Selectin Receptors 4: Synthesis of Tetrasaccharides Sialyl Lewis A and Sialyl Lewis X Containing A Spacer Group1,2

ABSTRACT

Synthesis of two isomeric tetrasaccharides, namely Neu5Acα(2→3)Galβ(1→3)[Fucα(1→4)GlcNAcβ (sLe^a) and Neu5Acα(2→3)Galβ(1→4)[Fucα(1→3)]GlcNAcβ (sLe^x) as 3-aminopropyl glycosides is described. Preparation of these compounds was performed by sialylation of selectively protected trisaccharides Le^a and Le^x which contain three unsubstituted OH groups at positions 2, 3 and 4 of Gal residue. Glycosylation of Le^x trisaccharide with ethylthio sialoside under promotion by NIS and TfOH in acetonitrile was effective and regio- and stereoselective to give sLe^x derivative in 81% yield. In contrast, sialylation of the Lc^a acceptor was accompanied by a variety of undesirable by-processes, namely. N-thioethylation of the GlcNAc residue, β-sialylation, and lactonisation. In order to improve the yield of sLc^a tetrasaccharide the glycosylation of Le^a acceptor by sialyl donors of ethyl and phenyl thioglycoside (promoted by NIS-TfOH or NBS-Bu₄NBr), xanthate (promotion by NIS-TfOH mixture or MeOTf) and phosphite (promoted by TMSOTf) types was also studied. Among the reactions investigated the glycosylation by phenyl thioglycoside sialoside promoted by NIS-TfOH gives the best yield (39%) of sLe^a tetrasaccharide product.     

Synthesis of a Single Repeat Unit of Type VIII Group B Streptococcus Capsular Polysaccharide 1

Abstract

We have synthesized a single repeat unit of type VIII Group B Streptococcus capsular polysaccharide, the structure of which is {L-Rhap(β1→4)-D-Glcp(β1→4)[Neu5Ac(α2→3)]-D-Galp(β→4)}_n. The synthesis presented three significant synthetic challenges namely: the L-Rhap(β→4)-D-Glcp bond, the Neu5Ac(α2→3)-D-Galp bond and 3,4-D-Galp branching. The L-Rhap bond was constructed in 60% yield (α:β 1:1.2) using 4-O-acetyl-2,3-di-O-benzoyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl bromide 6 as donor, silver silicate as promotor and 6-O-benzyl-2,3-di-O-benzoyl-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranoside as acceptor to yield disaccharide 18. The Neu5Ac(α2→3) linkage was synthesized in 66% yield using methyl [phenyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulopyranosid]onate as donor and triol 2-(trimethylsilyl) ethyl 6-O-benzyl-β-D-galactopyranoside as acceptor to give disaccharide 21. The 3,4-D-Galp branching was achieved by regioselective glycosylation of disaccharide diol 21 by disaccharide 18 in 28% yield to give protected tetrasaccharide 22. Tetrasaccharide 22 was deprotected to give as its 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl glycoside the title compound 1a. In addition the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group was cleaved and the tetrasaccharide coupled by glycosylation (via tetrasaccharide trichloroacetimidate) to a linker suitable for conjugation.

     

Conversion of Complex Sialooligosaccharides into Polymeric Conjugates and their Anti-Influenza Virus Inhibitory Potency

ABSTRACT

To investigate the specificity of various influenza virus strains we have prepared polyacrylic type conjugates of undecasaccharide (Neu5Acα2-6Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-2Manα1)₂-3,6Manβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-4GlcNAc (YDS), and trisaccharides 6‵-sialyl-N-acetyllactosamine (6‵SLN), 6‵-sialyllactose (6‵SL), and 3‵-sialyllactose (3‵SL). Free oligosaccharides were transformed to glycosylamine-1-N-glycyl derivatives by sequential action of NH₄HCO₃, chloroacetic anhydride, and aqueous NH₃. The known derivatization protocol has been optimized for these sialooligosaccharides. Coupling of obtained amino-spacered derivatives with poly(4-nitrophenyl acrylate) gave rise to two types of conjugates, namely with polyacrylic acid and polyacrylamide backbones; the conversion proceeded quantitatively and without destruction of the oligosaccharides. The content of oligosaccharides in the conjugates was 10, 20, and 30% mol for 3‵SL, 6‵SL, 6‵SLN, and 2, 5 and 10% mol for YDS. Free oligosaccharides and the glycoconjugates were tested as inhibitors of influenza virus adhesion, and also as blockers of virus infectivity in MDCK cell culture. Biantennary YDS demonstrated similar activity to trisaccharide 6‵SLN both as the free form and neoglycoconjugate.     

