Cyclophane-lectin Conjugates as a New Class of Water-soluble Host

A conjugate composed of tetraaza[6.1.6.1]paracyclophane bearing carboxylic acids and lectin, a carbohydrate binding protein, was prepared. The specific saccharide-binding abilities as well as the secondary structural features of the lectin were not disturbed, when the cyclophane were covalently bound to the lectin. The conjugate was found to act as a water-soluble host for inclusion of anionic guest molecules such as 6-p-toluidino-naphthalene-2-sulfonate (TNS) and 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate (ANS) in aqueous acetate buffer (pH 4.0) with binding constants of 4.2 × 10⁴ and 1.5 × 10⁴ dm³ mol⁻¹, respectively. The obtained binding constants were much larger than those by untethered water-soluble cyclophane. A highly desolvated microenvironment was provided by the cyclophane cavity on the protein surfaces so that the tight host–guest interaction, which brought about the marked motional repression of the entrapped guests, became effective. The conjugate also showed molecular discrimination capabilities toward the anionic guests through electrostatic repulsion mechanism originating from acid-dissociation equilibrium of carboxylic acids of the cyclophane branches.     

Achieving High Affinity towards a Bacterial Lectin through Multivalent Topological Isomers of Calix[4]arene Glycoconjugates

A family of seven topologically isomeric calix[4]arene glycoconjugates was prepared through the synthesis of a series of alkyne‐derivatised calix[4]arene precursors that are suitable for the attachment of sugar moieties by microwave‐assisted copper(I)‐catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The glycoconjugates thus synthesised comprised one mono‐functionalised derivative, two 1,2‐ or 1,3‐divalent regioisomers, one trivalent and three tetravalent topoisomers in the cone, partial cone or 1,3‐alternate conformations. The designed glycoconjugates were evaluated as ligands for the galactose‐binding lectin PA‐IL from the opportunistic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major causative agent of lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Binding affinities were determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and the interaction with the lectin was shown to be strongly dependant on both the valence and the topology. Whereas the trivalent conjugate displayed enhanced affinity when compared to a monosaccharide model, the tetravalent conjugates are to‐date the highest‐affinity ligands measured by ITC. The topologies presenting carbohydrates on both faces of calixarene are the most potent ones with dissociation constants of approximately 200 nM . Molecular modelling suggests that such a multivalent molecule can efficiently chelate two of the binding sites of the tetrameric lectin; this explains the 800‐fold increase of affinity achieved by the tetravalent molecule. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments confirmed that this glycoconjugate is the strongest inhibitor for binding of PA‐IL to galactosylated surfaces for potential applications as an anti‐adhesive agent.     

Sugars‐grafted aliphatic biodegradable poly(L‐lactide‐co‐carbonate)s by click reaction and their specific interaction with lectin molecules

A novel biodegradable aliphatic poly(L ‐lactide‐co‐carbonate) bearing pendant acetylene groups was successfully prepared by ring‐opening copolymerization of L ‐lactide (LA) with 5‐methyl‐5‐propargyloxycarbonyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐2‐one (PC) in the presence of benzyl alcohol as initiator with ZnEt₂ as catalyst in bulk at 100 °C and subsequently used for grafting 2‐azidoethyl β‐D ‐glucopyranoside and 2‐azidoethyl β‐lactoside by the typical “click reaction,” that is Cu(I)‐catalyzed cycloaddition of azide and alkyne. The density of acetylene groups in the copolymer can be tailored by the molar ratio of PC to LA during the copolymerization. The aliphatic copolymers grafted with sugars showed low cytotoxicity to L929 cells, improved hydrophilic properties and specific recognition and binding ability with lectins, that is Concanavalin A (Con A) and Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA). Therefore, this kind of sugar‐grafted copolymer could be a good candidate in variety of biomedical applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3204 –3217, 2007     

