Chemoenzymatic synthesis of [3,9-C]-labeled NeuAc and KDN

The chemoenzymatic synthesis of ¹³C-labeled sialic acid (NeuAc) and 3-deoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulosonic acid (KDN) as useful molecular probes for studying the conformation of sialyl or KDN oligosaccharides attached to proteins was performed by using [6-¹³C]-ManNAc, [6-¹³C]-Man and [3-¹³C]-pyruvic acid sodium salt. In the synthesis of the compounds, 5,6-anhydro intermediates were found to easily provide not only 6-¹³C-labeled but also 5-, and 6-modified NeuAc and KDN analogs. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that identical results are obtained by NMR for both [3,9-¹³C]-NeuAc and 1:1 mixtures of [3-¹³C]- and [9-¹³C]-NeuAc.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Ethyl 4,5,7,8,9‐Penta‐O‐acetyl‐2,6‐anhydro‐ 3‐deoxy‐D‐erythro‐L‐gluca‐nononate: a 2‐Monodeoxygenated Derivative of `2‐Keto‐3‐deoxy‐D‐glycero‐D‐galacto‐nononic Acid'

A study aimed at developing an enantioselective synthesis of the title compound 23 , a 2‐monodeoxy analogue of the naturally occurring (+)‐2‐keto‐3‐deoxy‐D ‐glycero‐D ‐galacto‐2‐nononic acid (KDN), is reported. From D ‐mannose as starting material, the chiral 1,3‐diene 10 , activated by a silyloxy substituent at C(2), was prepared in six steps (Scheme 1). However, the intermediates were often contaminated with varying amounts of by‐products arising from overoxidation during cleavage with periodic acid. An alternative route starting from the inexpensive and readily available D ‐isoascorbic acid ( 12 ), though a little longer than the first, satisfactorily circumvented the purification problem and led to the desired dienes 17 in good yields (scheme 2). The [Co^II(S,S)‐(+)‐salen]‐catalyzed hetero‐Diels‐Alder reactions of the aforementioned dienes with ethyl glyoxylate proceeded smoothly at room temperature, giving the dihydropyrano adducts 18 in moderate yields (Scheme 3). Dihydroxylation of 18a followed by reduction of the keto function gave the desired 4,5‐trans dihydroxy moiety of the KDN framework (Scheme 4, see 21 ). The spectroscopic data of the penta‐O‐acetylated 2‐deoxy‐KDN ethyl ester 23 were consistent with those reported for the corresponding methyl ester derived from natural KDN.     

Practical synthesis of 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galactononulosonic acid (KDN)

Reaction of propargylmagnesium bromide with 2,3;5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannonolactone followed by highly stereoselective reduction of the so-formed lactol with sodium borohydride gives a syn-diol from which practical syntheses of 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galactononulosonic acid (KDN) and various partially protected derivatives have been achieved all of which feature the oxidative unmasking of the α-keto acid moiety from the alkyne.     

Synthesis of Sialyl-α-(2→3)-Neolactotetraose Derivatives Containing Different Sialic Acids: Molecular Probes for Elucidation of Substrate Specificity of Human α1,3-Fucosyltransferases

ABSTRACT

A series of sialyl-α-(2→3)-neolactotetraose derivatives containing N-acetyl-(NeuAc), N-glycolyl- (NeuGc) and N-butanoylneuraminic acid, and 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-2-nonulosonic acid (KDN) have systematically been synthesized as molecular probes for elucidation of substrate specificity of human α1,3-fucosyltransferases (Fuc-TVII and Fuc-TVI). 2-Methyl-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1,2-dideoxy-α-D-glucopyrano)-[2',1':4,5]-2-oxazoline (1) was coupled with 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1 → 4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) to give a trisaccharide 3 which, upon successive O-deacetylation, benzylidenation and reductive opening of the benzylidene group, afforded a common glycosyl acceptor 5. Glycosylation of 5 with sialyl-α-(2→3)-galactose donors 6-8, 19 and 21 gave the corresponding pentasaccharides 22-25, which were converted to a series of sialyl-α-(2→3)-neolactotetraose derivatives 30-33. In the competitive enzyme assay, the NeuGc derivative 32 showed the most potent activity for Fuc-TVII, while the KDN derivative 31 was less active than the standard NeuAc derivative 30. In contrast, the N-butanoylation of neuraminic acid enhanced the activity for Fuc-TVI.     

Human symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron synthesizes 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D- galacto-nononic acid (KDN)

The proper functioning of the human intestine is dependent on its bacterial symbionts, the most predominant of which belong to the Phylum Bacteroidetes. These bacteria are known to use variable displays of multiple capsular polysaccharides (CPs) to aid in their survival and foraging within the intestine. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron is a prominent human gut symbiont and a remarkably versatile glycophile. The structure determination of the CPs, encoded by the eight CP loci, is the key to understanding the mechanism of this organism's adaptation on a molecular level. Herein, we report the bioinformatics-based discovery and chemical demonstration of a biosynthetic pathway that forms and cytidylates 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nononic acid (KDN), most likely for inclusion in the CP encoded by B. thetaiotaomicron CP locus 7.     

Bioconversion of Welan Gum from Kitchen Waste by a Two-Step Enzymatic Hydrolysis Pretreatment

Kitchen waste (KW) is a worldwide issue, which can lead to environment pollution. Nevertheless, it is also a low-cost and sustainable resource for bio-production. Meanwhile, welan gum (WG) is one kind of the most important exopolysaccharide but with high material cost. The aim of this study was to adopt two-step enzymatic hydrolysis to improve the release and recovery of both sugar and protein in KW for subsequent WG production. As the results, the recovery rates of sugar and protein reached 81.07 and 77.38%, which were both satisfactory. After the conditions optimized in flasks, the welan fermentation was conducted in a 5-L fermentor, and the WG yield, utilization rates of reducing sugar and KDN, respectively, reached 5.57 g L^?1, 94.25% and 61.96%. Moreover, the kinetic analyses demonstrated that the WG fermentation in KWH was a partly growth-associated process. The KW was successfully treated by fermentation for the bioconversion to WG.     

Synthesis of sialic acids via desymmetrization by ring-closing metathesis

Formal total syntheses of the naturally occurring deaminated sialic acids KDN (2), a potential oncofetal antigen, and N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac, 1), the most naturally abundant sialic acid, have been accomplished in 46% and 9.3% overall yield, respectively, via a novel ketalization/ring-closing metathesis sequence. The rapid introduction of all oxygen and nitrogen functionality in a completely stereocontrolled manner exploited a rigid 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-ene template. The 2,7-anhydro-KDN derivative 40 served as an advanced intermediate in each of the two syntheses.     

Pore structure of gel chitosan membranes. III. Pressuredriven mass transport measurements

The capillary pore model of water-swollen gels was used to interpret pressure-driven mass transport properties of gel chitosan membranes. Pure water hydraulic permeability coefficients, L_p, and rejection coefficients, R, of 13 solutes ranging in molecular radius from 2.4 Å (methanol) to 16 Å (polyethylene glycol 6000) were measured for an untreated chitosan membrane, for two chitosan membranes crosslinked with glutaraldehyde of concentrations 0.01 and 0.1% and coated with a protein, and for comparison for a commercial Cuprophan membrane. Pore radii of the membranes were determined from these results by three methods: (1) L_p method that uses water hydraulic permeability coefficient, (2) σ method that uses reflection coefficients, and (3) P/L_p method that uses water diffusive permeability coefficient and water hydraulic permeability coefficient.     

Molecular dynamics integration and molecular vibrational theory. III. The infrared spectrum of water

The new symplectic molecular dynamics (MD) integrators presented in the first paper of this series were applied to perform MD simulations of water. The physical properties of a system of flexible TIP3P water molecules computed by the new integrators, such as diffusion coefficients, orientation correlation times, and infrared (IR) spectra, are in good agreement with results obtained by the standard method. The comparison between the new integrators' and the standard method's integration time step sizes indicates that the resulting algorithm allows a 3.0 fs long integration time step as opposed to the standard leap-frog Verlet method, a sixfold simulation speed-up. The accuracy of the method was confirmed, in particular, by computing the IR spectrum of water in which no blueshifting of the stretching normal mode frequencies is observed as occurs with the standard method.     

Determination of trace amounts of off-flavor compounds in drinking water by stir bar sorptive extraction and thermal desorption GC-MS.

