Efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of UDP-α-6-N3-glucose.

A novel chemo-enzymatic synthetic method for UDP-α-6-N3-glucose was developed by combining the versatility of chemical synthesis and natural enzyme stereo-selectivity of Bifidobacterium longum (BLUSP). This flexible and efficient platform expanded the substrate scope for UDP-sugars on an improved scale, particularly for UDP-sugar substrates containing bioorthogonal functional groups.

Synthesis of 2-deoxy-hexopyranosyl derivatives of uridine as donor substrate analogues for glycosyltransferases.

A series of 2-deoxy-hexopyranosyl derivatives of uridine have been synthesized as analogues of UDP-sugar. These compounds were tested as inhibitors against bovine beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase I in fluorescent assays and showed no significant inhibition.

Practical preparation of UDP-apiose and its applications for studying apiosyltransferase.

UDP-apiose, a donor substrate of apiosyltransferases, is labile because of its intramolecular self-cyclization ability, resulting in the formation of apiofuranosyl-1,2-cyclic phosphate. Therefore, stabilization of UDP-apiose is indispensable for its availability and identifying and characterizing the apiosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of apiosylated sugar chains and glycosides. Here, we established a method for stabilizing UDP-apiose using bulky cations as counter ions. Bulky cations such as triethylamine effectively suppressed the degradation of UDP-apiose in solution. The half-life of UDP-apiose was increased to 48.1 ±â€¯2.4 h at pH 6.0 and 25 °C using triethylamine as a counter cation. UDP-apiose coordinated with a counter cation enabled long-term storage under freezing conditions. UDP-apiose was utilized as a donor substrate for apigenin 7-O-ß-D-glucoside apiosyltransferase to produce the apiosylated glycoside apiin. This apiosyltransferase assay will be useful for identifying genes encoding apiosyltransferases.

Synthesis of uridine 5'-diphosphoiduronic acid: a potential substrate for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of heparin.

An improved understanding of the biological activities of heparin requires structurally defined heparin oligosaccharides. The chemoenzymatic synthesis of heparin oligosaccharides relies on glycosyltransferases that use UDP-sugar nucleotides as donors. Uridine 5'-diphosphoiduronic acid (UDP-IdoA) and uridine 5'-diphosphohexenuronic acid (UDP-HexUA) have been synthesized as potential analogues of uridine 5'-diphosphoglucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA) for enzymatic incorporation into heparin oligosaccharides. Non-natural UDP-IdoA and UDP-HexUA were tested as substrates for various glucuronosyltransferases to better understand enzyme specificity.

Synthesis and photolytic activation of 6''-O-2-nitrobenzyl uridine-5'-diphosphogalactose: a 'caged' UDP-Gal derivative.

Placing an 2-nitrobenzyl group on O-6 of the galactosyl residue in uridine-5'-diphosphogalactose (UDP-Gal) gives 6''-O-2-nitrobenzyl-UDP-Gal that is shown to be inactive as a donor substrate for beta-(1-->4)-galactosyltransferase (GalT). On irradiation at 365 nm, the nitrobenzyl group is completely removed yielding native UDP-Gal that then transfers normally to produce the expected betaGal-(1-->4)-betaGlcNAc disaccharidic linkage. 6''-O-2-Nitrobenzyl-UDP-Gal thus fulfils the minimum requirements of a 'caged' UDP-Gal for application in time-resolved crystallographic studies of beta-(1-->4)-GalT.

Stereoselective chemical synthesis of sugar nucleotides via direct displacement of acylated glycosyl bromides.

[structure: see text]. The use of Leloir glycosyltransferases to prepare biologically relevant oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates requires access to sugar nucleoside diphosphates, which are notoriously difficult to efficiently synthesize and purify. We report a novel stereoselective route to UDP- and GDP-alpha-D-mannose as well as UDP- and GDP-beta-L-fucose via direct displacement of acylated glycosyl bromides with nucleoside 5'-diphosphates.

Direct oxidation of sugar nucleotides to the corresponding uronic acids: TEMPO and platinum-based procedures.

