Search

To elucidate a biological role of the methylated mannose residues found in N-glycans of terrestrial worm Enchytraeus japonensis, we first synthesized 3-O-methyl mannose- and 4-O-methyl mannose-derivatives and immobilized them to Sepharose 4B beads in order to isolate the sugar-binding protein. When whole protein extracts from the worms was applied to a series of the columns immobilized with the modified and unmodified mannose-derivatives, respectively, a protein with a molecular weight of 25,000 was isolated by 4-O-methyl mannose-immobilized column chromatography, and termed as a methylated mannose-binding protein (mMBP). mMBP bound weakly to a mannose-immobilized column and moderately to a 3-O-methyl mannose-immobilized column. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of mMBP and its endoprotease-digested peptides were determined. Using the degenerate first primers synthesized based on the primary sequence, a genomic DNA fragment was isolated. Then, the second primers were synthesized based on the genomic DNA fragment, and with use of them two cDNA fragments were obtained by the 3'- and 5'-RACE methods. Finally, the third primers were synthesized based on the sequences of the two cDNA fragments and one genomic DNA fragment, and with use of them a full-length cDNA of mMBP was isolated and shown to comprise a putative 633 bp open reading frame encoding 210 amino acid residues. BLAST analysis revealed that mMBP has identities by 26 ~ 55% to several proteins including the regeneration-upregulated protein 3 from the same species. Whether mMBP is involved in the regeneration of the worm is under investigation.

We demonstrated a novel site-specific method of protein PEGylation that is catalyzed by endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase) with PEGylated oxazoline (1) as a donor. PEGylation via transglycosylation using 1 proceeded smoothly to GlcNAc compounds such as p-nitrophenyl N-acetylglucosaminide and RNase B derivatives.

Synthesis of several 1,5-Anhydro-d-fructose (1,5-AF) derivatives to evaluate inhibitory activities of the inflammasome was carried out. Recently, 1,5-AF reported to suppress the inflammasome, although with only low activity. We focused on the hydration of 2-keto form of 1,5-AF and speculated that this hydration was the cause of low activity. Therefore, we synthesized some 1,5-AF derivatives that would not be able to form the dimer conformation and can be expected to have high activity against inflammasome, and then evaluated their inhibitory activities with respect to the NLRP3 inflammasome by using mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages and human THP-1 cells. As a result, some synthesized 2-keto form compounds had much higher inhibitory activities with respect to the NLRP3 inflammasome than did 1,5-AF.

Acid-resistant heavy fluorous tags, in which all three fluorous chains are tethered in a symmetric manner by carbon–carbon linkage, were designed and synthesized from ethyl crotonate. They were designed also to possess a reactive OH group at a central position, not only for conjugation with a target molecule but also for tag recycling. The tag with an alkyl spacer equipped the primary OH group had the greatest reactivity in conjugation reactions with target molecules and could be recovered in the highest yields, implying its potential for use in recycling applications.

MUC2 glycoprotein, produced by the epithelium of the colon and built up mainly of repeat units of (1) PTTTPITTTTTVTPTPTPTGTQT(23) , can be overexpressed or underglycosylated in gastrointestinal diseases, e.g. in case of colon carcinoma. We have been studying the epitope structure of the MUC2 by focusing on the repeat unit with the mucin peptide specific MAb 996 monoclonal antibody. This antibody recognizes the (18) PTGTQ(22) sequence as minimal, and (16) PTPTGTQ(22) as optimal epitope within the underglycosylated glycoprotein. In this article, we aim to clarify the effect of glycosylation of the epitope on MAb 996 antibody binding including its correlation with the secondary structure of the modified peptides: glycosylation in the epitope core and in the flank. For this we have prepared the (16) PTPTGTQ(22) peptide glycosylated with N-acetylgalactoseamine (Tn antigen) in position 17, 19, 21, or on all three threonines. The MAb 996 antibody binding properties of the peptides were characterized in competitive ELISA experiments, and their solution secondary structure was studied by circular dichroism spectroscopy in water and in the ordered structure promoting trifluoroethanol. Our results show that glycosylation in position 19 (peptide (16) PTPT(GalNAcα)GTQ(22) ) resulted in enhanced antibody recognition and significantly altered secondary structure, while glycosylation in position 21 completely demolished the binding. These findings could be useful in determining the nature of antigen-antibody interaction, and perhaps designing synthetic peptide vaccines for tumor therapy.

