Total Synthesis of a PSGL-1 Glycopeptide Analogue for Targeted Inhibition of P-Selectin.

The high affinity interaction between P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) and P-selectin is mediated by a multimotif glycosulfopeptide (GSP) recognition domain consisting of clustered tyrosine sulfates and a Core 2 O-glycan terminated with sialyl LewisX (C2-O-sLeX). These distinct GSP motifs are much more common than previously appreciated within a wide variety of functionally important domains involved in protein-protein interactions. However, despite the potential of GSPs to serve as tools for fundamental studies and prospects for drug discovery, their utility has been limited by the absence of chemical schemes for synthesis on scale. Herein, we report the total synthesis of GSnP-6, an analogue of the N-terminal domain of PSGL-1, and potent inhibitor of P-selectin. An efficient, scalable, hydrogenolysis-free synthesis of C2-O-sLeX-Thr-COOH was identified by both convergent and orthogonal one-pot assembly, which afforded this crucial building block, ready for direct use in solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). C2-O-sLeX-Thr-COOH was synthesized in 10 steps with an overall yield of 23% from the 4-O,5-N oxazolidinone thiosialoside donor. This synthesis represents an 80-fold improvement in reaction yield as compared to prior reports, achieving the first gram scale synthesis of SPPS ready C2-O-sLeX-Thr-COOH and enabling the scalable synthesis of GSnP-6 for preclinical evaluation. Significantly, we established that GSnP-6 displays dose-dependent inhibition of venous thrombosis in vivo and inhibits vaso-occlusive events in a human sickle cell disease equivalent microvasculature-on-a-chip system. The insights gained in formulating this design strategy can be broadly applied to the synthesis of a wide variety of biologically important oligosaccharides and O-glycan bearing glycopeptides.

Insights Derived from the Synthesis of a Complex Core 2 Glycan.

We describe the synthesis of a benzoyl-based C2-O-sLeX-Thr-COOH building block devoid of any aglycone transfer or orthoester-formed byproducts. The absence of byproducts was achieved in the course of both [1 + 1] glycosylation reactions with thiophenol aglycone containing galactose acceptors, as well as a [2 + 2] glycosylation in the presence of a p-methoxy benzyl containing glucosamine-fucose disaccharide. We also report an efficient [2 + 1 + 1] synthesis of a peracetylated sLeX en route to a peracetylated C2-O-sLeX-Thr-COOH. While the total synthesis of the latter compound was recently reported by a related route, the divergent [2 + 1 + 1] synthesis provided good reaction yields for each step of the sequence, establishing this scheme as an alternate approach to the peracetylated C2-O-sLeX-Thr-COOH. Importantly, the current report details the role of a variety of hydroxy-protecting groups, including acetyl, benzoyl, p-methoxy benzyl, and naphthylmethyl that may be considered in designing a route to this complex Core 2 glycan. While we have previously described the use of more glycosylation-friendly naphthylmethyl protecting groups, the current synthesis used p-methoxy benzyl protecting groups with excellent reaction yields, demonstrating the feasibility of applying this side reaction-prone protecting group for this challenging synthesis.

A PSGL-1 glycomimetic reduces thrombus burden without affecting hemostasis.

Events mediated by the P-selectin/PSGL-1 pathway play a critical role in the initiation and propagation of venous thrombosis by facilitating the accumulation of leukocytes and platelets within the growing thrombus. Activated platelets and endothelium express P-selectin, which binds P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) that is expressed on the surface of all leukocytes. We developed a pegylated glycomimetic of the N terminus of PSGL-1, PEG40-GSnP-6 (P-G6), which proved to be a highly potent P-selectin inhibitor with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile for clinical translation. P-G6 inhibits human and mouse platelet-monocyte and platelet-neutrophil aggregation in vitro and blocks microcirculatory platelet-leukocyte interactions in vivo. Administration of P-G6 reduces thrombus formation in a nonocclusive model of deep vein thrombosis with a commensurate reduction in leukocyte accumulation, but without disruption of hemostasis. P-G6 potently inhibits the P-selectin/PSGL-1 pathway and represents a promising drug candidate for the prevention of venous thrombosis without increased bleeding risk.

Convergent Synthesis of Sialyl LewisX- O-Core-1 Threonine.

Selectins are a class of cell adhesion molecules that play a critical role during the initial steps of inflammation. The N-terminal domain of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) binds to all selectins, but with the highest affinity to P-selectin. Recent evidence suggests that the blockade of P-selectin/PSGL-1 interactions provides a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of many inflammatory diseases. Herein, we report the total synthesis of threonine bearing sialyl LewisX (sLeX) linked to a Core-1- O-hexasaccharide 1, as a key glycan of the N-terminal domain of PSGL-1. A convergent synthesis using α-selective sialylation and a regioselective [4+2] glycosylation are the key features of this synthesis.

Structure-Based Design and Synthesis of Apramycin-Paromomycin Analogues: Importance of the Configuration at the 6'-Position and Differences between the 6'-Amino and Hydroxy Series.

