A new class of glucosidase inhibitor: analogues of the naturally occurring glucosidase inhibitor salacinol with different ring heteroatom substituents and acyclic chain extension

Six chain-extended analogues of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor salacinol, with ring-heteroatom variation, were synthesized for structure-activity studies with different glycosidase enzymes. The syntheses involved the reaction of PMB-protected D- and L- seleno-, thio-, and iminoarabinitol with a benzylidene- and isopropylidene-protected 1,3-cyclic sulfate, derived from commercially available D-sorbitol, in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol containing potassium carbonate. Deprotection of the products afforded the novel selenonium, sulfonium, and iminium analogues of salacinol containing polyhydroxylated, monosulfated, extended acyclic chains of 6-carbons, differing in stereochemistry at the stereogenic centers and ring-heteroatom constitution. Four of these compounds inhibit recombinant human maltase glucoamylase, one of the key intestinal enzymes involved in the breakdown of glucose oligosaccharides in the small intestine, with Ki values in the micromolar range, thus providing lead candidates for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.     

New synthetic routes to chain-extended selenium, sulfur, and nitrogen analogues of the naturally occurring glucosidase inhibitor salacinol and their inhibitory activities against recombinant human maltase glucoamylase

Six heteroanalogues (X = S, Se, NH) of the naturally occurring glucosidase inhibitor salacinol, containing polyhydroxylated, acyclic chains of 6-carbons, were synthesized for structure-activity studies with different glycosidase enzymes. The target zwitterionic compounds were synthesized by means of nucleophilic attack of the PMB-protected 1,4-anhydro-4-seleno-, 1,4-anhydro-4-thio-, and 1,4-anhydro-4-imino-D-arabinitols at the least hindered carbon atom of 1,3-cyclic sulfates. These 1,3-cyclic sulfates were derived from D-glucose and D-galactose, and significantly, they utilized butane diacetal as the protecting groups for the trans 2,3-diequatorial positions. Deprotection of the coupled products proceeded smoothly, unlike in previous attempts with different protecting groups, and afforded the target selenonium, sulfonium, and ammonium sulfates with different stereochemistry at the stereogenic centers. The four new heterosubstituted compounds (X = Se, NH) inhibited recombinant human maltase glucoamylase (MGA), one of the key intestinal enzymes involved in the breakdown of glucose oligosaccharides in the small intestine. The two selenium derivatives each had Ki values of 0.10 microM, giving the most active compounds to date in this general series of zwitterionic glycosidase inhibitors. The two nitrogen compounds also inhibited MGA but were less active, with Ki values of 0.8 and 35 microM. The compounds in which X = S showed Ki values of 0.25 and 0.17 microM. Comparison of these data with those reported previously for related compounds reinforces the requirements for an effective inhibitor of MGA. With respect to chain extension, the configurations at C-2' and C-4' are critical for activity, the configuration at C-3', bearing the sulfate moiety, being unimportant. It would also appear that the configuration at C-5' is important but the relationship is dependent on the heteroatom.     

New chain-extended analogues of salacinol and blintol and their glycosidase inhibitory activities. Mapping the active-site requirements of human maltase glucoamylase

The synthesis of new chain-extended sulfonium and selenonium salts of 1,4-anhydro-4-thio-(or 4-seleno)-d-arabinitol, analogues of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor salacinol, is described. Nucleophilic attack at the least hindered carbon atom of 4,6-O-benzylidene-2,5-di-O-p-methoxybenzyl-d-mannitol-1,3-cyclic sulfate by 2,3,5-tri-O-p-methoxybenzyl-1,4-anhydro-4-thio-(or 4-seleno)-d-arabinitol gave the sulfonium and selenonium sulfates, respectively. Subsequent deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid yielded the target compounds. In these analogues, an extended polyhydroxylated aliphatic side chain has been incorporated while maintaining the stereochemistry of C-2' and C-3' of salacinol or blintol. These compounds were designed to probe the premise that they would bind with higher affinity to glucosidases than salacinol because the extra hydroxyl groups in the acyclic chain would make favorable polar contacts within the active site. Both target compounds inhibited recombinant human maltase glucoamylase, one of the key intestinal enzymes involved in the breakdown of glucose oligosaccharides in the small intestine, with Ki values in the low micromolar range. Comparison of these values to those of related compounds synthesized in previous studies has provided a better understanding of structure-activity relationships and the optimal stereochemistry at the different stereogenic centers required of an inhibitor of this enzyme. With respect to chain extension, the configurations at C-2' and C-4' are critical for activity, the configuration at C-3', bearing the sulfate moiety, being unimportant. The desired configuration at C-5' is also specified. However, comparison of the activities of the chain-extended analogues with those of salacinol and blintol indicates that there is no particular advantage of the chain-extension relative to salacinol or blintol. These results are similar to those reported earlier for kotalanol, a 7-carbon-extended derivative, versus salacinol against rat intestinal maltase, sucrase, and isomaltase.     

