Biologically active glycosides from asteroidea, 43. Isolation and structure of a new neuritogenic-active ganglioside molecular species from the starfish Linckia laevigata

A ganglioside molecular species, LLG-5 (1), has been obtained from the water soluble lipid fraction of the CHCl3/MeOH extract of the starfish Linckia laevigata. On the basis of chemical and spectroscopic findings, the structure of 1 has been elucidated. Negative ion FAB-MS provided important information both on the structure of the sugar moiety and on the molecular mass of the ganglioside. 1 is a new ganglioside molecular species possessing a 2-->11 linked linear-type trisialosyl moiety. Moreover, 1 exhibited neuritogenic activity in rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells in the presence of nerve growth factor.     

Isolation and structure of a GD3-Type ganglioside molecular species possessing neuritogenic activity from the starfish Luidia maculata

A GD3-type ganglioside molecular species, LMG-4 (1), has been obtained from the polar lipid fraction of the chloroform/methanol extract of the starfish Luidia maculata. The structure of this ganglioside has been determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence to be 1-O-[(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->8)-(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->3)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide. The ceramide moiety was composed of heterogeneous 2-hydroxy fatty acid and phytosphingosine units. This is the first report on the isolation and structure elucidation of GD3-type ganglioside from echinoderms. Moreover, 1 exhibited neuritogenic activity toward the rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells in the presence of nerve growth factor.     

Constituents of Holothuroidea, 13. Structure of neuritogenic active ganglioside molecular species from the sea cucumber Stichopus chloronotus

Three ganglioside molecular species, SCG-1, SCG-2, and SCG-3, were obtained from the lipid fraction of the chloroform-methanol extract of the sea cucumber Stichopus chloronotus. On the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence, the structures of these gangliosides have been determined to be 1-O-[(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (SCG-1), 1-O-[8-O-sulfo(major)-(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (SCG-2), and 1-O-[alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-(1-->11)-(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (SCG-3). The ceramide moieties were composed of heterogeneous long-chain base and fatty acid units. SCG-3 is the first type of ganglioside containing a fucopyranose in the sialosyl trisaccharide moiety. Moreover, these three gangliosides exhibited neuritogenic activity toward the rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells in the presence of nerve growth factor.     

Constituents of holothuroidea. 10. Isolation and structure of a biologically active ganglioside molecular species from the sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota

Three ganglioside molecular species, HLG-1 (1), HLG-2 (2), and HLG-3 (3) have been obtained from the lipid fraction of the chloroform/methanol extract of the sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota. The structures of these gangliosides have been determined, on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence, as 1-O-[(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (1), 1-O-[(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->4)-(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (2) and 1-O-[alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-(1-->11)-(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-neuraminosyl)-(2-->4)-(N-aetyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (3). The ceramide moieties were composed of heterogeneous phytosphingosine, sphingosine and 2-hydroxy fatty acid units. Compounds 2 and 3 represent new ganglioside molecular species. These three ganglioside molecular species showed neuritogenic activity toward the rat pheochromocytoma cell line, PC-12 cell, in the presence of NGF (nerve growth factor).     

Isolation and structure of monomethylated GM3-type ganglioside molecular species from the starfish Luidia maculata

Two monomethylated GM(3)-Type ganglioside molecular species, 1 and 2, have been obtained from the polar lipid fraction of the chloroform/methanol extract of the starfish Luidia maculata. The structures of these gangliosides have been determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence as 1-O-[8-O-methyl-(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->3)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (1) and 1-O-[8-O-methyl-(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->3)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (2). The ceramide moieties were composed of heterogeneous unsubstituted fatty acid, 2-hydroxy fatty acid, sphingosine and phytosphingosine units. Compound 1, designated as LMG-3, represents new ganglioside molecular species. Compound 2 was a known ganglioside molecular species.     

Constituents of ophiuroidea. 1. Isolation and structure of three ganglioside molecular species from the brittle star Ophiocoma scolopendrina.

