ABH-Glycan Microarray Characterizes ABO Subtype Antibodies: Fine Specificity of Immune Tolerance After ABO-Incompatible Transplantation

Organ transplantation from ABO blood group-incompatible (ABOi) donors requires accurate detection, effective removal and subsequent surveillance of antidonor antibodies. Because ABH antigen subtypes are expressed differently in various cells and organs, measurement of antibodies specific for the antigen subtypes in the graft is essential. Erythrocyte agglutination, the century-old assay used clinically, does not discriminate subtype-specific ABO antibodies and provides limited information on antibody isotypes. We designed and created an ABO-glycan microarray and demonstrated the precise assessment of both the presence and, importantly, the absence of donor-specific antibodies in an international study of pediatric heart transplant patients. Specific IgM, IgG, and IgA isotype antibodies to nonself ABH subtypes were detected in control participants and recipients of ABO-compatible transplants. Conversely, in children who received ABOi transplants, antibodies specific for A subtype II and/or B subtype II antigens-the only ABH antigen subtypes expressed in heart tissue-were absent, demonstrating the fine specificity of B cell tolerance to donor/graft blood group antigens. In contrast to the hemagglutination assay, the ABO-glycan microarray allows detailed characterization of donor-specific antibodies necessary for effective transplant management, representing a major step forward in precise ABO antibody detection.

Chemical Basis for Qualitative and Quantitative Differences Between ABO Blood Groups and Subgroups: Implications for Organ Transplantation

Blood group ABH(O) carbohydrate antigens are carried by precursor structures denoted type I-IV chains, creating unique antigen epitopes that may differ in expression between circulating erythrocytes and vascular endothelial cells. Characterization of such differences is invaluable in many clinical settings including transplantation. Monoclonal antibodies were generated and epitope specificities were characterized against chemically synthesized type I-IV ABH and related glycans. Antigen expression was detected on endomyocardial biopsies (n = 50) and spleen (n = 11) by immunohistochemical staining and on erythrocytes by flow cytometry. On vascular endothelial cells of heart and spleen, only type II-based ABH antigens were expressed; type III/IV structures were not detected. Type II-based ABH were expressed on erythrocytes of all blood groups. Group A1 and A2 erythrocytes additionally expressed type III/IV precursors, whereas group B and O erythrocytes did not. Intensity of A/B antigen expression differed among group A1 , A2 , A1 B, A2 B and B erythrocytes. On group A2 erythrocytes, type III H structures were largely un-glycosylated with the terminal "A" sugar α-GalNAc. Together, these studies define qualitative and quantitative differences in ABH antigen expression between erythrocytes and vascular tissues. These expression profiles have important implications that must be considered in clinical settings of ABO-incompatible transplantation when interpreting anti-ABO antibodies measured by hemagglutination assays with reagent erythrocytes.

Oligosaccharide recognition by antibodies: Synthesis and evaluation of talose oligosaccharide analogues

A series of monosaccharide (4–6), disaccharide (3,7–12), and trisaccharide (13–15) analogs of the native ligand 2, which fills the binding site of monoclonal antibody Se 155.4, have been synthesized and their bioactivity measured by solid- and solution-phase assays. The syntheses of disaccharide analogs sought to replace galactose by various alkyl groups at the O-2 position of mannose. The activity of one of these O-2 alkyl analogs was 75% of that observed for the trisaccharide and points to only weak net bonding between the solvent exposed galactose residue and the antibody binding site. The synthesis of talose analogs 13 and 14, where the mannose or galactose residues of 2 were replaced by talose produced ligands with activities from one-third to one-half of that seen for the native ligand 2. These activity changes did not exhibit discernable correlations with the ability of talose to disrupt water of solvation.Key words: abequose, 3,6-dideoxy-D-xylo-hexose, talose disaccharide and trisaccharide, antibody oligosaccharide interactions, molecular recognition of carbohydrates, water in antibody complexes, Salmonella LPS, monoclonal antibody Se 155.4, bacterial O-antigen.

