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The present study evaluates the effect of L-leucine concentration and operating parameters of a laboratory spray dryer on characteristics of trehalose dry powders, with the goal of optimizing production of these powders for inhaled drug delivery. Trehalose/L-leucine mixtures were spray dried from aqueous solution using a laboratory spray dryer. A factorial design of experiment (DoE) was undertaken and process parameters adjusted were: inlet temperature, gas flow rate, feed solution flow rate (pump setting), aspiration setting and L-leucine concentration. Resulting powders were characterised in terms of particle size, yield, residual moisture content, and glass transition temperature. Particle size was mainly influenced by gas flow rate, whereas product yield and residual moisture content were found to be primarily affected by inlet temperature and spray solution feed rate respectively. Interactions between a number of different process parameters were elucidated, as were relationships between different responses. The leucine mass ratio influenced the physical stability of powders against environmental humidity, and a high leucine concentration (30% w/w) protected amorphous trehalose from moisture induced crystallization. High weight ratio of leucine in the formulation, however, negatively impacted the aerosol performance. Thus, in terms of L-leucine inclusion in a formulation designed for pulmonary delivery, a balance needs to be found between physical stability and deposition characteristics.

Multivalency plays a major role in biological processes and particularly in the relationship between pathogenic microorganisms and their host that involves protein–glycan recognition. These interactions occur during the first steps of infection, for specific recognition between host and bacteria, but also at different stages of the immune response. The search for high-affinity ligands for studying such interactions involves the combination of carbohydrate head groups with different scaffolds and linkers generating multivalent glycocompounds with controlled spatial and topology parameters. By interfering with pathogen adhesion, such glycocompounds including glycopolymers, glycoclusters, glycodendrimers and glyconanoparticles have the potential to improve or replace antibiotic treatments that are now subverted by resistance. Multivalent glycoconjugates have also been used for stimulating the innate and adaptive immune systems, for example with carbohydrate-based vaccines. Bacteria present on their surfaces natural multivalent glycoconjugates such as lipopolysaccharides and S-layers that can also be exploited or targeted in anti-infectious strategies.

Plant pathogens, like animal ones, use protein-carbohydrate interactions in their strategy for host recognition, attachment, and invasion. The bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum, which is distributed worldwide and causes lethal wilt in many agricultural crops, was shown to produce a potent L-fucose-binding lectin, R. solanacearum lectin, a small protein of 90 amino acids with a tandem repeat in its amino acid sequence. In the present study, surface plasmon resonance experiments conducted on a series of oligosaccharides show a preference for binding to alpha Fuc1-2Gal and alpha Fuc1-6Gal epitopes. Titration microcalorimetry demonstrates the presence of two binding sites per monomer and an unusually high affinity of the lectin for alpha Fuc1-2Gal-containing oligosaccharides (K-D = 2.5 x 10(-7) M for 2-fucosyllactose). R. solanacearum lectin has been crystallized with a methyl derivative of fucose and with the highest affinity ligand, 2-fucosyllactose. X-ray crystal structures, the one with alpha-methyl-fucoside being at ultrahigh resolution, reveal that each monomer consists of two small four-stranded anti-parallel beta-sheets. Trimerization through a 3-fold or pseudo-3-fold axis generates a six-bladed beta-propeller architecture, very similar to that previously described for the fungal lectin of Aleuria aurantia. This is the first report of a beta-propeller formed by oligomerization and not by sequential domains. Each monomer presents two fucose binding sites, resulting in six symmetrically arranged sugar binding sites for the beta-propeller. Crystals were also obtained for a mutated lectin complexed with a fragment of xyloglucan, a fucosylated polysaccharide from the primary cell wall of plants, which may be the biological target of the lectin., QC 20230602

Since the introduction of structural genomics, the protein has been recognized as the most important variable in crystallization. Recent strategies to modify a protein to improve crystal quality have included rationally engineered point mutations, truncations, deletions and fusions. Five naturally occurring variants, differing in 1 - 18 amino acids, of the 177-residue lectin domain of the F17G fimbrial adhesin were expressed and purified in identical ways. For four out of the five variants crystals were obtained, mostly in non-isomorphous space groups, with diffraction limits ranging between 2.4 and 1.1 angstrom resolution. A comparative analysis of the crystal-packing contacts revealed that the variable amino acids are often involved in lattice contacts and a single amino-acid substitution can suffice to radically change crystal packing. A statistical approach proved reliable to estimate the compatibilities of the variant sequences with the observed crystal forms. In conclusion, natural variation, universally present within prokaryotic species, is a valuable genetic resource that can be favourably employed to enhance the crystallization success rate with considerably less effort than other strategies., QC 20230602

