Total Biosynthesis of Legionaminic Acid,a Bacterial Sialic Acid Analogue

Legionaminic acid, Leg5,7Ac₂, a nonulosonic acid like 5‐acetamido neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac, sialic acid), is found in cell surface glycoconjugates of bacteria including the pathogens Campylobacter jejuni, Acinetobacter baumanii and Legionella pneumophila. The presence of Leg5,7Ac₂ has been correlated with virulence in humans by mechanisms that likely involve subversion of the host's immune system or interactions with host cell surfaces due to its similarity to Neu5Ac. Investigation into its role in bacterial physiology and pathogenicity is limited as there are no effective sources of it. Herein, we construct a de novo Leg5,7Ac₂ biosynthetic pathway by combining multiple metabolic modules from three different microbial sources (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, C. jejuni, and L. pneumophila). Over‐expression of this de novo pathway in Escherichia coli that has been engineered to lack two native catabolic pathways, enables significant quantities of Leg5,7Ac₂ (≈120 mg L^?1 of culture broth) to be produced. Pure Leg5,7Ac₂ could be isolated and converted into CMP‐activated sugar for biochemical applications and a phenyl thioglycoside for chemical synthesis applications. This first total biosynthesis provides an essential source of Leg5,7Ac₂ enabling study of its role in prokaryotic and eukaryotic glycobiology.     

A Diazido Mannose Analogue as a Chemoenzymatic Synthon for Synthesizing Di‐N‐acetyllegionaminic Acid‐Containing Glycosides

A chemoenzymatic synthon was designed to expand the scope of the chemoenzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates. The synthon was enzymatically converted into carbohydrate analogues, which were readily derivatized chemically to produce the desired targets. The strategy is demonstrated for the synthesis of glycosides containing 7,9‐di‐N‐acetyllegionaminic acid (Leg5,7Ac₂), a bacterial nonulosonic acid (NulO) analogue of sialic acid. A versatile library of α2‐3/6‐linked Leg5,7Ac₂‐glycosides was built by using chemically synthesized 2,4‐diazido‐2,4,6‐trideoxymannose as a chemoenzymatic synthon for highly efficient one‐pot multienzyme (OPME) sialylation followed by downstream chemical conversion of the azido groups into acetamido groups. The syntheses required 10 steps from commercially available d ‐fucose and had an overall yield of 34–52 %, thus representing a significant improvement over previous methods. Free Leg5,7Ac₂ monosaccharide was also synthesized by a sialic acid aldolase‐catalyzed reaction.     

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.     

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.     

A Water Soluble Pd2L4 Cage for Selective Binding of Neu5Ac

The sialic acid N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and its derivatives are involved in many biological processes including cell-cell recognition and infection by influenza. Molecules that can recognize Neu5Ac might thus be exploited to intervene in or monitor such events. A key obstacle in this development is the sparse availability of easily prepared molecules that bind to this carbohydrate in its natural solvent; water. Here, we report that the carbohydrate binding pocket of an organic soluble [Pd₂L₄]⁴⁺ cage could be equipped with guanidinium-terminating dendrons to give the water soluble [Pd₂L₄][NO₃]₁₆ cage 7 . It was shown by means of NMR spectroscopy that 7 binds selectively to anionic monosaccharides and strongest to Neu5Ac with K_a=24 M⁻¹. The cage had low to no affinity for the thirteen neutral saccharides studied. Aided by molecular modeling, the selectivity for anionic carbohydrates such as Neu5Ac could be rationalized by the presence of charge assisted hydrogen bonds and/or the presence of a salt bridge with a guanidinium solubilizing arm of 7 . Establishing that a simple coordination cage such as 7 can already selectively bind to Neu5Ac in water paves the way to improve the stability, affinity and/or selectivity properties of M₂L₄ cages for carbohydrates and other small molecules.     

