A convergent block strategy for general use in efficient synthesis of complex α‐(1→4)‐ and α‐(1→6... more A convergent block strategy for general use in efficient synthesis of complex α‐(1→4)‐ and α‐(1→6)‐malto‐oligosaccharides is demonstrated with the first chemical synthesis of a malto‐oligosaccharide, the decasaccharide 6,6′′′′‐bis(α‐maltosyl)‐maltohexaose, with two branch points. Using this chemically defined branched oligosaccharide as a substrate, the cleavage pattern of seven different α‐amylases were investigated. α‐Amylases from human saliva, porcine pancreas, barley α‐amylase 2 and recombinant barley α‐amylase 1 all hydrolysed the decasaccharide selectively. This resulted in a branched hexasaccharide and a branched tetrasaccharide. α‐Amylases from Asperagillus oryzae, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus sp. cleaved the decasaccharide at two distinct sites, either producing two branched pentasaccharides, or a branched hexasaccharide and a branched tetrasaccharide. In addition, the enzymes were tested on the single‐branched octasaccharide 6‐α‐maltosyl‐maltohexaose, which was prepared from 6,6′′′′‐bis(α‐maltosyl)‐maltohexaose by treatment with malt limit dextrinase. A similar cleavage pattern to that found for the corresponding linear malto‐oligosaccharide substrate was observed.
Two homologous plant-specific Arabidopsis thaliana genes, RGXT1 and RGXT2, belong to a new family... more Two homologous plant-specific Arabidopsis thaliana genes, RGXT1 and RGXT2, belong to a new family of glycosyltransferases (CAZy GT-family-77) and encode cell wall (1,3)-α-d-xylosyltransferases. The deduced amino acid sequences contain single transmembrane domains near the N terminus, indicative of a type II membrane protein structure. Soluble secreted forms of the corresponding proteins expressed in insect cells showed xylosyltransferase activity, transferring d-xylose from UDP-α-d-xylose to l-fucose. The disaccharide product was hydrolyzed by α-xylosidase, whereas no reaction was catalyzed by β-xylosidase. Furthermore, the regio- and stereochemistry of the methyl xylosyl-fucoside was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance to be an α-(1,3) linkage, demonstrating the isolated glycosyltransferases to be (1,3)-α-d-xylosyltransferases. This particular linkage is only known in rhamnogalacturonan-II, a complex polysaccharide essential to vascular plants, and is conserved across higher plant families. Rhamnogalacturonan-II isolated from both RGXT1 and RGXT2 T-DNA insertional mutants functioned as specific acceptor molecules in the xylosyltransferase assay. Expression of RGXT1- and RGXT2-enhanced green fluorescent protein constructs in Arabidopsis revealed that both fusion proteins were targeted to a Brefeldin A–sensitive compartment and also colocalized with the Golgi marker dye BODIPY TR ceramide, consistent with targeting to the Golgi apparatus. Taken together, these results suggest that RGXT1 and RGXT2 encode Golgi-localized (1,3)-α-d-xylosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of pectic rhamnogalacturonan-II.
The allelochemical alliarinoside present in garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), an invasive plan... more The allelochemical alliarinoside present in garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), an invasive plant species in North America, was chemically synthesized using an efficient and practical synthetic strategy based on a simple reaction sequence. Commercially available 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranose was converted into prop-2-enyl 2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranoside and subjected to epoxidation. In a one-pot reaction, ring-opening of the epoxide using TMSCN under solvent free conditions followed by treatment of the formed trimethylsilyloxy nitrile with pyridine and phosphoryl chloride, afforded the acetylated β-unsaturated nitriles (Z)-4-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)but-2-enenitrile and its isomer (E)-4-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)but-2-enenitrile. Deacetylation of Z- and/or E-isomers afforded the target molecules alliarinoside and its isomer.
