Investigation of Nonspecific Effects of Different Dyes in the Screening of Labeled Carbohydrates against Immobilized Proteins

Design, Synthesis, and Bioactivity Evaluation of a TF-Based Cancer Vaccine Candidate Using Lipid A Mimetics As a Built-In Adjuvant

This study describes the design and synthesis of five TF-based cancer vaccine candidates using a lipid A mimetic as the carrier and a built-in adjuvant. All synthesized conjugates elicited robust and consistent TF-specific immune responses in mice without external adjuvants. Immunological studies subsequently conducted in wild-type and TLR4 knockout C57BL/6 mice demonstrated that the activation of TLR4 was the main reason that the synthesized lipid A mimetics increased the TF-specific immune responses. All antisera induced by these conjugates can specifically recognize, bind to, and induce the lysis of TF-positive cancer cells. Moreover, representative conjugates 2 and 3 could effectively reduce the growth of tumors and prolong the survival time of mice in vivo, and the efficacies were better than glycoprotein TF-CRM197 with alum adjuvant. Lipid A mimetics could therefore be a promising platform for the development of new carbohydrate-based vaccine carriers with self-adjuvanting properties for the treatment of cancer.

Improving Anti-HIV activity and pharmacokinetics of enfuvirtide (T20) by modification with oligomannose

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in controlling HIV-1 infections of CD4+ T cells. DC-SIGN, which is expressed on the surface of DCs, efficiently captures HIV-1 virions by binding to the highly mannosylated membrane protein, gp120, and then the DCs transport the virus to target T cells in lymphoid organs. This study explored the modification of T20, a peptide inhibitor of HIV-1 fusion, by conjugation of the N-terminus with varying sizes of oligomannose, which are DC-SIGN-specific carbohydrates, aiming to create dual-targeting HIV inhibitors. Mechanistic studies indicated the dual-target binding of the conjugates. Antiviral assays demonstrated that N-terminal mannosylation of T20 resulted in increased inhibition of the viral infection of TZM-b1 cells (EC50 = 0.3-0.8 vs. 1.4 nM). Pentamannosylated T20 (M5-T20) exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on virus entry into DC-SIGN+ 293T cells compared with T20 (67% vs. 50% inhibition at 500 μM). M5-T20 displayed an extended half-life in rats relative to T20 (T1/2: 8.56 vs. 1.64 h, respectively). These conjugates represent a potential new treatment for HIV infections with improved antiviral activity and pharmacokinetics, and this strategy may prove useful in developing dual-target inhibitors for other pathogens that require DC-SIGN involvement for infection.

Glycan-Modified Peptides for Dual Inhibition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Entry into Dendritic Cells and T Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in HIV-1 infection of CD4+ T cells. DC-SIGN, a lectin expressed on the surface of DCs, binds to the highly mannosylated viral membrane protein gp120 to capture HIV-1 virions and then transport them to target T cells. In this study, we modified peptide C34, an HIV-1 fusion inhibitor, at different sites using different sizes of the DC-SIGN-specific carbohydrates to provide dual-targeted HIV inhibition. The dual-target binding was confirmed by mechanistic studies. Pentamannose-modified C34 inhibited virus entry into both DC-SIGN+ 293T cells (52%-71% inhibition at 500 μM) and CD4+ TZM-b1 cells (EC50 = 0.7-1.7 nM). One conjugate, NC-M5, showed an extended half-life relative to C34 in rats (T1/2: 7.8 vs 1.02 h). These improvements in antiviral activity and pharmacokinetics have potential for HIV treatment and the development of dual-target inhibitors for pathogens that require the involvement of DC-SIGN for infection.

High-Mannose Oligosaccharide Hemimimetics that Recapitulate the Conformation and Binding Mode to Concanavalin A, DC-SIGN and Langerin