Attempted synthesis of 2-acetamido and 2-amino derivatives of salacinol. Ring opening reactions

The attempted synthesis of the 2-acetamido and 2-amino derivatives of salacinol, a naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor, is described. Reaction of the protected acetamidothioarabinitol unit with the cyclic sulfate derived from L-erythritol gave the corresponding sulfonium sulfate, which underwent ring opening to give an acyclic amido sulfate. The corresponding reaction of the protected azidothioarabinitol unit with the cyclic sulfate proceeded to give the sulfonium sulfate. However, upon reduction of the azido function to an amine it formed an acyclic ammonium sulfate.     

Synthesis of nitrogen analogues of salacinol and their evaluation as glycosidase inhibitors.

The syntheses of two nitrogen analogues (11 and 12) of the naturally occurring sulfonium ion, salacinol (7) are described. The latter compound is one of the active principles in the aqueous extracts of Salacia reticulata that are traditionally used in Sri Lanka and India for the treatment of diabetes. The synthetic strategy relies on the nucleophilic attack of a 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D- or L-arabinitol at the least hindered carbon of 2,4-O-benzylidene D- or L-erythritol-1,3-cyclic sulfate. The nitrogen analogues bear a permanent positive charge and serve as mimics of the sulfonium ion. We reasoned that these ammonium derivatives should function in a manner similar to that of known glycosidase inhibitors of the alkaloid class such as castanospermine (4) and deoxynojirimycin (5). Enzyme inhibition assays indicate that salacinol (7) is a weak (K(i) = 1.7 mM) inhibitor of glucoamylase, whereas compounds 11 and 12 inhibit glucoamylase with K(i) values in the range approximately 10-fold higher. The nitrogen analogues 11 and 12 showed no significant inhibitory effect of either barley alpha-amylase (AMY1) or porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase (PPA) at concentrations of 5 mM. In contrast, salacinol (7) inhibited AMY1 and PPA in the micromolar range, with K(i) values of 15 +/- 1 and 10 +/- 2 microM, respectively.     

Studies directed toward the stereochemical structure determination of the naturally occurring glucosidase inhibitor, kotalanol: synthesis and inhibitory activities against human maltase glucoamylase of seven-carbon, chain-extended homologues of salacinol

The synthesis of new seven-carbon, chain-extended sulfonium salts of 1,4-anhydro-4-thio- d-arabinitol, analogues of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor salacinol, are described. These compounds were designed on the basis of the structure activity data of chain-extended analogues of salacinol, with the intention of determining the hitherto unknown stereochemical structure of kotalanol, the naturally occurring seven-carbon chain-extended analogue of salacinol. The target zwitterionic compounds were synthesized by means of nucleophilic attack of the PMB-protected 1,4-anhydro-4-thio- d-arabinitols at the least hindered carbon atom of two 1,3-cyclic sulfates differing in stereochemistry at only one stereogenic center. The desired cyclic sulfates were synthesized starting from d-glucose via Wittig olefination and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation. Deprotection of the coupled products by using a two-step sequence afforded two sulfonium sulfates. Optical rotation data for one of our compounds indicated a correspondence with that reported for kotalanol. However, comparison of (1)H and (13)C NMR spectral data of the synthetic compounds with those of kotalanol indicated discrepancies. The collective data from this and published work were used to propose a tentative structure for the naturally occurring compound, kotalanol. Comparison of physical data of previously synthesized analogues with those for the recently isolated six-carbon chain analogue, ponkoranol or reticulanol, also led to elucidation of this structure. Interestingly, both our compounds inhibited recombinant human maltase glucoamylase (MGA), as expected from our previous structure activity studies of lower homologues, with K i values of 0.13 +/- 0.02 and 0.10 +/- 0.02 microM.     

