Synthesis of a precursor of D-fagomine by immobilized fructose-6-phosphate aldolase.

Fructose-6-phosphate aldolase (FSA) is an important enzyme for the C-C bond-forming reactions in organic synthesis. The present work is focused on the synthesis of a precursor of D-fagomine catalyzed by a mutant FSA. The biocatalyst has been immobilized onto several supports: magnetic nanoparticle clusters (mNC), cobalt-chelated agarose (Co-IDA), amino-functionalized agarose (MANA-agarose) and glyoxal-agarose, obtaining a 29.0%, 93.8%, 89.7% and 53.9% of retained activity, respectively. Glyoxal-agarose FSA derivative stood up as the best option for the synthesis of the precursor of D-fagomine due to the high reaction rate, conversion, yield and operational stability achieved. FSA immobilized in glyoxal-agarose could be reused up to 6 reaction cycles reaching a 4-fold improvement in biocatalyst yield compared to the non-immobilized enzyme.

A cascade reaction for the synthesis of d-fagomine precursor revisited: Kinetic insight and understanding of the system.

The synthesis of aldol adduct (3S,4R)-6-[(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino]-5,6-dideoxyhex-2-ulose, a precursor of the interesting dietary supplement, iminosugar d-fagomine, was studied in a cascade reaction with three enzymes starting from Cbz-N-3-aminopropanol. This system was studied previously using a statistical optimization method which enabled a 79 % yield of the aldol adduct with a 10 % yield of the undesired amino acid by-product. Here, a kinetic model of the cascade, including enzyme operational stability decay rate and the undesired overoxidation of the intermediate product, was developed. The validated model was instrumental in the optimization of the cascade reaction in the batch reactor. Simulations were carried out to determine the variables with the most significant impact on substrate conversion and product yield. As a result, process conditions were found that provided the aldol adduct in 92 % yield with only 0.7 % yield of the amino acid in a one-pot one-step reaction. Additionally, compared to previous work, this improved process outcome was achieved at lower concentrations of two enzymes used in the reaction. With this study the advantages are demonstrated of a modelling approach in developing complex biocatalytical processes. Mathematical models enable better understanding of the interactions of variables in the investigated system, reduce cost, experimental efforts in the lab and time necessary to obtain results since the simulations are carried out in silico.

[Synthesis of L-Iminofuranoses and Their Biological Evaluations].

Iminosugars are one of the compounds that mimic the structure of monosaccharides. Such sugar mimics have the ability to effectively and specifically inhibit various glycosidases and glycosyltransferases. After studying iminopyranose, miglitol, which has α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, was approved and used in the clinical treatment of diabetes. This study focused on l-iminofuranose derivatives to develop new anti-diabetic drug. As a result, it was found that l-iminofuranose having an alkyl group at C1 position show potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Further structural-activity relationship studies were conducted, and interesting findings were obtained. This paper describes the details of those research developments.

Affinity purification of human alpha galactosidase utilizing a novel small molecule biomimetic of alpha-D-galactose.

Alpha galactosidase (a-Gal) is an acidic hydrolase that plays a critical role in hydrolyzing the terminal alpha-galactoyl moiety from glycolipids and glycoproteins. There are over a hundred mutations reported for the GLA gene that encodes a-Gal that result in reduced protein synthesis, protein instability, and reduction in function. The deficiencies of a-Gal can cause Fabry disease, a rare lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) caused by the failure to catabolize alpha-d-galactoyl glycolipid moieties. The current standard of care for Fabry disease is enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) where the purified recombinant form of human a-Gal is given to patients. The manufacture of a-Gal is currently performed utilizing traditional large-scale chromatography processes. Developing an affinity resin for the purification of a-Gal would reduce the complexity of the manufacturing process, reduce costs, and potentially produce a higher quality a-Gal. After the evaluation of many small molecules, a commercially available small molecule biomimetic, N-5-Carboxypentyl-1-deoxygalactonojirimycin (N5C-DGJ), was utilized for the development of a novel small molecule biomimetic affinity resin for a-Gal. Affinity purified a-Gal demonstrated a purity greater than 90%, exhibited expected thermal stability and specific activity. Complementing this affinity purification is the development of an elution buffer system that confers an increased thermal stability to a-Gal. The N5C-DGJ affinity resin tolerated sodium hydroxide sanitization with no loss of binding capacity, making it amenable to large scale purification processes and potential use in manufacturing. This novel method for purifying the challenging a-Gal enzyme can be extended to other enzyme replacement therapies.