The "carbohydrate chemical mimicry" exhibited by sp2 -iminosugars has been utilized to develop practical syntheses for analogs of the branched high-mannose-type oligosaccharides (HMOs) Man3 and Man5 . In these compounds, the terminal nonreducing Man residues have been substituted with 5,6-oxomethylidenemannonojirimycin (OMJ) motifs. The resulting oligomannoside hemimimetic accurately reproduce the structure, configuration, and conformational behavior of the original mannooligosaccharides, as confirmed by NMR and computational techniques. Binding studies with mannose binding lectins, including concanavalin A, DC-SIGN, and langerin, by enzyme-linked lectin assay and surface plasmon resonance revealed significant variations in their ability to accommodate the OMJ unit in the mannose binding site. Intriguingly, OMJMan segments demonstrated "in line" heteromultivalent effects during binding to the three lectins. Similar to the mannobiose (Man2 ) branches in HMOs, the binding modes involving the external or internal monosaccharide unit at the carbohydrate binding-domain exist in equilibrium, facilitating sliding and recapture processes. This equilibrium, which influences the multivalent binding of HMOs, can be finely modulated upon incorporation of the OMJ sp2 -iminosugar caps. As a proof of concept, the affinity and selectivity towards DC-SIGN and langerin were adjustable by presenting the OMJMan epitope in platforms with diverse architectures and valencies.

Bismuth(iii) triflate as a novel and efficient activator for glycosyl halides

Presented herein is the discovery that bismuth(iii) trifluoromethanesulfonate (Bi(OTf)3) is an effective catalyst for the activation of glycosyl bromides and glycosyl chlorides. The key objective for the development of this methodology is to employ only one promoter in the lowest possible amount and to avoid using any additive/co-catalyst/acid scavenger except molecular sieves. Bi(OTf)3 works well in promoting the glycosidation of differentially protected glucosyl, galactosyl, and mannosyl halides with many classes of glycosyl acceptors. Most reactions complete within 1 h in the presence of only 35% of green and light-stable Bi(OTf)3 catalyst.

Synthesis of Monovalent N-Acetylgalactosamine Phosphoramidite for Liver-Targeting Oligonucleotides

Ligand-targeted drug delivery (LTDD) has emerged as an attractive option in the field of oligonucleotide drugs following the great success of N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-conjugated siRNA and antisense oligonucleotides. GalNAc is a well-known ligand of the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR), and is classified as a C-type lectin associated with the metabolism of desialylated glycoproteins. This article describes the synthesis of a non-nucleosidic monovalent GalNAc phosphoramidite-a useful reagent for facilitating the conjugation of GalNAc epitopes into oligonucleotides using DNA synthesizers-together with some important caveats. The monomeric GalNAc consists of three parts: (1) a GalNAc moiety, (2) a linker moiety, and (3) a trans-4-hydroxyprolinol (tHP) branch point. The GalNAc moiety and the tHP moiety are coupled via a condensation reaction to prepare the monovalent GalNAc phosphoramidite. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Basic Protocol 1: Synthesis of N-acetylgalactosamine ligand Basic Protocol 2: Preparation of trans-4-hydroxyprolinol building block Basic Protocol 3: Preparation of GalNAc phosphoramidite.

Defining the Scope of the Acid-Catalyzed Glycosidation of Glycosyl Bromides

Following the recent discovery that traditional silver(I) oxide-promoted glycosidations of glycosyl bromides (Koenigs-Knorr reaction) can be greatly accelerated in the presence of catalytic TMSOTf, reported herein is a dedicated study of all major aspects of this reaction. A thorough investigation of numerous silver salts and careful refinement of the reaction conditions led to an improved mechanistic understanding. This, in turn, led to a significant reduction in the amount of silver salt required for these glycosylations. The progress of this reaction can be monitored by naked eye, and the completion of the reaction can be judged by the disappearance of characteristic dark color of Ag2 O. Further evidence on higher reactivity of benzoylated α-bromides in comparison to that of their benzylated counterparts has been acquired.

Total Synthesis of the Congested, Bisphosphorylated Morganella morganii Zwitterionic Trisaccharide Repeating Unit

Zwitterionic polysaccharides (ZPSs) activate T-cell-dependent immune responses by major histocompatibility complex class II presentation. Herein, we report the first synthesis of a Morganella morganii ZPS repeating unit as an enabling tool in the synthesis of novel ZPS materials. The repeating unit incorporates a 1,2-cis-α-glycosidic bond; the problematic 1,2-trans-galactosidic bond, Gal-β-(1 → 3)-GalNAc; and phosphoglycerol and phosphocholine residues which have not been previously observed together as functional groups on the same oligosaccharide. The successful third-generation approach leverages a first in class glycosylation of a phosphoglycerol-functionalized acceptor. To install the phosphocholine unit, a highly effective phosphocholine donor was synthesized.