Efficient Synthesis of the Disialylated Tetrasaccharide Motif in N‐Glycans through an Amide‐Protection Strategy

A disialylated tetrasaccharide, Neu5Ac(α2,3)Gal(β1,3)[Neu5Ac(α2,6)]GlcNAc ( 1 ), which is found at the termini of some N‐glycans, has been synthesized. Compound 1 was obtained through an α‐sialylation reaction between a sialic acid donor and a trisaccharide that was synthesized from the glycosylation of a sialylated disaccharide with a glucosaminyl donor. This synthetic route enabled the synthesis of the as‐described disialylated structure. A more‐convergent route based on the glycosylation of two sialylated disaccharides was also established to scale up the synthesis. Protection of the amide groups in the sialic acid residues significantly increased the yield of the glycosylation reaction between the two sialylated disaccharides, thus suggesting that the presence of hydrogen bonds on the sialic acid residues diminished their reactivity.     

SYNTHESIS OF THE LINEAR B TYPE 2 TRISACCHARIDE Galα3Galβ4GlcNAcβOTMSEt,AND COUPLING OF THE CORRESPONDING 2-CARBOXYETHYL β-THIOGLYCOSIDE TO SEPHAROSE

The synthesis of the Linear B type 2 trisaccharide (Galα3Galβ4GlcNAcβOTMSEt) and the corresponding 2-carboxyethyl β-thioglycoside is described, as well as coupling of the latter to Sepharose.     

Ionic-liquid-based MS probes for the chemo-enzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides

A new N-benzenesulfonyl-based ionic-liquid mass spectroscopy label (I-Tag2) for covalent attachment to substrates has been prepared. I-Tag2 was used to monitor oligosaccharide elongation and serve as a purification handle. Starting from chemically synthesized I-Tag2-labelled N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) 1, I-Tag2-LacNAc (Galβ(1-4)GlcNAc) 2 and I-Tag2-Lewis(X) (Galβ(1-4)[Fucα(1-3)]GlcNAc) 3, which are oligosaccharides of biological relevance, were enzymatically prepared. The apparent kinetic parameters for the enzyme catalysed transformations with β-1,4-galactosyltransferase (β-1,4-GalT) and fucosyltransferase VI (FucT VI) were measured by LC-MS demonstrating the applicability and versatility of the new I-Tags in enzymatic transformations with glycosyltransferases.     

Communication: Synthesis of Polylactosamine Oligomers by Disaccharide Polymerization

Polylactosamine chains, which consist of repeats of the disaccharide βGal(1→4)βGlcNAc(1 →3), are characteristic developmental and tumor associated carbohydrate markers found attached to both glycoproteins and glycolipids.^1,2 In addition to the accumulation of such sequences in a number of diseases, these structures are the immediate biosynthetic precursors to poly-Le^x determinants, {--βGal(1 →4)[αFuc(1 →3)βGlcNAc(1 →3)--)_n, which are recognized also as tumor associated antigens,^3-4 particularly in adenocarcinomas.⁵     

Transition state analysis of Vibrio cholerae sialidase-catalyzed hydrolyses of natural substrate analogues

A series of isotopically labeled natural substrate analogues (phenyl 5-N-acetyl-α-d-neuraminyl-(2→3)-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside; Neu5Acα2,3LacβSPh, and the corresponding 2→6 isomer) were prepared chemoenzymatically in order to characterize, by use of multiple kinetic isotope effect (KIE) measurements, the glycosylation transition states for Vibrio cholerae sialidase-catalyzed hydrolysis reactions. The derived KIEs for Neu5Acα2,3LacβSPh for the ring oxygen ((18)V/K), leaving group oxygen ((18)V/K), C3-S deuterium ((D)V/K(S)) and C3-R deuterium ((D)V/K(R)) are 1.029 ± 0.002, 0.983 ± 0.001, 1.034 ± 0.002, and 1.043 ± 0.002, respectively. In addition, the KIEs for Neu5Acα2,6βSPh for C3-S deuterium ((D)V/K(S)) and C3-R deuterium ((D)V/K(R)) are 1.021 ± 0.001 and 1.049 ± 0.001, respectively. The glycosylation transition state structures for both Neu5Acα2,3LacβSPh and Neu5Acα2,6LacβSPh were modeled computationally using the experimental KIE values as goodness of fit criteria. Both transition states are late with largely cleaved glycosidic bonds coupled to pyranosyl ring flattening ((4)H(5) half-chair conformation) with little or no nucleophilic involvement of the enzymatic tyrosine residue. Notably, the transition state for the catalyzed hydrolysis of Neu5Acα2,6βSPh appears to incorporate a lesser degree of general-acid catalysis, relative to the 2,3-isomer.     