Synthesis and conformational investigation of methyl 4a-carba-D-arabinofuranosides

The synthesis of carbasugar analogues of methyl alpha-D-arabinofuranoside and methyl beta-D-arabinofuranoside (3 and 4) is reported. The route developed involves the conversion of D-mannose into a suitably protected diene (13), which is then cyclized via olefin metathesis. The resulting cyclopentene (14) is stereoselectively hydrogenated to provide an intermediate that can be used for the synthesis of both targets. Through the use of NMR spectroscopy, we have probed the ring conformation of 3 and 4, as well as the rotamer populations about the C(4)-C(5) and C(1)-O(1) bonds. These studies have demonstrated that there are differences in ring conformation between these carbasugars and their glycoside parents (1 and 2). However, only minor differences are seen in the rotameric equilibrium about the C(4)-C(5) bond in 3 and 4 relative to 1 and 2. In regard to the C(1)-O(1) bond, NOE data from 3 and 4 suggest that the favored position about this bond is similar to that in the glycosides; that is, the methyl group is anti to C(2). However, confirmation of this preference through measurement of (3)J(C,C) between the methyl group and C(2) or C(4a) was not successful.

Chemistry and biology of arabinofuranosyl- and galactofuranosyl-containing polysaccharides

Polysaccharides containing galactofuranosyl and arabinofuranosyl residues are key components of many microorganisms. Recent investigations have provided a greater understanding of the biosynthetic pathways by which these glycans are assembled. Concomitant with these biochemical studies, an increasing number of chemical syntheses of oligofuranosides have been reported and new methods for their assembly have been developed.

Computational analysis of the potential energy surfaces of glycerol in the gas and aqueous phases: effects of level of theory, basis set, and solvation on strongly intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded systems

The 126 possible conformations of 1,2,3-propanetriol (glycerol) have been studied by ab initio molecular orbital and density functional theory calculations in the gas and aqueous phases at multiple levels of theory and basis sets. The partial potential energy surface for glycerol as well as an analysis of the conformational properties and hydrogen-bonding trends in both phases have been obtained. In the gas phase at the G2(MP2) and CBS-QB3 levels of theory, the important, low-energy conformers are structures 100 and 95. In the aqueous phase at the SM5.42/HF/6-31G* level of theory, the lowest energy conformers are structures 95 and 46. Boltzmann distributions have been determined from these high-level calculations, and good agreement is observed when these distributions are compared to the available experimental data. These calculations indicate that the enthalpic and entropic contributions to the Gibbs free energy are important for an accurate determination of the conformational and energetic preferences of glycerol. Different levels of theory and basis sets were used in order to understand the effects of nonbonded interactions (i.e., intramolecular hydrogen bonding). The efficiency of basis set and level of theory in dealing with the issue of intramolecular hydrogen bonding and reproducing the correct energetic and geometrical trends is discussed, especially with relevance to practical computational methods for larger polyhydroxylated compounds, such as oligosaccharides.

Conformational studies of methyl 3-O-methyl-alpha-D-arabinofuranoside: an approach for studying the conformation of furanose rings

A computational method for probing furanose conformation has been developed using a methylated monosaccharide derivative 1. First, a large library of conformers was generated by a systematic pseudo Monte Carlo search followed by optimization with the AMBER molecular mechanics force field. A subset of these conformers was then subjected to ab initio and density functional theory calculations in both the gas and aqueous phases. These calculations indicate that entropic contributions to the Gibbs free energy are important determinants of the Boltzmann distribution for the conformational preferences of 1 in the gas phase. The results obtained at each level of theory are discussed and compared with the experimentally determined conformer distribution from NMR studies in aqueous solution. In addition, the ability of each level of theory to reproduce the experimentally measured 1H-1H coupling constants in 1 is discussed. Empirical Karplus equations and density functional theory methods were used to determine average 3J(H1,H2), 3J(H2,H3), and 3J(H3,H4) for each level of theory. On the basis of this comparison, consideration of solvation with the MN-GSM model provided good agreement with the experimental data.