Carbohydrates and BODIPYs: access to bioconjugatable and water-soluble BODIPYs

Fluorescent difluoroboron dipyrromethenes (BODIPYs), have been accessed in a one-pot synthetic operation from phthalides and pyrroles, a process that involves O-ethylation of phthalides with Meerwein’s reagent (Et3OBF4) and reaction of the ensuing tetrafluoroborate salts with pyrrole, followed by treatment with BF3 · OEt2. These derivatives are endowed with a ortho-hydroxymethyl 8-C-aryl group for further derivatization and/or conjugation to, among others, carbohydrates. The new conjugate derivatives benefit from the optimal characteristics of BODIPYs as fluorescent dyes, including in some instances water-solubility (in the case of conjugation to unprotected carbohydrates). The different kinds of BODIPY-carbohydrate derivatives are compounds of potential interest for biological studies.

Investigation of Glycosyl Nitrates as Building Blocks for Chemical Glycosylation

Glycosyl nitrates are important synthetic intermediates in the synthesis of 2-amino sugars, 1,2-orthoesters or, more recently, 2-OH glucose. However, glycosyl nitrates have never been glycosidated. Presented herein is our first attempt to use glycosyl nitrates as glycosyl donors for O-glycosylation. Lanthanide triflates showed good affinity to activate the nitrate leaving group.

Synthesis, characterization, optical and electrochemical properties and antibacterial activity of novel BODIPY glycoconjugated dendrimers

A new class of novel BODIPY glycoconjugated dendrimers with optical, electrochemical and antibacterial properties is reported.

Fluorescent mannosides serve as acceptor substrates for glycosyltransferase and sugar-1-phosphate transferase activities in Euglena gracilis membranes

Synthetic hexynyl α-D-mannopyranoside and its α-1,6-linked disaccharide counterpart were fluorescently labelled through CuAAC click chemistry with 3-azido-7-hydroxycoumarin. The resulting triazolyl-coumarin adducts, which were amenable to analysis by TLC, HPLC and mass spectrometry, proved to be acceptor substrates for α-1,6-ManT activities in mycobacterial membranes, as well as α- and β-GalT activities in trypanosomal membranes, benchmarking the potential of the fluorescent acceptor approach against earlier radiochemical assays. Following on to explore the glycobiology of the benign protozoan alga Euglena gracilis, α-1,3- and α-1,2-ManT activities were detected in membrane preparations, along with GlcT, Glc-P-T and GlcNAc-P-T activities. These studies serve to demonstrate the potential of readily accessible fluorescent glycans as substrates for exploring carbohydrate active enzymes.

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Assays for the analysis of carbohydrate-active enzymes that rely upon fluorescent acceptor substrates are set out.

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New assays are validated by benchmarking against radiochemical work with known glycosyltransferase activities.

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The installation of a fluorophore on acceptor substrates was easily achieved through click chemistry.

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Fluorescence assays are used to discover GTs activities in Euglena gracilis microsomal membranes.

The impact of aminopyrene trisulfonate (APTS) label in acceptor glycan substrates for profiling plant pectin β-galactosyltransferase activities

Aminopyrene trisulfonate (APTS)-labelled disaccharides are demonstrated to serve as readily accessible acceptor substrates for galactosyltransferase activities present in Arabidopsis microsome preparations. The reductive amination procedure used to install the fluorophore results in loss of the ring structure of the reducing terminal sugar unit, such that a single intact sugar ring is present, attached via an alditol tether to the aminopyrene fluorophore. The configuration of the alditol portion of the labelled acceptor, as well as the position of alditol galactosylation, substantially influence the ability of compounds to serve as Arabidopsis galactosyltransferase acceptor substrates. The APTS label exhibits an unexpected reaction-promoting effect that is not evident for structurally similar sulfonated aromatic fluorophores ANDS and ANTS. When APTS-labelled β-(1 → 4)-Gal₃ was employed as an acceptor substrate with Arabidopsis microsomes, glycan extension generated β-(1 → 4)-galactan chains running to beyond 60 galactose residues. These studies demonstrate the potential of even very short glycan-APTS probes for assessing plant galactosyltransferase activities and the suitability CE-LIF for CAZyme profiling.