Three ganglioside molecular species, OSG-0 (1), OSG-1 (2), and OSG-2 (3) have been obtained from the polar lipid fraction of the chloroform/methanol extract of the brittle star Ophiocoma scolopendrina. The structures of these gangliosides have been determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence as 1-O-[(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (1), 1-O-[8-O-sulfo-(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyll-ceramide (2) and 1-O-[(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->8)-(N-acetyl- and N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-ceramide (3). The ceramide moieties were composed of heterogeneous unsubstituted fatty acid, 2-hydroxy fatty acid and phytosphingosine units. Compounds 2 and 3 represent new ganglioside molecular species.     

Hematoside with 8-O-methyl-N-glycolylneuraminic acid from the starfishLinckia laevigata

A ganglioside was isolated from the starfishLinckia laevigata, and its structure was elucidated by chemical methods, mass spectrometry, and enzymatic hydrolysis with neuraminidase. The ganglioside is a hematoside containing 8-O-methyl-N-glycolylneuraminic acid, 8-O-Me-Neu5Gc-α2→3-Gal-β1→4-Glc-β1→1-Cer. The lipid part of the ganglioside consists of unsubstituted fatty acids (the major component is palmitic acid) and C_18∶1-iso-sphingenine.     

Principal active species of horseradish peroxidase, compound I: a hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical study

The active species, Compound I, of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) has been investigated by quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations using 10 different QM regions. In accord with experimental data, the lowest doublet and quartet states are found to be virtually degenerate, with two unpaired electrons on the FeO moiety and one localized on the porphyrin in an a(2u)-dominant orbital with a minor, but nonnegligible, a(1u) component. The proximal ligand appears to be imidazole rather than imidazolate. The hydrogen-bonding network around the FeO moiety (i.e., Arg38 and His42) has significant influence on the axial bonds and the spin density distribution in the FeO moiety. Including this network in the QM region was found to be essential for reproducing the experimental M?ssbauer parameters. The protein environment shapes most of the subtle features of Compound I of HRP.     

Constituents of Holothuroidea, 15. Isolation of ante-iso type regio-isomer on long chain base moiety of glucocerebroside from the sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota

An ante-iso type regio-isomer on the long chain base moiety of a glucocerebroside, HLC-2-A, has been isolated from its parent glucocerebroside molecular species HLC-2 composed of iso and ante-iso isomers, from the less polar lipid fraction of a chloroform/methanol extract of the sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota. Reverse-phase HPLC that included a recycling system was effective in separating the regio-isomer from its counterpart, revealing a very close resemblance in structure. Other typical glucocerebroside molecular species HLC-1 and HLC-3 were obtained together with HLC-2. The structures of these glucocerebrosides were determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.     

A sialylation study of mouse brain gangliosides by MALDI a-TOF and o-TOF mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) process of sialoglycoconjugates is generally accompanied by different levels of cleavage of sialic acid residues and/or by dehydration, and decarboxylation reactions. Quantitative densitometry of the mouse brain ganglioside (MBG) components separated by high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and evidenced by orcinol staining was a basis to verify the ganglioside composition pattern with respect to the relative abundances of individual components in the mixture. A systematic mass spectrometry (MS) sialylation analysis has been carried out to evaluate the feasibility of an axial time-of-flight (a-TOF) MS, equipped with a vacuum MALDI source and an orthogonal-TOF (o-TOF) instrument with an ion source operated at about 1 mbar of N(2). Besides, the esterification by one methyl group of the carboxyl group in sialic acid to increase the stability of the ganglioside species for MALDI MS analysis has been tested and the yield of intact ganglioside species and of the neutral loss of water and carbon dioxide estimated. For the sialylation analysis of native ganglioside mixtures the MALDI o-TOF analysis with 6-azo-2-thiothymine/diammonium citrate (ATT/DAC) as a matrix appears as an optimal approach for ganglioside profiling.     