Sensitivity of (1)J[C(1)-H(1)] magnitudes to anomeric stereochemistry in 2,3-anhydro-O-furanosides

The magnitude of the one-bond coupling constant between C(1) and H(1) in 2,3-anhydro-O-furanosides has been shown to be sensitive to the stereochemistry at the anomeric center. A panel of 24 compounds was studied and in cases where the anomeric hydrogen is trans to the epoxide moiety, (1)J[C(1)-H(1)] = 163-168 Hz; and when this hydrogen is cis to the oxirane ring, ((1)J[C(1)-H(1)] = 171-174 Hz. In contrast, for 2,3-anhydro-S-glycosides, the size of the (1)J[C(1)-H(1)] is not sensitive to C(1) stereochemistry. Computational studies on all four methyl 2,3-anhydro-O-furanosides (5-8) demonstrated that (1)J[C(1)-H(1)] was inversely proportional to the length of the C(1)-H(1) bond. A previously reported equation, which relates C(1)-H(1) bond distance and atomic charges to (1)J[C(1)-H(1)] magnitudes, could be used to accurately predict the J values in the alpha-lyxo (5) and beta-ribo (8) isomers. In contrast, with the beta-lyxo (6) and alpha-ribo isomers (7), this equation underestimated the size of these coupling constants by 10-20 Hz.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of 2,3-anhydro-beta-d-lyxofuranosyl glycosides

[reaction: see text] The stereocontrolled synthesis of 2,3-anhydro-beta-D-lyxofuranosyl glycosides from thioglycoside 2 and glycosyl sulfoxide 3 is reported.

An efficient synthesis of methyl 2,3-anhydro-alpha-D-ribofuranoside

An efficient synthesis of methyl 2,3-anhydro-alpha-D-ribofuranoside is reported. Its preparation is achieved via a four-step sequence from methyl 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-arabinofuranoside in 74% overall yield.

Intracellular inhibition of blood group A glycosyltransferase

We report the intracellular inhibition of blood group A N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase in the human colorectal carcinoma cell line HT29 by 3-amino-3-deoxy-[Fucalpha(1-2)]Galbeta-O(CH2)7CH3. Inhibition was demonstrated with a novel capillary electrophoresis assay that monitored decreased intracellular conversion of fluorescently labelled Fucalpha(1-2)Gal-R acceptor to the corresponding A epitope, GalNAcalpha(1-3)[Fucalpha(1-2)]Galbeta-R. Growth of HT29 cells with either the amino-inhibitor or a competitive substrate, Fucalpha(1-2)Galbeta-O(CH2)7CH3, also resulted in decreased expression of blood group A determinants on cell-associated glycoproteins, as detected by immunoprecipitation analysis using A-specific monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, exposure of these cells to the amino-inhibitor or competitive substrate resulted in significant reduction of cell-surface expression of blood group A determinants. As integrin alpha3beta1, a cell-surface receptor mediating cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions, was shown previously to be a major carrier of blood group A determinants on HT29 cells, the studies described herein highlight the potential usefulness of these compounds for elucidating the role of blood group A determinants in biological phenomena.

A glycosylation protocol based on activation of glycosyl 2-pyridyl sulfones with samarium triflate

[reaction--see text] Reaction of glycosyl 2-pridyl sulfones (e.g.,2) with alcohols and samarium(III) triflate affords glycosides in moderate to excellent yields. Benzylated sulfones can be activated in preference to their benzoylated counterparts, and the methodology has been used to prepare di- and trisaccharides containing both furanose and pyranose residues. Thioglycosides do not react under these conditions, and the sulfones are inert to the N-iodosuccinimide/silver triflate promoter system commonly used to activate thioglycosides. This selectivity allowed the efficient preparation of oligosaccharides via orthogonal glycosylation protocols.

The first total synthesis of a highly branched arabinofuranosyl hexasaccharide found at the nonreducing termini of mycobacterial arabinogalactan and lipoarabinomannan

[reaction--see text] The first total synthesis of the arabinofuranosyl hexasaccharide present at the nonreducing termini of mycobacterial arabinogalactan and lipoarabinomannan is reported. The oligosaccharide was prepared as its methyl glycoside via a route that is both highly efficient and convergent. Addition of two beta-D-arabinofuranosyl residues simultaneously in high yield and with excellent stereocontrol was the key step of the synthesis.