The direct oxidation of UDP-alpha-d-glucose and UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-d-glucosamine to the corresponding uronic acids was explored using either TEMPO or platinum-catalysed oxidation with molecular oxygen. Whilst TEMPO-based procedures gave rise to substantial over-oxidation and/or degradation of UDP-glucose, oxidation of UDP-N-acetyl-glucosamine to UDP-N-acetyl-glucosaminuronic acid was achieved with >90% conversion and ca. 65% isolated yield using a platinum-catalysed procedure.

Uridine diphosphate 2-deoxyglucose. Chemical synthesis, enzymic oxidation and epimerization.

The paper describes chemical synthesis of uridine diphosphate 2-deocyglucose (UDPdGLc) through reaction of uridine 5'-phosphomorpholidate with 2-deoxy-a-D-glucopyranosyl phosphate. The prepared analog of uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPGlc) served as a substrate for calf liver UDPGlc dehydrogenases (EC 1.1.1.22), the reaction product was identified as nucleotide deoxyhexuronic acid derivative. The apparent Km for UDPdGlc was found to be 60 times that of UDPGlc, and the relative V value for the analog was 0.09. The peculiar lag-eriod in reaction kinetics has been observed for the analog and is presumably connected with the slow rate of the initial stages of the reaction. UDPdGlc was found to be quite an efficient substrate for UDPGlc 4-epimerases (EC 5.13.2) from yeast, calf liver and mung bean seedlings.

Rational design, synthesis, and characterization of novel inhibitors for human beta1,4-galactosyltransferase.

An affinity labeling reagent, uridine 5'-(6-amino-{2-[(7-bromomethyl-2-naphthyl)methoxycarbonylmethoxy]ethoxy}acetyl-6-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl) diphosphate (1a), was designed on the basis of 3D docking simulation and synthesized to investigate the functional role of Trp310 residue located in the small loop near the active site of human recombinant galactosyltransferase (betaGalT-1). Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that the Trp310 residue of betaGalT1 can be selectively modified with the naphthylmethyl group of compound 1a at the C-3 position of the indole ring. This result motivated us to synthesize novel uridine-5'-diphosphogalactose (UDP-Gal) analogues as candidates for mechanism-based inhibitors for betaGalT-1. We found that uridine 5'-(6-O-[10-(2-naphthyl)-3,6,9-trioxadecanyl]-alpha-d-galactopyranosyl) diphosphate (2) is the strongest inhibitor (K(i) = 1.86 microM) against UDP-Gal (Km = 4.91 microM) among compounds reported previously. A cold spray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry study demonstrated that the complex of this inhibitor and betaGalT-1 cannot interact with an acceptor substrate in the presence of Mn2+.

Substrate properties of 5-fluorouridine diphospho sugars detected in hepatoma cells.

Nucleotide sugars derived from 5-fluorouridine were studied in cultured AS-30D hepatoma cells as well as in kinetic enzyme assays in vitro in comparison with the physiologic uridine diphospho sugars. Hepatoma cells converted 5-fluoro [14C]uridine to 5-fluorouridine diphospho (FUDP) glucose, FUDP-galactose, FUDP-N-acetylglucosamine, FUDP-N-acetylgalactosamine, and trace amounts of FUDP-glucuronate, as analyzed by different systems of high-performance liquid chromatography. 5-Fluoro[14C]uridine and [14C]uridine, at concentrations of 5 microM in the culture medium, were phosphorylated by the cells during 60 min to similar amounts of FUTP and UTP, respectively, while the synthesis of [14]FUDP-sugars was reduced to 14% as compared to that of [14C]UDP-sugars. FUDP-sugars, synthesized by chemical and enzymatic procedures, were assayed in vitro as substrates for enzymes of UDP-sugar metabolism. Km and V values in a range comparable to that of the respective UDP-sugars were determined for FUDP-sugars in the reactions catalyzed by UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, UDP-glucose 4-epimerase, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase, glycogen synthase, and UDP-glucose dehydrogenase. Our experiments in hepatoma cells and with enzymes in vitro have revealed additional reactions of FUDP-sugar metabolism demonstrating a metabolite pattern analogous to that of UDP-sugars. The amounts of FUDP-sugars formed relative to UDP-sugars in intact cells were smaller than suggested on the basis of their kinetic comparison in vitro.