Mechanistic Insights into the Chaperoning of Human Lysosomal-Galactosidase Activity: Highly Functionalized Aminocyclopentanes and C-5a-Substituted Derivatives of 4-epi-Isofagomine.

Glycosidase inhibitors have shown great potential as pharmacological chaperones for lysosomal storage diseases. In light of this, a series of new cyclopentanoid ß-galactosidase inhibitors were prepared and their inhibitory and pharmacological chaperoning activities determined and compared with those of lipophilic analogs of the potent ß-d-galactosidase inhibitor 4-epi-isofagomine. Structure-activity relationships were investigated by X-ray crystallography as well as by alterations in the cyclopentane moiety such as deoxygenation and replacement by fluorine of a "strategic" hydroxyl group. New compounds have revealed highly promising activities with a range of ß-galactosidase-compromised human cell lines and may serve as leads towards new pharmacological chaperones for GM1-gangliosidosis and Morquio B disease.

Synthesis and Therapeutic Applications of Iminosugars in Cystic Fibrosis.

Iminosugars are sugar analogues endowed with a high pharmacological potential. The wide range of biological activities exhibited by these glycomimetics associated with their excellent drug profile make them attractive therapeutic candidates for several medical interventions. The ability of iminosugars to act as inhibitors or enhancers of carbohydrate-processing enzymes suggests their potential use as therapeutics for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF). Herein we review the most relevant advances in the field, paying attention to both the chemical synthesis of the iminosugars and their biological evaluations, resulting from in vitro and in vivo assays. Starting from the example of the marketed drug NBDNJ (N-butyl deoxynojirimycin), a variety of iminosugars have exhibited the capacity to rescue the trafficking of F508del-CFTR (deletion of F508 residue in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator), either alone or in combination with other correctors. Interesting results have also been obtained when iminosugars were considered as anti-inflammatory agents in CF lung disease. The data herein reported demonstrate that iminosugars hold considerable potential to be applied for both therapeutic purposes.

Imino- and Azasugar Protonation Inside Human Acid ß-Glucosidase, the Enzyme that is Defective in Gaucher Disease.

Gaucher disease is caused by mutations in human acid ß-glucosidase or glucocerebrosidase (GCase), the enzyme responsible for hydrolysis of glucosyl ceramide in the lysosomes. Imino- and azasugars such as 1-deoxynojirimycin and isofagomine are strong inhibitors of the enzyme and are of interest in pharmacological chaperone therapy of the disease. Despite several crystal structures of the enzyme with the imino- and azasugars bound in the active site having been resolved, the actual acid-base chemistry of the binding is not known. In this study we show, using photoinduced electron transfer (PET), that 1-deoxynojirimycin and isofagomine derivatives are protonated by human acid ß-glucosidase when bound, even if they are completely unprotonated outside the enzyme. While isofagomine derivative protonation to some degree was foreshadowed by earlier crystal structures, 1-deoxynojirimycin derivatives were not believed to act as basic amines in the enzyme.

Pharmacological Chaperones for the Treatment of α-Mannosidosis.

α-Mannosidosis (AM) results from deficient lysosomal α-mannosidase (LAMAN) activity and subsequent substrate accumulation in the lysosome, leading to severe pathology. Many of the AM-causative mutations compromise enzyme folding and could be rescued with purpose-designed pharmacological chaperones (PCs). We found that PCs combining a LAMAN glycone-binding motif based on the 5 N,6 O-oxomethylidenemannojirimycin (OMJ) glycomimetic core and different aglycones, in either mono- or multivalent displays, elicit binding modes involving glycone and nonglycone enzyme regions that reinforce the protein folding and stabilization potential. Multivalent derivatives exhibited potent enzyme inhibition that generally prevailed over the chaperone effect. On the contrary, monovalent OMJ derivatives with LAMAN aglycone binding area-fitting substituents proved effective as activity enhancers for several mutant LAMAN forms in AM patient fibroblasts and/or transfected MAN2 B1-KO cells. This translated into a significant improvement in endosomal/lysosomal function, reverting not only the primary LAMAN substrate accumulation but also the additional downstream consequences such as cholesterol accumulation.

