A reinvestigation towards the conformation of methyl alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside by a combined ROE and molecular dynamics analysis

Conformational analysis of alpha-D-Man p-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Man p1-OMe, by a combination of extensive molecular dynamics calculations in water and ROE buildup series, afforded two main minima, namely, phi/psi = 95/-178 and phi/psi = 140/-185. Transitions between these minima are observed, which have not previously been demonstrated using other approaches. In contrast to literature data for the glycosidic linkage, describing equal populations of both the gg and the gt rotamers, it was found that the gg conformer is present to ca. 96%. The non-reducing mannosyl unit showed approximately a 1:1 ratio for the gg:gt equilibrium, in accordance with earlier reports.

Substrate specificity of small-intestinal lactase. Assessment of the role of the substrate hydroxyl groups

Lactase-phlorizin hydrolase is a disaccharidase present in the small intestine of mammals. This enzyme has two active sites, one being responsible for the hydrolysis of lactose. Lactase activity is thought to be selective towards glycosides with a hydrophilic aglycon. In this work, we report a systematic study on the importance of each hydroxyl group in the substrate molecule for lactase activity. For this purpose, all of the monodeoxy derivatives of methyl beta-lactoside and other lactose analogues are studied as lactase substrates. With respect to the galactose moiety, it is shown here that HO-3' and HO-2' are necessary for hydrolysis of the substrates by lactase. Using these chemically modified substrates, it has been confirmed that lactase does not behave as a typical beta-galactosidase, since it does not show an absolute selectivity with respect to substitution and stereochemistry at C4' in the galactose moiety of the substrate. However, the glucose moiety, in particular the HO-6, appears to be important for substrate hydrolysis, although none of the hydroxyl groups seemed to be essential. In order to differentiate both activities of the enzyme, a new assay for the phlorizin-hydrolase activity has also been developed.

Studies of the molecular recognition of synthetic methyl beta-lactoside analogues by Ricinus communis agglutinin

The 2-, 3-, 6-, 2'-, 3'-, 4'-, and 6'-deoxy derivatives and the 3-O-methyl derivative of methyl beta-lactoside have been synthesised and their binding to the galactose-specific agglutinin from Ricinus communis (RCA-120) has been investigated. The results indicate that HO-3,4,6 of the beta-D-galactopyranose moiety are the key polar groups. The main difference from the closely related ricin lectin RCA-60 involves HO-6 of the D-glucopyranose moiety, which seems to contribute to the binding of the carbohydrate to RCA-60 but not to RCA-120.

4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-D-xylose: a new synthesis and application to the evaluation of intestinal lactase

4-O-beta-D-Galactopyranosyl-D-xylose (2) was prepared from benzyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-xylopyranoside by glycosylation with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide and subsequent deprotection. Compound 2 was hydrolyzed in vitro by intestinal lactase; the Vmax was 25% of that with lactose and the Km was 370mM (cf. 27mM for lactose). Oral administration of 2 suckling rats led to urinary excretion of D-xylose which could be estimated colorimetrically.

N.m.r. studies of the conformation of analogues of methyl beta-lactoside in methyl sulfoxide-d6

The 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectra of solutions of methyl beta-lactoside (1), all of its monodeoxy derivatives (2, 3, 6-10), the 3-O-methyl derivative (4), and methyl 4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-D-xylopyranoside (5) in methyl sulfoxide-d6 have been analysed. The n.O.e.'s and specific desheildings indicate similar distributions of low-energy conformers, comparable to those in aqueous solution. The major conformer has torsion angles phi H and psi H of 49 degrees and 5 degrees, respectively, with contributions of conformers with phi/psi 24 degrees/-59 degrees, 22 degrees/32 degrees, and 6 degrees/44 degrees.

The conformation of 1,6-anhydrolactose and its hexa-acetate in solution

The conformation of 1,6-anhydrolactoase (1) has been investigated by n.m.r. spectroscopy and molecular mechanics calculations. For a solution in D2O, the 1,6-anhydroglucopyranoid ring has a 1C4 conformation, whereas there is a approximately 1:1 equilibrium between the 1C4 and the BO,3 conformations in (CD3)2SO. There is restricted flexibility with phi -80 +/- 20 degrees and psi -120 +/- 40 degrees. The hexa-acetate (2) of 1 shows a similar conformational behaviour.

Studies on the molecular recognition of synthetic methyl beta-lactoside analogs by ricin, a cytotoxic plant lectin

The binding of methyl beta-lactoside and of all possible monodeoxy derivatives of methyl beta-lactoside to the galactose-specific highly cytotoxin lectin ricin, has been investigated. The distribution of low-energy conformers of the disaccharide structures has been first determined using molecular-mechanics calculations and high-resolution NMR spectroscopy. The nuclear Overhauser enhancements and specific deshieldings observed are in agreement with a similar distribution of low-energy conformers for all studied compounds which may be described by a major conformer defined by phi (H1'-C1'-O1'-C4) and psi (C1'-O1'-C4-H4) torsion angles of 49 degrees and 5 degrees, respectively, with contribution of conformers with angles phi/psi 24 degrees/-59 degrees, 22 degrees/-32 degrees and 6 degrees/-44 degrees. Assuming that the disaccharides bind to the lectin in these preferred conformations, the apparent dissociation constants for the ricin-disaccharide complexes have been interpreted in terms of specific polar and nonpolar interactions. In agreement with X-ray data, the hydroxyl groups at positions 3, 4 and 6 of the beta-D-galactopyranose moiety appear as key polar groups in the interaction with ricin. These results are in contrast to previous results which have established that position 6 is not involved in lectin binding. An important nonpolar interaction involving position 3 of the beta-D-glucopyranose moiety, seems to be operative. The distribution of low-energy conformers of these disaccharide structures permits this interaction to take place with the hydroxyl group at this position intramolecularly bonded, thus rendering this region of the molecule more lipophylic in character for acceptance into nonpolar regions of the combining site.