Syntheses of β-2-deoxy-D-glycosides assisted by glycosidases

An efficient and cost-effective preparation of di-O-acetyl-D-rhamnal

We have developed a synthetic route to the frequently utilized deoxysugar building block di-O-acetyl-D-rhamnal originating from the inexpensive starting material methyl α-D-glucopyranoside. Our approach proceeds in five steps with minimal column chromatography purification needed to afford the title compound in good overall yield. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Endohexosaminidase-catalysed glycosylation with oxazoline donors: effects of organic co-solvent and pH on reactions catalysed by Endo A and Endo M

The synthetic efficiency of endohexosaminidase-catalysed glycosylation reactions using N-glycan oxazolines as donors was investigated as two reaction parameters were varied. Both the addition of quantities of an organic co-solvent and modulation of reaction pH between 6.5 and 8.0 were found to have different effects on reactions catalysed by either Endo A (and two available mutants) or Endo M, indicating subtle differences between these two family GH85 enzymes. Fine tuning of reaction pH, or the addition of quantities of an organic co-solvent, resulted in beneficial increases in achievable synthetic efficiency by effecting a reduction in the rate of competitive hydrolytic processes.

Synthesis of hydroquinone-alpha-glucoside by alpha-glucosidase from baker's yeast

Hydroquinone-alpha-glucoside was synthesised from hydroquinone and maltose as glucosyl donor by transglucosylation in a water system with alpha-glucosidase from baker's yeast. Only one phenolic -OH group was alpha-anomer-selectively glucosylated. The optimum conditions for transglucosylation reaction were at 30 degrees C for 20 h with 50 mM: hydroquinone and 1.5 M: maltose in 100 mM: sodium citrate/phosphate buffer at pH 5.5. The glucoside was obtained at 0.6 mg/ml with a 4.6% molar yield with respect to hydroquinone.

The efficient enzymatic synthesis of N-acetyllactosamine in an organic co-solvent

In the presence of beta-galactosidase from Bifidobacterium bifidum, N-acetyllactosamine was synthesized in significantly enhanced yield compared with earlier routes. Different proportions of the (1-->4)- and (1-->6)-linked forms were obtained depending on the choice of enzyme and reaction conditions, viz. the nature of added organic co-solvent (20-80% of 2-ethoxy ethyl ether, trimethyl phosphate, or acetone). The beta-(1-->4)-linked disaccharide was the major product and the beta-(1-->6)-linked disaccharide was the minor product. With beta-galactosidases from P. multicolor, A. oryzae, B. longum the beta-(1-->6) linkage was exclusively synthesized. Procedures for optimising the yield of N-acetyllactosamine are discussed. An immobilized enzyme on a nylon powder column was used for the efficient recycling of enzyme and synthesizing the disaccharide.