Efficient synthesis of a galectin inhibitor clinical candidate (TD139) using a Payne rearrangement/azidation reaction cascade.

Selective galectin inhibitors are valuable research tools and could also be used as drug candidates. In that context, TD139, a thiodigalactoside galectin-3 inhibitor, is currently being evaluated clinically for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Herein, we describe a new strategy for the preparation of TD139. Starting from inexpensive levoglucosan, we used a rarely employed reaction cascade: Payne rearrangement/azidation process leading to 3-azido-galactopyranose. The latter intermediate was efficiently converted into TD139 in a few simple and practical steps.

Highly Stable Artificial Cells from Galactopyranose-Derived Single-Chain Amphiphiles.

Single-chain amphiphiles (SCAs) that self-assemble into large vesicular structures are attractive components of synthetic cells because of the simplicity of bilayer formation and increased membrane permeability. However, SCAs commonly used for vesicle formation suffer from restricted working pH ranges, instability to divalent cations, and the inhibition of biocatalysts. Construction of more robust biocompatible membranes from SCAs would have significant benefits. We describe the formation of highly stable vesicles from alkyl galactopyranose thioesters. The compatibility of these uncharged SCAs with biomolecules makes possible the encapsulation of functional enzymes and nucleic acids during the vesicle generation process, enabling membrane protein reconstitution and compartmentalized nucleic acid amplification, even when charged precursors are supplied externally.

Thiodigalactoside-Bovine Serum Albumin Conjugates as High-Potency Inhibitors of Galectin-3: An Outstanding Example of Multivalent Presentation of Small Molecule Inhibitors.

Galectin inhibitors are urgently needed to understand the mode of action and druggability of different galectins, but potent and selective agents still evade researchers. Small-sized inhibitors based on thiodigalactoside (TDG) have shown their potential while modifications at their C3 position indicated a strategy to improve selectivity and potency. Considering the role of galectins as glycoprotein traffic police, involved in multivalent bridging interactions, we aimed to create multivalent versions of the potent TDG inhibitors. We herein present for the first time the multivalent attachment of a TDG derivative using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the scaffold. An efficient synthetic method is presented to obtain a novel type of neoglycosylated proteins loaded with different numbers of TDG moieties. A polyethylene glycol (PEG)-spacer is introduced between the TDG and the protein scaffold maintaining appropriate accessibility for an adequate galectin interaction. The novel conjugates were evaluated in galectin binding and inhibition studies in vitro. The conjugate with a moderate density of 19 conjugated TDGs was identified as one of the most potent multivalent Gal-3 inhibitors so far, with a clear demonstration of the benefit of a multivalent ligand presentation. The described method may facilitate the development of specific galectin inhibitors and their application in biomedical research.

Systematic Tuning of Fluoro-galectin-3 Interactions Provides Thiodigalactoside Derivatives with Single-Digit nM Affinity and High Selectivity.

Symmetrical and asymmetrical fluorinated phenyltriazolyl-thiodigalactoside derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of galectin-1 and galectin-3. Systematic tuning of the phenyltriazolyl-thiodigalactosides' fluoro-interactions with galectin-3 led to the discovery of inhibitors with exceptional affinities (Kd down to 1-2 nM) in symmetrically substituted thiodigalactosides as well as unsurpassed combination of high affinity (Kd 7.5 nM) and selectivity (46-fold) over galectin-1 for asymmetrical thiodigalactosides by carrying one trifluorphenyltriazole and one coumaryl moiety. Studies of the inhibitor-galectin complexes with isothermal titration calorimetry and X-ray crystallography revealed the importance of fluoro-amide interaction for affinity and for selectivity. Finally, the high affinity of the discovered inhibitors required two competitive titration assay tools to be developed: a new high affinity fluorescent probe for competitive fluorescent polarization and a competitive ligand optimal for analyzing high affinity galectin-3 inhibitors with competitive isothermal titration calorimetry.

Synthesis of a glucosylated α-S-galactosylceramide as potential immunostimulant.

Synthesis of a glucosylated α-S-galactosylceramide (1), a potential immunostimulant, was achieved starting from D-galactose. Both O- and S-glycosidic linkages were constructed in highly stereoselective way, and the synthetic strategy could be extended to the synthesis of other α-S-GalCer analogues.

A Selective Galactose-Coumarin-Derived Galectin-3 Inhibitor Demonstrates Involvement of Galectin-3-glycan Interactions in a Pulmonary Fibrosis Model.

