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.     

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.     

Stereochemical aspects of micellar properties of esterified glucoside surfactants in water: apparent molar volume, adiabatic compressibility, and aggregation number

 The apparent molar volume and the apparent molar adiabatic compressibility of the sugar-based surfactants methyl 6-O-octanoyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (α-MOnG), methyl 6-O-octanoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (β-MOnG), and octyl β-d-glucoside were measured over a wide concentration range. Also, the aggregation number of their micelles was determined from the Debye plot using static light scattering data. It was found that the micellar aggregation number for α-MOnG is 179 at 35 °C, which is 1.5 times larger than that for β-MOnG, suggesting that the anomerism of the head group influences the packing of the monomers during micelle formation. Received: 30 September 1999 Accepted: 15 December 1999     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Glycosylation of betulin acetates with glycals

Betulin 2-deoxy-α-d-, 2-deoxy-α-l-, and 2,6-dideoxy-α-l-arabino-hexopyranosides were synthesized by acid-catalyzed glycosylation (cationite in the H⁺ form, LiBr) of betulin 3- and 28-monoacetates with glycal acetates. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 531–534, March, 1998.     

Synthesis of N 2-Arylisocytidines and N 2-Aryl-2′-deoxyisocytidines

2-(Arylamino)pyrimidin-4-ones were synthesized, silylated, and condensed with l,2,3,5-tetra-O-acetyl-β- d-ribofuranoside to afford the corresponding N ²-aryl protected isocytidines. Deprotection of the acetylated isocytidines using saturated NH₃ in MeOH solution gave 1-(β-d-ribofuranosyl)-2-(arylamino)-4-pyrimidinones. Methyl 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-toluyl-α/β-d-ribofuranoside was prepared and condensed with the previously silylated bases to afford the anomeric mixture of protected nucleosides. The pure β-anomers were synthesized with better yield by treating the sodium salts of N ²-arylisocytosine derivatives with 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-toluyl-α-d-ribofuranosyl chloride. Deprotection of the latter anomers afforded the corresponding free hydroxyl derivatives. The synthesized free nucleosides are under antiviral and oligonucleotide investigations.     

Hydrolysis and Transglycosylation Activity of a Thermostable Recombinant β-Glycosidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sulfolobus acidocaldarius</Emphasis>

We expressed a putative β-galactosidase from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius in Escherichia coli and purified the recombinant enzyme using heat treatment and Hi-Trap ion-exchange chromatography. The resultant protein gave a single 57-kDa band by SDS-PAGE and had a specific activity of 58 U/mg. The native enzyme existed as a dimer with a molecular mass of 114 kDa by gel filtration. The maximum activity of this enzyme was observed at pH 5.5 and 90 oC. The half-lives of the enzyme at 70, 80, and 90 oC were 494, 60, and 0.2 h, respectively. The hydrolytic activity with p-nitrophenyl(pNP) substrates followed the order p-nitrophenyl-β-d-fucopyranoside > pNP-β-d-glucopyranoside > pNP-β-d-galactopyranoside > pNP-β-d-mannopyranoside > pNP-β-d-xylopyranoside, but not toward aryl-α-glycosides or pNP-β-l-arabinofuranoside. Thus, the enzyme was actually a β-glycosidase. The β-glycosidase exhibited transglycosylation activity with pNP-β-d-galactopyranoside, pNP-β-d-glucopyranoside, and pNP-β-d-fucopyranoside in decreasing order of activity, in the reverse order of its hydrolytic activity. The hydrolytic activity was higher toward cellobiose than toward lactose, but the transglycosylation activity was lower with cellobiose than with lactose.     

Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript>-Arylisocytidines and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript>-Aryl-2′-deoxyisocytidines

Summary. 2-(Arylamino)pyrimidin-4-ones were synthesized, silylated, and condensed with l,2,3,5-tetra-O-acetyl-β- d-ribofuranoside to afford the corresponding N ²-aryl protected isocytidines. Deprotection of the acetylated isocytidines using saturated NH₃ in MeOH solution gave 1-(β-d-ribofuranosyl)-2-(arylamino)-4-pyrimidinones. Methyl 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-toluyl-α/β-d-ribofuranoside was prepared and condensed with the previously silylated bases to afford the anomeric mixture of protected nucleosides. The pure β-anomers were synthesized with better yield by treating the sodium salts of N ²-arylisocytosine derivatives with 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-toluyl-α-d-ribofuranosyl chloride. Deprotection of the latter anomers afforded the corresponding free hydroxyl derivatives. The synthesized free nucleosides are under antiviral and oligonucleotide investigations.     

Stereoselective synthesis of triterpene 2-deoxy-α-d-lyxo-hexopyranosides

2-Deoxy-α-d-lyxo-hexopyranosides of 18β-glycyrrhetic acid, its 11-deoxo derivative and allobetulin were synthesized by glycosylation of oleonane-type triterpene alcohols withd-galactal acetate in the presence ofN-iodosuccinimide followed by deiodination and deprotection. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 596–600. March, 1997.     

Β-d-Xylosidase from Selenomonas ruminantium: Catalyzed Reactions with Natural and Artificial Substrates

Catalytically efficient β-d-xylosidase from Selenomonas ruminantium (SXA) exhibits pK _as 5 and 7 (assigned to catalytic base, D14, and catalytic acid, E186) for k _cat/K _m with substrates 1,4-β-d-xylobiose (X2) and 1,4-β-d-xylotriose (X3). Catalytically inactive, dianionic SXA (D14⁻E186⁻) has threefold lower affinity than catalytically active, monoanionic SXA (D14⁻E186^H) for X2 and X3, whereas D14⁻E186⁻ has twofold higher affinity than D14⁻E186^H for 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-xylopyranoside (4NPX), and D14⁻E186⁻ has no affinity for 4-nitrophenyl-α-l-arabinofuranoside. Anomeric isomers, α-d-xylose and β-d-xylose, have similar affinity for SXA. 4-Nitrophenol competitively inhibits SXA-catalyzed hydrolysis of 4NPX. SXA steady-state kinetic parameters account for complete progress curves of SXA-catalyzed hydrolysis reactions. The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over other firms or similar products not mentioned.     

Purification and Characterization of a Mannose Recognition Lectin from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis> (Tilapia Fish): Cytokine Production in Mice Splenocytes

The aim of this work was to purify and partially characterize a mannose recognition lectin from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) serum, named OniL. OniL was isolated through precipitation with ammonium sulfate and affinity chromatography (Concanavalin A–Sepharose 4B). In addition, we evaluated carbohydrate specificity, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) profiles, and in vitro immunomodulatory activity on mice splenocyte experimental cultures through cytotoxic assays and cytokine production. The ammonium sulfate fraction F2 showed the highest specific hemagglutinating activity (331) and was applied to affinity matrix. Adsorbed proteins (OniL) were eluted with methyl-α-d-mannopyranoside. OniL, a 17-kDa protein by SDS–PAGE constituted by subunits of 11 and 6.6 kDa, showed highest affinity for methyl-α-d-mannopyranoside and d-mannose. Immunological assays, in vitro, showed that OniL did not show cytotoxicity against splenocytes, induced higher IFN-γ production and lower IL-10 as well as nitrite release. In conclusion, OniL lectin was successfully purified and showed a preferential Th1 response in mice splenocytes.     

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.     

The use of cesium dibenzyl and diphenyl phosphates for stereoselective synthesis of glycosyl phosphate derivatives

Peracetates of β-glycosyl dibenzyl phosphates are formed efficiently in the reaction of cesium dibenzyl phosphate with peracetyl-α-glycosyl nitrates derived froml-fucopyranose,d-galactopyranose, and 2-azido-2-deoxy-d-galactopyranose or with tri-O-acetyl-α-l-fucopyranosyl bromide. On the contrary, the reaction of the above-mentioned glycosyl nitrates with cesium diphenyl phosphate leads to thermodynamically more stable α-glycosyl diphenyl phosphatevia intermediate formation of the corresponding β-anomers. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 1924–1928, November, 2000.     