A short and practical methodology for conversion of unprotected D-glucose, maltose, cellobiose an... more A short and practical methodology for conversion of unprotected D-glucose, maltose, cellobiose and lactose into the corresponding phenyl 4,6-O-benzylidine-per-O-acetylated-1,2-trans-thioglycosides is described. The protocol is based on the execution of five reaction steps (bromoacetylation, thiophenolysis under phase transfer catalysis conditions, deacetylation, benzylidenation and acetylation) in one continuous procedure and provides a fast access to the title compounds as pure crystalline products without chromatographic purification.
Lotus japonicus contains the two cyanogenic glucosides, linamarin and lotaustralin, and the non c... more Lotus japonicus contains the two cyanogenic glucosides, linamarin and lotaustralin, and the non cyanogenic hydroxynitriles, rhodiocyanoside A and D, with rhodiocyanoside A as the major rhodiocyanoside. Rhodiocyanosides are structurally related to cyanogenic glucosides but are not cyanogenic. In vitro administration of intermediates of the lotaustralin pathway to microsomes prepared from selected L. japonicus accessions identified 2-methyl-2-butenenitrile as an intermediate in the rhodiocyanoside biosynthetic pathway. In vitro inhibitory studies with carbon monoxide and tetcyclacis indicate that the conversion of (Z)-2-methylbutanal oxime to 2-methyl-2-butenenitrile is catalyzed by cytochrome P450(s). Carbon monoxide inhibited cyanogenic glucosides as well as rhodiocyanosides synthesis, but inhibition of the latter pathway was much stronger. These results demonstrate that the cyanogenic glucoside and rhodiocyanosides pathways share CYP79Ds to obtain (Z)-2-methylbutanaloxime from l-isoleucine, whereas the subsequent conversions are catalyzed by different P450s. The aglycon of rhodiocyanoside A forms the cyclic product 3-methyl-2(5H)-furanone. Furanones are known to possess antimicrobial properties indicating that rhodiocyanoside A may have evolved to serve as a phytoanticipin that following β-glucosidase activation and cyclization of the aglycone formed, give rise to a potent defense compound.
A convergent block strategy for general use in efficient synthesis of complex α‐(1→4)‐ and α‐(1→6... more A convergent block strategy for general use in efficient synthesis of complex α‐(1→4)‐ and α‐(1→6)‐malto‐oligosaccharides is demonstrated with the first chemical synthesis of a malto‐oligosaccharide, the decasaccharide 6,6′′′′‐bis(α‐maltosyl)‐maltohexaose, with two branch points. Using this chemically defined branched oligosaccharide as a substrate, the cleavage pattern of seven different α‐amylases were investigated. α‐Amylases from human saliva, porcine pancreas, barley α‐amylase 2 and recombinant barley α‐amylase 1 all hydrolysed the decasaccharide selectively. This resulted in a branched hexasaccharide and a branched tetrasaccharide. α‐Amylases from Asperagillus oryzae, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus sp. cleaved the decasaccharide at two distinct sites, either producing two branched pentasaccharides, or a branched hexasaccharide and a branched tetrasaccharide. In addition, the enzymes were tested on the single‐branched octasaccharide 6‐α‐maltosyl‐maltohexaose, which was prepared from 6,6′′′′‐bis(α‐maltosyl)‐maltohexaose by treatment with malt limit dextrinase. A similar cleavage pattern to that found for the corresponding linear malto‐oligosaccharide substrate was observed.