A method for the determination of trace amounts of off-flavor compounds including 2-methylisoborneol, geosmin and 2,4,6-trichloroanisole in drinking water was developed using the stir bar sorptive extraction technique followed by thermal desorption-GC-MS analysis. The extraction conditions such as extraction mode, salt addition, extraction temperature, sample volume and extraction time were examined. Water samples (20, 40 and 60 ml) were extracted for 60-240 min at room temperature (25 degrees C) using stir bars with a length of 10 mm and coated with a 500 microm layer of polydimethylsiloxane. The extract was analyzed by thermal desorption-GC-MS in the selected ion monitoring mode. The method showed good linearity over the concentration range from 0.1 or 0.2 or 0.5 to 100 ng l(-1) for all the target analytes, and the correlation coefficients were greater than 0.9987. The detection limits ranged from 0.022 to 0.16 ng l(-1). The recoveries (89-109%) and precision (RSD: 0.80-3.7%) of the method were examined by analyzing raw water and tap water samples fortified at the 1 ng l(-1) level. The method was successfully applied to low-level samples (raw water and tap water).     

Stereoselective analysis of acid herbicides in natural waters by capillary electrophoresis.

A capillary electrophoretic method for the stereoselective analysis of aryloxypropionic and aryloxyphenoxypropionic acidic herbicides in ground water and river water was performed. Vancomycin and gamma-cyclodextrin were added to the background electrolyte (BGE) as chiral selectors. Water sample preconcentration was accomplished by solid-phase extraction on styrene-divinylbenzene packed cartridges (2 L of ground water and 1 L of river water). The analytical method allowed for the resolution of mecoprop, fenoprop, fluazifop and haloxyfop racemic mixtures in natural water samples spiked with enantiomer concentration levels in the range 0.1-0.13 ppb for ground water and 0.4-0.54 ppb for river water.     

Determination of triazine pesticides and related compounds in environmental water by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A method for the determination of 5 triazine herbicides and 12 degradation products in environmental water samples using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS) has been developed. The pesticides in water were extracted with two types of solid phase: a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer and a graphitized carbon black. Desorption solvents for the extracted compounds were acetone for the styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer and methanol for the graphitized carbon black. Overall recoveries from ground water and river water ranged from 73% to 111%. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0.2 to 28 ng l(-1). This method was applied to several ground water samples.     

On-line electrochemical oxidation of Cr(III) for the determination of total Cr by flow injection-solid phase spectrophotometry.

A novel on-line oxidation method of ultra-trace Cr(III) dissolved in natural water has been developed using a flow electrolysis cell. This method was successfully applied to the determination of the total Cr concentration by flow injection-solid phase spectrophotometry using diphenylcarbazide as a coloring agent. With the applied potential of 1.35 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and the flow rate of 0.80 cm(3) min(-1), Cr(III) was quantitatively oxidized to Cr(VI) at room temperature. The total Cr concentration of sub-microg dm(-3) in 3 - 4 samples could be determined within 1 h using an aqueous sample volume of 7.1 cm(3). The analytical values of the total Cr concentration in natural water were in good agreement with those obtained by ICP-MS. The detection limit of the proposed method was 0.014 microg dm(-3) (3sigma, n = 7). This method could be applied to the specific determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in river water samples.     

Superheated water chromatography of phenols using poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) packings as a stationary phase.

A method for the superheated water chromatography of phenols was developed using a poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (PSDVB) stationary phase. The stationary phase of superheated water chromatography must be stable against the attack of water. A durability test for PSDVB packings and octadecylsilyl (ODS)-silica gels indicated that PSDVB packings were stable in superheated water in the temperature range of 100-150 degrees C, whereas octadecylsilyl groups of ODS-silica gels cleaved even at 100 degrees C. The retention of phenols on the PSDVB stationary phase decreased with an elevation of the column temperature. The retention mechanism was characterized using a thermodynamic theory that has been used for describing retention in conventional RP-HPLC. The application of the present method to an environmental analysis was also demonstrated, in which a suitable separation with good peak shape was obtained for p-chlorophenol in river-water samples.     

Determination of fipronil by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A method for the determination of trace amounts of the insecticide fipronil was developed using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and selected ion monitoring. Fipronil was extracted with a fused-silica fiber coated with 85 microm polyacrylate. The effects of pH, ionic strength, sample volume, extraction and desorption times as well as the extraction temperature were studied. Lindane was used as an internal standard. The linear concentration range of application was 0.3-100 ng ml(-1) of fipronil, with a relative standard deviation of 9.5% (for a level of 50 ng ml(-1)) and a detection limit of 0.08 ng ml(-1). The method was applied to check the eventual existence of fipronil above this limit in water and soil samples from Granada (Spain) as well as in human urine samples. The method validation was completed with spiked matrix samples. The method can be applied as a monitoring tool for water, soil and urine, in the investigation of environmental and occupational exposure to fipronil.     

