Structural modeling of glucanase–substrate complexes suggests a conserved tyrosine is involved in carbohydrate recognition in plant 1,3-1,4-β-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-glucanases

Glycosyl hydrolase family 16 (GHF16) truncated Fibrobacter succinogenes (TFs) and GHF17 barley 1,3-1,4-β-d-glucanases (β-glucanases) possess different structural folds, β-jellyroll and (β/α)₈, although they both catalyze the specific hydrolysis of β-1,4 glycosidic bonds adjacent to β-1,3 linkages in mixed β-1,3 and β-1,4 β-d-glucans or lichenan. Differences in the active site region residues of TFs β-glucanase and barley β-glucanase create binding site topographies that require different substrate conformations. In contrast to barley β-glucanase, TFs β-glucanase possesses a unique and compact active site. The structural analysis results suggest that the tyrosine residue, which is conserved in all known 1,3-1,4-β-d-glucanases, is involved in the recognition of mixed β-1,3 and β-1,4 linked polysaccharide.     

New polyhydroxysteroids and steroid glycosides from the far east starfishCeramaster patagonicus

Two new polyhydroxysteroids and five new glycosides were isolated from the starfishCeramaster patagonicus and their structures were elucidated: 5α-cholestane-3β,6α,15β,16β,26-pentol, (22E)-5α-cholest-22-ene-3β,6α,8,15α,24-pentol, (22E)-28-O-[O-(2-O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl)-(1→2)-β-d-galactofuranosyl]-24-hydroxymethyl-5α-cholest-22-ene-3β,4β, 6α,8,15β,16β,28-heptol (ceramasteroside C₁), (22E)-28-O-[O-(2,4-di-O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl)-(1→2)-β-d-galactofuranosyl]-24-hydroxymethyl-5α-cholest-22-ene-3β, 6α,8,15β,16β,28-hexol (ceramasteroside C₂), (22E)-28-O-[O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl)-(1→2)-β-d-galactofuranosyl]-24-hydroxymethyl-5α-cholest-22-ene-3β,6α,8,15β,16β 28-hexol (eramasteroside C₃), (22E)-28-O-[O-(2-O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl)-(1→2)-β-d-galactofuranosyl]-24-methyl-5α-cholest-22-ene-3β,4β,6α,8, 15β, 26-hexol (ceramasteroside C₄), and (22E)-28-O-[O-(2-O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl)-(1→2)-β-d-xylopyranosyl]-5α-cholest-22-ene-3β,6α,8,15β,24-pentol (ceramasteroside C₅)). Three known polyhydroxysteroids (24-methylene-5α-cholestane-3β,6α,8,15β,16β,26-hexol, 5α-cholestane-3β,6α,8,15β,16β,26-hexol, and 5α-cholestane-3β,6β,15α,16β,26-pentol) were also isolated. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 190–195, January, 1997.     

Minor asterosaponin archasteroside C from the starfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Archaster typicus</Emphasis>

A new minor asterosaponin (20S)-6-O-{β-d-fucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-d-fucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-d-quinovopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-quinovopyranosyl}-3β,6α,20-trihydroxycholest-9(11)-en-23-one 3-sulfate (archasteroside C) was isolated from the starfish Archaster typicus collected in shallow coastal waters of Vietnam. The structure of archasteroside C was determined by 2D NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Fusarium oxysporum

An α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Fusarium oxysporum F3 was purified to homogeneity by a two-step ion exchange intercalated by a gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 66 kDa and was optimally active at pH 6.0 and 60°C. It hydrolyzed aryl α-l-arabinofuranosides and cleaved arabinosyl side chains from arabinoxylan and arabinan. There was a marked synergistic effect between the α-l-arabinofuranosidase and an endo-(1 →4)-β-d-xylanase produced by F. oxysporum in the extensive hydrolysis of arabinoxylan.     

Synthesis of a derivative of a pentasaccharide repeating unit of the O-antigenic polysaccharide of the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae O3 as a benzoylated 2-methoxycarbonylethyl thioglycoside

Block synthesis of a fully benzoylated derivative of the pentasaccharide α-d-Manp-(1→3)-α-d-Manp-(1→2)-α-d-Manp-(1→2)-α-d-Manp-(1→2)-α-d-Manp-SCH₂CH₂CO₂Me, the glycoside of the repeating unit of the O-antigenic polysaccharide of the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae O3, was performed.     