Selective Targeting of the Interconversion between Glucosylceramide and Ceramide by Scaffold Tailoring of Iminosugar Inhibitors.

A series of simple C-alkyl pyrrolidines already known as cytotoxic inhibitors of ceramide glucosylation in melanoma cells can be converted into their corresponding 6-membered analogues by means of a simple ring expansion. This study illustrated how an isomerisation from iminosugar pyrrolidine toward piperidine could invert their targeting from glucosylceramide (GlcCer) formation toward GlcCer hydrolysis. Thus, we found that the 5-membered ring derivatives did not inhibit the hydrolysis reaction of GlcCer catalysed by lysosomal ß-glucocerebrosidase (GBA). On the other hand, the ring-expanded C-alkyl piperidine isomers, non-cytotoxic and inactive regarding ceramide glucosylation, revealed to be potent inhibitors of GBA. A molecular docking study showed that the positions of the piperidine ring of the compound 6b and its analogous 2-O-heptyl DIX 8 were similar to that of isofagomine. Furthermore, compound 6b promoted mutant GBA enhancements over 3-fold equivalent to that of the related O-Hept DIX 8 belonging to one of the most potent iminosugar-based pharmacological chaperone series reported to date.

4-epi-Isofagomine derivatives as pharmacological chaperones for the treatment of lysosomal diseases linked to ß-galactosidase mutations: Improved synthesis and biological investigations.

(5aR)-5a-C-pentyl-4-epi-isofagomine 1 is a powerful inhibitor of lysosomal ß-galactosidase and a remarkable chaperone for mutations associated with GM1-gangliosidosis and Morquio disease type B. We report herein an improved synthesis of this compound and analogs (5a-C-methyl, pentyl, nonyl and phenylethyl derivatives), and a crystal structure of a synthetic intermediate that confirms its configuration resulting from the addition of a Grignard reagent. These compounds were evaluated as glycosidase inhibitors and their potential as chaperones for mutant lysosomal galactosidases determined. Based on these results and on docking studies, the 5-C-pentyl derivative 1 was selected as the optimal structure for further investigations: this compound induces the maturation of mutated ß-galactosidase in fibroblasts of a GM1-gangliosidosis patient and promote the decrease of keratan sulfate and oligosaccharide load in patient cells. Compound 1 is clearly capable of restoring ß-galactosidase activity and of promoting maturation of the protein, which should result in significant clinical benefit. These properties strongly support the development of compound 1 for the treatment of GM1-gangliosidosis and Morquio disease type B patients harboring ß-galactosidase mutations sensitive to pharmacological chaperoning.

Stabilization of Glucocerebrosidase by Active Site Occupancy.

Glucocerebrosidase (GBA) is a lysosomal ß-glucosidase that degrades glucosylceramide. Its deficiency results in Gaucher disease (GD). We examined the effects of active site occupancy of GBA on its structural stability. For this, we made use of cyclophellitol-derived activity-based probes (ABPs) that bind irreversibly to the catalytic nucleophile (E340), and for comparison, we used the potent reversible inhibitor isofagomine. We demonstrate that cyclophellitol ABPs improve the stability of GBA in vitro, as revealed by thermodynamic measurements (Tm increase by 21 °C), and introduce resistance to tryptic digestion. The stabilizing effect of cell-permeable cyclophellitol ABPs is also observed in intact cultured cells containing wild-type GBA, N370S GBA (labile in lysosomes), and L444P GBA (exhibits impaired ER folding): all show marked increases in lysosomal forms of GBA molecules upon exposure to ABPs. The same stabilization effect is observed for endogenous GBA in the liver of wild-type mice injected with cyclophellitol ABPs. Stabilization effects similar to those observed with ABPs were also noted at high concentrations of the reversible inhibitor isofagomine. In conclusion, we provide evidence that the increase in cellular levels of GBA by ABPs and by the reversible inhibitor is in part caused by their ability to stabilize GBA folding, which increases the resistance of GBA against breakdown by lysosomal proteases. These effects are more pronounced in the case of the amphiphilic ABPs, presumably due to their high lipophilic potential, which may promote further structural compactness of GBA through hydrophobic interactions. Our study provides further rationale for the design of chaperones for GBA to ameliorate Gaucher disease.

A Morita-Baylis-Hillman based route to C-5a-chain-extended 4-epi-isofagomine type glycosidase inhibitors.

By Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of 2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-glyceraldehyde with α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl as well as hetero analogous carbonyl compounds such as acrylonitrile, suitable precursors of isofagomine and of 4-epi-isofagomine are available. Elaboration of the structures by amine introduction, followed by intramolecular ring closure and subsequent hydroboration of the double bond provides 4-epi-isofagomine derivatives featuring chain extensions at C-5a which are determined by the structures of the carbonyl compounds employed. As an example, the synthesis of C-(5aR)- and C-(5aS)-5a-C-pentyl-4-epi-isofagomines, powerful inhibitors of ß-galactosidases, is outlined. In line with reported data, the (C-5aR) epimer was found a highly potent experimental pharmacological chaperone for GM1-associated human lysosomal ß-galactosidase mutant R201C.

(5aR)-5a-C-Pentyl-4-epi-isofagomine: A powerful inhibitor of lysosomal ß-galactosidase and a remarkable chaperone for mutations associated with GM1-gangliosidosis and Morquio disease type B.

This report is about the identification, synthesis and initial biological characterization of derivatives of 4-epi-isofagomine as pharmacological chaperones (PC) for human lysosomal ß-galactosidase. The two epimers of 4-epi-isofagomine carrying a pentyl group at C-5a, namely (5aR)- and (5aS)-5a-C-pentyl-4-epi-isofagomine, were prepared by an innovative procedure involving in the key step the addition of nitrohexane to a keto-pentopyranoside. Both epimers were evaluated as inhibitors of the human ß-galactosidase: the (5aR)-stereoisomer (compound 1) was found to be a very potent inhibitor of the enzyme (IC50 = 8 nM, 30× more potent than 4-epi-isofagomine at pH 7.3) with a high selectivity for this glycosidase whereas the (5aS) epimer was a much weaker inhibitor. In addition, compound 1 showed a remarkable activity as a PC. It significantly enhanced the residual activity of mutant ß-galactosidase in 15 patient cell lines out of 23, with enhancement factors greater than 3.5 in 10 cell lines and activity restoration up to 91% of normal. Altogether, these results indicated that (5aR)-5a-C-pentyl-4-epi-isofagomine constitutes a promising PC-based drug candidate for the treatment of GM1-gangliosidosis and Morquio disease type B.

Synthesis and evaluation of N-alkylated analogues of aza-galacto-fagomine - potential pharmacological chaperones for Krabbe disease.

Seven novel alkylated or acylated analogues of hexahydropyridazine aza-galacto-fagomine (AGF) was prepared and studied as glycosidase inhibitors with the aim of increasing inhibitory potency and selectivity. The enzyme galactocerebrosidase, implicated in Krabbe disease, was found to be potently inhibited by n-butyl N2-alkylated AGF.

Bioevaluation of sixteen ADMDP stereoisomers toward alpha-galactosidase A: Development of a new pharmacological chaperone for the treatment of Fabry disease and potential enhancement of enzyme replacement therapy efficiency.

A unique molecular library consisting of all sixteen synthetic ADMDP (1-aminodeoxy-DMDP) stereoisomers has been prepared and evaluated for inhibitory activity against α-Gal A, and ability to impart thermal stabilization of this enzyme. The results of this testing led us to develop a novel pharmacological chaperone for the treatment of Fabry disease. 3-Epimer ADMDP was found to be an effective pharmacological chaperone, able to rescue α-Gal A activity in the lymphoblast of the N215S Fabry patient-derived cell line, without impairment of cellular ß-galactosidase activity. When 3-epimer ADMDP was administered with rh-α-Gal A (enzyme replacement therapy) for the treatment of Fabry patient-derived cell lines, improvements in the efficacy of rh-α-Gal A was observed, which suggests this small molecule can also provide clinical benefit of enzyme replacement therapy in Fabry disease.

Synthesis of C-5a-substituted derivatives of 4-epi-isofagomine: notable ß-galactosidase inhibitors and activity promotors of GM1-gangliosidosis related human lysosomal ß-galactosidase mutant R201C.

From an easily available partially protected analog of 1-deoxy-L-gulo-nojirimycin, by chain-branching at C-4 and suitable modification, lipophilic analogs of the powerful ß-D-galactosidase inhibitor 4-epi-isofagomine have been prepared. New compounds exhibit considerably improved inhibitory activities when compared with the unsubstituted parent compound and may serve as leads toward new pharmacological chaperones for GM1-gangliosidosis and Morquio B disease.

