In situ formation of C-glycosides during electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of a series of synthetic amphiphilic cholesteryl polyethoxy neoglycolipids containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetyl-D-glucosamine

In this communication, the structural analysis of six synthetic O-Linked amphiphilic cholesteryl polyethoxy neoglycolipids containing N-acetyl-D-glucosamine was performed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the positive ion mode, with a QqTOF-MS/MS hybrid instrument. The MS/MS analyses provided evidence for the "in situ" formation, in the collision cell of the tandem mass spectrometer, of an unexpected and unique [C-glycoside]+ product ion, resulting from an ion-molecule reaction between the N-acetyl-D-glucosamine oxonium ion and the neutral cholesta-3,5-diene molecule. Quasi MS3 analysis of this ion resulted in the dissociation of the precursor [C-glycoside]+ ion, which produced the expected third generation N-acetyl-D-glucosamine oxonium and the protonated cholesta-3,5-diene product ions.     

Isolation of a new class of ecdysteroid conjugates (glucosyl-ferulates) using a combination of liquid chromatographic methods

The Polynesian medicinal fern Microsorum membranifolium contains very large amounts of ecdysteroids, including ecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone, 2-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone, and 2-deoxyecdysone. It also contains large amounts of unusual ecdysteroids which have been unambiguously identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. A new class of ecdysteroid conjugates (3-glucosyl-ferulates of 2-deoxyecdysone and 2-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone) is isolated, together with a new glycoside (2-deoxyecdysone 25-rhamnoside). The simultaneous presence of a sugar and an aromatic moiety results in a very particular chromatographic behavior of these conjugates. They behave like flavonoids and polyphenols when using the classical purification on polyamide, aimed at removing the latter from crude plant extracts, and would therefore be lost. They elute as non-polar ecdysteroids on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), whereas their behavior on normal-phase (NP) HPLC is strongly dependent on the mobile phase composition. Our data highlight the importance of selectivity in the choice of HPLC methods used for ecdysteroid separations.     

Iodoacetoxylation Reaction: A Convenient Route to α-Glycosides in the 2-Iodo and 2-Deoxy Series

Abstract

Iodoacetoxylation of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-2-deoxy-D-arabino-hex-1-enitol (tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal) (1) and 3,4-di-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-2,6-dideoxy-L-arabino-hex-1-enitol (di-O-acetyl-L-rhamnal) (3) gave the α-1,2-trans-1-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-iodo adducts with high stereoselectivities and good yields, in accordance with the results reported on 3,6-di-O-acetyl-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-1,5-an-hydro-2-deoxy-D-arabino-hex-1-enitol (hexa-O-acetyl lactal) (2). The α-1,2-trans adducts were reacted with an excess of alcohol in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethane-sulfonate affording the corresponding α-1,2-trans-2-deoxy-2-iodo-glycopyranosides in good yields. The octyl 2-deoxy-2-iodo-α-D-glycosides 10 and 11 prepared in two steps from the glycals 1 and 2 were deiodinated and deacetylated, giving 28 and 29, and the physicochemical-properties (cmc) of 29 are reported.     

Chromatographic procedures for the isolation of plant steroids.

In this review, we consider the general principles and specific methods for the purification of different classes of phytosteroids which have been isolated from plant sources: brassinosteroids, bufadienolides, cardenolides, cucurbitacins, ecdysteroids, steroidal saponins, steroidal alkaloids, vertebrate-type steroids and withanolides. For each class we give a brief summary of the characteristic structural features, their distribution in the plant world and their biological effects and applications. Most classes are associated with one or a few plant families, e.g., the withanolides with the Solanaceae, but others, e.g., the saponins, are very widespread. Where a compound class has been extensively studied, a large number of analogues are present across a range of species. We discuss the general principles for the isolation of plant steroids. The predominant methods for isolation are solvent extraction/partition followed by column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography/HPLC.     

Identification and quantitative analysis of the phytoecdysteroids in Silene species (Caryophyllaceae) by high-performance liquid chromatography. Novel ecdysteroids from S. pseudotites.