The efficient synthesis of monosaccharide units, glycosyl acceptor, and donor, by using the fluorous tag method was achieved. Fluorous tag 5 was stable in each reaction condition to the preparation of various monosaccharide units. Each fluorous synthetic intermediate could be obtained in a straightforward manner by a simple fluorous–organic solvent partition.

Four aminoglycoside derivatives containing a 2,6-diamino-2,6-dideoxy- d -glucopyranose disaccharide structure were successfully prepared by using a Cbz-type heavy fluorous tag in a fluorous synthesis. A Cbz-type heavy fluorous tag was prepared using the hexakis(fluorous chain)-type alcohol 11 , and the fluorous alcohol 11 was recovered in good yield after the synthesis of aminoglycoside derivatives.

A hexakisfluorous chain-type alcohol 7 was used in the synthesis of oligosaccharide and peptides through connection with a linker suitable for the particular type of target compound. After the preparation of the desired compound, the fluorous alcohol was easily recovered in good yields under basic conditions. It appears that the fluorous alcohol can be recovered, recycled, and reused.

Toward applications in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry, we converted our previous acid-resistant heavy fluorous tag [(Rf) 3 C–CH 2 –OH, 1 ] to allyl alcohol derivatives [(Rf) 3 C–CH 2 –O–(CH 2 ) n –CH CH–CH 2 –OH, 3 ( n =1) or 4 ( n =3)] by means of olefin cross metathesis. They were then subjected to β-glycosylation reactions by using a series of glycosyl donors, including glycosyl bromide and trichloroacetimidates. The terminal OH group in 3 and 4 was found to be β-glycosylated in moderate yield when 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl- d -galactosyl trichloroacetimidate was used as the glycosyl donor. Upon a detachment reaction using Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 , the initial heavy fluorous tag 1 was recovered in high yield (>90%) together with 1-hydroxy sugar, indicating that not only the allyl ether linkage in the glycosides but also the internal di-alkyl ether linkage in 4 be cleaved by the action of the Pd-catalyst enabling long-range olefin transmigration. Potential utility was demonstrated by using the tetra-O-benzoyl-β- d -galactosylated derivative of 3 in a series of deprotection, protection and glycosylation reactions, which were conductible in high yields without using chromatographic purification process. These findings prompt us to propose a general scheme in which the acid-resistant heavy fluorous compound 1 is applied as a recyclable tag in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry.

The use of the bisfluorous chain-type propanoyl (Bfp) group as a fluorous protective group made it possible to rapidly synthesize the Gb2 and Gb3 oligosaccharide derivatives by a simple fluorous-organic extraction purification. Furthermore, the fluorescence-labeled Gb2 and Gb3 oligosaccharides were prepared as a potential Vero Toxins detecting reagent.

The novel fluorous support Hfb (hexakisfluorous chain-type butanoyl) was easily prepared. The Hfb group was readily introduced into the anomeric hydroxyl group of a carbohydrate, and was recyclable after cleavage. The use of the Hfb group was applicable for the rapid oligosaccharide synthesis in which the synthetic intermediates could be purified using fluorous and normal organic solvents. Each synthetic intermediate could be monitored by TLC, NMR and mass spectrometry.

New fluorous supports were synthesized and used to prepare a peptide having a C-terminal COOH based on fluorous chemistry. The hexakisfluorous chain-type support was suitable for the synthesis of a pentapeptide or a peptide derivative on a fluorous support whose fluorine content is over 40 w/w%. A bioactive peptide, Leu-enkephalin, was easily synthesized using an Fmoc-strategy based on fluorous chemistry.

