Diazirine-functionalized mannosides for photoaffinity labeling: trouble with FimH.

Photoaffinity labeling is frequently employed for the investigation of ligand-receptor interactions in solution. We have employed an interdisciplinary methodology to achieve facile photolabeling of the lectin FimH, which is a bacterial protein, crucial for adhesion, colonization and infection. Following our earlier work, we have here designed and synthesized diazirine-functionalized mannosides as high-affinity FimH ligands and performed an extensive study on photo-crosslinking of the best ligand (mannoside 3) with a series of model peptides and FimH. Notably, we have employed high-performance mass spectrometry to be able to detect radiation results with the highest possible accuracy. We are concluding from this study that photolabeling of FimH with sugar diazirines has only very limited success and cannot be regarded a facile approach for covalent modification of FimH.

Synthesis and testing of the first azobenzene mannobioside as photoswitchable ligand for the bacterial lectin FimH.

In order to allow spatial and temporal control of carbohydrate-specific bacterial adhesion, it has become our goal to synthesise azobenzene mannosides as photoswitchable inhibitors of type 1 fimbriae-mediated adhesion of E. coli. An azobenzene mannobioside 2 was prepared and its photochromic properties were investigated. The E→Z isomerisation was found to be highly effective, yielding a long-lived (Z)-isomer. Both isomers, E and Z, show excellent water solubility and were tested as inhibitors of mannoside-specific bacterial adhesion in solution. Their inhibitory potency was found to be equal and almost two orders of magnitude higher than that of the standard inhibitor methyl mannoside. These findings could be rationalised on the basis of computer-aided docking studies. The properties of the new azobenzene mannobioside have qualified this glycoside to be eventually employed on solid support, in order to fabricate photoswitchable adhesive surfaces.

Inhibition of bacterial adhesion to live human cells: activity and cytotoxicity of synthetic mannosides.

Bacterial adhesion to glycosylated surfaces is a key issue in human health and disease. Inhibition of bacterial adhesion by suitable carbohydrates could lead to an anti-adhesion therapy as a novel approach against bacterial infections. A selection of five α-mannosides has been evaluated as inhibitors of bacterial adhesion to the polysaccharide mannan, as well as to the surface of live human HT-29 cells. Cell toxicity studies were performed to identify the therapeutic window for a potential in vivo-application of the tested carbohydrates. A previously published mannosidic squaric acid diamide was shown to be exceptionally effective as inhibitor of the bacterial lectin FimH.