Synthesis of spacer armed Kdn(2→6') and (2→3')-lactosamines for immunochemical research

Glycosylation of lactosamine acceptors with Kdn thioglycoside donors in the presence of NIS/TfOH as a promoter affords products with both α- and β-ketosidic linkage (2–6' or 2–3') between the Kdn and Gal residues. After deprotection, the synthesized trisaccharides and glycans containing Neu5Ac were printed to a chip and their comparative interaction with human serum antibodies was explored.     

Synthetic Studies on Sialoglycoconjugates 91: Total Synthesis of Gangliosides GD1C and GT1A

Abstract

A first total synthesis of gangliosides GD1c and GT1a containing Neu5Acα(2→8) Neu5Acα(2→3)Gal residue in their non-reducing terminal is described. Condensation of methyl O-[methyl 5-acetamido-8-O-(5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-α-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylono-1¹,9-lactone) -4,7- di-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-α-D-galcto-2-nonulopyranosyranosylanate]-(2→3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-1-thio-β-D-gala-ctopyranoside (1) with 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl O-(2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranosyl)- (1→4) -O -(2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) or 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl O-(2-acetamido-6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-(9-[methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-α-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonate)-(2→3)]-O-(2,6-di-O-benzyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl) - (1→4) - 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) in the presence of dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium triflate (DMTST) gave the corresponding hexa-and heptasaccharide derivatives 4 and 5, respectively. These oligosaccharides were converted into the α-trichloroacetimidates 10 and 11 via reductive removal of the benzyl groups and/or benzylidene group, O-acetylation, selective removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group and treatment with trichloroacetonitrile, which, on coupling with 2-azidosphingosine derivatives 12 or 13, gave the β-glycosides 14 and 15, respectively. Finally, 14 and 15 were transformed, via selective reduction of the azido group, coupling with octadecanoic acid and removal of all protecting groups, into the title gangliosides GD1c 18 and GT1a 19.     

Theoretical investigation on the binding specificity of fluorinated sialyldisaccharides Neu5Acα(2–3)Gal and Neu5Acα(2–6)Gal with influenza hemagglutinin H1 – A Molecular Dynamics Study

In the present study, the hydroxyl groups at the C4 and C7 positions of sialic acid and C6 position of galactose in Neu5Acα(2–3)Gal (N23G) and the hydroxyl groups at the C8 position of sialic acid and C3 and C4 positions of galactose in Neu5Acα(2–6)Gal (N26G) were substituted with fluorine atoms, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations of 100 ns duration were carried out to investigate the structural and dynamical behavior of H1 bound with the tri-fluorinated N23G and N26G (FN23G and FN26G). Based on energy analysis, it was concluded that FN26G should be a better binder for hemagglutinin (H1) than FN23G and it might act as an inhibitor for influenza.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of N‐Acetyl‐ and N‐Glycolylneuraminic Acid Capped Trisaccharides and Evaluation of Their Influenza A(H1 N1) Inhibition

Human lung epithelial cells natively offer terminal N‐acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) α(2→6)‐linked to galactose (Gal) as binding sites for influenza virus hemagglutinin. N‐Glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) in place of Neu5Ac is known to affect hemagglutinin binding in other species. Not normally generated by humans, Neu5Gc may find its way to human cells from dietary sources. To compare their influence in influenza virus infection, six trisaccharides with Neu5Ac or Neu5Gc α(2→6) linked to Gal and with different reducing end sugar units were prepared using one‐pot assembly and divergent transformation. The sugar assembly made use of an N‐phthaloyl‐protected sialyl imidate for chemoselective activation and α‐stereoselective coupling with a thiogalactoside. Assessment of cytopathic effect showed that the Neu5Gc‐capped trisaccharides inhibited the viral infection better than their Neu5Ac counterparts.     

CHEMOENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS OF NeuAcα-(2→3)-Galβ-(1→3)-[NeuAcα-(2→6)]-GalNAcα1- O-(Z)-Serine (N-PROTECTED MUC II OLIGOSACCHARIDE–SERINE)

An efficient synthesis of NeuAcα-(2→3)-Galβ-(1→3)-[NeuAcα-(2→6)]-GalNAcα1- O-(Z)-Serine (N-protected MUC II oligosaccharide–serine, 14) by a chemoenzymatic strategy is described. The enzymatic reaction of GalNAcα1- O-(Z)-Ser- OAll 7 with pNP-β-Gal in the presence of recombinant β1,3-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans gave Galβ-(1→3)-GalNAcα1- O-(Z)-Ser- OAll 3 in 68%. The introduction of two sialic acids into 3 was accomplished by a stepwise method. The branched Galβ-(1→3)-[NeuAcα-(2→6)]-GalNAcα1- O-(Z)-Ser- OAll 11 was constructed by a chemical method. Sialylation at the C-3 position of the terminal Gal residue on Galβ-(1→3)-[NeuAcα-(2→6)]-GalNAcα1- O-(Z)-Serine 2 using α2,3-(O)-sialyltransferase from rat liver gave a target compound 14 in a practical yield.     

Importance of sialic acid residues illuminated by live animal imaging using phosphorylcholine self-assembled monolayer-coated quantum dots

Glycans are expected to be one of the potential signal molecules for controlling drug targeting/delivery or long-term circulation of biopharmaceuticals. However, the effect of the carbohydrates of artificially glycosylated derivatives on in vivo dynamic distribution profiles after intravenous injection of model animals remains unclear due to the lack of standardized methodology and a suitable platform. We report herein an efficient and versatile method for the preparation of multifunctional quantum dots (QDs) displaying common synthetic glycosides with excellent solubility and long-term stability in aqueous solution without loss of quantum yields. Combined use of an aminooxy-terminated thiol derivative, 11,11'-dithio bis[undec-11-yl 12-(aminooxyacetyl)amino hexa(ethyleneglycol)], and a phosphorylcholine derivative, 11-mercaptoundecylphosphorylcholine, provided QDs with novel functions for the chemical ligation of ketone-functionalized compounds and the prevention of nonspecific protein adsorption concurrently. In vivo near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging of phosphorylcholine self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-coated QDs displaying various simple sugars (glyco-PC-QDs) after administration into the tail vein of the mouse revealed that distinct long-term delocalization over 2 h can be achieved in cases of QDs modified with α-sialic acid residue (Neu5Ac-PC-QDs) and control PC-QDs, while QDs bearing other common sugars, such as α-glucose (Glc-PC-QDs), α-mannose (Man-PC-QDs), α-fucose (Fuc-PC-QDs), lactose (Lac-PC-QDs), β-glucuronic acid (GlcA-PC-QDs), N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc-PC-QDs), and N-acetyl-β-D-galactosamine (GalNAc-PC-QDs) residues, accumulated rapidly (5-10 min) in the liver. Sequential enzymatic modifications of GlcNAc-PC-QDs gave Galβ1,4GlcNAc-PC-QDs (LacNAc-PC-QDs), Galβ1,4(Fucα1,3)GlcNAc-PC-QDs (Le(x)-PC-QDs), Neu5Acα2,3Galβ1,4GlcNAc-PC-QDs (sialyl LacNAc-PC-QDs), and Neu5Acα2,3Galβ1,4(Fucα1,3)GlcNAc-PC-QDs (sialyl Le(x)-PC-QDs) in quantitative yield as monitored by direct matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analyses. Live animal imaging uncovered for the first time that Le(x)-PC-QDs also distributed rapidly in the liver after intravenous injection and almost quenched over 1 h in similar profiles to those of LacNAc-PC-QDs and Lac-PC-QDs. On the other hand, sialyl LacNAc-PC-QDs and sialyl Le(x)-PC-QDs were still retained stably in the whole body after 2 h, while they showed significantly different in vivo dynamics in the tissue distribution, suggesting that structure/sequence of the neighboring sugar residues in the individual sialyl oligosaccharides might influence the final organ-specific distribution. The present results clearly visualize the evidence of an essential role of the terminal sialic acid residue(s) for achieving prolonged in vivo lifetime and biodistribution of various glyco-PC-QDs as a novel class of functional platforms for nanomaterial-based drug targeting/delivery. A standardized protocol using multifunctional PC-QDs should facilitate live animal imaging of ligand-displayed QDs using versatile NIR fluorescence photometry without influence of size-dependent accumulation/excretion pathway for nanoparticles (e.g., viruses) >10 nm in hydrodynamic diameter by the liver.     

