Glycoside hydrolase from the GH76 family indicates that marine Salegentibacter sp. Hel_I_6 consumes alpha-mannan from fungi.

Microbial glycan degradation is essential to global carbon cycling. The marine bacterium Salegentibacter sp. Hel_I_6 (Bacteroidota) isolated from seawater off Helgoland island (North Sea) contains an α-mannan inducible gene cluster with a GH76 family endo-α-1,6-mannanase (ShGH76). This cluster is related to genetic loci employed by human gut bacteria to digest fungal α-mannan. Metagenomes from the Hel_I_6 isolation site revealed increasing GH76 gene frequencies in free-living bacteria during microalgae blooms, suggesting degradation of α-1,6-mannans from fungi. Recombinant ShGH76 protein activity assays with yeast α-mannan and synthetic oligomannans showed endo-α-1,6-mannanase activity. Resolved structures of apo-ShGH76 (2.0 Å) and of mutants co-crystalized with fungal mannan-mimicking α-1,6-mannotetrose (1.90 Å) and α-1,6-mannotriose (1.47 Å) retained the canonical (α/α)6 fold, despite low identities with sequences of known GH76 structures (GH76s from gut bacteria: <27%). The apo-form active site differed from those known from gut bacteria, and co-crystallizations revealed a kinked oligomannan conformation. Co-crystallizations also revealed precise molecular-scale interactions of ShGH76 with fungal mannan-mimicking oligomannans, indicating adaptation to this particular type of substrate. Our data hence suggest presence of yet unknown fungal α-1,6-mannans in marine ecosystems, in particular during microalgal blooms.

Palladium-catalyzed glycosylation: novel synthetic approach to diverse N-heterocyclic glycosides.

An efficient and highly stereoselective method for the construction of N-heterocyclic glycosides is reported. This method is based on a palladium-catalyzed allylation which proceeded to provide N-heterocyclic glycosyl compounds in good-to-excellent yields with ß- or α-selectivity. Various N-nucleophiles were examined for this reaction and selected N-glycosyl isatin substrates were further elaborated to bis-indole sugars which have potential as antiproliferative drugs.

Reversing the stereoselectivity of a palladium-catalyzed O-glycosylation through an inner-sphere or outer-sphere pathway.

An efficient and concise method for the construction of various O-glycosidic bonds by a palladium-catalyzed reaction with a 3-O-picoloyl glucal has been developed. The stereochemistry of the anomeric center derives from either an inner-sphere or outer-sphere pathway. Harder nucleophiles, such as aliphatic alcohols and sodium phenoxides give ß-products, and α products result from using softer nucleophiles, such as phenol.

Exploring the native chemical ligation concept for highly stereospecific glycosylation reactions.

Various O-alkyl glycosides were obtained in a highly stereospecific manner with retention of configuration at the anomeric center. Our method has customized native chemical ligation concept for glycoconjugates synthesis, utilizing a meticulously controlled activating system. To explain the origin of stereoselective preference, an S(N)i mechanism was proposed and corroborated by computational calculations.

A simple approach to separate a mixture of homopropargylic and allenic alcohols.

A simple and practical approach to separate homopropargylic alcohol from allenic alcohol has been developed. It involves the formation of an insoluble silver acetylide species between silver nitrate and homopropargylic alcohol in aqueous acetone which can be separated from the allenic alcohol through a simple filtration. The homopropargylic alcohol can subsequently be recovered by hydrolysis with 1 N HCl. This protocol has been applied to the separation of a mixture of chiral homopropargylic and allenic alcohols in excellent yields with retention of absolute stereochemistry.