Evasteriosides A and B and other sulfated steroids from the Pacific starfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Evasterias retifera</Emphasis>

Two new polar steroidal glycosides identified as sodium (20R,22E,24R,25S)-3-O-(β-d-xylopyranosyl)-24-methyl-5α-cholest-22-ene-3β,6β,8,15α,26-pentol 26-sulfate (evasterioside A) and sodium (20R,22E)-24-O-(β-d-xylopyranosyl)-5α-cholest-22-ene-3β,6β,8,15α,24-pentol 3-sulfate (evasterioside B) were isolated from the Pacific starfish Evasterias retifera collected in the Sea of Japan. Five known compounds, viz., coscinasterioside B, aphelasterioside A, marthasterone 3-sulfate and (20R)-cholest-7-en-3β-ol and cholesterol sulfates, were identified. The structures of the new natural compounds were established using their 2D NMR and mass spectra and some chemical transformations.     

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.     

Synthesis of methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside-based azacrown ethers and their application in enantioselective reactions

New chiral monoaza-15-crown-5 compounds anellated to methyl-4,6-O-(1-naphthyl)methylene-α-d-glucopyranoside (2a–2b), to methyl-4,6-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucopyranoside (3a–3b) and to methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (4a–4b) have been synthesized. Several representatives of these crown ethers showed significant asymmetric induction as chiral phase transfer catalysts, among them 2a proved to be the most efficient one inducing 90% ee in the Michael addition of 2-nitropropane to chalcone, 48% ee in the Darzens condensation of phenacyl-chloride with benzaldehyde and 89% ee in the epoxidation of chalcone with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The catalytic results were compared with those obtained earlier with macrocycles 1a–1b incorporating a 4,6-O- benzylidene protecting moiety. It occurred that the enantioselectivity is influenced to a great extent by the substituents on the C(4) and C(6) atoms of the monosaccharide. Lower enantioselectivities were obtained in the reactions of the chalcone analogues in the presence of catalyst 2a than in the case of the proper chalcone.     

Synthesis of pseudo-C-nucleosides from β-formyl-α,β-unsaturated ester bearing a β-furanosidic moiety

Abstract  

Pseudo-C-nucleosides have potential biological activity, and an efficient synthesis of new pseudo-C-nucleosides has been developed via the reaction of a β-formyl-α,β-unsaturated ester bearing a β-sugar moiety with hydrazines in neutral and acidic conditions. The preparation of the β-formyl-α,β-unsaturated ester was accomplished by oxidation of the secondary hydroxyl group of 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose, followed by elongation of its carbon chain with (ethoxycarbonylmethylene)triphenylphosphorane and oxidation of the hydroxymethyl group.     

Production of Cyclodextrins by CGTase from Bacillus clausii Using Different Starches as Substrates

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligasaccharides composed by d-glucose monomers joined by α-1,4-d glicosidic linkages. The main types of CDs are α-, β- and γ-CDs consisting of cycles of six, seven, and eight glucose monomers, respectively. Their ability to form inclusion complexes is the most important characteristic, allowing their wide industrial application. The physical property of the CD-complexed compound can be altered to improve stability, volatility, solubility, or bio-availability. The cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase, EC 2.4.1.19) is an enzyme capable of converting starch into CD molecules. In this work, the CGTase produced by Bacillus clausii strain E16 was used to produce CD from maltodextrin and different starches (commercial soluble starch, corn, cassava, sweet potato, and waxy corn starches) as substrates. It was observed that the substrate sources influence the kind of CD obtained and that this CGTase displays a β-CGTase action, presenting a better conversion of soluble starch at 1.0%, of which 80% was converted in CDs. The ratio of total CD produced was 0:0.89:0.11 for α/β/γ. It was also observed that root and tuber starches were more accessible to CGTase action than seed starch under the studied conditions.