Two homologous plant-specific Arabidopsis thaliana genes, RGXT1 and RGXT2, belong to a new family... more Two homologous plant-specific Arabidopsis thaliana genes, RGXT1 and RGXT2, belong to a new family of glycosyltransferases (CAZy GT-family-77) and encode cell wall (1,3)-α-d-xylosyltransferases. The deduced amino acid sequences contain single transmembrane domains near the N terminus, indicative of a type II membrane protein structure. Soluble secreted forms of the corresponding proteins expressed in insect cells showed xylosyltransferase activity, transferring d-xylose from UDP-α-d-xylose to l-fucose. The disaccharide product was hydrolyzed by α-xylosidase, whereas no reaction was catalyzed by β-xylosidase. Furthermore, the regio- and stereochemistry of the methyl xylosyl-fucoside was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance to be an α-(1,3) linkage, demonstrating the isolated glycosyltransferases to be (1,3)-α-d-xylosyltransferases. This particular linkage is only known in rhamnogalacturonan-II, a complex polysaccharide essential to vascular plants, and is conserved across higher plant families. Rhamnogalacturonan-II isolated from both RGXT1 and RGXT2 T-DNA insertional mutants functioned as specific acceptor molecules in the xylosyltransferase assay. Expression of RGXT1- and RGXT2-enhanced green fluorescent protein constructs in Arabidopsis revealed that both fusion proteins were targeted to a Brefeldin A–sensitive compartment and also colocalized with the Golgi marker dye BODIPY TR ceramide, consistent with targeting to the Golgi apparatus. Taken together, these results suggest that RGXT1 and RGXT2 encode Golgi-localized (1,3)-α-d-xylosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of pectic rhamnogalacturonan-II.
The allelochemical alliarinoside present in garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), an invasive plan... more The allelochemical alliarinoside present in garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), an invasive plant species in North America, was chemically synthesized using an efficient and practical synthetic strategy based on a simple reaction sequence. Commercially available 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranose was converted into prop-2-enyl 2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranoside and subjected to epoxidation. In a one-pot reaction, ring-opening of the epoxide using TMSCN under solvent free conditions followed by treatment of the formed trimethylsilyloxy nitrile with pyridine and phosphoryl chloride, afforded the acetylated β-unsaturated nitriles (Z)-4-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)but-2-enenitrile and its isomer (E)-4-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)but-2-enenitrile. Deacetylation of Z- and/or E-isomers afforded the target molecules alliarinoside and its isomer.
A short and practical methodology for conversion of unprotected D-glucose, maltose, cellobiose an... more A short and practical methodology for conversion of unprotected D-glucose, maltose, cellobiose and lactose into the corresponding phenyl 4,6-O-benzylidine-per-O-acetylated-1,2-trans-thioglycosides is described. The protocol is based on the execution of five reaction steps (bromoacetylation, thiophenolysis under phase transfer catalysis conditions, deacetylation, benzylidenation and acetylation) in one continuous procedure and provides a fast access to the title compounds as pure crystalline products without chromatographic purification.
Lotus japonicus contains the two cyanogenic glucosides, linamarin and lotaustralin, and the non c... more Lotus japonicus contains the two cyanogenic glucosides, linamarin and lotaustralin, and the non cyanogenic hydroxynitriles, rhodiocyanoside A and D, with rhodiocyanoside A as the major rhodiocyanoside. Rhodiocyanosides are structurally related to cyanogenic glucosides but are not cyanogenic. In vitro administration of intermediates of the lotaustralin pathway to microsomes prepared from selected L. japonicus accessions identified 2-methyl-2-butenenitrile as an intermediate in the rhodiocyanoside biosynthetic pathway. In vitro inhibitory studies with carbon monoxide and tetcyclacis indicate that the conversion of (Z)-2-methylbutanal oxime to 2-methyl-2-butenenitrile is catalyzed by cytochrome P450(s). Carbon monoxide inhibited cyanogenic glucosides as well as rhodiocyanosides synthesis, but inhibition of the latter pathway was much stronger. These results demonstrate that the cyanogenic glucoside and rhodiocyanosides pathways share CYP79Ds to obtain (Z)-2-methylbutanaloxime from l-isoleucine, whereas the subsequent conversions are catalyzed by different P450s. The aglycon of rhodiocyanoside A forms the cyclic product 3-methyl-2(5H)-furanone. Furanones are known to possess antimicrobial properties indicating that rhodiocyanoside A may have evolved to serve as a phytoanticipin that following β-glucosidase activation and cyclization of the aglycone formed, give rise to a potent defense compound.
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