Synthesis of alkylated deoxynojirimycin and 1,5-dideoxy-1,5-iminoxylitol analogues: polar side-chain modification, sulfonium and selenonium heteroatom variants, conformational analysis, and evaluation as glycosidase inhibitors

The syntheses of N-alkylated deoxynojirimycin and 1,5-dideoxy-1,5-iminoxylitol derivatives having either a D- or an L-erythritol-3-sulfate functionalized N-substituent are reported. The alkylating agent used was a cyclic sulfate derivative, whereby selective attack of the nitrogen atom at the least hindered primary center afforded the desired ammonium salt. In aqueous solution, these salts were configurationally labile at the ammonium center. Sulfonium and/or selenonium analogues of the ammonium salts were prepared by analogous reactions. The chalcogen salts were obtained as mixtures of diastereomers, separable in some cases, differing only in the stereochemistry at the configurationally stable sulfur or selenium atoms. Proof of configuration and conformation of each compound was obtained by detailed NMR experiments. The compounds are six-membered ring analogues of salacinol, a known sulfonium-salt glucosidase inhibitor. Evaluation of the target compounds for enzyme inhibition of the glucosidase enzyme glucoamylase G2 indicated that these compounds were either inactive or, at best, only weak inhibitors of maltose hydrolysis.     

Synthesis of new nitrogen analogues of salacinol and deoxynojirimycin and their evaluation as glycosidase inhibitors

The synthesis of two enantiomerically pure iminosugars, analogues of 1-L-deoxynojirimycin (l-DNJ) and 1-D-deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ), was achieved using cyclic sulfate substituted isoxazoline derivatives. The piperidine ring was formed via the reduction of an isoxazoline into an amine which underwent a spontaneous intramolecular cyclization by reaction with the cyclic sulfate moiety. The nucleophilic attack of these two trisubstituted piperidines and morpholine on L- and D-erythritol-1,3-cyclic sulfates gave six new nitrogen analogues of salacinol. The inhibitory properties of the synthesized salacinol analogues were evaluated on several commercial glycosidases.     

Scalable syntheses of both enantiomers of DNJNAc and DGJNAc from glucuronolactone: the effect of N-alkylation on hexosaminidase inhibition

The efficient scalable syntheses of 2-acetamido-1,2-dideoxy-D-galacto-nojirimycin (DGJNAc) and 2-acetamido-1,2-dideoxy-D-gluco-nojirimycin (DNJNAc) from D-glucuronolactone, as well as of their enantiomers from L-glucuronolactone, are reported. The evaluation of both enantiomers of DNJNAc and DGJNAc, along with their N-alkyl derivatives, as glycosidase inhibitors showed that DGJNAc and its N-alkyl derivatives were all inhibitors of α-GalNAcase but that none of the epimeric DNJNAc derivatives inhibited this enzyme. In contrast, both DGJNAc and DNJNAc, as well as their alkyl derivatives, were potent inhibitors of β-GlcNAcases and β-GalNAcases. Neither of the L-enantiomers showed any significant inhibition of any of the enzymes tested. Correlation of the in vitro inhibition with the cellular data, by using a free oligosaccharide analysis of the lysosomal enzyme inhibition, revealed the following structure-property relationship: hydrophobic side-chains preferentially promoted the intracellular access of iminosugars to those inhibitors with more-hydrophilic side-chain characteristics.     

Multivalent Effect in Glycosidase Inhibition: The End of the Beginning

Glycosidases are ubiquitous enzymes involved in a diversity of key biological processes such as energy uptake or cell wall degradation. The design of specific glycosidase inhibitors has been therefore the subject of intense research efforts in academia and pharmaceutical industry. However, until recently, the study of the impact of multivalency on glycosidase inhibition was almost completely neglected. The following account will review our ten year journey on the design of multivalent glycomimetics within our research group, from the discovery of the first strong multivalent effect in glycosidase inhibition to the high‐resolution crystal structures of Jack bean α‐mannosidase in complex with the multimeric inhibitor displaying the largest binding enhancements reported so far.     