Synthesis of C-5a-chain extended derivatives of 4-epi-isofagomine: Powerful ß-galactosidase inhibitors and low concentration activators of GM1-gangliosidosis-related human lysosomal ß-galactosidase.

From an easily available partially protected formal derivative of 1-deoxymannojirimycin, by hydroxymethyl chain-branching and further elaboration, lipophilic analogs of the powerful ß-d-galactosidase inhibitor 4-epi-isofagomine have become available. New compounds exhibit improved inhibitory activities comparable to benchmark compound NOEV (N-octyl-epi-valienamine) and may serve as leads towards improved and more selective pharmacological chaperones for GM1-gangliosidosis.

Evaluation of fluoropyruvate as nucleophile in reactions catalysed by N-acetyl neuraminic acid lyase variants: scope, limitations and stereoselectivity.

The catalysis of reactions involving fluoropyruvate as donor by N-acetyl neuraminic acid lyase (NAL) variants was investigated. Under kinetic control, the wild-type enzyme catalysed the reaction between fluoropyruvate and N-acetyl mannosamine to give a 90 : 10 ratio of the (3R,4R)- and (3S,4R)-configured products; after extended reaction times, equilibration occurred to give a 30 : 70 mixture of these products. The efficiency and stereoselectivity of reactions of a range of substrates catalysed by the E192N, E192N/T167V/S208V and E192N/T167G NAL variants were also studied. Using fluoropyruvate and (2R,3S)- or (2S,3R)-2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxo-N,N-dipropylbutanamide as substrates, it was possible to obtain three of the four possible diastereomeric products; for each product, the ratio of anomeric and pyranose/furanose forms was determined. The crystal structure of S. aureus NAL in complex with fluoropyruvate was determined, assisting rationalisation of the stereochemical outcome of C-C bond formation.

Inhibitor versus chaperone behaviour of d-fagomine, DAB and LAB sp(2)-iminosugar conjugates against glycosidases: A structure-activity relationship study in Gaucher fibroblasts.

A library of sp(2)-iminosugar conjugates derived from the piperidine iminosugar d-fagomine and the enantiomeric pyrrolidine iminosugars DAB and LAB has been generated in only two steps involving direct coupling of the fully unprotected polyhydroxylated heterocycles with isothiocyanates, to give monocyclic thiourea adducts, and further intramolecular nucleophilic displacement of the δ-located primary hydroxyl group by the thiocarbonyl sulphur atom, affording bicyclic isothioureas. These transformations led to a dramatic shift in the inhibitory selectivity from α- to ß-glucosidases, with inhibition potencies that depended strongly on the nature of the aglycone-type moiety in the conjugates. Some of the new derivatives behaved as potent inhibitors of human ß-glucocerebrosidase (GCase), the lysosomal enzyme whose dysfunction is responsible for Gaucher disease. Moreover, GCase inhibition was 10-fold weaker at pH 5 as compared to pH 7, which is generally considered as a good property for pharmacological chaperones. Surprisingly, most of the compounds strongly inhibited GCase in wild type fibroblasts at rather low concentrations, showing an unfavourable chaperone/inhibitor balance on disease-associated GCase mutants in cellulo. A structure-activity relationship analysis points to the need for keeping a contiguous triol system in the glycone moiety of the conjugates to elicit a chaperone effect. In any case, the results reported here represent a proof of concept of the utmost importance of implementing diversity-oriented strategies for the identification and optimization of potent and specific glycosidase inhibitors and chaperones.

5-Fluoro derivatives of 4-epi-isofagomine as D-galactosidase inhibitors and potential pharmacological chaperones for GM1-gangliosidosis as well as Fabry's disease.

Electrophilic fluorination of an exocyclic methoxymethylene enol ether derived from N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-1,5-dideoxy-1,5-imino-3,4-O-isopropylidene-D-erythro-pent-2-ulose (11) provided the 5-fluoro derivative of the powerful ß-galactosidase inhibitor 4-epi-isofagomine (8). This structural alteration, in combination with N-alkylation, led to considerably improved α-galactosidase selectivity. New compounds may serve as leads en route to new pharmacological chaperones for Fabry's disease.