Glycopolymer-grafted polystyrene nanospheres

The synthesis and characterization of spherical sugar-containing polymer brushes consisting of PS cores onto which chains of sugar-containing polymers have been grafted via two different techniques are described. Photopolymerization in aqueous dispersion using the functional monomer MAGlc and crosslinked or non-crosslinked PS particles covered with a thin layer of photo-initiator yielded homogeneous glycopolymer brushes attached to spherical PS cores. As an alternative, ATRP was used to graft poly-(N-acetylglucosamine) arms from crosslinked PS cores. Deprotection of the grafted brushes led to water-soluble particles that act as carriers for catalytically active gold nanoparticles. These glycopolymer chains show a high affinity to adsorb WGA whereas no binding to BSA or PNA could be detected.     

Correlative microscopy: a powerful tool for exploring neurological cells and tissues

Imaging tools for exploring the neurological samples have seen a rapid transformation over the last decade. Approaches that allow clear and specific delineation of targeted tissues, individual neurons, and their cell–cell connections as well as subcellular constituents have been especially valuable. Considering the significant complexity and extent to which the nervous system interacts with every organ system in the body, one non-trivial challenge has been how to identify and target specific structures and pathologies by microscopy. To this end, correlative methods enable one to view the same exact structure of interest utilizing the capabilities of typically separate, but powerful, microscopy platforms. As such, correlative microscopy is well-positioned to address the three critical problems of identification, scale, and resolution inherent to neurological systems. Furthermore, the application of multiple imaging platforms to the study of singular biological events enables more detailed investigations of structure–function relationships to be conducted, greatly facilitating our understanding of relevant phenomenon. This comprehensive review provides an overview of methods for correlative microscopy, including histochemistry, transgenic markers, immunocytochemistry, photo-oxidation as well as various probes and tracers. An emphasis is placed on correlative light and electron microscopic strategies used to facilitate relocation of neurological structures. Correlative microscopy is an invaluable tool for neurological research, and we fully anticipate developments in automation of the process, and the increasing availability of genomic and transgenic tools will facilitate the adoption of correlative microscopy as the method of choice for many imaging experiments.     

Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of (α‐D‐Galactosyl)phenylmethane and α‐,β‐Difluoromethane Analogues: Interactions with the Plant Lectin Viscumin

To bend about : The conformations of three phenyl‐C‐galactosides in solution were evaluated by using theoretical calculations and NMR spectroscopic studies. The α‐CF₂ derivative (see scheme) showed significant flexibility of the pyranose ring and around the pseudoanomeric center, whereas the other two analogues more closely resemble the natural galactosides. Regardless, all three compounds bind to a plant lectin.

     

Evaluation of silica gel-immobilized phosphorylcholine columns for size exclusion chromatography and their application in the analysis of the subunit structures of fish-egg lectins

Columns of phosphorylcholine (PC) immobilized on silica gel were shown to be useful for size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of proteins. The columns provided good separation of proteins in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.9) containing 0.25 M NaCl, and there was a linear relationship between the retention times and the logarithmic values of the molecular weights with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.978–0.992. The columns were used in analyzing the subunit structures of the rhamnose-binding lectins CSL1, CSL2, and CSL3, isolated from chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) eggs. Although the lectins, which are a group of carbohydrate-binding and hydrophobic proteins, behaved anomalously in SEC with conventional matrices, they could be eluted from the immobilized PC columns without non-size-related retention, thereby allowing their molecular weights to be reliably estimated.     