Chemical Remodeling of Cell‐Surface Sialic Acids through a Palladium‐Triggered Bioorthogonal Elimination Reaction

We herein report a chemical decaging strategy for the in situ generation of neuramic acid (Neu), a unique type of sialic acid, on live cells by the use of a palladium‐mediated bioorthogonal elimination reaction. Palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) were found to be a highly efficient and biocompatible depropargylation catalyst for the direct conversion of metabolically incorporated N‐(propargyloxycarbonyl)neuramic acid (Neu5Proc) into Neu on cell‐surface glycans. This conversion chemically mimics the enzymatic de‐N‐acetylation of N‐acetylneuramic acid (Neu5Ac), a proposed mechanism for the natural occurrence of Neu on cell‐surface glycans. The bioorthogonal elimination was also exploited for the manipulation of cell‐surface charge by unmasking the free amine at C5 to neutralize the negatively charged carboxyl group at C1 of sialic acids.     

Synthesis of the complete series of mono acetates of N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid

The short syntheses of each of the mono-acetates of N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid are reported. These are important molecules for studying the mechanism and function of enzymes which utilise Neu5Ac as a substrate. However, until now these molecules were not available as pure compounds and instead had to be studied as mixtures. Neu4,5Ac(2) and Neu5,8Ac(2) were synthesised from a common precursor in 2 and 4 steps respectively, while Neu2,4Ac(2) and Neu5,7Ac(2) were synthesised in 3 and 4 steps respectively from another common precursor. Both precursors could be easily prepared in 3 steps from Neu5Ac itself. Importantly, no scrambling of the anomeric stereochemistry was detected throughout the course of these syntheses.     

Elucidating the Anomalous Binding Enhancement of Isoquinoline Boronic Acid for Sialic Acid Under Acidic Conditions: Expanding Biorecognition Beyond Vicinal Diols

A zwitterionic heterocyclic boronic acid based on 4-isoquinolineboronic acid (IQBA) exhibits the highest reported binding affinity for sialic acid or N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac, K=5390±190 m ⁻¹) through the formation of a cyclic boronate ester complex under acidic conditions (pH 3). This anomalous pH-dependent binding enhancement does not occur with common neutral saccharides (e.g., glucose, fructose, sorbitiol), because it is mediated via selective complexation to a α-hydroxycarboxylate moiety forming a stable ion pair and ternary complex with Neu5Ac in phosphate buffer. IQBA expands biorecognition beyond classical vicinal diols under neutral or alkaline buffer conditions, which enables the direct analysis of Neu5Ac by native fluorescence with sub-micromolar detection limits.     

Synthesis of α- and β-Methyl NEU5Ac α-(2→8) NEU5Ac Disaccharides

ABSTRACT

Acid hydrolysis of colominic acid, an α-(2→8)-linked oligomer of sialic acid, yielded Neu5Ac α-(2→8) Neu5Ac (di-Neu5Ac) 2 as one of the products. Starting from this disaccharide, it was possible to prepare two potential di-Neu5Ac donors, 5 and 8, as their corresponding 2-chloro derivatives. Subsequent reaction of the donor 8 with methanol as a simple acceptor led to the α- and β-methyl Neu5Ac α-(2→8) Neu5Ac glycosides.     

The Structural Characterization of Folded Peptides Containing the Conformationally Constrained β‐Amino Acid Residue β2,2Ac6c

Backbone alkylation has been shown to result in a dramatic reduction in the conformational space that is sterically accessible to α‐amino acid residues in peptides. By extension, the presence of geminal dialkyl substituents at backbone atoms also restricts available conformational space for β and γ residues. Five peptides containing the achiral β^2,2‐disubstituted β‐amino acid residue, 1‐(aminomethyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (β^2,2Ac₆c), have been structurally characterized in crystals by X‐ray diffraction. The tripeptide Boc‐Aib‐β^2,2Ac₆c‐Aib‐OMe ( 1 ) adopts a novel fold stabilized by two intramolecular H‐bonds (C₁₁ and C₉) of opposite directionality. The tetrapeptide Boc‐[Aib‐β^2,2Ac₆c]₂‐OMe ( 2 ) and pentapeptide Boc‐[Aib‐β^2,2Ac₆c]₂‐Aib‐OMe ( 3 ) form short stretches of a hybrid αβ C₁₁ helix stabilized by two and three intramolecular H‐bonds, respectively. The structure of the dipeptide Boc‐Aib‐β^2,2Ac₆c‐OMe ( 5 ) does not reveal any intramolecular H‐bond. The aggregation pattern in the crystal provides an example of an extended conformation of the β^2,2Ac₆c residue, forming a ‘polar sheet’ like H‐bond. The protected derivative Ac‐β^2,2Ac₆c‐NHMe ( 4 ) adopts a locally folded gauche conformation about the C_β? C_α bonds (θ=?55.7°). Of the seven examples of β^2,2Ac₆c residues reported here, six adopt gauche conformations, a feature which promotes local folding when incorporated into peptides. A comparison between the conformational properties of β^2,2Ac₆c and β^3,3Ac₆c residues, in peptides, is presented. Backbone torsional parameters of H‐bonded αβ/βα turns are derived from the structures presented in this study and earlier reports.     