Synthesis of blockwise alkylated tetrasaccharide–organic quantum dot complexes and their utilization for live cell labeling with low cytotoxicity

Bioimaging is a key to understanding immune responses, cell differentiation, and development. Quantum dots (QDs) conjugated with monoclonal antibodies and other biomolecules are currently utilized for flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, but monoclonal antibody–QD complexes are of limited use when cell surface markers are not available. In this study, we synthesized novel amphiphilic blockwise alkylated tetrasaccharides and developed a simple method for labeling a wide variety of live cells with organic QDs encapsulated with these carbohydrates. The novel amphiphilic blockwise alkylated tetrasaccharides were as follows: methyl β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-d-glucopyranoside (1), methyl β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-d-glucopyranoside (2), ethyl β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-ethyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-ethyl-d-glucopyranoside, (3), and ethyl β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-ethyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-ethyl-d-glucopyranoside (4). The newly synthesized blockwise alkylated tetrasaccharides spontaneously assembled into micelle-like particles, in which the hydrophobic moiety of the blockwise alkylated tetrasaccharides played an important role. They were less toxic to human cells than octyl β-d-glucopyranoside, a commonly used amphiphilic glucoside. Flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the blockwise alkylated tetrasaccharide–organic QD complexes were stably attached to live cells. The affinity of compounds 1 and 2 to the live cell surface was slightly higher than that of compounds 3 and 4. Because the preparation of these carbohydrate–QD complexes is simple and does not require sophisticated equipment, and because the complexes can be autonomously attached to a wide spectrum of cell lines, they can be used as cell labeling reagents in biomedical studies.     

ABA- and BAB-triblock cooligomers of tri-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-methylated and unmodified cello-oligosaccharides: syntheses and structure-solubility relationship

Triblock cooligomers consisting of tri-O-methyl-glucopyranosyl and unmodified glucopyranosyl residues, methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (1: ABA triblock cooligomer; DS = 2.1) and β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-d-glucopyranose (2: BAB triblock cooligomer; DS = 1.8) were prepared. Compound 1 dissolved both in distilled water and chloroform but compound 2 dissolved in distilled water not in chloroform, though compounds 1 and 2 consist of 4 tri-O-methyl-glucopyranosyl and 2 unmodified anhydro glucopyranosyl units.     

New class of carbohydrate-based nonionic surfactants: diblock co-oligomers of tri-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-methylated and unmodified cello-oligosaccharides

Mixtures of diblock co-oligomers of tri-O-methylated and unmodified cello-oligosaccharides have been found to be amphiphilic, as reported before. In order to clarify their accurate amphiphilic property, diblock co-oligomers of tri-O-methylated and unmodified cello-oligosaccharides with monodispersity, methyl β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-2,3,6–tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-2,3,6–tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-d-glucopyranoside (1, pentamer), methyl β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)- β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-d-glucopyranoside (2, hexamer), and methyl β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)- 2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-d-glucopyranoside (3, trimer) were synthesized independently. These compounds had higher surface activities compared to the mixture of diblock co-oligomers of tri-O-methylated and unmodified cello-oligosaccharides and commercially available methylcellulose (MC) SM-4. This paper describes the methods of synthesis of these compounds, and the influence of amphiphilic character on their surface activity. A new class of carbohydrate-based nonionic surfactant without long alkyl chain was discovered.     

New triterpenoid glycosides fromThalictrum minus L.

Two triterpenoid diglycosides of the cycloartane series were isolated from the terrestrial part ofThalictrum minus L. (Ranunculaceae). Genins of these glycosides are side-chain structural isomers—3-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-29-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-9β, 19-cyclo-20(S)-lanost-24(Z)-ene-3β, 16β, 22(S), 26, 29-pentaol and 3-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-29-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-9β, 19-cyclo-20(S)-lanost-25-ene-3β, 16β,22(S), 24ζ, 29-pentaol. The structures of these glycosides were established using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and FAB mass spectrometry. For Part 9, see Ref. 1. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1434–1437, July, 1998.     

The structure and13C NMR spectra of mannitol oligo-β-d-glucopyranosides isolated from the brown seaweedChorda filum (L.) Lam

1-O-β-d-Glucopyranosyl-d-mannitol, 1,6-di-O-glucopyranosyl-d-mannitol, 1-O-β-gentiobiosyl-d-mannitol, 1-O-β-gentiobiosyl-6-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-d-mannitol, and 1-O-β-d-gentiotriosyl-d-mannitol were isolated from the brown seaweedChorda filum and the assignment of signals in their¹³C NMR spectra was performed. Comparative analysis of the oligosaccharide composition and the structure of laminarans from seven brown algae demonstrates that the oligosaccharides are not always fragments of the corresponding laminarans. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1817–1820, October, 1993.     