Multivalent Interactions of Polyamide Based Sequence‐Controlled Glycomacromolecules with Concanavalin A

Binding of mannose presenting macromolecules to the protein receptor concanavalin A (ConA) is investigated by means of single‐molecule atomic force spectroscopy (SMFS) in combination with dynamic light scattering and molecular modeling. Oligomeric (M_w ≈ 1.5–2.5 kDa) and polymeric (M_w ≈ 22–30 kDa) glycomacromolecules with controlled number and positioning of mannose units along the scaffolds accessible by combining solid phase synthesis and thiol–ene coupling are used as model systems to assess the molecular mechanisms that contribute to multivalent ConA–mannose complexes. SMFS measurements show increasing dissociation force from monovalent (≈57 pN) to pentavalent oligomers (≈75 pN) suggesting subsite binding to ConA. Polymeric glycomacromolecules with larger hydrodynamic diameters compared to the binding site spacing of ConA exhibit larger dissociation forces (≈80 pN), indicating simultaneous dissociation from multiple ConA binding sites. Nevertheless, although simultaneous dissociation of multiple ligands could be expected for such multivalent systems, predominantly single dissociation events are observed. This is rationalized by strong coiling of the macromolecules' polyamide backbone due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding hindering unfolding of the coil. Therefore, this study shows that the design of glycopolymers for multivalent receptor binding and clustering must consider 3D structure and intramolecular interactions of the scaffold.     

Interaction of soybean agglutinin with leukemic T-cells and its use for their in vitro separation from normal lymphocytes by lectin-affinity chromatography

A procedure for separation of leukemic T-cells from normal lymphocytes, using lectin-affinity column chromatography, is described. CNBr-activated Sepharose 6MB was used as a non-mobile phase. The gel was covalently coupled with soybean agglutinin (SBA), then served as an affinity probe for fractionation of mixture of normal lymphocytes and leukemic cells. Leukemic cell lines, derived from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Jurkat, MOLT-4, RPMI-8402), were tested. The elution of normal lymphocytes was carried out by PBS(-). The leukemic T-cells, interacting with SBA, were removed by N-acetyl-D-galactosamine or low-concentration acetic acid. The type and viability of the separated cell fractions were analyzed by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy, using adequate fluorescent antibodies. The interaction of leukemic T-cells with free SBA, as well as with SBA-conjugated Sepharose beads, was examined fluorimetrically and visualized by fluorescent microscopy, using FITC-SBA as a marker. The rate of cell elution on SBA-affinity column decreased in order: normal > leukemic T-cells. Both normal lymphocytes and leukemic T-cells were removed in a mixture from SBA-free Sepharose 6MB by PBS(-) and were not fractionated discretely. The leukemic T-cells specifically interacted with SBA as well as with SBA-affinity adsorbent. In contrast, the normal lymphocytes did not interact with free SBA as well as with SBA-conjugated Sepharose beads in the concentrations applied. The method potentially combines a discrete cell fractionation with manifestation of a specific target cytotoxicity of SBA against leukemic T-cells, without any influence on normal lymphocytes.     

Rapid monitoring of high-mannose glycans during cell culture process of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies using lectin affinity chromatography

We developed a simple high-performance liquid chromatography assay to monitor high-mannose glycans in monoclonal antibodies by monitoring terminal alpha-mannose as a surrogate marker. Analysis of glycan data of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies by 2-aminobenzamide assay showed a linear relationship between high mannose and terminal mannose of Fc glycans. Concanavalin A has a strong affinity to alpha-mannose in glycans of typical therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. To show that terminal mannose binds specifically to Concanavalin A column, exoglycosidase-treated monoclonal antibodies were serially blended with untreated monoclonal antibodies. Linear responses of terminal-mannose binding to the column and comparable data trending with high mannose levels by 2-aminobenzamide assay confirmed that terminal-mannose levels measured by the Concanavalin A column can be used as a surrogate for the prediction of high-mannose levels in monoclonal antibodies. The assay offers a simple, fast, and specific capability for the prediction of high-mannose content in samples compared with traditional glycan profiling by 2-aminobenzamide or mass spectrometry-based methods. When the Concanavalin A column was coupled with protein A column for purification of antibodies from cell culture samples in a fully automated two-dimensional analysis, high-mannose data could be relayed to the manufacturing team in less than 30 min, allowing near-real-time monitoring of high-mannose levels in the cell culture process.