Monomeric inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase enhance the hemagglutination inhibition activities of polyacrylamides presenting multiple C-sialoside groups

Background: Influenza viruses use hemagglutinin (HA) arrays to bind to sialic acid moieties on the surface of cells; crosslinking of erythrocytes by this mechanism leads to hemagglutination. A number of synthetic polymers containing multiple sialic acid (Neu5Ac) groups as side chains are potent inhibitors of this process. Inhibition may be due to two mechanisms: polyvalent binding of the inhibitor's multiple Neu5Ac side chains to multiple HA sites on the viral surface, or steric stabilization of the viral particle by a layer of the adsorbed, water-swollen polymer, which prevents adhesion to the erythrocyte. The balance between these two effects is not yet known.Results: Polyacrylamides with multiple C-sialosides (PA(Neu5Ac)) were 2–20 fold more effective as inhibitors of virally mediated hemagglutination when assayed in the presence of Neu2en-NH₂, a potent monomeric inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase (NA). The ability of monomeric inhibitors of NA to enhance the inhibition of hemagglutination in this assay correlated with the affinity of the monomer for NA.Conclusions: We propose that inhibitors of NA act by competing with the C-sialosides of PA(Neu5Ac) for binding to the active sites of the NA. Competitive displacement of Neu5Ac causes an expansion of the layer of polymeric gel adsorbed to the virus, enhancing its inhibitory effect. This study provides an example of synergy between two ligands directed toward the active sites of two different proteins, and reinforces the conclusion that steric stabilization is important for the activity of polyvalent inhibitors.     

Synthesis of 4-O-[3-(aryl)prop-2-ynyl]-Neu5Ac2en and its 4-epi-analogs modified at C-4 by Sonogashira coupling reaction

To explore new inhibitors of the sialidase of human parainfluenza virus type 1 (hPIV-1), a series of novel Neu5Ac2en derivatives were synthesized. Thus, 8,9-O-isopropylidene-4-O-2-propynyl-Neu5Ac2en methyl ester 8 was subjected to a Sonogashira coupling reaction with a variety of heteroaryl halides to produce a series of 4-O-(3-heteroaryl-2-propynyl) compound 9. Treatment of 9 with 80% acetic acid followed by alkaline hydrolysis afforded deprotected Neu5Ac2en compounds. The 4-epi-analogs of this type of Neu5Ac2en were synthesized in a similar manner. Compound 5d showed the most potent inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ 1.2 μM) against hPIV-1 sialidase.     

Detailed Investigation of the Immunodominant Role of O‐Antigen Stoichiometric O‐Acetylation as Revealed by Chemical Synthesis,Immunochemistry, Solution Conformation and STD‐NMR Spectroscopy for Shigella flexneri 3a

Shigella flexneri 3a causes bacillary dysentery. Its O‐antigen has the {2)‐[α‐d ‐Glcp‐(1→3)]‐α‐l ‐Rhap‐(1→2)‐α‐l ‐Rhap‐(1→3)‐[Ac→2]‐α‐l ‐Rhap‐(1→3)‐[Ac→6]_{≈40 %}‐β‐d ‐GlcpNAc‐(1→} ([(E)AB_AcC_AcD]) repeating unit, and the non‐O‐acetylated equivalent defines S. flexneri X. Propyl hepta‐, octa‐, and decasaccharides sharing the (E′)A′B_AcCD(E)A sequence, and their non‐O‐acetylated analogues were synthesized from a fully protected B_AcCD(E)A allyl glycoside. The stepwise introduction of orthogonally protected mono‐ and disaccharide imidate donors was followed by a two‐step deprotection process. Monoclonal antibody binding to twenty‐six S. flexneri types 3a and X di‐ to decasaccharides was studied by an inhibition enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and STD‐NMR spectroscopy. Epitope mapping revealed that the 2_C‐acetate dominated the recognition by monoclonal IgG and IgM antibodies and that the B_AcCD segment was essential for binding. The glucosyl side chain contributed to a lesser extent, albeit increasingly with the chain length. Moreover, tr‐NOESY analysis also showed interaction but did not reveal any meaningful conformational change upon antibody binding.     