Synthesis of oligosaccharides related to the HNK-1 antigen. 5. Synthesis of a sulfo-mimetic of the HNK-1 antigenic trisaccharide

2-Aminoethyl 3,6-di-O-sulfo-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside, which is the sulfo-mimetic of the antigenic trisaccharide HNK-1, and the corresponding monosulfates, viz., 2-aminoethyl 3-O-sulfo-and 2-aminoethyl 6-O-sulfo-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→ 4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosides, were synthesized. 2-Azidoethyl 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→ 4)-2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside served as the common precursor for the sulfated trisaccharides. This compound was synthesized according to the [2+1] pattern from monosaccharidic precursors: 3,6-di-O-acetyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, allyl 2-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-β-D-galactopyranoside, and 2-azidoethyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside. The structures of the glycosyl donors and glycosylation conditions were optimized for the efficient synthesis of the glucosyl-β-(1→3)-galactose disaccharide block and its subsequent transformation into the target trisaccharide sequence. Dedicated to Academician V. A. Tartakovsky on the occasion of his 75th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1593–1607, August, 2007.     

New triterpenoid glycosides fromThalictrum minus L.

From the terrestrial part ofThalictrum minus L. (Ranunculaceae) a novel triterpenoid diglycoside was isolated. The genin of this glycoside is a new cycloartane triterpenoid. The structure of the glycoside was established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and FAB mass spectrometry as 22S,25-epoxy-3-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-29-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-9β, 19-cyclo-20S-lanostane-3β,16β,24S,29-tetrol. For Part 10 see Ref. 1. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 602–605, March, 1999.     

Purification and Characterization of an Intracellular β-Glucosidase from Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393

The lactic acid bacterium,Lactobacillus casei, produces an intracellular β-glucosidase when grown on Man-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) medium with cellobiose as carbon source. The β-glucosidase activity is produced intracellulary, and no extracellulary activity was detected. The enzyme was purified by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The molecular mass of the purified intracellular β-glucosidase as estimated by gel filtration was 480 kDa, consisting of six probably identical subunits. The enzyme exhibited optimum activity at 35°C and pH 6.3 with citrate-phosphate buffer. The enzyme was active against soluble glycosides with (1→4)-β configuration and from Lineweaver Burk plots, K_m value of 16 mmol/L was found for β-pNPG. The β-glucosidase was competitively inhibited by glucose, and no glycosyl transferase activity was observed in the presence of ethanol.     

Determination and Pharmacokinetic Study of Calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside in Rat Plasma After Intravenous Administration of Aidi Lyophilizer

Aidi injection is a clinical medicine used in China for the treatment of cancer. Calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside is the main effective components of the formulas. In this study, a high performance liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed to quantify calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside in rat plasma using a liquid–liquid extraction and ultraviolet (UV) absorbance detection. LC analysis was performed on a Diamonsil C₁₈ column (200 × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size) with isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–0.05% phosphoric acid (19.5:80.5, v/v) of a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹. The linear range was 0.11–17.6 μg mL⁻¹ and the low quantification limit was 0.11 μg mL⁻¹ (S/N = 10). The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSD) in the measurement of quality control (QC) samples 0.11, 0.22, 1.32 and 8.80 μg mL⁻¹ ranged from 4.1 to 6.3 and 4.3 to 6.2%, respectively. The accuracy was from −6.7 to 4.3% in terms of relative error (RE). Calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside was stable in storage at −20 °C for 2 weeks and stable after three freeze–thaw cycles in rat plasma. This method was validated for specificity, accuracy, precision and was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside in rat plasma after intravenous administration of Aidi lyophilizer.     