Synthesis of doubly 3-O-coumarylmethyl-substituted thiodigalactosides from bis-3-O-propargyl-thiodigalactoside resulted in highly selective and high affinity galectin-3 inhibitors. Mutant studies, structural analysis, and molecular modeling revealed that the coumaryl substituents stack onto arginine side chains. One inhibitor displayed efficacy in a murine model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis similar to that of a known nonselective galectin-1/galectin-3 inhibitor, which strongly suggests that blocking galectin-3 glycan recognition is an important antifibrotic drug target.

Conformationally restricted 3,5-O-(di-tert-butylsilylene)-D-galactofuranosyl thioglycoside donor for 1,2-cis α-D-galactofuranosylation.

A conformationally restricted 2-O-benzyl-3,5-O-di-tert-butylsilylene-ß-D-thiogalactofuranoside donor was prepared from benzyl α-D-galactofuranoside and its donor capability was studied for stereoselective 1,2-cis α-D-galactofuranosylation. An unusual chemical behavior in benzylation and hydrogenolysis reactions was observed after the introduction of the 3,5-O-di-tert-butylsilylene protecting group into the galactofuranosyl moiety. The influence of the solvent, temperature, and activating system was evaluated. The NIS/AgOTf system, widely used in 1,2-cis ß-arabinofuranosylation, was not satisfactory enough for 1,2-cis galactofuranosylation. However, moderate to high α-selectivity was obtained with all the acceptors employed when using p-NO2PhSCl/AgOTf as a promoting system, in CH2Cl2 at -78°C. The order of the addition of the reactants (premixing or preactivation) did not affect substantially the stereochemical course of the glycosylation reaction. The α-D-Galf-(1→6)-D-Man linkage was achieved with complete diastereoselectivity by preactivation of the conformationally constrained thioglycoside donor.

Efficient one-pot synthesis of tigogenin saponins and their antitumor activities.

An efficient synthesis of naturally occurring tigogenin triglycoside 1a and its three derivatives 1b-d bearing different carbohydrate moieties, as well as their antitumor activities, is described. Partially protected thiogalactosides bearing unprotected 2,4-OH or 4-OH groups were used to facilitate regioselective reactions for one-pot sequential multi-step glycosylation, which has significantly simplified the target molecule synthesis. The synthetic saponins 1a-d exhibited much higher anti-tumor activities than the positive control cisplatin against the human epithelial cervical cancer cell (HeLa) as evaluated by CCK-8 assay.

Investigation into the feasibility of thioditaloside as a novel scaffold for galectin-3-specific inhibitors.

Galectin-3 is extensively involved in metabolic and disease processes, such as cancer metastasis, thus giving impetus for the design of specific inhibitors targeting this ß-galactose-binding protein. Thiodigalactoside (TDG) presents a scaffold for construction of galectin inhibitors, and its inhibition of galectin-1 has already demonstrated beneficial effects as an adjuvant with vaccine immunotherapy, thereby improving the survival outcome of tumour-challenged mice. A novel approach--replacing galactose with its C2 epimer, talose--offers an alternative framework, as extensions at C2 permit exploitation of a galectin-3-specific binding groove, thereby facilitating the design of selective inhibitors. We report the synthesis of thioditaloside (TDT) and crystal structures of the galectin-3 carbohydrate recognition domain in complexes with TDT and TDG. The different abilities of galactose and talose to anchor to the protein correlate with molecular dynamics studies, likely explaining the relative disaccharide binding affinities. The feasibility of a TDT scaffold to enable access to a particular galectin-3 binding groove and the need for modifications to optimise such a scaffold for use in the design of potent and selective inhibitors are assessed.

Synthesis of the (1→6)-linked thiodisaccharide of galactofuranose: inhibitory activity against a ß-galactofuranosidase.

A new (1→6)-linked thiodisaccharide formed by two galactofuranosyl units has been synthesized. Methyl (methyl α,ß-D-galactofuranosid)uronate was employed as the starting compound, which was per-O-silylated with TBSCl and reduced with LiAlH4 to afford methyl 2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-ß-D-galactofuranoside (2ß) as a key precursor for the preparation of methyl per-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-6-thio-ß-D-galactofuranoside (12). The free thiol group of 12 was glycosylated and the product O-deprotected to afford the target ß-D-Galf-S-(1→6)-ß-d-Galf-OMe (14). The conformations of this thiodisaccharide were preliminarily studied using combined theoretical calculations and NMR data. Furthermore, the glycomimetic 14 showed to be a competitive inhibitor of the ß-galactofuranosidase from Penicillum fellutanum (K(i)=3.62 mM).

