Ladislav Petruš

The Bílik Reaction

The introduction of the Bilik reaction, the molybdic acid catalyzed interconversion of epimeric aldoses, is an important milestone in carbohydrate chemistry. The essentials of this unique, stereospecific carbon-skeleton rearrangement of epialdoses are presented. Emphasis is laid on the latest developments in the area, namely the mutual interconversion of 2-ketoses and 2-C-(hydroxymethyl)aldoses, a reaction that is exploited for the preparation of some important representatives of these reducing sugars. Mechanistic studies with isotopically substituted D-fructoses are also described.

α-d-Mannose derivatives as models designed for selective inhibition of Golgi α-mannosidase II

Human Golgi α-mannosidase II (hGM) is a pharmaceutical target for the design of inhibitors with anti-tumor activity. Nanomolar inhibitors of hGM exhibit unwanted co-inhibition of the human lysosomal α-mannosidase (hLM). Hence, improving specificity of the inhibitors directed toward hGM is desired in order to use them in cancer chemotherapy. We report on the rapid synthesis of D-mannose derivatives having one of the RS-, R(SO)- or R(SO(2))- groups at the α-anomeric position. Inhibitory properties of thirteen synthesized α-D-mannopyranosides were tested against the recombinant enzyme Drosophila melanogaster homolog of hGM (dGMIIb) and hLM (dLM408). Derivatives with the sulfonyl [R(SO(2))-] group exhibited inhibitory activities at the mM level toward both dGMIIb (IC(50) = 1.5-2.5 mM) and dLM408 (IC(50) = 1.0-2.0 mM). Among synthesized, only the benzylsulfonyl derivative showed selectivity toward dGMIIb. Its inhibitory activity was explained based on structural analysis of the built 3-D complexes of the enzyme with the docked compounds.

Synthesis of alkyl and cycloalkyl α-d-mannopyranosides and derivatives thereof and their evaluation in the mycobacterial mannosyltransferase assay

The synthesis of a series of alkyl (having from C6 to C20 aglycones), cyclohexyl, and cyclohexylalkyl alpha-d-mannopyranosides, 6-deoxygenated analogs, thioglycosides, and sulfones derived thereof, is reported. Here, under the in vitro assay conditions used, none of the 15 tested compounds acted as an inhibitor of the mannose transfer catalyzed by the enzymes present in mycobacterial membrane and cell wall fractions. Mannopyranosides comprising shorter aliphatic, up to 8 carbon atoms long linear, or cyclic aglycone served as the acceptor substrates in the mycobacterial mannosyltransferase reaction. The thioglycosides exhibited similar behavior, in contrast to the sulfones, which were essentially not recognized by the mycobacterial enzymes. 6-Deoxygenated glycosides were not processed by the enzymes, suggesting that the mannose transfer occurs at position 6 of the acceptors.

Size-exclusion effect of a substrate upon kinetics of trypsin immobilized on porous bead cellulose. 1. Influence of distribution coefficient of a substrate

Abstract A model of heterogeneous biocatalysis, in which kinetics and partition effects are connected via the size-exclusion principle, was worked up experimentally and theoretically. The present paper shows that the maximum relative activity of trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4) immobilized on porous bead (spherical) cellulose is directly proportional to the available distribution coefficient of the substrate. Providing that the excess of substrate is not sufficient (e.g. S / K m ≈ 1) to safeguard saturated enzyme kinetics, the originally linear relationship of R a versus K av turns to an exponential one, without any dependence upon the manner of enzyme immobilization. It is suggested that the above may be a result of partition resistance and that the main factors determining the shape of the R a versus K av relation in conditions of substrate shortage are the size and geometry of the matrix. The physical characteristics of the porous carrier as well as the manner of covalent immobilization of the enzyme are all reflected in the constants applied in the derived equations.

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of some D-mannose click conjugates with aminobenzoic acid derivatives.

Two sets of new conjugates obtained from d-mannose derivatives and o-, m-, and p-substituted benzoic acid esters interconnected through a triazole ring were synthesized by Cu(I) catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition. All synthesized compounds were tested for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against seven cancer cell lines with/without multidrug resistance phenotype as well as non-tumor MRC-5 and BJ fibroblasts. Butyl ester of 4-aminobenzoic acid 6c showed the highest activity among all tested compounds, however, it was active only against K562 myeloid leukemia cells. N-Glycosyltriazole conjugates, both acetylated and nonacetylated at mannose moiety, were almost completely inactive. In contrast, some of the acetylated O-glycosyl conjugates showed cytotoxic activity which was cell line dependent and strongly affected by position of benzoic acid substitution as well as a length of its ester alkyl chain; the most potent compound was acetylated mannoside conjugated with octyl ester of m-substituted benzoic acid. However, deacetylation resulting in hydrophilicity increase of the glycosides almost completely abolished their cytotoxic potency.

Preparation of d-galactofuranosyl nitromethanes: a revision and a new approach

Sodium methoxide-promoted methanolysis of 7-deoxy-7-nitro-L-glycero-L-galacto-heptitol peracetate rapidly and nearly quantitatively accumulates 7-deoxy-6-O-methyl-7-nitro-L-glycero-L-galacto-heptitol. The prolonged treatment then provides 76% of D-galactofuranosyl nitromethanes and finally results in the equilibrium of 77% of β-D-galactopyranosyl nitromethane and 7-9% of three other tautomeric D-galactosyl nitromethanes. Thermal treatment of 7-deoxy-7-nitro-L-glycero-L-galacto-heptitol in boiling water peaks at a 58% content of D-galactofuranosyl nitromethanes and ends in a similar equilibrium mixture of four D-galactosyl tautomers. The relevant kinetic parameters of the latter transformation are determined by a curve fitting using the nonlinear least-squares Marquardt-Levenberg algorithm.

Electron-transfer reduction of 1-deoxy-1-nitroalditols to glycamines with ferrous hydroxide

Treatment of eight different 1-deoxy-1-nitroalditols with freshly prepared ferrous hydroxide at ambient temperature provides the corresponding glycamines that were isolated in 81-94% yields as salts with TFA. Under such modified reaction conditions, the retro-Henry reaction of the starting compounds is significantly suppressed due to the amphoteric character of the reducing agent in water. Lower, 58-75% yields were obtained by the classical process with ferrous sulfate in aqueous ammonia and employing an improved purification procedure for the product glycamines by irreversible capture of sulfate ions with barium carbonate.