Efficient synthesis of the glucosidase inhibitor blintol, the selenium analogue of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor salacinol

An efficient synthesis of blintol, the selenium congener of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor salacinol, and a potent glucosidase inhibitor itself, is described. Unlike our previously reported synthesis, this improved route makes use of p-methoxybenzyl ether protecting groups in the synthesis of one of the two key intermediates, 2,3,5-tri-O-p-methoxybenzyl-1,4-anhydro-4-seleno-D-arabinitol, from L-xylose. The other key intermediate, 2,4-O-benzylidene-L-erythritol-1,3-cyclic sulfate, was successfully prepared from D-glucose instead of the expensive L-glucose. All protecting groups in the resulting adducts were removed with trifluoroacetic acid to yield a mixture of stereoisomers, thereby obviating the problematic deprotection of benzyl ethers by hydrogenolysis. The major stereoisomer, blintol, was then obtained by fractional crystallization.     

Generalized anomeric effect in action: synthesis and evaluation of stable reducing indolizidine glycomimetics as glycosidase inhibitors

A series of aminoketalic castanospermine analogues incorporating a stereoelectronically anchored axial hydroxy group at the pseudoanomeric stereocenter (C-5) have been synthesized to satisfy the need for glucosidase inhibitors that are highly selective for alpha-glucosidases. The polyhydroxylated bicyclic system was built from readily available hexofuranose derivatives through a synthetic scheme that involved (i) the construction of a five-membered cyclic (thio)carbamate or (thio)urea moiety at the nonreducing end and (ii) the intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the heterocyclic thiocarbamic nitrogen atom to the masked aldehyde group of the monosaccharide. A biological screening of the resulting reducing 2-oxa- and 2-azaindolizidines against several glycosidase enzymes is reported.     

Scalable Syntheses of Both Enantiomers of DNJNAc and DGJNAc from Glucuronolactone: The Effect of N‐Alkylation on Hexosaminidase Inhibition

The efficient scalable syntheses of 2‐acetamido‐1,2‐dideoxy‐D ‐galacto‐nojirimycin (DGJNAc) and 2‐acetamido‐1,2‐dideoxy‐D ‐gluco‐nojirimycin (DNJNAc) from D ‐glucuronolactone, as well as of their enantiomers from L ‐glucuronolactone, are reported. The evaluation of both enantiomers of DNJNAc and DGJNAc, along with their N‐alkyl derivatives, as glycosidase inhibitors showed that DGJNAc and its N‐alkyl derivatives were all inhibitors of α‐GalNAcase but that none of the epimeric DNJNAc derivatives inhibited this enzyme. In contrast, both DGJNAc and DNJNAc, as well as their alkyl derivatives, were potent inhibitors of β‐GlcNAcases and β‐GalNAcases. Neither of the L ‐enantiomers showed any significant inhibition of any of the enzymes tested. Correlation of the in vitro inhibition with the cellular data, by using a free oligosaccharide analysis of the lysosomal enzyme inhibition, revealed the following structure–property relationship: hydrophobic side‐chains preferentially promoted the intracellular access of iminosugars to those inhibitors with more‐hydrophilic side‐chain characteristics.     

The Lysozyme Inhibitor Thionine Acetate Is Also an Inhibitor of the Soluble Lytic Transglycosylase Slt35 from Escherichia coli

Lytic transglycosylases such as Slt35 from E. coli are enzymes involved in bacterial cell wall remodelling and recycling, which represent potential targets for novel antibacterial agents. Here, we investigated a series of known glycosidase inhibitors for their ability to inhibit Slt35. While glycosidase inhibitors such as 1-deoxynojirimycin, castanospermine, thiamet G and miglitol had no effect, the phenothiazinium dye thionine acetate was found to be a weak inhibitor. IC₅₀ values and binding constants for thionine acetate were similar for Slt35 and the hen egg white lysozyme. Molecular docking simulations suggest that thionine binds to the active site of both Slt35 and lysozyme, although it does not make direct interactions with the side-chain of the catalytic Asp and Glu residues as might be expected based on other inhibitors. Thionine acetate also increased the potency of the beta-lactam antibiotic ampicillin against a laboratory strain of E. coli.     