Heme-protein active site models via self-assembly in water

[structure: see text] Water-soluble models of heme-protein active sites are obtained via the self-assembly of cationic porphyrins 1 and tetrasulfonato calix[4]arene 2 (K(1.2)() = 10(5) M(-)(1)). Selective binding of ligands either outside or inside the cavity of assemblies 1.2 via coordination to the zinc center has been observed. Small ligands such as 4-methylpyridine and 1-methylimidazole are encapsulated, while the bulkier caffeine is bound outside. Assemblies Co-1.2, in which the Zn porphyrin moiety has been replaced by a Co(II) porphyrin, can act as O(2) carriers.     

Constituents of holothuroidea.9. Isolation and structure of a new ganglioside molecular species from the sea cucumber Holothuria pervicax

A new ganglioside molecular species, HPG-7 (1) was obtained from the polar fraction of the chloroform/methanol extract of the sea cucumber, Holothuria pervicax. On the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence, the structure of 1 was determined, and the major component was 1-O-[alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl) - (2-->11)-(N-glycolyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->4)-(N-acetyl -alpha-D- neuraminosyl)-(2-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(2S,3S,4R)-2-[(2R)-2- hydroxytetracosanoylamino]-14-methyl-hexadecane-1,3,4-triol. This is the first report on the isolation and structure elucidation of trisialo-ganglioside from sea cucumber. 1 showed neuritogenic activity toward the rat pheochromocytoma cell line, PC-12 cell.     

Preparation and characterization of a novel organic-inorganic nanohybrid "cerasome" formed with a liposomal membrane and silicate surface

A novel class of organic-inorganic hybrids, the so-called cerasomes, which have a bilayer vesicular structure and a silicate surface, has been synthesized by combination of sol-gel reaction and self-assembly of organoalkoxysilanes with a molecular structure analogous to lipids. We have synthesized two cerasome-forming organoalkoxysilanes, N-[N-(3-triethoxysilyl)propylsuccinamoyl]dihexadecylamine (1) and N,N-dihexadecyl-N (alpha)-[6-[(3-triethoxysilyl)propyldimethylammonio]hexanoyl]glycinamide bromide (2), and investigated the synthetic conditions of the cerasomes and their structural characteristics. For the proamphiphilic 1, the cerasome was obtained under restricted pH conditions where acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the triethoxysilyl moiety proceeded without disturbing the vesicle formation. In contrast, the amphiphilic 2, additionally having a hydrophilic quaternary ammonium group, formed stable dispersions of the cerasome in a wide pH range. The hydrolysis behavior of the triethoxysilyl groups was monitored by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Morphology of the cerasomes having the liposomal vesicular structure was confirmed by TEM observations. Extent of the development of siloxane networks through condensation among the silanol groups on the cerasome surface was evaluated by using MALDI-TOF-MS spectrometry. Formation of oligomers of the cerasome-forming lipids in the vesicle was clearly confirmed. Due to the siloxane network formation, the cerasome showed remarkably high morphological stability compared with a reference liposome, as evaluated by surfactant dissolution measurements.     

Gangliosides' analysis by MALDI-ion mobility MS

The combination of ion mobility with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization allows for the rapid separation and analysis of biomolecules in complex mixtures (such as tissue sections and cellular extracts), as isobaric lipid, peptide, and oligonucleotide molecular ions are pre-separated in the mobility cell before mass analysis. In this study, MALDI-IM MS is used to analyze gangliosides, a class of complex glycosphingolipids that has different degrees of sialylation. Both GD1a and GD1b, structural isomers, were studied to see the effects on gas-phase structure depending upon the localization of the sialic acids. A total ganglioside extract from mouse brain was also analyzed to measure the effectiveness of ion mobility to separate out the different ganglioside species in a complex mixture.     