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APTS-labelled disaccharides serve as acceptor substrates for galactosyltransferases.

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Configuration of the alditol linker and site of glycosylation influence GalT turnover.

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APTS shows a reaction-promoting effect not evident for similar fluorophores.

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β-(1 → 4)-Gal₃-APTS acceptor supports enzymatic extension to > 60 galactose residues

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Demonstrates the potential of glycan-APTS probes with CE-LIF for CAZyme profiling.

O-Benzoxazolyl imidates as versatile glycosyl donors for chemical glycosylation

Herein, we report a new class of glycosyl donors, benzoxazolyl imidates, for chemical glycosylation. The O-benzoxazolyl (OBox) leaving group was designed with an aim to compare the relative reactivity and stability of similarly structured S-benzoxazolyl (SBox) glycosides (thioimidates) developed in our lab and glycosyl trichloroacetimidates (TCAI, O-imidates) developed by Schmidt. Novel OBox donors can be activated under catalytic conditions and provided excellent yields in glycosylation. The OBox imidates were found to be more reactive than either SBox or TCAI donors. The high reactivity profile was confirmed in direct competitive experiments and was found beneficial for HPLC-assisted solid-phase synthesis.

Water-soluble photoluminescent d-mannose and l-alanine functionalized silicon nanocrystals and their application to cancer cell imaging

Mannose and alanine functionalized SiNPs have been synthesized, and these particles were evaluated as luminescent agents for imaging MCF-7 cells.

Silica nanoparticles for cell imaging and intracellular sensing

There is increasing interest in the use of nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical applications. In particular, nanobiophotonic approaches using fluorescence offers the potential of high sensitivity and selectivity in applications such as cell imaging and intracellular sensing. In this review, we focus primarily on the use of fluorescent silica NPs for these applications and, in so doing, aim to enhance and complement the key recent review articles on these topics. We summarize the main synthetic approaches, namely the Stöber and microemulsion processes, and, in this context, we deal with issues in relation to both covalent and physical incorporation of different types of dyes in the particles. The important issue of NP functionalization for conjugation to biomolecules is discussed and strategies published in the recent literature are highlighted and evaluated. We cite recent examples of the use of fluorescent silica NPs for cell imaging in the areas of cancer, stem cell and infectious disease research, and we review the current literature on the use of silica NPs for intracellular sensing of oxygen, pH and ionic species. We include a short final section which seeks to identify the main challenges and obstacles in relation to the potential widespread use of these particles for in vivo diagnostics and therapeutics.

Effective targeted gene delivery to dendritic cells via synergetic interaction of mannosylated lipid with DOPE and BCAT

The efficient delivery of plasmids encoding antigenic determinants into dendritic cells (DCs) that control immune response is a promising strategy for rapid development of new vaccines. In this study, we prepared a series of targeted cationic lipoplex based on two synthetic lipid components, mannose-poly(ethylene glycol, MW3000)-1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (Mannose-PEG3000-DSPE) and O-(2R-1,2-di-O-(1'Z-octadecenyl)-glycerol)-3-N-(bis-2-aminoethyl)-carbamate (BCAT), that were formulated with 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) for evaluation as nonviral vectors for transgene expression in DCs. First, we optimized the N/P ratio for maximum transfection and then screened the effects of mannose targeting for further enhancement of transfection levels. Our results indicate that efficient delivery of gWIZ GFP plasmid into DCs was observed for mannose compositions of ∼10%, whereas low transfection efficiencies were observed with nontargeted formulations. Mannose-targeted lipofectamine complexes also showed high GFP expression levels in DCs relative to nontargeted lipofectamine controls. The best transfection performance was observed using 10 mol % Mannose-PEG3000-DSPE, 60 mol % BCAT, and 30 mol % DOPE, indicating that the most efficient delivery into DCs occurs via synergistic interaction between mannose targeting and acid-labile, fusogenic BCAT/DOPE formulations. Our data suggest that mannose-PEG3000-DSPE/BCAT/DOPE formulations may be effective gene delivery vehicles for the development of DC-based vaccines.