Unexpected formation of glycals upon attempted C-alkylation of protected glycosylacetylenes

Treatment of 3,7-anhydro-4,5,6,8-tetra-O-benzyl-1,2-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-oct-1 -ynitol (beta-D-mannosyl acetylene, 1) with 5 equivalents of n-butyllithium at either 0 or -78 degrees C resulted in the elimination of benzyl alcohol to yield 3,7-anhydro-5,6,8-tri-O-benzyl-1,2,4-trideoxy-D-arabino-oct-3-en-1-yn itol (glycal acetylene, 3) as the major product. Additional studies showed that 3 is also produced from two isomers of 1 with alpha-D-mannosyl and beta-D-glucosyl stereochemistry, but in lower yields. Furthermore, substrates in which the acetylene moiety is replaced by either a methyl or phenyl group do not produce a glycal product under these conditions. Finally, treatment of 1 with phenyllithium provides 3 in low yield. Deuterium labeling studies suggest that the reaction proceeds through an E2, rather than an E1cB, mechanism.

Total synthesis of both methyl 4a-carba-D-arabinofuranosides

[reaction: see text] The total synthesis of methyl 4a-carba-alpha-D-arabinofuranoside (1) and methyl 4a-carba-beta-D-arabinofuranoside (2) has been achieved starting from D-mannose (5). Key transformations included a ring-closing metathesis of diene 11 employing Schrock's catalyst followed by a stereoselective hydrogenation with Wilkinson's catalyst.

Synthetic arabinofuranosyl oligosaccharides as mycobacterial arabinosyltransferase substrates

A series of arabinofuranosyl oligosaccharides found as constituent parts of the polysaccharide portion of the cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been chemically synthesized. Screening of these oligosaccharides as substrates for arabinosyltransferases present in mycobacterial membrane preparations suggests that modified oligosaccharide analogs as small as disaccharides may be inhibitors of glycan biosynthesis. Such inhibitors would be of potential utility as lead compounds in the identification of new drugs for the treatment of mycobacterial infections.

Selective detection and site-analysis of O-GlcNAc-modified glycopeptides by beta-elimination and tandem electrospray mass spectrometry

Over the past decade, a number of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins have been identified that are modified by single N-acetylglucosamine residues attached to the hydroxyl side chain of serines or threonines (O-GlcNAc). O-GlcNAc is a dynamic modification and therefore may act in a regulatory capacity analogous to phosphorylation. To undertake site-directed mutagenesis studies of O-GlcNAc's function, it is necessary to identify the sites of glycosylation on various proteins. The current method of site mapping, which involves galactosyltransferase labeling, generation of glycopeptides by proteolysis, purification by several rounds of HPLC, and gas-phase and manual Edman sequencing, is very tedious and requires about 10 pmol of pure, labeled glycopeptide. In this report, synthetic glycopeptides were generated and used to demonstrate that O-GlcNAc-modified peptides can be rapidly identified in complex mixtures by HPLC-coupled electrospray mass spectrometry due to the partial loss of the O-linked glycan (204 amu) at a modest orifice potential. Furthermore, the exact site of glycosylation was directly identified in the low picomole range by collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the glycopeptide after removal of the O-GlcNAc by alkaline beta-elimination. The conversion of glycosylserine to 2-aminopropenoic acid (2-ap) by beta-elimination both decreased the mass of the glycopeptide by 222 amu and resulted in a CID fragment ion representing the loss of 69 amu (2-ap) instead of 87 amu (Ser) at the position of the glycosylserine. Finally, we tested this method on an identical synthetic, alpha-linked O-GalNAc-modified peptide. Like O-GlcNAc, the O-GalNAc moiety was selectively removed at a modest orifice potential; however, the beta-elimination conditions that efficiently removed the O-GlcNAc only liberated about 20% of the O-GalNAc. We conclude that the selectivity and the sensitivity of this method will make it a powerful tool for determining the sites of O-GlcNAc modification on proteins of low abundance such as transcription factors and oncogenes.

Basis for selection of improved carbohydrate-binding single-chain antibodies from synthetic gene libraries

A technique is described for the simultaneous and controlled random mutation of all three heavy or light chain complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) in a single-chain Fv specific for the O polysaccharide of Salmonella serogroup B. Sense oligonucleotides were synthesized such that the central bases encoding a CDR were randomized by equimolar spiking with A, G, C, and T at a level of 10% while the antisense strands contained inosine in the spiked regions. Phage display of libraries assembled from the spiked oligonucleotides by a synthetic ligase chain reaction demonstrated a bias for selection of mutants that formed dimers and higher oligomers. Kinetic analyses showed that oligomerization increased association rates in addition to slowing dissociation rates. In combination with some contribution from reduced steric clashes with residues in heavy-chain CDR2, oligomerization resulted in functional affinities that were much higher than that of the monomeric form of the wild-type single-chain Fv.