New Photochromic Salt Spiropyran with Benzyl Substituent

A new salt spiropyran of indoline series containing benzyl substituent in the 8'-position of the [2H]-chromene moiety of the molecule has been synthesized and studied. The structure of the obtained compound has been confirmed by methods ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy. The study of spectral characteristics and photochromic behavior of the target compound has shown that growing of its single crystal resulted in destruction on account of hydrolysis in acetonitrile. The ¹H NMR spectra of the initial salt spiropyran and product of hydrolysis have been compared.     

Hydrolysis of Al3+ from constrained molecular dynamics

We investigated the hydrolysis reactions of Al(3+) in AlCl(3) aqueous solution using the constrained molecular dynamics based on the Car-Parrinello molecular-dynamics method. By employing the proton-aluminum coordination number as a reaction coordinate in the constrained molecular dynamics the deprotonation as well as dehydration processes are successfully realized. From our free-energy difference of DeltaG(0) approximately 8.0 kcal mol(-1) the hydrolysis constant pK(a1) is roughly estimated as 5.8, comparable to the literature value of 5.07. We show that the free-energy difference for the hydrolysis of Al(3+) in acidic conditions is at least 4 kcal mol(-1) higher than that in neutral condition, indicating that the hydrolysis reaction is inhibited by the presence of excess protons located around the hydrated ion, in agreement with the change of the predominant species by pH.     

A Novel Method for the Production of Glycosphingolipids

Neolacto‐series ganglioside sialylparagloboside (SPG) is a ganglioside species present in various human tissues, and used in many important studies. In this study, four ganglioside analogs, GM3, GD3, SPG, and NeuAc‐Gal‐GlcNAc‐Gal‐GlcNAc‐Gal‐Glc‐Cer, were synthesized by the saccharide‐primer method using MDCK cells and β‐lactoside primer with different aglycons. As compared to former methods for producing SPG, the primer method was rapid and convenient. Moreover, the yield of SPG was much higher than that obtained by former methods. The production of gangliosides with an azido group in the aglycon moiety was also achieved by using MDCK cells.     

The Immobiline family: from "vacuum" to "plenum" chemistry.

We list here a total of 17 acrylamido acids and bases as potential buffers and titrants for isoelectric focusing separations in immobilized pH gradients. The chemistry of these compounds is reviewed and general guidelines are given for their proper use. In particular, it is shown that the most delicate compounds are the basic species, since they can undergo several degradation pathways, including: (i) spontaneous hydrolysis to acrylic acid and a diamine; (ii) spontaneous autopolymerization to oligomers and n-mers; (iii) oxidation to N-oxides during the persulfate polymerization step. A hydrophobicity scale has been constructed, by partitioning the deprotonated species in water/1-octanol phases. A scale of resistance to alkaline hydrolysis for the basic acrylamido buffers is also given, followed by general consideration on the structure/stability relationship of these chemicals.     

Constituents of Crinoidea. 5. Isolation and structure of a new glycosyl inositolphosphoceramide-type ganglioside from the feather star Comanthina schlegeli

A new glycosyl inositolphosphoceramide-type ganglioside, CSP2, was obtained from the polar lipid fraction of the chloroform/methanol extract of the feather star Comanthina schlegeli together with a known same type of ganglioside CJP2. The structure of this ganglioside has been determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence to be 9-O-methyl-(N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminosyl)-(2-->3)-inositolphosphoceramide, which contains C(16)-sphingosine and C(22:0)-, C(24:0)-fatty acid as major component. This is the first report on the isolation and structural elucidation of a glycosyl inositolphosphoceramide-type ganglioside possessing N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (NeuAc) residue.     

Structure of the peptide moiety of verticillin

The amino acid sequence of the peptide moiety of verticillin (I) - a phytotoxic metabolite of the causative agent of verticillium wilt of the cotton plant - has been determined. On the basis of the determination of the amino acid sequences of five short peptides isolated from the products of incomplete acid hydrolysis of oxidized desferriverticillin, the structure cyclo[L-glycyl-L-seryl-L-glycyl(L--N-hydroxyornithyl)] has been established for the peptide moiety of (I).