Studies on the synthesis and the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of a novel class of fluorescein-based glycosides

Facile glycosylation of a fluorescein diol derivative with per-O-acetyl/benzoyl sugar derivatives using BF(3)·Et(2)O catalyst resulted in the formation of the expected glycosides in 54-66% yield. The biological screening of the glycosides against different microbes shows good inhibitory activity. The antioxidant activity of the fluorescein-based glycosides shows remarkable inhibition (IC(50) ∼80%).

Synthesis of glycoconjugate fragments of mycobacterial phosphatidylinositol mannosides and lipomannan

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causitive agent of tuberculosis (TB), possesses a complex cell wall containing mannose-rich glycophospholids termed phosphatidylinositol mannosides (PIMs), lipomannan (LM), and lipoarabinomannan (LAM). These glycophospholipids play important roles in cell wall function and host–pathogen interactions. Synthetic PIM/LM/LAM substructures are useful biochemical tools to delineate and dissect the fine details of mannose glycophospholipid biosynthesis and their interactions with host cells. We report the efficient synthesis of a series of azidooctyl di- and trimannosides possessing the following glycan structures: α-Man-1,6-α-Man, α-Man-1,6-α-Man-1,6-α-Man, α-Man-1,2-α-Man-1,6-α-Man and 2,6-di-(α-Man)-α-Man. The synthesis includes the use of non-benzyl protecting groups compatible with the azido group and preparation of the branched trisaccharide structure 2,6-di-(α-Man)-α-Man through a double glycosylation of a 3,4-butanediacetal-protected mannoside. The azidooctyl groups of these synthetic mannans were elaborated to fluorescent glycoconjugates and squaric ester derivatives useful for further conjugation studies.

2,6-Disubstituted benzoates as neighboring groups for enhanced diastereoselectivity in beta-galactosylation reactions: synthesis of beta-1,3-linked oligogalactosides related to arabinogalactan proteins

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are plant glycoproteins which contain a beta-1,3-linked galactan core. The synthesis of the beta-galactopyranose-1,3-beta-galactopyranose linkage using various 2-O-acyl-protected glycosyl donors has been plagued with poor stereoselectivity and side reactions including orthoester formation and transesterification of the 2-O-acyl group from the donor to the acceptor. We have investigated the use of 2,6-disubstituted benzoyl groups as bulky neighboring groups on the glycosyl donor. A 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl group was found to be optimal and enabled the formation of the beta-galactopyranose-1,3-beta-galactopyranose linkage to disarmed ester-protected acceptors, suppressing transesterification and reducing orthoester formation while enhancing the beta-selectivity of galactosylation reactions. A series of beta-1,3-linked oligogalactosides were prepared and elaborated to neoglycoconjugates for the study of AGP biosynthesis and AGP binding proteins.

Direct formation of beta-glycosides of N-acetyl glycosamines mediated by rare earth metal triflates

A direct, mild and efficient protocol for the preparation of beta-glycosides of N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) and N-acetyl galactosamine (GalNAc) has been developed using peracetylated beta-GlcNAc and beta-GalNAc as donors. All rare Earth metal triflate promoters screened were found to promote glycosylation with Sc(OTf)(3) being superior in terms of reaction rate. Simple alcohol glycosylation was found to proceed smoothly in refluxing dichloromethane, whereas higher temperatures under microwave conditions were needed to attain acceptable yields with less reactive, carbohydrate based glycosyl acceptors. The protocol developed was applied to provide the first example of direct chemical formation of a disaccharide using both GlcNAc as a glycosyl donor and acceptor. The alpha-acetate donor was found to be significantly less reactive than the corresponding beta-anomer necessitating higher reaction temperatures under which glycoside anomerisation was found to occur. It was established, that the anomerisation only took place in the presence of both Sc(OTf)(3) and acetic acid.

Synthesis, Decoding, and Preliminary Screening of a Bead-Supported Split-Pool Library of Triboronic Acid Receptors for Complex Oligosaccharides

A controlled synthesis of a prototypic bead-supported combinatorial library of 289 triamine-derived triboronic acid receptors for oligosaccharides was achieved using the split-pool strategy with bead encoding using the method of partial termination synthesis. Although a preliminary screening of the library against the Lewis-b tetrasaccharide in neutral water failed to show tight-binding receptors, single beads from the library can be decoded efficiently using high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray mass spectrometric detection. This proof-of-concept could become generally applicable with the help of improved glycoside-binding boronic acid units.