An improved stereoselective reduction of a bicyclic diketone by Saccharomyces cerevisiae combining process optimization and strain engineering.

The stereoselective reduction of the bicyclic diketone bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2,6-dione, to the ketoalcohol (1R,4S,6S)-6-hydroxybicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2-one, was used as a model reduction to optimize parameters involved in NADPH-dependent reductions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with glucose as co-substrate. The co-substrate yield (ketoalcohol formed/glucose consumed) was affected by the initial concentration of bicyclic diketone, the ratio of yeast to glucose, the medium composition, and the pH. The reduction of 5 g l(-1) bicyclic diketone was completed in less than 20 h in complex medium (pH 5.5) under oxygen limitation with an initial concentration of 200 g l(-1) glucose and 5 g l(-1) yeast. The co-substrate yield was further enhanced by genetically engineered strains with reduced phosphoglucose isomerase activity and with the gene encoding alcohol dehydrogenase deleted. Co-substrate yields were increased 2.3-fold and 2.4-fold, respectively, in these strains.

Asymmetric reduction of ketones with catecholborane using 2,6-BODOL complexes of titanium(IV) as catalysts.

Reductions performed with Ti(IV) complexes of ligands based on bicyclo[2.2.2]octane diols 5 and 6 are effective catalysts in the reduction of prochiral ketones to optically active alcohols, with catecholborane as the reducing agent. Methyl ketones are favored and enantiomeric excesses (ee) of < or =98% have been achieved with acetophenone as the substrate. Several other substrates were tested, among them 2-octanone, which gave 2-octanol in 87% ee. Further details of the method were examined, for example, temperature, solvent composition, amount of molecular sieves (4 A), and catecholborane quality, as well as the sensitivity of the ligands towards acids. NMR spectroscopic methods were used to gain some insight into the complexes formed between the ligands and [Ti(OiPr)4]. A dimeric structure is proposed for the pre-catalyst.

Temporary in situ aluminum and zinc tethering in Diels-Alder reactions

[formula: see text] Temporary tethering using aluminum or zinc in Diels-Alder reactions made possible the use of otherwise "noncompatible" combinations of dienes and dienophiles, resulting in the one-step formation of substituted cyclohexene 1,2-bis-methanols. Excellent regioselectivity and also significant stereoselectivity were obtained.

Purification, characterization, and structure of pseudobactin 589 A, a siderophore from a plant growth promoting Pseudomonas.

Under conditions of low-iron stress the plant growth promoting bacterium Pseudomonas putida 589 (DSM 50202) produced a yellow-green fluorescent iron-binding peptide siderophore, which was designated pseudobactin 589 A and had an affinity constant toward Fe3+ of 10(25) at pH 7. Protonated pseudobactin 589 A had the molecular formula C54H78O26N15 and a nominal mass spectral molecular mass of 1353 g/mol. Its structure was determined by a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and Edman degradation. Pseudobactin 589 A consisted of a nonapeptide with the amino acid sequence L-Asp-L-Lys-(D)-beta-OH-Asp-D(L)-Ser-L-Thr-D-Ala-D-Glu-L(D)-Ser-L-N delta-OH- Orn, in which lysine was amide bonded via the carboxy and the N epsilon-amino groups. A quinoline-derived chromophore was connected via an amide bond to the alpha-amino nitrogen of aspartic acid and an L-malamide residue was attached to the chromophore. The three bidentate Fe3+ binding ligands consisted of an o-dihydroxy aromatic group from the quinoline derivative, beta-hydroxyaspartic acid, and an internally cyclized N delta-hydroxyornithine. The structure of pseudobactin 589 A is unique but strikingly similar to that of other pseudobactin-type siderophores from other plant growth promoting and plant deleterious pseudomonads.

Preparation and calculated conformations of the 2'-, 3'-, 4'-, and 6'-deoxy, 3'-O-methyl, 4'-epi, and 4'- and 6'-deoxy-fluoro derivatives of methyl 4-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (methyl beta-D-galabioside).

The glycosyl chlorides of the 3-O-methyl (6) and 4-deoxy-4-fluoro (8) O-benzylated derivatives of D-galactopyranose and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranose were condensed with methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside to give, after deprotection, the 3'-O-methyl (23), 4'-deoxy-4'-fluoro (25), and 4'-epi (27) derivatives, respectively, of methyl beta-D-galabioside (1). The glycosyl fluorides of 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-D-fucopyranose and the 3-deoxy (12) and 4-deoxy (16) O-benzylated derivatives of D-galactopyranose were condensed with methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (21), to give, after deprotection, the 6'-deoxy (31), 3'-deoxy (34), and 4'-deoxy (37) derivatives of 1, respectively. The 2'-deoxy (41) derivative of 1 was prepared by N-iodosuccinimide-induced condensation of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-galactal and 21 followed by deprotection. Treatment of methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-4-O-(2,3-di-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl)-beta -D- galactopyranoside with Et2NSF3 (DAST), followed by deprotection, provided the 6'-deoxy-6'-fluoro (46) derivative of 1. Molecular mechanics calculations yielded conformations for 23, 25, 27, 31, 34, 37, 41, and 46 with small deviations from the calculated conformation for 1 (phi H/psi H: -40 degrees/-6 degrees).

Synthetic receptor analogues: the conformation of methyl 4-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (methyl beta-D-galabioside) and related derivatives, determined by n.m.r. and computational methods.