A series of HIV-1 protease inhibitors having new tetrahydrofuran P2/P2' groups have been synthesised and tested for protease inhibition and antiviral activity. Six novel 4-aminotetrahydrofuran derivatives were prepared starting from commercially available isopropylidene-alpha-D-xylofuranose yielding six symmetrical and six unsymmetrical inhibitors. Promising sub nanomolar HIV-1 protease inhibitory activities were obtained. The X-ray crystal structure of the most potent inhibitor (23, K-i 0.25 nM) cocrystallised with HIV-1 protease is discussed and the binding compared with inhibitors 1a and 1b., QC 20230602

SmI2/H2O/amine provides selective cleavage of unsubstituted allyl ethers in good to excellent yields. This method is therefore useful in deprotection of alcohols and carbohydrates., QC 20230602

The F17-G adhesin at the tip of flexible F17 fimbriae of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli mediates binding to N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamine-presenting receptors on the microvilli of the intestinal epithelium of ruminants. We report the 1.7 Angstrom resolution crystal structure of the lectin domain of F17-G, both free and in complex with N-acetylglucosamine. The monosaccharide is bound on the side of the ellipsoid-shaped protein in a conserved site around which all natural variations of F17-G are clustered. A model is proposed for the interaction between F17-fimbriated E. coli and microvilli with enhanced affinity compared with the binding constant we determined for F17-G binding to N-acetylglucosamine (0.85 mM(-1)). Unexpectedly, the F17-G structure reveals that the lectin domains of the F17-G, PapGII and FimH fimbrial adhesins all share the immunoglobulin-like fold of the structural components (pilins) of their fimbriae, despite lack of any sequence identity. Fold comparisons with pilin and chaperone structures of the chaperone/usher pathway highlight the central role of the C-terminal beta-strand G of the immunoglobulin-like fold and provides new insights into pilus assembly, function and adhesion., QC 20230602

The Escherichia coli adhesin F17-G is a carbohydrate-binding protein that allows the bacterium to attach to the intestinal epithelium of young ruminants. The structure of the 17 kDa lectin domain of F17-G was determined using the anomalous dispersion signal of a selenium-containing analogue of the monosaccharide ligand N-acetyl-D-glucosamine in which the anomeric oxygen was replaced by an Se atom. A three-wavelength MAD data set yielded good experimental phases to 2.6 Angstrom resolution. The structure was refined to 1.75 Angstrom resolution and was used to solve the structures of the ligand-free protein and the F17-G-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine complex. This selenium-carbohydrate phasing method could be of general use for determining the structures of carbohydrate-binding proteins., QC 20230602

The focus of this work is the synthesis of bidesmosidic saponin mimetics. Therefore, dihydrodiosgenin derivatives, which differ from the natural compounds by reduction of the 22-(hemi) acetal were used as glycosyl acceptors. In preliminary studies, the dihydrodiosgenin glycosides 16, 17 and 19, as well as trisaccharide 22, were synthesized. The acceptors 10 and 14 were subjected to DMTST-mediated glucosylation for the synthesis of these-substituted compound 3. For a selective 2,4-di-rhamnosylation of the dihydrodiosgenin glucopyranoside, differentiation of the glucose OH groups was achieved by selective benzoylation with 1-(benzoyloxy)benzotriazole. Reaction of the 3,6-di-O-benzoate 32 with the perbenzoylated ethyl thiorhamnopyranoside donor 15 gave the 2,4-di-rhamnosylated compound 33, together with the mono-rhamnosylated derivative. (, QC 20230602

