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Structural characterization of a serendipitously discovered bioactive macromolecule, lignin sulfate.
Raghuraman, Arjun; Tiwari, Vaibhav; Thakkar, Jay N; Gunnarsson, Gunnar T; Shukla, Deepak; Hindle, Michael; Desai, Umesh R.
Affiliation
  • Raghuraman A; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0540, USA.
Biomacromolecules ; 6(5): 2822-32, 2005.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16153124
The herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) utilizes cell-surface glycosaminoglycan, heparan sulfate, to gain entry into cells and cause infection. In a search for synthetic mimics of heparan sulfate to prevent HSV infection, we discovered potent inhibitory activity arising from sulfation of a monomeric flavonoid. Yet, detailed screening indicated that the sulfated flavonoid was completely inactive and the potent inhibitory activity arose from a macromolecular substance present in the parent flavonoid. The active principle was identified through a battery of biophysical and chemical analyses as a sulfated form of lignin, a three-dimensional network polymer composed of substituted phenylpropanoid monomers. Mass spectral analysis of the parent lignin and its sulfated derivative indicates the presence of p-coumaryl monomers interconnected through uncondensed beta-O-4-linkages. Elemental analysis of lignin sulfate correlates primarily with a polymer of p-coumaryl alcohol containing one sulfate group. High-performance size exclusion chromatography shows a wide molecular weight distribution from 1.5 to 40 kDa suggesting significant polydispersity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis indicates a highly networked polymer that differs significantly from linear charged polymers with respect to its electrophoretic mobility. Overall, macromolecular lignin sulfate presents a multitude of substructures that can interact with biomolecules, including viral glycoproteins, using hydrophobic, hydrogen-bonding, and ionic forces. Thus, lignin sulfate represents a large number of interesting structures with potential medicinal benefits.
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Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Macromolecular Substances / Lignin Type of study: Prognostic_studies Limits: Humans Language: En Journal: Biomacromolecules Journal subject: BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR Year: 2005 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Country of publication:
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Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Macromolecular Substances / Lignin Type of study: Prognostic_studies Limits: Humans Language: En Journal: Biomacromolecules Journal subject: BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR Year: 2005 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Country of publication: