An easy access to a 3,6-branched mannopentaoside bearing one terminal [1-<Superscript>13</Superscript>C]-labeled <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">D</Emphasis>-mannopyranose residue

Methyl 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-D-mannopyranoside was used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of 3,6-branched mannopentaoside bearing one terminal D-[1-¹³C]mannopyranose residue, viz., methyl 6-O-[3,6-di-O-(α-D-mannopyranosyl)-α-D-mannopyranosyl)-3-O-{α -D-[1-¹³C]mannopyranosyl}-α-D-mannopyranoside. Dedicated to Academician N. K. Kochetkov on the occasion of his 90th birthday. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1250–1255, May, 2005.     

Unexpected transformation of methyl 3,6-anhydro-2,7-dideoxy-7-iodo-4,5-O-isopropylidene-D -allo-heptonate in the dehydroiodination reaction with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene

The reaction of methyl 3,6-anhydro-2,7-dideoxy-7-iodo-4,5-O-isopropylidene-D-allo-heptonate with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene affords methyl 3,6-anhydro-2,7-dideoxy-4,5-O-isopropylidene-D-ribo-hept-6-enonate, which undergoes the previously unknown rearrangement into a 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole derivative. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2610–2613, November, 2005.     

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.     

Preparation of nanoparticle colloids of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-poly(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">D</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">L</Emphasis>-lactide): effects of surfactant and organic solvent

Nanoparticle colloids of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D,L-lactide) (MPEG-b-PDLL) diblock copolymer were prepared by a modified spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method using acetone/ethanol as the mixture organic solvents. The MPEG-b-PDLL was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide using stannous octoate and MPEG with molecular weight of 5,000 g/mol as the initiating system. The MPEG-b-PDLL obtained was an amorphous polymer with molecular weight of 73,600 g/mol. Influences of acetone/ethanol (v/v) ratios and Tween 80 surfactant concentrations on characteristics of the colloidal nanoparticles were investigated and discussed. Light-scattering analysis showed that average diameters of the surfactant-free colloidal nanoparticles were in the range of 86–124 nm. The nanoparticle sizes decreased as the ethanol ratio increased. The Tween 80 did not show the significant effect on the nanoparticle sizes. Scanning electron micrographs of dried nanoparticles that demonstrated the aggregation of most particles suggested they were the soft nanoparticles. However, the dried nanoparticle morphology can be observed from scanning electron microscopy as having a spherical shape and smooth surfaces.     

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.     

Fluorometric determination of sugars using fluorescein-labeled concanavalin A–glycogen conjugates

The fluorescence of fluoresceinisothiocyanate-labeled concanavalin A (FITC-Con A) was quenched by forming an FITC-Con A–glycogen conjugate and dequenched upon addition of sugars to the conjugate solution due to disaggregation of the conjugate. However, fluorescence quenching was barely observed upon formation of FITC-Con A–dextran conjugate. The sugar-induced fluorescence response of the FITC-Con A–glycogen conjugate depended significantly on the type of sugar: methylated α-D-glucose and α-D-mannose both induced high and rapid responses, while the responses to D-mannose and D-glucose were moderate. In contrast, no response was observed in the presence of D-galactose due to a lack of affinity to Con A. Thus, it is apparent that D-glucose and other sugars can be detected via the fluorescence of the FITC-Con A–glycogen conjugate.      

Enantioselective visualization of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">D</Emphasis>-alanine in rat anterior pituitary gland: localization to ACTH-secreting cells

The cellular localization of D-alanine (D-Ala) in the rat pituitary gland, the tissue containing the highest amount of D-Ala, has been clarified for the first time by enantioselective visualization of D-Ala using our own established mouse monoclonal antibody against D-Ala. D-Ala immunopositive cells were present predominantly in the anterior lobe, while no intense staining was observed in the intermediate and posterior lobes. The anterior pituitary gland contains five types of cells secreting specific hormones (growth hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), gonadotropic hormone, prolactin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone), and the double staining results indicated that D-Ala is localized to the ACTH-secreting cells. The localization of D-Ala is clearly different from that of D-aspartic acid (D-Asp), which is observed in the prolactin cells. Considered together with our previous findings that D-Ala is localized to the insulin-secreting beta-cells in the pancreas, and both ACTH and insulin are typical regulatory hormones of blood glucose, D-Ala is suggested to have some functional relationships to blood glucose level regulation in mammals.     

Combination of ionic liquid [bmim]PF<Subscript>6</Subscript> with boron trifluoride etherate as an efficient catalytic system for the glycosylation of α-tocopherol and naphthotocopherol

The use of a combination of ionic liquid [bmim]PF₆ with boron trifluoride etherate as the catalyst in the glycosylation of α-tocopherol and chromanol of vitamin K₁ (naphthotocopherol) allowed us to obtain β-glycosides in high yield when β-anomer of peracetylated D-glucose was used. In addition, usually inactive α-anomers of peracetylated D-glucopyranose and D-galactopyranose were involved in this reaction. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2401–2404, December, 2007.     

Mono-and bis(5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-nitro-1,4:3,6-dianhydro-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">D</Emphasis>-sorbit-2-yl) phosphates: synthesis and reactions with hydroxy-and amino-containing compounds

The reaction of 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-sorbitol 5-nitrate with POCl₃ afforded mono-and bis(5-O-nitro-1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-sorbit-2-yl) phosphorochloridates, whose hydrolysis resulted in phosphoric acid mono-and diesters. The subsequent treatment of these compounds with bases gave sodium and cyclohexylammonium salts. The reactions of phosphorochloridates with phenol, pentaerythritol dibromohydrin, and ethylenimine in the presence of organic bases afford mixed phosphates and phosphoramidates. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2026–2032, October, 2007.