MUC2 glycoprotein, produced by the epithelium of the colon and built up mainly of repeat units of (1) PTTTPITTTTTVTPTPTPTGTQT(23) , can be overexpressed or underglycosylated in gastrointestinal diseases, e.g. in case of colon carcinoma. We have been studying the epitope structure of the MUC2 by focusing on the repeat unit with the mucin peptide specific MAb 996 monoclonal antibody. This antibody recognizes the (18) PTGTQ(22) sequence as minimal, and (16) PTPTGTQ(22) as optimal epitope within the underglycosylated glycoprotein. In this article, we aim to clarify the effect of glycosylation of the epitope on MAb 996 antibody binding including its correlation with the secondary structure of the modified peptides: glycosylation in the epitope core and in the flank. For this we have prepared the (16) PTPTGTQ(22) peptide glycosylated with N-acetylgalactoseamine (Tn antigen) in position 17, 19, 21, or on all three threonines. The MAb 996 antibody binding properties of the peptides were characterized in competitive ELISA experiments, and their solution secondary structure was studied by circular dichroism spectroscopy in water and in the ordered structure promoting trifluoroethanol. Our results show that glycosylation in position 19 (peptide (16) PTPT(GalNAcα)GTQ(22) ) resulted in enhanced antibody recognition and significantly altered secondary structure, while glycosylation in position 21 completely demolished the binding. These findings could be useful in determining the nature of antigen-antibody interaction, and perhaps designing synthetic peptide vaccines for tumor therapy.

亜臨界, 超臨界水中におけるバイオマスや糖類からの選択的化学原料合成プロセスの開発を目的に, そのための基礎研究としてD-グルコースおよびその異性体であるD-フルクトースの分解反応実験を流通式装置で行い, 亜臨界, 超臨界水中での反応機構を明らかにし, 主反応経路の温度圧力依存性 (350～450℃, 25～40MPa) を評価した. その結果, 反応温度についてはその上昇とともにレトロアルドール縮合が促進され, また反応温度の低下とともに脱水反応 (フラン誘導体の生成) が支配的になることを見いだした. また, 超臨界状態では反応圧力の低下とともにレトロアルドール反応が促進され, 反対に高圧になるにつれて脱水反応が支配的になることを見いだした.

A practical heavy fluorous tag 5 bound to a benzylic linker was prepared and applied to carbohydrate synthesis. The fluorous tag 5 was readily introduced to the desired hydroxyl group and carboxyl group by using various methods. Synthesis of the oligosaccharide, which included the terminal structure of class III mucin, was achieved with single-column chromatographic purification. In addition, because of the symmetrical structure of 5, each fluorous synthetic intermediate could be analyzed much easier by NMR spectroscopy than in the case of the fluorous compounds connecting our previous fluorous tags.

A novel benzyl-type fluorous support (HfBn-OH) has been easily prepared, and the HfBn group was successfully introduced to the anomeric position of the carbohydrate, then removed in high yield after working as a support. The use of the HfBn group made it possible to synthesize an oligosaccharide with minimal column chromatography purification. It was found that each HfBn derivative as a synthetic intermediate is easily purified only by fluorous-organic solvent extraction.

The main reaction pathway in the reaction between 1-hexyl alcohol and acetamide in subcritical and supercritical water without catalyst is proposed and the optimum conditions where amidation of 1-hexyl alcohol can selectively occur are explored.

Retro-aldol condensation of glucose occurred preferentially relative to dehydration and isomerization under low water density conditions in supercritical water, and glycolaldehyde was successfully produced in a rapid and selective manner without any catalyst.

The synthesis of the novel heavy fluorous thioglycoside (III) and its application as glycosyl donor is presented.