Many species in the genus Silene (Caryophyllaceae) have previously been shown to contain ecdysteroids and this genus is recognised as a good source of novel ecdysteroid analogues. We have used ecdysteroid-specific radioimmunoassays and the microplate-based Drosophila melanogaster B(II) cell bioassay for ecdysteroid agonist and antagonist activities to identify further phytoecdysteroid-containing species in this genus. The main ecdysteroid components from 10 Silene species (S. antirrhina, S. chlorifolia, S. cretica, S. disticha, S. echinata, S. italica, S. portensis, S. pseudotites, S. radicosa, S. regia) were isolated and identified, mainly by normal-phase and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The amount of each ecdysteroid was determined by comparing chromatogram peak areas with those for reference 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) on reversed-phase HPLC. 20E is the most abundant ecdysteroid in each of the Silene extracts. Polypodine B, 2-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone and ecdysone are also common ecdysteroids in these Silene species, but the proportions of these ecdysteroids vary between the Silene species. HPLC proved to be a quick and effective way to screen Silene species, determine ecdysteroid profiles and, hence, identify extracts containing novel analogues. An extract of the aerial parts of S. pseudotites was found to contain several new ecdysteroids. These have been isolated and identified spectroscopically (by NMR and mass spectrometry) as 2-deoxyecdysone 22beta-D-glucoside, 2-deoxy-20,26-dihydroxyecdysone and 2-deoxypolypodine B 3beta-D-glucoside. Additionally, (5alpha-H)-2-deoxyintegristerone A (5alpha-2H 91%, 5alpha-1H 9%) was isolated as an artefact. This study contributes to the understanding of ecdysteroid distribution in Silene species and provides further information on the chemotaxonomic significance of ecdysteroids in Silene species.     

Hyaluronidase binds differently DPPC,DPPS or GlcNAc-bearing glycolipid biomimetic monolayers

Bovine testis hyaluronidase (btHyal) had been shown to have direct effects on cancer cells and to be a useful adjuvant in several medicines. Furthermore this enzyme had been found to be membrane-associated. Thus, in this work, the interactions between btHyal and membranes were analyzed by using lipid monolayers at the air–water interface as a biomimetic membrane system. This allowed us to define the btHyal interactions with two residues of hyaluronic acid (a btHyal substrate), GlcNAc and carboxylic group, which are present in cholesteryl-triethoxy-N-acetylglucosamine (Chol-E₃-GlcNAc) and in DPPS, respectively. btHyal bound preferentially Chol-E₃-GlcNAc monolayers and showed a decreasing affinity for Chol-E₃-GlcNAc-DPPC monolayers containing decreasing amount of glycolipid, suggesting a crucial role of the glycolipid GlcNAc. Furthermore the significant btHyal binding to DPPS was not affected by the presence of free GlcNAc in the subphase. These results and the absence of significant binding of btHyal to pure DPPC monolayer suggest that the protein interacts with the lipid monolayer by mimicking the enzyme–substrate interactions or by electrostatic interactions.     

Syntheses of l-glucosamine donors for 1,2-trans-glycosylation reactions

Two new l-glucosamine donors, that is pent-4-enyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-allyloxycarbonylamino-2-deoxy-β-l-glucopyranoside 16 and ethyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-allyloxycarbonylamino-2-deoxy-1-thio-β-l-glucopyranoside 21 were prepared in 12 steps from l-arabinose. The reaction pathway uses 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-l-glucal 5, and then 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-iodo-α-l-mannopyranosyl azide 8 as intermediates. The latter, together with donors 16 and 21, were used for preparing l-glucosamine neoglycolipids.     

Rigidity of hyperbolic P-manifolds: a survey

In this survey paper, we outline the proofs of rigidity results (Mostow type, quasi-isometric, and Diagram rigidity) for simple, thick, hyperbolic P-manifolds. These are stratified spaces, and are in some sense the simplest non-manifold locally CAT(−1) spaces one can create, having codimension one singularities along embedded totally geodesic submanifolds. All the proofs depend on the highly non-homogenous structure of the boundary at infinity of the (universal covers of the) spaces in question, and in particular, on an understanding of the local topology of the boundary at infinity. We emphasize the similarities and differences in the proofs of the various rigidity results. These results should be viewed as a first step towards understanding stratified locally CAT(−1) spaces.      

Variational transition‐state theory study of the rate constant of the DMS·OH scavenging reaction by O2

The chemical tropospheric dimethyl sulfide (DMS, CH₃SCH₃) degradation involves several steps highly dependent on the environmental conditions. So, intensive efforts have been devoted during the last years to enhance the understanding of the DMS oxidation mechanism under different conditions. The reaction of DMS with OH is considered to be the most relevant process that initiates the whole oxidation process. The experimental observations have been explained by a two‐channel mechanism consisting of a H‐abstraction process leading to CH₃S(O)CH₃ and HO₂ and an addition reaction leading to the DMS · OH adduct. In the presence of O₂, the DMS · OH adduct is competitively scavenged increasing the contribution of the addition channel to the overall DMS oxidation. Recent experimental measurements have determined from a global fit that the rate constant of this scavenging process is independent of pressure and temperature but this rate constant cannot be directly measured. In this article, a variational transition‐state theory calculation of the low‐ and high‐pressure rate constants for the reaction between DMS · OH and O₂ has been carried out as a function of temperature. Our proposal is that the slight temperature dependence of the scavenging rate constant can only be explained if the H‐abstraction bottleneck is preceded by a dynamical bottleneck corresponding to the association process between the DMS · OH adduct and the O₂ molecule. The agreement between the low‐pressure and high‐pressure rate constants confirms the experimental observations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011