Conformational Study of α‐N‐Acetyl‐D‐Neuraminic Acid by Density Functional Theory

The stable structures of α‐N‐acetyl‐D‐neuraminic acid (Neu5Acα) in the gas phase were studied at the B3LYP level of theory using 6‐31G(d,p) and 6‐31++G(d,p) basis sets. They are classified into five types according to the patterns of the intramolecular hydrogen bond formations. One of the stable structures had intramolecular hydrogen bond network of O₉H_O9 … O₈H_O8 … O?C₁‐O₁H_O1 and O₇H_O7…O?CHN‐C₅ similar to the crystal structure of Neu5Ac‐α‐methyl glycoside methyl ester. The stable structures of Neu5Acα are reasonable for the following sialooligosaccharide ligand studies with respect to the relationship between OH group orientations and intramolecular hydrogen bond formations. The barrier heights for isomerizations between the stable structures were computed to be 2.8 to 6.7 kcal/mol at the B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level, which are basic factors for the conformational behavior of Neu5Acα before its interactions with receptors. We also calculated Neu5Acα–4 or 5‐water complexes to take account of the solvent effect on the intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the stable structures. Consequently, the structures of Neu5Acα in the complexes are similar to each other, which is consistent with the known NMR data. Thus, the optimum Neu5Acα‐water complexes are some of the reasonable pseudohydrous Neu5Acα.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of sialylated glycopeptides derived from mucins and T-cell stimulating peptides.

The Tn, T, sialyl-Tn, and 2,3-sialyl-T antigens are tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens expressed on mucins in epithelial cancers, such as those affecting the breast, ovary, stomach, and colon. Glycopeptides carrying these antigens are of interest for development of cancer vaccines and a short, chemoenzymatic strategy for their synthesis is reported. Building blocks corresponding to the Tn (GalNAc alpha-Ser/Thr) and T [Gal beta(1-->3)GalNAc alpha-Ser/Thr] antigens, which are relatively easy to obtain by chemical synthesis, were prepared and then used in the synthesis of glycopeptides on the solid phase. Introduction of sialic acid to give the sialyl-Tn [Neu5Ac alpha(2-->6)GalNAc alpha-Ser/Thr] and 2,3-sialyl-T [Neu5Ac alpha(2-->3)Gal beta(1-->3)GalNAc alpha-Ser/Thr] antigens is difficult when performed chemically at the building block level. Sialylation was therefore carried out with recombinant sialyltransferases in solution after cleavage of the Tn and T glycopeptides from the solid phase. In the same manner, the core 2 trisaccharide [Gal beta 1-->3(GlcNAc beta 1-->6)GalNAc] was incorporated in glycopeptides containing the T antigen by using a recombinant N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase. The outlined chemoenzymatic approach was applied to glycopeptides from the tandem repeat domain of the mucin MUC1, as well as to neoglycosylated derivatives of a T cell stimulating viral peptide.     

The synthesis,configuration, and conformation of cis- and trans-3-amino-3,4-dihydro-1-hydroxy-4-methylcarbostyrils and other configurationally related compounds

The cis- and trans-3-amino-3,4-dihydro-1-hydroxy-4-methylcarbostyrils (Ia and Ib) were synthesized by catalytic hydrogenation of erythro- and threo-α-amino-β-(o-nitrophenyl)butyric acid hydrochlorides, IIIa and IIIb, respectively, under acidic conditions. The free bases of IIIa and IIIb were catalytically hydrogenated under neutral conditions to yield the erythro- and threo-α-amino-β-(o-aminophenyl)butyric acids (VIa and VIb), which were converted by acidification to their corresponding lactams, cis- and trans-3-amino-3,4-dihydro-4-methylcarbostyrils, IIa and IIb. The erythro and threo isomers of α-amino-β-(o-nitrophenyl)-butyric acid were prepared and separated by liquid chromatography via a diastereomeric mixture of (V) of methyl α-acetamido-β-(o-nitrophenyl)butyrates. The configurations and conformational assignments of the cyclic hydroxamic acids Ia and Ib were first established by analysis of the proton nmr spectra. In turn, the configurations of the o-nitroaromatic amino acids IIIa and IIIb were assigned as well as the other structurally related compounds (VIa, VIb, IIa and IIb) derived therefrom.     