Application of liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of chloroform in drinking water.

In this paper, a novel method for the determination of chloroform in drinking water has been described. It is based on liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Extraction conditions such as solvent selection, organic solvent dropsize, stirring rate, content of NaCl and extraction time were found to have significant influence on extraction efficiency. The optimized conditions were 1.5 microl xylene, 20 min extraction time at 400 rpm stirring rate without NaCl addition. The linear range was 1.0 - 100 microg l(-1) for chloroform. The limit of detection (LOD) was 1.0 microg l(-1); and relative standard deviation (RSD) at the 30 microg l(-1) level was 2.9%. Tap water samples from a laboratory were successfully analyzed using the proposed method. The relative recovery of spiked water samples was 104%.     

Laser-induced fluorescence with an OPO system. Part I. Optimisation of the analytical system by use of experimental design methodology. Application to the direct quantification of traces of benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyrene

This study deals with the optimisation and application of a method for direct analysis of trace pollutants in water by laser-induced fluorescence. The arrangement used consisted of an Nd:YAG Laser coupled with an optical parametric oscillator (LYOPO) and connected to a spectrophotometer and a high-sensitivity camera. Optimisation was achieved by developing an experimental design methodology to maximise the signal-to-noise ratio and reduce the limit of detection. The technique was then applied to the detection of benzo[ a]pyrene in water. The experimental results were evidence of its high sensitivity and time-resolution potential. The detection limit for benzo[ a]pyrene was 0.7 ng L(-1) in drinking water and 4 ng L(-1) in raw water containing 1 mg L(-1) humic acids.     

串联固相萃取法选择性富集白花蛇舌草中的环烯醚萜苷类成分

研究了从白花蛇舌草水提取物中选择性富集环烯醚萜苷类成分的方法。该方法采用硅胶基质的寡聚乙二醇(OEG,实验室自合成)和ODS两种填料依次作为固定相,对白花蛇舌草水提醇沉样品进行固相萃取,并以超高效液相色谱(UPLC)系统对在富集的各个阶段得到的产物进行了色谱表征。实验结果表明,采用该方法得到的终产物的产率为8.21%。从UPLC谱图中可以看出固相萃取环烯醚萜苷类成分选择性富集的过程。终产物中14种典型的环烯醚萜苷类化合物含量明显升高,可达白花蛇舌草水提物的6.1倍,回收率为50.1%,富集效果明显。因此,将白花蛇舌草水提物醇沉后依次经过OEG柱与ODS柱的串联固相萃取可选择性地富集环烯醚萜苷类成分。该方法操作步骤较少,操作简便,选择性好,提取效率较高,富集效果明显。     

Determination of indium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after coprecipitation with chitosan.

A sensitive and simple method for the determination of trace amounts of indium in water samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) after coprecipitation with chitosan was investigated. Indium was quantitatively preconcentrated from water samples by coprecipitation with chitosan at pH 7.0-9.0. The coprecipitant was easily dissolved with acetic acid, and indium in the resulting solution was determined by GFAAS. The addition of lanthanum as a chemical modifier was more effective for the atomic absorbance of indium. The detection limit (S/N > or = 3) for indium was 0.04 microg dm(-3), and the relative standard deviations (n = 5) were 3.5-4.5% at 1.0 microg/100 cm3. The results obtained in this study indicate that the proposed method can be successfully applied to the determination of trace indium in water samples.     

Sensitive monitoring of humic acid in various aquatic environments with acidic cerium chemiluminescence detection.

In this research, a simple, sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method for the determination of humic acid (HA) in water samples was first developed based on the redox reaction between humic acid and cerium(IV) in the acidic condition. Different with the former redox CL reaction which occurred in alkaline solution, no enhancers were needed and neither precipitation nor a second contamination would occur in the present CL system. Comparing with other spectrometric methods, we find that the proposed analysis system had better applicability and accuracy. Under the optimal experiment conditions, the CL peak height was linear with the concentration of HA in the range of 0.03 to 10.0 microg mL(-1). The detection limit is 0.01 microg mL(-1) (S/N = 3), and the relative standard deviation was 2.3% for 0.5 microg mL(-1) HA solution with eleven repeated measurements. The present CL method was successfully applied to the determination of HA in tap water, spring water and river water samples with good recovery from 90.0 to 110.0%. A possible CL mechanism was proposed based on the results of UV and fluorescence spectrometry and the CL spectrum of HA. It was speculated that the semi-quinone radicals in the excited state were the emitters.