Synthesis and rapid purification of UDP-[6-3H]galactose.

UDP[6-3H]galactose of high specificity can be obtained by oxidation of the C-6 hydroxymethyl group of UDP-galactose by galactose oxidase and subsequent reduction by sodium borotritide. One-step purification of the nucleotide sugar involves anion-exchange chromatography on a Pharmacia Mono Q column. Radiolabeled UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine can also be synthesized and purified by this procedure. Both nucleotide sugars can be used for sugar incorporation studies using the appropriate glycosyltransferase.

Synthesis of uridine 5'-(2-acetamido-2,4-dideoxy-4-fluoro-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl) diphosphate and uridine 5'-(2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-6-fluoro-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl) diphosphate.

Benzyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside was converted into its 4-O-(methylsulfonyl) derivative (2) by treatment with methanesulfonyl chloride in pyridine. Displacement of the methylsulfonyloxy group of 2 with fluoride ion afforded benzyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2,4-dideoxy-4-fluoro-alpha-D-galactopyranosi de, which on hydrogenolysis, followed by acetylation, furnished 2-acetamido-1,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-4-fluoro-D-galactopyranose. Treatment of this and of 2-acetamido-1,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-6-fluoro-D-glucopyranose with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate in 1,2-dichloroethane at approximately 50 degrees afforded the 4-deoxy-4-fluoro- or the 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-oxazolines (5) and (11), respectively. Reaction of 5 and 11 with dibenzyl phosphate in 1,2-dichloroethane produced the alpha-linked dibenzyl phosphate derivatives 6 and 12, respectively. Catalytic hydrogenation of 6 provided 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-4-fluoro-alpha-D-galactopyranosy l phosphate (7), and that of 12 gave 2-acetamido-3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-6-fluoro-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl phosphate (13). Coupling of 7 and 13 with uridine 5'-monophosphomorpholidate in dry pyridine at approximately 37 degrees, followed by O-deacetylation, furnished the title compounds, respectively, isolated and characterized as their respective dilithium salts.

Chemical synthesis of UDP-4-O-methyl-GlcNAc, a potential chain terminator of chitin synthesis.

Chitin synthase converts uridine diphosphoryl-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) to chitin (poly-beta-(1-->4)-GlcNAc). During polymerization, elongation occurs at the 4-OH (nonreducing) terminus of the growing chitin chain. Blockage of the 4-OH via incorporation of UDP-N-acetyl-4-O-methylglucosamine (UDP-4-OMe-GlcNAc, 3) can potentially terminate chitin polymerization, and represents a novel strategy for chitin synthase inhibition. The chemical synthesis of 3 and preliminary evaluation of its possible incorporation by chitin synthase are reported herein.

Synthesis of unnatural sugar nucleotides and their evaluation as donor substrates in glycosyltransferase-catalyzed reactions.

New unnatural sugar nucleotides, UDP-Fuc and CDP-Fuc were synthesized from fucose-beta-1-phosphate and nucleotide monophosphates activated as morpholidates. Furthermore, a nucleotide analogue was prepared by phosphorylation of 1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)cyanuric acid, itself obtained as a protected derivative by condensation of the persilylated derivative of cyanuric acid with 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-ribofuranose in 74% yield. This phosphate activated according to the same procedure was condensed with fucose-beta-1-phosphate, affording a new sugar nucleotide conjugate (NDP-Fuc) which was evaluated together with UDP-Fuc, CDP-Fuc and ADP-Fuc, as fucose donors in alpha-(1-->4/3)-fucosyltransferase (FucT-III) catalyzed reaction. Fucose transfer could be observed with each of the donors and kinetic parameters were determined using a fluorescent acceptor substrate. Efficiency of the four analogues towards FucT-III was in the following order: UDP-Fuc=ADP-Fuc>NDP-Fuc>CDP-Fuc. According to the same strategy ADP-GlcNAc was prepared from AMP-morpholidate and N-acetylglucosamine-alpha-1-phosphate; tested as a glucosaminyl donor towards Neisseria meningitidis N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase (LgtA), ADP-GlcNAc was recognized with 0.1% efficiency as compared with UDP-GlcNAc, the natural donor substrate.