Cells of the mucosal lining are the first to encounter invading bacteria during infection, and as such, they have developed numerous ways of detecting microbial intruders. Recently, we showed that epithelial cells recognize lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through the CD14-Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 complex. Here, we identify the substructures of LPS that are recognized by the TLR4 receptor complex. In contrast to lipid A, the O-antigen does not mediate an inflammatory response; rather it interferes with the lipid A recognition. An Escherichia coli strain genetically modified to express penta-acylated lipid A not only showed reduced immunogenicity, but was also found to inhibit proinflammatory signalling induced by wild-type E. coli (hexa-acylated lipid A) as well as LPS from other bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Furthermore, penta-acylated LPS from Pseudomonas aeruginosa acted as an antagonist to hexa-acylated E. coli LPS, as did E. coli, as shown by its inhibitory effect on IL-8 production in stimulated cells. Hypo-acylated lipidA, such as that of P. aeruginosa, is found in several species within the gut microflora as well as in several bacteria causing chronic infections. Thus, our results suggest that the composition of the microflora may be important in modulating pro-inflammatory signalling in epithelial cells under normal as well as pathologic conditions.

Combination of a one-pot coupling technique and the use of benzyl ethers as permanent protecting groups offered a short and simple route to dioscin-type saponins. This strategy in combination with a mild reductive opening procedure of the spiroketal function in diosgenin also offered a convenient approach to bidesmosidic furostan type saponins. (Me3NBH3)-B-./AlCl3 promoted acetal opening of 3-O-TBDMS-protected diosgenin gave the 26-OH acceptor 9 into which a benzylated beta-glucose moiety was introduced by a S(N)2-type imidate coupling. After cleavage of the silyl ether, the 3beta-O-glucose and the 4-O-linked rhamnose of the chacotriose unit were introduced by a NIS/AgOTf-promoted one-pot coupling sequence utilising thioglycoside donors and their different reactivity in different solvents. After removal of a benzoyl group, the same coupling conditions were also used for the coupling of the second 2-O-linked rhamnose unit. The target substance was obtained after cleavage of the protecting benzyl ethers under Birch-type conditions, which did not affect the double bond in the steroid skeleton., QC 20230602

Using a linear assembly approach a highly differentially protected derivative of the common GPI-anchor core structure (alpha-D-Man-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Man-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Man-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GlcNH(2)-(1-->6)-D-myo-inositol) has been synthesized. All mannose donors were prepared from a common thioglycoside precursor (1), and coupled to GlcN(3)-myo-inositol acceptor 5 in a linear five-step glycosylation-deprotection sequence in 49% overall yield, to give the key intermediate 10, with orthogonal temporary protecting groups at the 6", 2", 6', and 2 positions of the trimannoside motif and at the 1 and 2 positions of the inositol part. Consecutive removal of the temporary protecting groups in the trimannoside moiety followed by phosphorylation, gave a tetraphosphosphate derivative in 60% overall yield. Removal of a camphor acetal afforded a 1,2-inositol diol, which was converted to a 1,2-cyclic phosphate using commercial methyl dichlorophosphate (-->17, 95%). One-step deprotection using sodium in liquid ammonia afforded the target polyphosphorylated core structure 18 (60%), which will be tested for metabolic insulin action., QC 20230602

The reactivity of perbenzoylated thioglycosides with various thiol aglycons has been compared and quantified using competitive glycosylation experiments. Methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside was employed as acceptor and DMTST as a promoter. The reactivity was found, as expected, to depend on the electron donating properties of the aglycon. Hence, the most reactive donor, the cyclohexyl thioglycoside, was found to be about three times as reactive as the thioethyl glycoside, which in turn was twice as reactive as the thiomethyl donor. The thiophenyl donor was even less reactive, whereas p-halophenyl donors were inert under the glycosylation conditions used - but could be activated using NIS-TfOH as promoter. Furthermore, it was found that galactosyl donors were three to four times more reactive than the corresponding glucosyl derivative. These results allowed the design of an orthogonal coupling between thioglycosides with the same protecting groups (benzoyls) but with different thiol aglycons., QC 20230602