Thiogalactopyranosides are resistant to hydrolysis by α-galactosidases.

Fluorescently tagged glycosides containing terminal α(1→3) and α(1→4)-linked thiogalactopyranosides have been prepared and tested for resistance to hydrolysis by α-galactosidases. Eight fluorescent glycosides containing either galactose or 5-thiogalactose as the terminal sugar were enzymatically synthesized using galactosyltransferases, with lactosyl glycosides as acceptors and UDP-galactose or UDP-5'-thiogalactose, respectively, as donors. The glycosides were incubated with human α-galactosidase A (CAZy family GH27, a retaining glycosidase), Bacteroides fragilis α-1,3-galactosidase (GH110, an inverting glycosidase), or homogenates of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells or NG108-15 rat glioma cells. Substrate hydrolysis was monitored by capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection. All compounds containing terminal O-galactose were readily degraded. Their 5-thiogalactose counterparts were resistant to hydrolysis by human α-galactosidase A and the enzymes present in the cell extracts. B. fragilis α-1,3-galactosidase hydrolyzed both thio- and O-galactoside substrates; however, the thiogalactosides were hydrolyzed at only 1-3 % of the rate of O-galactosides. The hydrolytic resistance of 5-thiogalactose was also confirmed by an in vivo study using cells in culture. The results suggest that 5-thiogalactosides may be useful tools for the study of anabolic pathways in cell extracts or in single cells.

A novel carbon monoxide-releasing molecule fully protects mice from severe malaria.

Severe forms of malaria infection, such as cerebral malaria (CM) and acute lung injury (ALI), are mainly caused by the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Primary therapy with quinine or artemisinin derivatives is generally effective in controlling P. falciparum parasitemia, but mortality from CM and other forms of severe malaria remains unacceptably high. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a novel carbon monoxide-releasing molecule (CO-RM; ALF492) that fully protects mice against experimental CM (ECM) and ALI. ALF492 enables controlled CO delivery in vivo without affecting oxygen transport by hemoglobin, the major limitation in CO inhalation therapy. The protective effect is CO dependent and induces the expression of heme oxygenase-1, which contributes to the observed protection. Importantly, when used in combination with the antimalarial drug artesunate, ALF492 is an effective adjunctive and adjuvant treatment for ECM, conferring protection after the onset of severe disease. This study paves the way for the potential use of CO-RMs, such as ALF492, as adjunctive/adjuvant treatment in severe forms of malaria infection.

1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl thiodigalactoside derivatives as high affinity galectin-3 inhibitors.

Galactose C3-triazole derivatives were synthesized by Cu(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition between acetylenes and galactose C3-azido derivatives. Evaluation against galectin-3, 7, 8N (N-terminal) and 9N (N-terminal) revealed 1,4-disubstituted triazoles to be high-affinity inhibitors of galectin-3 with selectivity over galectin-7, 8N, and 9N. Conformational analysis of 1,4-di- and 1,4,5-tri-substituted galactose C3-triazoles suggested that a triazole C5-substituent interfered sterically with the galectin proteins, which explained their poor affinities compared to the corresponding 1,4-disubstituted triazoles. Introduction of two 1,4-disubstituted triazole moieties onto thiodigalactoside resulted in affinities down to 29 nM for galectin-3.

Galectin-3 targeted therapy with a small molecule inhibitor activates apoptosis and enhances both chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity in papillary thyroid cancer.

Although most patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) have favorable outcomes, some have advanced PTC that is refractory to external beam radiation and systemic chemotherapy. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a beta-galactoside-binding protein with antiapoptotic activity that is consistently overexpressed in PTC. The purpose of this study is to determine if Gal-3 inhibition promotes apoptosis, chemosensitivity, and radiosensitivity in PTC. PTC cell lines (8505-C and TPC-1) and human ex vivo PTC were treated with a highly specific small molecule inhibitor of Gal-3 (Td131_1). Apoptotic activity was determined by flow cytometric analysis as well as caspase-3 and PARP cleavage. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of Td131_1 and doxorubicin were determined, and their combined effects were measured to test for synergistic activity. The effects of Td131_1 on radiosensitivity were determined by a clonogenic assay. Td131_1 promoted apoptosis, improved radiosensitivity, and synergistically enhanced chemosensitivity to doxorubicin in PTC cell lines. In PTC ex vivo, Td131_1 treatment alone induced the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. Td131_1 and doxorubicin together activated apoptosis in PTC ex vivo to a greater degree than their combined individual effects. Td131_1 activated apoptosis and had synergistic activity with doxorubicin in PTC. We conclude that Gal-3 targeted therapy is a promising therapeutic strategy for advanced PTC that is refractory to surgery and radioactive iodine therapy.

Synthesis and evaluation of new thiodigalactoside-based chemical probes to label galectin-3.

New chemical probes were synthesized to label galectin-3. They are based on the high affinity thiodigalactoside ligand. The probes were synthesized with benzophenone or acetophenone moieties as the photolabel for covalent attachment to the protein. Besides labeling the protein, these aromatic photolabels also greatly enhance the affinity of the probes towards galectin-3, due to the interaction of the photolabel with two arginine guanidinium groups of the protein. The linkage between the sugar and the photolabel was varied as an ester, an amide, and a triazole. For the amide and triazole derivatives, a versatile synthetic route towards a symmetrical 3-azido-3-deoxy-thiodigalactoside was developed. The new probes were evaluated for their binding affinity of human galectin-3. They were subsequently tested for their labeling efficiency, as well as specificity in the presence of a protein mixture and a human cancer cell lysate.

Oligosaccharide-peptide ligation of glycosyl thiolates with dehydropeptides: synthesis of S-linked mucin-related glycopeptide conjugates.

A chemoselective strategy for oligosaccharide-peptide ligation is described in which alpha-thio analogues of mucin-related glycoconjugates can be readily accessed through site-selective conjugate addition of complex oligosaccharide thiolates to dehydroalanine-containing peptides. The efficiency of the ligation is highlighted by the rapid convergent assembly of thio-isosteres of the four tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens, T(N), T, ST(N), and 2,6-ST, as a pair of diastereoisomers at the newly formed cysteine stereocenter. The process proceeds in high yield and with complete retention of the alpha-anomeric configuration.

Synthesis of radioiodine-labeled 2-phenylethyl 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside for imaging of LacZ gene expression.

A potent inhibitor of beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23), 2-phenylethyl 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside (PETG), was radioiodinated for noninvasive imaging of LacZ gene expression. In order to introduce radioiodine to the phenyl ring of PETG, 2-(4-bromophenyl)ethanethiol was prepared and attached to the C-1 position of beta-D-galactose pentaacetate under conditions that resulted in the exclusive formation of the beta anomer. The bromo group of PETG was converted to the tributylstannyl group where radioiododemetallation was carried out. Radioiodine-labeled PETG tetraacetate was purified by HPLC, which can be used as a prodrug for biological evaluation or hydrolyzed to 2-(4-[123I/125I]iodophenyl)ethyl 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside ([123I/125I]7) under basic conditions. The resulting radioiodine-labeled PETG was obtained in overall 62% radiochemical yield (decay-corrected) and with specific activity of 46-74 GBq/micromol.

Thiosugar nucleotide analogs: synthesis of 5'-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-S-acetyl-6-thio-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl diphosphate).

The synthesis of a novel analog of uridine diphosphate galactose (UDP-Gal) is described. A sulfur atom was inserted into the 6-position of galactose to give uridine 5'-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-S-acetyl-6-thio-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl diphosphate). This peracetylated thiol analogue of UDP-Gal has been synthesized in nine steps starting from methyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside in an overall yield of 3%.

Synthesis of alpha-GalNAc thioconjugates from an alpha-GalNAc mercaptan.

A variety of functionalized thioglycosides and other derivatives (10-24) of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1-thio-alpha-D-galactopyranose have been prepared in good yields and with high anomeric purities by S-substitution reactions of the sulfide anion or sulfur-centered radical from mercaptan 6. Given the importance in nature of the alpha-GalNAc 1-O-linkage, and the greater chemical and biological stability of the corresponding 1-S-linkage, these thioconjugates may find application in studies of synthetic vaccines, enzyme inhibitors, glycomimetic scaffolds, and other complex carbohydrate systems.

Chemoselective elaboration of O-linked glycopeptide mimetics by alkylation of 3-thioGalNAc.

A critical branch point in mucin-type oligosaccharides is the beta 1-->3 glycosidic linkage to the core alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) residue. We report here a strategy for the synthesis of O-linked glycopeptide analogues that replaces this linkage with a thioether amenable to construction by chemoselective ligation. The key building block was a 2-azido-3-thiogalactose-Thr analogue that was incorporated into a peptide by fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-based solid-phase peptide synthesis. Higher order oligosaccharides were readily generated by alkylation of the corresponding 3-thioGalNAc with N-bromoacetamido sugars. The rapid assembly of "core 1"and "core 3" O-linked glycopeptide mimetics was accomplished in this fashion.