In mammals, α-linked GlcNAc is primarily found in heparan sulfate/heparin and gastric gland mucous cell type mucin. α-N-Acetylglucosaminidases (αGNases) belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 89 are widely distributed from bacteria to higher eukaryotes. Human lysosomal αGNase is well known to degrade heparin and heparan sulfate. Here, we reveal the substrate specificity of αGNase (AgnC) from Clostridium perfringens strain 13, a bacterial homolog of human αGNase, by chemically synthesizing a series of disaccharide substrates containing α-linked GlcNAc. AgnC was found to release GlcNAc from GlcNAcα1,4Galβ1pMP and GlcNAcα1pNP substrates (where pMP and pNP represent p-methoxyphenyl and p-nitrophenyl, respectively). AgnC also released GlcNAc from porcine gastric mucin and cell surface mucin. Because AgnC showed no activity against any of the GlcNAcα1,2Galβ1pMP, GlcNAcα1,3Galβ1pMP, GlcNAcα1,6Galβ1pMP, and GlcNAcα1,4GlcAβ1pMP substrates, this enzyme may represent a specific glycosidase required for degrading α-GlcNAc-capped O-glycans of the class III mucin secreted from the stomach and duodenum. Deletion of the C-terminal region containing several carbohydrate-binding module 32 (CBM32) domains significantly reduced the activity for porcine gastric mucin; however, activity against GlcNAcα1,4Galβ1pMP was markedly enhanced. Dot blot and ELISA analyses revealed that the deletion construct containing the C-terminal CBM-C2 to CBM-C6 domains binds strongly to porcine gastric mucin. Consequently, tandem CBM32 domains located near the C terminus of AgnC should function by increasing the affinity for branched or clustered α-GlcNAc-containing glycans. The agnC gene-disrupted strain showed significantly reduced growth on the class III mucin-containing medium compared with the wild type strain, suggesting that AgnC might have an important role in dominant growth in intestines.

Carbohydrate glycosyl acceptor and donor moieties were synthesized efficiently by using the fluorous tag method. The p-alkoxyphenyl-type heavy fluorous tag was stable under all the reaction conditions used in the preparation of the various carbohydrate units. Each synthetic intermediate carrying the fluorous tag could be obtained in a simple straightforward manner by partition between fluorous and organic solvents.

A hexakis(fluorous chain)-type alcohol was used in the synthesis of oligosaccharides and peptides through connection with a linker suitable for the particular type of target compound. After the preparation of the desired compound, the fluorous alcohol was easily recovered in good yields under basic conditions. It appears that the fluorous alcohol can be recovered, recycled, and reused.

TfBz–OH, a novel benzoyl-type fluorous protecting reagent, has been easily prepared. It was found that the TfBz (trisfluorous chain-type benzoyl) group can be successfully introduced onto a hydroxyl function, removed in high yield, and recycled after deprotection. The use of the TfBz group makes it possible to synthesize an oligosaccharide by minimal column chromatography purification, because each synthetic intermediate is easily purified simply by fluorous-organic solvent extraction.

The Bfp-OH, a novel fluorous protecting reagent, was able to be easily prepared. The Bfp group was readily introduced to a carbohydrate, removed in high yield, and recyclable after cleavage. The use of the Bfp group made it possible to synthesize a pentasaccharide by minimal column chromatography purification. Each synthetic intermediate was able to be easily purified only by simple fluorous-organic solvent extraction and monitored by TLC, NMR, and MS.

A novel heavy fluorous thioglycoside 6 was developed and applied to oligosaccharide synthesis. The fluorous thioglycoside 6 was readily prepared via the corresponding fluorous thiol. Synthesis of t...

We describe a process that simultaneously achieves microreaction synthesis and fluorous liquid-phase extraction in a single system. Use of this method in multi-step synthesis of a protected monosac...

Amino disaccharides having an alpha-(1-->4) linkage or a beta-(1-->4) linkage have been prepared as the mimics of amino glycoside antibiotics and their inhibition for HIV-1 TAR-Tat were examined. The compound having alpha-(1-->4) linkage denotes better inhibition for TAR-Tat than that of the one having beta-(1-->4).

The synthesis of a glycopeptide was easily achieved by an Fmoc-strategy based on fluorous chemistry. In this study, hCG(β12-16) having an N-acetylglucosamine was synthesized in good yield using Fmo...

Three new fluorous supports for peptide synthesis, i.e., the trialkoxybenzhydryl-type (6), the Wang-type (7) and the tert-butyl-type support (8), were prepared. A bioactive peptide TRH was easily synthesized by an Fmoc strategy using the benzhydryl-type fluorous support with fluorous chemistry.