Facile method for the preparation of lyso-GM1 and lyso-GM2

This paper reports a facile method for the preparation of lyso-GM1 [Gal beta1-->3GalNAc beta1--> 4(Neu5Ac alpha2-->3)Galbeta1-->4Glc beta1-->1'-sphingosine] and lyso-GM2 [GalNAc beta1-->4(Neu5Ac alpha2-->3)Gal beta1-->4Glc beta1-->sphingosine], respectively, from GM1 [Galbeta1-->3GalNAc beta1-->4(Neu5Ac alpha2-->3)Galbeta1-->4Glc beta1-->1'-Cer] and GM2[GalNAc beta1-->4(Neu5Ac alpha2-->3)Galbeta1-->4Glc beta1-->1'-Cer], using sphingolipid ceramide deacylase and high performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC). The enzymatically released lyso-GM1 and/or lyso-GM2 was effectively separated from its parent ganglioside by HPAEC using a Mono Q HR 5/5 column with an Amersham Biosciences fast protein liquid chromatography system. The yield was almost quantitative and the separation completed in approximately 3 h. This method is more convenient and effective than the conventional method using alkaline hydrolysis and silicic acid chromatography to generate and purify lyso-gangliosides.     

Distinguishing of linkage isomers of lactotetra oligosaccharides by using the relative ion intensity analysis of post-source decay fragment ions in curved-field reflectron matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

The native oligosaccharides of lacto-N-neotetraose (Gal beta1-4GlcNAc beta1-3Gal beta1-4Glc; LNnT) and lacto-N-tetraose (Gal beta1-3GlcNAc beta1-3Gal beta1-4Glc; LNT) were analyzed by using curved-field reflectron matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). Since a curved-field reflectron TOFMS enables a simultaneous focusing of a wide mass range of metastable fragment ions, the relative ion intensities in the post-source decay (PSD) mass spectra can be discussed. The PSD mass spectra of LNnT and LNT were distinguishable in their relative ion intensities. In the case of LNT, beta-elimination could occur in the N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) at the C-3 position, which was bonded by galactose (Gal); however, it did not occur in LNnT. The 3-O elimination caused a difference in the relative ion intensities in the PSD mass spectra of LNnT and LNT. The beta1-3 glycosyl linkage cleaved more easily than the beta1-4 glycosyl linkage in the MALDI-PSD fragmentation. An analysis of the relative ion intensities in the MALDI-PSD mass spectra of oligosaccharides was very useful for distinguishing the linkage isomers and for characterizing the types of glycosyl linkages.     

Role of the key mutation in the selective binding of avian and human influenza hemagglutinin to sialosides revealed by quantum-mechanical calculations

The selective binding between avian and human influenza A viral hemagglutinins (HA) subtype H3 and Neu5Acα2-3 and α2-6Gal (avian α2-3, human α2-6) is qualitatively rationalized by the fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method. We suggest a general model of analyzing protein-ligand interactions based on the electrostatic, polarization, dispersion, and desolvation components obtained from quantum-mechanical calculations at the MP2/6-31G(d) level with the polarizable continuum model of solvation. The favorable avian H3 (A/duck/Ukraine/1963)-avian α2-3 binding arises from the hydrophilic interaction between Gal-4 OH and side-chain NH(2)CO on Gln226, which is supported by the intermolecular hydrogen-bond network to the 1-COO group on Neu5Ac moiety. A substitution of Gln226Leu in the avian H3 HA1 domain increases the binding affinity to human α2-6 due to the Leu226···human α2-6 dispersion with a small entropic penalty during the complex formation. The remarkable human H3 (A/Aichi/2/1968)-human α2-6 binding is not governed by the Ser228-OH···OH-9 Neu5Ac hydrogen bond. These fragment-based chemical aspects can help design monovalent inhibitors of the influenza viral HA-sialoside binding and the simulation studies on the viral HAs-human α2-6 binding.