Using a linear assembly approach a highly differentially protected derivative of the common GPI-anchor core structure (alpha-D-Man-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Man-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Man-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GlcNH(2)-(1-->6)-D-myo-inositol) has been synthesized. All mannose donors were prepared from a common thioglycoside precursor (1), and coupled to GlcN(3)-myo-inositol acceptor 5 in a linear five-step glycosylation-deprotection sequence in 49% overall yield, to give the key intermediate 10, with orthogonal temporary protecting groups at the 6", 2", 6', and 2 positions of the trimannoside motif and at the 1 and 2 positions of the inositol part. Consecutive removal of the temporary protecting groups in the trimannoside moiety followed by phosphorylation, gave a tetraphosphosphate derivative in 60% overall yield. Removal of a camphor acetal afforded a 1,2-inositol diol, which was converted to a 1,2-cyclic phosphate using commercial methyl dichlorophosphate (-->17, 95%). One-step deprotection using sodium in liquid ammonia afforded the target polyphosphorylated core structure 18 (60%), which will be tested for metabolic insulin action.

The protocols for oligosaccharide synthesis are often tedious due to extended synthetic routes and reaction times. We herein describe methods assisted by microwave dielectric heating, which enable very short reaction times and high yields for the introduc, Addresses: Oscarson S, Univ Stockholm, Arrhenius Lab, Dept Organ Chem, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden. Univ Stockholm, Arrhenius Lab, Dept Organ Chem, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden. Personal Chem, S-75319 Uppsala, Sweden.

Di-, tri-and tetramers of ß-(1?3)-linked N-acetyllactosamine residues have been synthesised as their methyl glycosides, to be used in ITC binding studies to various galectins. The synthetic strategy involves two types of regioselective glycosylations: couplings of a galactosyl donor to 3,4-diol N-tetrachlorophthalimido glucose acceptors to give the lactosamine monomer building blocks, and subsequent formation of the oligomers through consecutive couplings of lactosamine donors to 2',3',4'-lactosamine acceptors, with high selectivity for the desired products.

One-pot syntheses of trisaccharides have been accomplished simply by changing the solvent system between the two subsequent glycosylation reactions and utilizing the difference in glycosylation rate between different solvents. By tuning the reactivity of accepters and donors and performing the first glycosylation in Et2O (low glycosylation rate) and the second in CH2Cl2/Et2O (higher glycosylation rate), trisaccharides were synthesized in high yields (76-84%)., QC 20230602

Total synthesis of the core heptasaccharyl myo-inositol, Galp(a1-6)Galp(a1-3)Galf(ß1-3)[Glcp(a1-PO4-6)Manp](a1-3)Manp(a1-4)GlcN p(a1-6)Ins-1-PO4, and the corresponding hexasaccharyl myo-inositol, Galp(a1-6)Galp(a1-3)Galf(ß1-3)Manp(a1-3)Manp(a1-4)GlcNp(a1-6)Ins-1-PO4 , found in the lipophosphoglycans of Leishmania parasites are described. The target molecules contain synthetic challenges such as an unusual internal galactofuranosyl residue and an anomeric phosphodiester. The synthesis was accomplished using a convergent block synthetic strategy. Four building blocks, a trigalactoside, a dimannoside, a glucosyl inositolphosphate, and a glucosyl-a-1-H-phosphonate, all appropriately protected, were used. The trigalactoside was linked to the dimannoside followed by glycosylation with the glucosyl inositolphosphate to produce the fully protected hexasaccharyl myo-inositol. Subsequent oxidative coupling of the glucosyl-H-phosphonate formed the anomeric phosphodiester linkage to produce the protected heptasaccharyl myo-inositol. Both the assembly order of the subunits and sequence of deprotection were essential for the successful synthesis of these complex molecules. The deprotection was accomplished by deacetylation and clevage of benzyl ethers with sodium in liquid ammonia, followed by acidic deacetalization/desilylation to produce the target molecules.

Synthesis of 1 and 2a is described using a block synthetic strategy. Compound 4 was used as precursor for the two mannose derivatives which, coupled together, forms the dimannoside building block. Thioglycoside 7 was coupled to 8 yielding inositol phosphoglycan 9a, which was selectively deprotected and reacted with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-a-D-glucopyranos-1-yl H- phosphonate to form the protected target molecule 12. Deprotection of 12 by acidic deacetalisation/desilylation and subsequent catalytic hydrogenolysis resulted in cleavage of the anomeric phosphodiester to produce 1. Debenzylation with sodium in liquid ammonia followed by acidic deacetalisation/desilylation gave the target compound 2a. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.