Peter Grice

The human brain utilizes lactate via the tricarboxylic acid cycle: a 13C-labelled microdialysis and high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance study

Energy metabolism in the human brain is not fully understood. Classically, glucose is regarded as the major energy substrate. However, lactate (conventionally a product of anaerobic metabolism) has been proposed to act as an energy source, yet whether this occurs in man is not known. Here we show that the human brain can indeed utilize lactate as an energy source via the tricarboxylic acid cycle. We used a novel combination of (13)C-labelled cerebral microdialysis both to deliver (13)C substrates into the brain and recover (13)C metabolites from the brain, and high-resolution (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance. Microdialysis catheters were placed in the vicinity of focal lesions and in relatively less injured regions of brain, in patients with traumatic brain injury. Infusion with 2-(13)C-acetate or 3-(13)C-lactate produced (13)C signals for glutamine C4, C3 and C2, indicating tricarboxylic acid cycle operation followed by conversion of glutamate to glutamine. This is the first direct demonstration of brain utilization of lactate as an energy source in humans.

Dispiroketals in synthesis (Part 5): A new opportunity for oligosaccharide synthesis using differentially activated glycosyl donors and acceptors

The reactivity of dispiroketal protected thioglycosides makes them useful new precursors for oligossaccharide synthesis as is illustrated by the preparation of a protected pentasaccharide unit common to the variant surface glycoprotein of Trypanosoma brucei.

Total synthesis of the anthelmintic macrolide avermectin B1a

A highly convergent total synthesis of the anthelmintic macrolide avermectin B1a 1 is described. The key features of this synthesis include the introduction of the C(11)–C(15) portion by selective ring opening of a symmetrical 1,4-bis-epoxide 4 followed by reaction with the anion derived from the 3-methyl-2-(1-methylpropyl)-6-phenylsulphonylpyran 3 to afford the ‘northern’ C(11)–C(25) fragment 39. Coupling of the derived C(11)–C(25) aldehyde unit 42 with a C(1)–C(10)‘southern’ fragment 2 was achieved via a novel deconjugative vinyl sulphone anion sequence. Macrolactonisation and subsequent introduction of the 3,4-double bond gave the aglycone portion 51. The oleandrosyloleandrose disaccharide was introduced by a novel silver-mediated coupling between the 5-acetylated aglycone 70 and the thiocarbonylimidazolide 69. Final deacetylation was accomplished using Super-Hydride to give the natural product 1.

A highly convergent total synthesis of the spiroacetal macrolide (+)-milbemycinβ1

Abstract A highly convergent synthesis of the macrolide natural product milbemycin β1 is reported. The key features of this synthesis include the introduction of the C11-C15 side chain by selective ring opening of a symmetrical 1,4-pentane bis-epoxide (3) followed by reaction with the anion derived from the 2,3-trans-dimethyl-6-phenylsulphonyl pyran (2) to afford the “northern” C11-C25 fragment (33) of milbemycin β1. Coupling of the derived C11-C25 aldehyde unit (37) with a C1-C10 southern zone fragment (5) was achieved via a novel deconjugative vinyl sulphone anion sequence to give a product containing all the carbon substituents of the natural product. Final manipulations involved macrolactonisation and subsequent introduction of the important 3,4-double bond by selenoxide syn-elimination. Methylation of the C-5 hydroxyl group was accomplished as the penultimate step with methyl iodide and silver (I) oxide under ultrasonication.

Preparation of spiroketals by reaction of anions from 2-benzenesulphonyltetrahydropyrans with epoxides: synthesis of the c-11 to c-25 fragment of the milbemycins☆

Abstract Deprotonation of 2-benzenesulphonyltetrahydropyrans with n-butyllithium affords anions which react with substituted epoxides to give spiroketals upon acidification. Using this approach a highly convergent synthesis of the C-11 to C-25 fragment of the milbemycins was achieved.

Rotamers or Diastereomers? An Overlooked NMR Solution

The existence of rotamers in a solution of analyte complicates (1)H NMR analysis, especially when the presence of diastereomers is also possible. Organic chemists have often responded to this problem by conducting variable-temperature (VT) NMR experiments, changing NMR solvents, or adding complexing agents. Here, with specific examples, we illustrate the use of simple yet widely overlooked chemical-exchange NMR experiments which allow the nonintrusive rapid distinguishment of rapidly equilibrating small molecules such as rotamers from nonequilibrating diastereomers.

Glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway after human traumatic brain injury: microdialysis studies using 1,2-13C2 glucose

Increased ‘anaerobic’ glucose metabolism is observed after traumatic brain injury (TBI) attributed to increased glycolysis. An alternative route is the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which generates putatively protective and reparative molecules. To compare pathways we employed microdialysis to perfuse 1,2-13C2 glucose into the brains of 15 TBI patients and macroscopically normal brain in six patients undergoing surgery for benign tumors, and to simultaneously collect products for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. 13C enrichment for glycolytic 2,3-13C2 lactate was the median 5.4% (interquartile range (IQR) 4.6–7.5%) in TBI brain and 4.2% (2.4–4.4%) in ‘normal’ brain (P<0.01). The ratio of PPP-derived 3-13C lactate to glycolytic 2,3-13C2 lactate was median 4.9% (3.6–8.2%) in TBI brain and 6.7% (6.3–8.9%) in ‘normal’ brain. An inverse relationship was seen for PPP-glycolytic lactate ratio versus PbtO2 (r=−0.5, P=0.04) in TBI brain. Thus, glycolytic lactate production was significantly greater in TBI than ‘normal’ brain. Several TBI patients exhibited PPP—lactate elevation above the ‘normal’ range. There was proportionally greater PPP-derived lactate production with decreasing PbtO2. The study raises questions about the roles of the PPP and glycolysis after TBI, and whether they can be manipulated to achieve a better outcome. This study is the first direct comparison of glycolysis and PPP in human brain.

13C-labelled microdialysis studies of cerebral metabolism in TBI patients

Graphical abstract

Synthesis of the northern hemisphere of the milbemycins using a new strategy for the formation of the C15 to C16 bond.

Abstract Using a new convergent route the synthesis of the C11 to C25 northern hemisphere fragment of the milbemycins has been achieved.

Synthesis of a C16–C28 spiroacetal fragment of avermectin B1a and reassignment of some 1H and 13C resonances of avermectin B1a

Abstract A new method for the synthesis of unsaturated spiroacetals from 2-benzenesulphonyltetrahydropyrans is presented. 1 H and 13 C studies of one of these spiroacetals led to a reassignment of some 1 H and 13 C resonances of Avermectin B1a.