Quantitation of cytidine-5′-monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid in human leukocytes using LC–MS/MS: method development and validation

The biosynthesis of sialic acid (Neu5Ac) leads to the intracellular production of cytidine-5′-monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-Neu5Ac), the active sialic acid donor to nascent glycans (glycoproteins and glycolipids) in the Golgi. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase myopathy is a rare autosomal recessive muscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. To quantify the intracellular levels of CMP-Neu5Ac as well as N-acetylmannosamine (ManNAc) and Neu5Ac in human leukocytes, we developed and validated robust liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry methods. A fit-for-purpose approach was implemented for method validation. Hydrophilic interaction chromatography was used to retain three hydrophilic analytes. The human leukocyte pellets were lysed and extracted in a methanol–water mixture and the leukocyte extract was used for LC–MS/MS analysis. The lower limits of quantitation for ManNAc, Neu5Ac and CMP-Neu5Ac were 25.0, 25.0 and 10.0 ng/ml, respectively. These validated methods were applied to a clinical study.     

One‐Handed Helical Screw Direction of Homopeptide Foldamer Exclusively Induced by Cyclic α‐Amino Acid Side‐Chain Chiral Centers

Chiral cyclic α,α‐disubstituted amino acids, (3S,4S)‐ and (3R,4R)‐1‐amino‐3,4‐(dialkoxy)cyclopentanecarboxylic acids ((S,S)‐ and (R,R)‐Ac₅c^dOR; R: methyl, methoxymethyl), were synthesized from dimethyl L ‐(+)‐ or D ‐(?)‐tartrate, and their homochiral homoligomers were prepared by solution‐phase methods. The preferred secondary structure of the (S,S)‐Ac₅c^dOMe hexapeptide was a left‐handed (M) 3₁₀ helix, whereas those of the (S,S)‐Ac₅c^dOMe octa‐ and decapeptides were left‐handed (M) α helices, both in solution and in the crystal state. The octa‐ and decapeptides can be well dissolved in pure water and are more α helical in water than in 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol solution. The left‐handed (M) helices of the (S,S)‐Ac₅c^dOMe homochiral homopeptides were exclusively controlled by the side‐chain chiral centers, because the cyclic amino acid (S,S)‐Ac₅c^dOMe does not have an α‐carbon chiral center but has side‐chain γ‐carbon chiral centers.     

Regio/Stereoselective Glycosylation of Diol and Polyol Acceptors in Efficient Synthesis of Neu5Ac‐α‐2,3‐LacNPhth Trisaccharide

A concise approach to a Neu5Ac‐α‐2,3‐LacNPhth trisaccharide derivative was developed. First, the regio/stereoselective glycosylation between glycoside donors and glucoNPhth diol acceptors was investigated. It was found that the regioselectivity depends not only on the steric hindrance of the C2‐NPhth group and the C6‐OH protecting group of the glucosamine acceptors, but also on the leaving group and protecting group of the glycoside donors. Under optimized conditions, LacNPhth derivatives were synthesized in up to 92 % yield through a regio/stereoselective glycosylation between peracetylated‐α‐galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate and p‐methoxyphenyl 6‐O‐tert‐butyldiphenylsilyl‐2‐deoxy‐2‐phthalimido‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside, avoiding the formation of glycosylated orthoesters and anomeric aglycon transfer. Then, the LacNPhth derivative was deacylated and then protected on the primary position by TBDPS to form a LacNPhth polyol acceptor. Finally, the Neu5Ac‐α‐2,3‐LacNPhth derivative was synthesized in 48 % yield through the regio/stereoselective glycosylation between the LacNPhth polyol acceptor and a sialyl phosphite donor. Starting from d ‐glucosamine hydrochloride, the target Neu5Ac‐α‐2,3‐LacNPhth derivative was synthesized in a total yield of 18.5 % over only 10 steps.     