The preparation of a series of four analogues of the aminoglycoside antibiotics neomycin and paromomycin is described in which ring I, involved in critical binding interactions with the ribosomal target, is replaced by an apramycin-like dioxabicyclo[4.4.0]octane system. The effect of this modification is to lock the hydroxymethyl side chain of the neomycin or paromomycin ring I, as part of the dioxabicyclooctane ring, into either the gauche-gauche or the gauche-trans conformation (respectively, axial or equatorial to the bicyclic system). The antiribosomal activity of these compounds is investigated with cell-free translation assays using both bacterial ribosomes and recombinant hybrid ribosomes carrying eukaryotic decoding A site cassettes. Compounds substituted with an equatorial hydroxyl or amino group in the newly formed ring are considerably more active than their axial diastereomers, lending strong support to crystallographically derived models of aminoglycoside-ribosome interactions. One such bicyclic compound carrying an equatorial hydroxyl group has activity equal to that of the parent yet displays better ribosomal selectivity, predictive of an enhanced therapeutic index. A paromomycin analog lacking the hydroxymethyl ring I side chain is considerably less active than the parent. Antibacterial activity against model Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria is reported for selected compounds, as is activity against ESKAPE pathogens and recombinant bacteria carrying specific resistance determinants. Analogues with a bicyclic ring I carrying equatorial amino or hydroxyl groups mimicking the bound side chains of neomycin and paromomycin, respectively, show excellent activity and, by virtue of their novel structure, retain this activity in strains that are insensitive to the parent compounds.

Fluorine-decoupled carbon spectroscopy for the determination of configuration at fully substituted, trifluoromethyl- and perfluoroalkyl-bearing carbons: comparison with 19F-1H heteronuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy.

The synthesis of a series of α-trifluoromethylcyclohexanols and analogous trimethylsilyl ethers by addition of the Ruppert-Prakash reagent to substituted cyclohexanones is presented. A method for the assignment of configuration of such compounds, of related α-trifluoromethylcyclohexylamines and of quaternary trifluoromethyl-substituted carbons is described based on the determination of the (3)J(CH) coupling constant between the fluorine-decoupled (13)CF3 resonance and the vicinal hydrogens. This method is dubbed fluorine-decoupled carbon spectroscopy and abbreviated FDCS. The method is also applied to the configurational assignment of substances bearing mono-, di-, and perfluoroalkyl rather than trifluoromethyl groups. The configuration of all substances was verified by either (19)F-(1)H heteronuclear Overhauser spectroscopy (HOESY) or X-ray crystallography. The relative merits of FDCS and HOESY are compared and contrasted. (2)J(CH), (3)J(CH), and (4)J(CH) coupling constants to (19)F decoupled CF3 groups in alkenes and arenes have also been determined and should prove to be useful in the structural assignment of trifluoromethylated alkenes and arenes.

The isothiocyanato moiety: an ideal protecting group for the stereoselective synthesis of sialic acid glycosides and subsequent diversification.

The preparation of a crystalline, peracetyl adamantanyl thiosialoside donor protected by an isothiocyanate group is described. On activation at -78 °C in the presence of typical carbohydrate acceptors, this donor gives high yields of the corresponding sialosides with exquisite α-selectivity. The high selectivity extends to the 4-O-benzyl-protected 3-OH acceptors, which are typically less reactive and selective than galactose 3,4-diols. Treatment of the α-sialosides with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane or allyltris(trimethylsilyl)silane results in replacement of the C5-N5 bond by a C-H or a C-C bond. The reaction of the isothiocyanate-protected sialosides with thioacids generates amides, while reaction with an amine gives a thiourea, which can be converted into a guanidine. The very high α-selectivities observed with the new donor and the rich chemistry of the isothiocyante function considerably extend the scope for optimization at the sialoside 5-position.

Influence of protecting groups on O- and C-glycosylation with neuraminyl and ulosonyl dibutylphosphates.

The adamantanyl thioglycosides of 5-isothiocyano and 5-azido 5-desamino-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetylneuraminic acid methyl ester were converted into the corresponding dibutyl phosphates, which proved to be excellent α-selective donors for O-sialidation with a range of typical acceptors, and good donors for reaction with allyltributylstannane, albeit without significant anomeric selectivity. In the KDN series the dibuylphosphate derived from a donor carrying a 4,5-cyclic carbonate protecting group afforded the corresponding C-glycoside with excellent α-selectivity on activation in the presence of allyltributylstannane, whereas the corresponding donor carrying acetate esters at the 4- and 5-positions was unselective. Overall, it is revealed that while the strongly electron-withdrawing isothiocyanato and azido groups are sufficient to promote highly α-selective O-sialidation, they are inadequate when faced with less reactive nucleophiles when mixtures of anomers are obtained.

Synthesis of LewisX-O-Core-1 threonine: A building block for O-linked LewisX glycopeptides.

LewisX (LeX) is a branched trisaccharide Galß1→4(Fucα1→3)GlcNAc that is expressed on many cell surface glycoproteins and plays critical roles in innate and adaptive immune responses. However, efficient synthesis of glycopeptides bearing LeX remains a major limitation for structure-function studies of the LeX determinant. Here we report a total synthesis of a LeX pentasaccharide 1 using a regioselective 1-benzenesulfinyl piperidine/triflic anhydride promoted [3 + 2] glycosylation. The presence of an Fmoc-threonine amino acid facilitates incorporation of the pentasaccharide in solid phase peptide synthesis, providing a route to diverse O-linked LeX glycopeptides. The described approach is broadly applicable to the synthesis of a variety of complex glycopeptides containing O-linked LeX or sialyl LewisX (sLeX).

Importance of the 6'-hydroxy group and its configuration for apramycin activity.

A series of apramycin derivatives was prepared and investigated for antibacterial activity and the ability to inhibit protein synthesis in cell-free translation assays. The effect of various modifications at the 6'- and N7'-positions on antiribosomal activity is discussed in terms of their influence on drug binding to specific residues in the decoding A-site. These studies contribute to the development of a structure-activity relationship for the antibacterial activity of the apramycin class of aminoglycosides and to the future design and development of more active and less toxic antibiotics.