The conformations of galabiose and its methyl and ethyl beta-glycosides as well as the 3-deoxy, 3-O-methyl, 3-deoxy-3-C-methyl, 3-deoxy-3-C-ethyl, and 6-deoxy analogues were investigated by n.m.r. (1H, 13C, n.O.e.) and computational (HSEA) methods. A good correlation was found between the computational data and the n.m.r. data for aqueous solutions. The conformations in aqueous solution were similar, whereas crystalline galabiose or methyl beta-D-galabioside in solution in methyl sulfoxide adopted different conformations that showed intramolecular hydrogen bonds (O-5'. . . O-3 and O-2'. . . O-6, respectively).

Synthetic receptor analogues: preparation and calculated conformations of the 2-deoxy, 6-O-methyl, 6-deoxy, and 6-deoxy-6-fluoro derivatives of methyl 4-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (methyl beta-D-galabioside).

The 2-deoxy (7), 6-O-methyl (15), 6-deoxy (22), and 6-deoxy-6-fluoro (31) derivatives of methyl beta-D-galabioside (1) have been synthesised. Thus, 7 was prepared by xanthate reduction using tributyltin hydride, whereas 22 was obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of a 6-deoxy-6-iodogalabioside. Regioselective monofluorination of methyl 2,3-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside with Et2NSF3 and subsequent alpha-D-galactosylation provided 31. Molecular mechanics calculations yielded similar conformations for 1, 7, 15, 22, and 31 with differences in phi H and psi H of less than 5 degrees. No indications of intramolecular hydrogen bonds, as displayed by 1 in the crystal, were found for 7, 15, 22, or 31.

Synthesis of spacer-arm, lipid, and ethyl glycosides of the terminal trisaccharide [alpha-D-Gal-(1----4)-beta-D-Gal-(1----4)-beta-D-GlcNAc] portion of the blood-group P1 antigen: preparation of neoglycoproteins.

The title compounds were prepared via the acetylated 2-bromoethyl beta-glycoside (5) of alpha-D-Gal-(1----4)-beta-D-Gal-(1----4)-beta-D-GlcNAc by displacement of bromide ion with methyl 3-mercaptopropionate, octadecanethiol, and hydrogen, respectively. Silver triflate-promoted glycosylation of 2-bromoethyl 3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-beta-D-glucopyranoside with 2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl) -alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide gave 5. The spacer-arm glycoside derived from methyl 3-mercaptopropionate was coupled to bovine serum albumin and key-hole limpet haemocyanin to give neoglycoproteins.

Synthesis of spacer-arm, lipid, and ethyl glycosides of the trisaccharide portion [alpha-D-Gal-(1----4)-beta-D-Gal-(1----4)-beta-D-Glc] of the blood-group Pk antigen: preparation of neoglycoproteins.

The title compounds were prepared via the acetylated 2-bromoethyl glycoside 11 of alpha-D-Gal-(1----4)-beta-D-Gal-(1----4)-beta-D-Glc by displacement of bromide ion with methyl 3- mercaptopropionate , octadecanethiol , and hydrogen, respectively. Silver triflate -promoted glycosylation of 2-bromoethyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside with 2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl) -alpha -D-galactopyranosyl bromide gave 11. A tetradeuterated analogue of 11 was prepared by essentially the same route. The spacer-arm glycoside formed from methyl 3- mercaptopropionate was coupled to bovine serum albumin and keyhole limpet haemocyanin.

Synthesis from pullulan of spacer-arm, lipid, and ethyl glycosides of a tetrasaccharide [alpha-D-Glc-(1----6)-alpha-D-Glc-(1----4)-alpha-D-Glc-(1----4)-D-Glc] found in human urine; preparation of neoglycoproteins.

Enzymic hydrolysis of pullulan, followed by acetylation and chromatography, gave acetylated alpha-D-Glcp-(1----6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1----4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1----4)-D-Glcp which, with 2-bromoethanol and boron trifluoride etherate in dichloromethane, gave the 2-bromoethyl glycoside. The reactions of the glycoside with methyl 3- mercaptopropionate , methyl 11- mercaptoundecanoate , and octadecanethiol are described, and also its hydrogenolysis to give an ethyl glycoside. The mercaptopropionate -derived, spacer-arm glycoside has been coupled to bovine serum albumin and keyhole limpet haemocyanin.

2-Bromoethyl glycosides in glycoside synthesis: preparation of glycoproteins containing alpha-L-Fuc-(1----2)-D-Gal and beta-D-Gal-(1----4)-D-GlcNAc.

The applicability of 2-bromoethyl glycosides in carbohydrate synthesis is demonstrated by the synthesis of glycosides of alpha-L-Fuc-(1----2)-D-Gal and beta-D-Gal-(1----4)-D-GlcNAc. The bromoethyl aglycon was transformed into the methoxycarbonylethylthioethyl spacer, which allowed coupling of the sugars to proteins (BSA and KLH).

Identification of an active disaccharide unit of a glycoconjugate receptor for pneumococci attaching to human pharyngeal epithelial cells.

Glycoconjugates containing the disaccharide unit GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 3Gal beta were suggested as receptors for pneumococci adhering to human pharyngeal epithelial cells. The receptor activity was detected both by inhibition of adhesion by an excess of free oligosaccharide and by induction or increase of adhesion after coating of target cells with glycolipid. Studies with free natural and synthetic oligosaccharides identified the disaccharide GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 3Gal beta as one critical binding site. The specificity of recognition was shown inter alia by the lack of inhibitory activity of GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 4Gal beta, which differs only in the linkage of the two sugars. Specific interference with pneumococcal adhesion by administration of soluble receptor sugar may improve our understanding of the role of adhesion in vivo.