3 beta-Hydroxysialic acid glycosides. I. Calcium-binding ability and chemical and enzymatic stabilities.

Methyl alpha- and beta-glycosides of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-acetyl-3 beta-hydroxyneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac beta 3OH) (1-4) were prepared to evaluate their calcium-binding ability. (Methyl alpha-glucopyranosidonyl) alpha- and beta-, and 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-glycosides of Neu5Ac and Neu5Ac beta 3OH (5-10) were also synthesized for the comparison of chemical and enzymatic stabilities, respectively. Methyl beta-glycosides of Neu5Ac and Neu5Ac beta 3OH, 3 and 4, respectively, showed intense calcium-binding abilities, while no such ability was observed in the corresponding alpha-glycosides, 1 and 2. The Neu5Ac beta 3OH glycosides, 6, 8, and 10, showed much stronger resistance to acidic hydrolysis and sialidase digestion than the corresponding Neu5Ac glycosides, 5, 7, and 9.     

Preferential Lectin Binding of Cancer Cells upon Sialic Acid Treatment Under Nutrient Deprivation

The terminal monosaccharide of glycoconjugates on a eukaryotic cell surface is typically a sialic acid (Neu5Ac). Increased sialylation usually indicates progression and poor prognosis of most carcinomas. Here, we utilize two human mammary epithelial cell lines, HB4A (breast normal cells) and T47D (breast cancer cells), as a model system to demonstrate differential surface glycans when treated with sialic acid under nutrient deprivation. Under a starved condition, sialic acid treatment of both cells resulted in increased activities of α2→3/6 sialyltransferases as demonstrated by solid phase assay using lectin binding. However, a very strong Maackia amurensis agglutinin I (MAL-I) staining on the membrane of sialic acid-treated T47D cells was observed, indicating an increase of Neu5Acα2→3Gal on the cell surface. To our knowledge, this is a first report showing the utility of lectins, particularly MAL-I, as a means to discriminate between normal and cancer cells after sialic acid treatment under nutrient deprivation. This method is sensitive and allows selective detection of glycan sialylation on a cancer cell surface.     

Targeted Ultrasound‐Assisted Cancer‐Selective Chemical Labeling and Subsequent Cancer Imaging using Click Chemistry

Metabolic sugar labeling followed by the use of reagent‐free click chemistry is an established technique for in vitro cell targeting. However, selective metabolic labeling of the target tissues in vivo remains a challenge to overcome, which has prohibited the use of this technique for targeted in vivo applications. Herein, we report the use of targeted ultrasound pulses to induce the release of tetraacetyl N‐azidoacetylmannosamine (Ac₄ManAz) from microbubbles (MBs) and its metabolic expression in the cancer area. Ac₄ManAz‐loaded MBs showed great stability under physiological conditions, but rapidly collapsed in the presence of tumor‐localized ultrasound pulses. The released Ac₄ManAz from MBs was able to label 4T1 tumor cells with azido groups and significantly improved the tumor accumulation of dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)‐Cy5 by subsequent click chemistry. We demonstrated for the first time that Ac₄ManAz‐loaded MBs coupled with the use of targeted ultrasound could be a simple but powerful tool for in vivo cancer‐selective labeling and targeted cancer therapies.     

Selective synthesis of Neu5Ac2en and its oxazoline derivative using BF3·Et2O

Application of the Lewis acid BF₃·Et₂O to the selective synthesis of 5-acetamido-2,6-anhydro-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-non-2-enonic acid (Neu5Ac2en) and the related oxazoline, methyl 7,8,9-tri-O-acetyl-2,3,4,5-tetradeoxy-2,3-didehydro-2,3-trideoxy-4′,5′-dihydro-2′-methyloxazolo[5,4-d]- d-glycero-d-talo-non-2-enonate is described.