Preliminary studies on the transformation of nitrosugars into branched chain iminosugars: synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-4-C-hydroxymethyl-1,4-imino-pentanols

A novel promising strategy for the transformation of nitrosugars into branched pyrrolidines, based on double Henry reaction with formaldehyde followed by reductive ring closure, allowed the first enantiospecific synthesis of a 4-C-hydroxymethyl branched derivative of the well-known glycosidase inhibitor 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-pentanol. This strategy also afforded a new route to some other interesting derivatives, such as N-hydroxy, N-propyloxy, and imino derivatives, a new kind of compounds with promising biological properties. [reaction: see text].     

Combinatorial approaches to iminosugars as glycosidase and glycosyltransferase inhibitors

Oligosaccharide processing enzymes such as glycosidases and glycosyltransferases are important classes of biocatalysts involved in synthesising specific oligosaccharide structures on proteins and lipids. These enzymes are known to be involved in a wide range of important biological processes, such as intestinal digestion, post-translational processing of glycoproteins, lysosomal catabolism of glycoconjugates and inter-cellular recognition events. Inhibition of these enzymes can disrupt biosynthesis of oligosaccharides, thus interfering in all of these processes. Hence, "glyco-enzyme" inhibitors might have enormous therapeutic potential in many diseases such as viral infection, cancer and diabetes. This very important prospect has led to increasing interest and demand for these compounds. Interference in oligosaccharide processing is the basis for the anti-influenza neuraminidase inhibitors that have recently been marketed and also for the potential use of glycosidase inhibitors against HIV, Gaucher's disease, hepatitis, and cancer. Since a rational design and synthesis of inhibitors are often extremely difficult due to the limited information regarding the structure of the active site, combinatorial approaches are particularly promising. This review will focus on synthetic efforts for the preparation of combinatorial libraries of glyco-enzyme inhibitors.     

Selection of a high-energy bioactive conformation of a sulfonium-ion glycosidase inhibitor by the enzyme glucoamylase G2

Transferred nuclear Overhauser effect and rotating-frame Overhauser enhancement NMR spectroscopies are used to probe the conformation of a bicyclic sulfonium ion, which is an analogue of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor castanospermine, bound to the enzyme glucoamylase G2. Enzyme inhibition assays indicate that the bicyclic sulfonium ion is a slightly better inhibitor (K(i) = 1.32 mM) of glucoamylase G2 than the naturally occurring sulfonium-ion glycosidase inhibitor, salacinol, with a K(i) value of 1.7 mM. The NMR results are interpreted in terms of the selection by the enzyme of a high-energy conformation of the ligand that is already represented in the ensemble of free-ligand conformations.     

Effects of enzyme treatment and skin extraction on varietal volatiles in Spanish wines made from Chardonnay, Muscat, Airén, and Macabeo grapes

Varietal compounds have been analyzed in wines prepared in the laboratory from four grape varieties grown in Spain. The possibilities for enhancing their aroma afforded by addition of glycosidase enzymes and steeping with the skin were studied. Both treatments increased substances responsible for varietal aroma in all wines, the effect being particularly significant for benzyl alcohol.     

Stereocontrolled transformation of nitrohexofuranoses into cyclopentylamines via 2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes: incorporation of polyhydroxylated carbocyclic beta-amino acids into peptides

A promising new strategy for the transformation of nitrohexofuranoses into cyclopentylamines, based on intramolecular cyclization followed by controlled opening of the resulting 2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives, allowed the first total synthesis of a carbocyclic beta-amino acid and its incorporation into peptides. This strategy also afforded a new route to cyclopentylamines with well-known glycosidase inhibition properties. [reaction: see text]     

Synthesis of a New Family of Aminocyclitols from D-(-)-Quinic Acid

In continuation of our interest in the synthesis of glycosidase inhibitors, we report herein an efficient synthesis of three new polyhydroxylated amino cyclohexane derivatives (aminocyclitols) that may potentially possess important biological activities. The key step involved the highly stereoselective dihydroxylation of protected azido cyclohexene derivatives 5, 9, and 15, which were easily red from D-(-)-quinic acid. The subsequent hydrogenation step was conducted under acidic conditions to provide the target molecules in an efficient manner with high overall yields.