Beta-D-galactopyranosyl azide: its one-step quantitative synthesis using E461G-beta-galactosidase (Escherichia coli) and a demonstration of its potential as a reagent for molecular biology

A simple one-step synthesis of β-d-galactopyranosyl azide from 0-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside and azide catalyzed by E461G-β-galactosidase is described. The synthesis is quantitative in the presence of excess azide and only the β anomer is produced. The product was purified (71% yield) from the other reaction components by extraction with ethyl acetate, silica gel chromatography, and crystallization. The purity was verified by GLC, TLC, and NMR. Thus, E461G-β-galactosidase is able to specifically and quantitatively from β-d-galactopyranosyl-azide. The purified β-d-galactopyranosylazide inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli that express β-galactosidase but not of E. coli that do not. Growth is stopped because β-galactosidase catalyzes the hydrolysis of the β-galactopyranosyl-azide, and the azide that is produced inhibits cell growth. This selective inhibition of growth has potential application in molecular biology screening.     

Isoflavone glycosides from the bark of Amorpha fruticosa

Four known isoflavone glucosides have been isolated from the bark of Amorpha fruticosa, which is a traditional remedy plant, for the first time. They were elucidated as 3′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 4′,6-dimethoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), 4′-methoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), and 3′,5-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), based on the UV, FT-IR, EIMS, FABMS, HREIMS, and NMR (¹H and ¹³C, DEPT, COSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC) data. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 336–338, July–August, 2006.     

Synthesis of a chito-tetrasaccharide β-1,4-GlcNAc-β-1,4-GlcN repeating unit

Abstract  

tert-Butyldimethylsilyl (4-O-acetyl-2-azido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1 → 4)-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranoside (Kawada and Yoneda [MOCHEM-D-09-00120], 2009), designed as a repeating disaccharide unit in a β-glucan having two different faces, was converted into a glycosyl donor and an acceptor. The glycosyl acceptor was glycosylated with the donor to afford a chito-tetrasaccharide derivative in good yield. Phthalimido and azido groups in the tetrasaccharide were successively converted into acetamido and free amino groups, and all other protecting groups were cleaved to obtain the chito-tetrasaccharide (2-amino-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1 → 4)-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1 → 4)-(2-amino-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1 → 4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose.     

Comparison and characterization of polysaccharides from natural and cultured <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cordyceps</Emphasis> using saccharide mapping

Comparison and characterization of polysaccharides from natural and cultured Cordyceps on the basis of their chemical characteristics such as glycosidic linkages were performed for the first time using saccharide mapping. The results showed that polysaccharides from most of the natural and cultured Cordyceps had similar responses to enzymatic digestion. These polysaccharides mainly contained (1→4)-β-D-glucosidic linkages, and (1→4)-α-glucosidic, (1→6)-α-glucosidic, 1,4-β-D-mannosidic, as well as (1→4)-α-D-galactosiduronic linkages also existed in some polysaccharides. Especially, natural and cultured Cordyceps polysaccharides could be discriminated on the basis of high performance liquid chromatography profiles of pectinase hydrolysates, which is helpful to control the quality of polysaccharides from Cordyceps.     

Inexpensive isolation of beta-D-glucopyranosidase from alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase,alpha-L-rhamnopyranosidase,and o-acetylesterase

β-d-Glucopyranosidase (βG, EC 3.2.1.21) has been isolated from some collateral activities, α-l-arabinofuranosidase (Ara, EC3.2.1.55), α-l-rhamnopyranosidase (Rha, EC 3.2.1.40), and o-acetylesterase (Est, EC 3.1.1.53), using a commercial enzyme preparation and a simple method economically sustainable for the food industry. The procedure comprises precipitation of extraneous substances by adding ethanol and CaCl₂, ultrafiltration, and adsorption, first on bentonite and then on chitosan. The results obtained were the complete isolation of βG from the above-mentioned activities, a drastic reduction in extraneous compounds, such as brown substances and polysaccharides, and a slight increase in purification.     

Determination of viable <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> using antibody-coated paramagnetic beads with fluorescence detection

A rapid and convenient assay system was developed to detect viable Escherichia coli in water. The target bacteria were recovered from solution by immunomagnetic separation and incubated in tryptic soy broth with isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside, which induces formation of β-galactosidase in viable bacteria. Lysozyme was used to lyse E. coli cells and release the β-galactosidase. β-Galactosidase converted 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-galactoside to 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), which was measured by fluorescence spectrophotometry using excitation and emission wavelengths of 355 and 460 nm, respectively. Calibration graphs of 4-MU fluorescence intensity versus E. coli concentration showed a detection range between 8 × 10⁴ and 1.6 × 10⁷ cfu mL⁻¹, with a total analysis time of less than 3 h. The advantage of this method is that it detects viable cells because it is based on the activity of the enzyme intrinsic to live E. coli.