Recognition of synthetic analogues of the acceptor, beta-D-Gal p-OR, by the blood-group H gene-specified glycosyltransferase

The acceptor-substrate specificity of a cloned alpha-(1-->2) fucosyltransferase has been explored using structural analogues of octyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (4). This monosaccharide is the minimum acceptor-substrate for the H-transferase, one of two enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of the O blood-group antigen, which terminates in the sequence alpha-L-Fuc p-(1-->2)-beta-D-Galp. Galactoside 4 has a Km of 6 mM with this enzyme. Eighteen analogues of 4 have been prepared, including those where the hydroxyl groups at C-3, C-4, and C-6 have been replaced, independently, with deoxy, fluoro, O-methyl, amino, and acetamido functionalities. The C-3 and C-4 epimers have been prepared as has the C-5 de(hydroxymethyl)ated derivative. These compounds were screened as potential acceptors and inhibitors of the fucosyltransferase. The C-6 analogues that do not possess a charge show substrate activity with relative rates in the range of 27-316% that of 4. The C-3 modified analogues are inhibitors with estimated Ki values of 0.9-43 mM. Those analogues with modifications at C-4 were both poor inhibitors and acceptors.

Recognition of synthetic O-methyl, epimeric, and amino analogues of the acceptor alpha-L-Fuc p-(1-->2)-beta-D-Gal p-OR by the blood-group A and B gene-specified glycosyltransferases

The disaccharide alpha-L-Fuc p-(1-->2)-beta-D-Gal p-O-(CH2)7CH3 (6) is an acceptor for the glycosyltransferases responsible for the biosynthesis of the A and B blood-group antigens. These enzymes respectively transfer GalNAc and Gal in an alpha linkage to OH-3 of the Gal residue in 6. All eight possible O-methyl, epimeric, and amino analogues of 6 having modifications on the target Gal residue were chemically synthesized and kinetically evaluated both as substrates and inhibitors for the A and B glycosyltransferases. The results support earlier findings that both enzymes will tolerate replacement of the hydroxyl groups at the 3 and 6 positions of the Gal residue. Substitution at or replacement of OH-4 of the Gal residue, however abolishes recognition. The 6-O-methyl and 6-amino compounds are substrates for both enzymes while the 3-epimeric (10) and 3-amino (12) compounds are inhibitors. For the B transferase, 10 is a competitive inhibitor with a Ki of 7.8 microM. Attempts to determine a Ki for 12 with the B transferase were unsuccessful because of a complex mode of inhibition. Similarly, both 10 and 12 are potent inhibitors of the A transferase, but the inhibition constants could not be calculated because of a complex mode of inhibition, resembling that for the B transferase. With the A transferase, 12 had an estimated Ki in the 200 nM range.

Recognition of synthetic deoxy and deoxyfluoro analogs of the acceptor alpha-L-Fuc p-(1-->2)-beta-D-Gal p-OR by the blood-group A and B gene-specified glycosyltransferases

The disaccharide alpha-L-Fuc p-(1-->2)-beta-D-Gal p-O-(CH2)7CH3 (6), is an acceptor for both glycosyltransferases responsible for the biosynthesis of the A and B blood-group antigens. These enzymes transfer GalNAc and Gal, respectively, with an alpha-linkage to OH-3 of the Gal residue in 6. All six possible deoxy and deoxyfluoro analogs of 6, with modifications on the target Gal residue, were chemically synthesized and kinetically evaluated as both substrates and inhibitors for the A and B glycosyltransferases. Both enzymes will tolerate replacement of the hydroxyl groups at the 3 and 6 positions of the Gal residue. Substitution of OH-4 of the Gal residue, however, abolishes recognition by these glycosyltransferases. The 6-deoxy and 6-fluoro compounds are substrates for both enzymes while the 3-deoxy and 3-fluoro compounds are competitive inhibitors, with Ki values in the range 14-110 microM. Kinetic constants have been determined for the 6-deoxy and 6-fluoro derivatives.