospecificity of two partially purified phosphohydrolases from Dictyostelium, a 5-phosphatase and a phytase, the inositol tetrakisphosphates were converted enzymatically to the target compounds. Their potential to modulate the activity of Ins3,4,5,6P4 1-kinase was investigated and compared with the effects of D-myo-inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate.

AAA in KAT/DYKAT processes: first- and second-generation asymmetric syntheses of (+)- and (-)-cyclophellitol

Kinetic resolutions and kinetic asymmetric transformations (KAT) as well as dynamic kinetic resolutions and dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformations (DYKAT) are important synthetic protocols. The feasibility of KAT and DYKAT processes for asymmetric allylic alkylations (AAA) is explored utilizing a single substrate--conduritol B tetraesters. Both processes can be performed resulting in excellent enantioselectivity. The impact of nucleophile and leaving group on the effectiveness of each is outlined. The ability to differentiate the various hydroxyl groups is also described. For this purpose, 4-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-2,2-dimethylbutyric acid was developed as a nucleophile. The utility of effecting KAT/DYKAT processes through the Pd-catalyzed AAA reaction is demonstrated by efficient syntheses of both enantiomers of the potent glycosidase inhibitor cyclophellitol.

Asymmetric Induction of Conduritols via AAA Reactions: Synthesis of the Aminocyclohexitol of Hygromycin A

Two synthetic routes towards the construction of the aminocyclohexitol moiety of hygromycin A have been developed based on palladium-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of conduritol derivatives. A protocol has been established whereby this biologically relevant molecule is formed from benzoquinone. A conduritol A derivative is synthesized in eight steps from benzoquinone and is then subjected to the palladium reaction. From this flexible intermediate, four epimers of the aminocyclitol, including the natural one, can be obtained with complete stereoselectivity. Racemic conduritol B derivatives are available in four steps from benzoquinone, and these are then made enantiomerically pure by a palladium-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution. From the chiral conduritol B, the aminocyclitol is available in six steps. Excellent levels of enantio- and diastereoselectivity highlight these strategies.