Efficient enzymatic synthesis of guanosine 5'-diphosphate-sugars and derivatives.

An N-acetylhexosamine 1-kinase from Bifidobacterium infantis (NahK_15697), a guanosine 5'-diphosphate (GDP)-mannose pyrophosphorylase from Pyrococcus furiosus (PFManC), and an Escherichia coli inorganic pyrophosphatase (EcPpA) were used efficiently for a one-pot three-enzyme synthesis of GDP-mannose, GDP-glucose, their derivatives, and GDP-talose. This study represents the first facile and efficient enzymatic synthesis of GDP-sugars and derivatives starting from monosaccharides and derivatives.

Probing replacement of pyrophosphate via click chemistry; synthesis of UDP-sugar analogues as potential glycosyl transferase inhibitors.

A series of potential UDP-sugar mimics were readily synthesised by copper(I) catalysed modified Huisgen cycloaddition of the corresponding alpha-propargyl glycosides with 5-azido uridine in aqueous solution. None of the compounds accessed displayed significant inhibitory activity at concentrations of up to 4.5mM in an assay against bovine milk beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase.

A chemical synthesis of UDP-LacNAc and its regioisomer for finding 'oligosaccharide transferases'.

A chemical synthesis of uridine 5'-diphospho-N-acetyllactosamine (Galbeta(1-->4)GlcNAc-UDP; UDP-LacNAc) and Galbeta(1-->3)GlcNAc-UDP is described. Coupling of the disaccharide imidate derivatives with dibenzylphosphate gave the corresponding 1-phosphates, which were condensed with UMP-imidazolate to give the target UDP-oligosaccharides after purification by anion exchange HPLC and gel filtration column chromatography. Using this methodology a variety of oligosaccharide nucleotide analogues can be synthesized. These UDP-oligosaccharides may be useful for finding so-called ;oligosaccharide transferases', the glycosyltransferases which transfer the oligosaccharide moiety onto glycosyl acceptors.

Preparation of UDP-galacturonic acid using UDP-sugar pyrophosphorylase.

UDP-galacturonic acid, the activated form of galacturonic acid (GalUA), is synthesized both de novo and by salvage pathways. The UDP-GalUA pyrophosphorylase gene involved in the salvage pathway has not been identified. Here we show that UDP-sugar pyrophosphorylase from Pisum sativum with a broad specificity has UDP-GalUA pyrophosphorylase activity. The enzyme catalyzed the formation of UDP-GalUA and pyrophosphate from GalUA 1-phosphate and UTP with an equilibrium constant value of 0.24. The recombinant UDP-sugar pyrophosphorylase had optimal pH of 6.0, and the apparent K(m) values for GalUA 1-phosphate, UTP, UDP-GalUA, and pyrophosphate were 2.27, 1.15, 0.70, and 1.26 mM, respectively. In the presence of inorganic pyrophosphatase, the recombinant enzyme produced UDP-GalUA in an 84% yield (based on the GalUA 1-phosphate substrate) on a preparative scale. Thus, this UDP-sugar pyrophosphorylase is useful for the highly efficient production of UDP-GalUA for studies on pectin biosynthesis.

Chemical synthesis of uridine diphospho-D-xylose and UDP-L-arabinose.

Leloir transferases, like UDP-d-xylosyl transferase and arabinosyl transferase, utilize nucleoside diphosphate sugars to build up plant oligo- and polysaccharides. By the described, scalable three-step synthesis a simple route is described to arrive at the respective enzyme substrates, which are otherwise difficult to obtain.