Regioselectivity of enzymatic glycosylation of 6-O-acyl glycosides in supersaturated solutions.

The regioselectivity of enzymatic transglycosylation of 6-O-acetyl glycosides in supersaturated solutions was investigated using a range of commercially available enzymes, Escherichia coli, barley, and Kluyveromyces spp. beta-galactosidase, green coffee bean alpha-galactosidase, jack bean alpha-mannosidase, rice alpha-glucosidase, and almond beta-glucosidase. It has been shown that 6-O-acetyl glycosides serve as good substrates for these enzymes, which, under the reaction conditions, are "forced" to transfer monosaccharide units to the secondary hydroxyl groups of the acceptors. In a variety of transglycosylations studied the (1-3)-linked disaccharide products were the predominant regioisomers isolated. The selectivity of the reaction varied significantly depending on the acceptor glycosides and the enzyme used. Exquisite specificity was observed in some cases, but in others approximately equal quantities of two disaccharides products were isolated. In the best transfers the yield approached 30%. The methodology described offers a quick and facile route to disaccharides that may be difficult and/or time consuming to make by conventional chemical synthesis.

Novel enzymatic approach to the synthesis of flavonoid glycosides and their esters.

Flavonoids such as (+)catechin can be efficiently solubilised in supersaturated solutions prepared with donor glycosides, e.g., p-nitrophenyl glycosides, di- and higher oligosaccharides, and poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether in sufficiently high concentration for their efficient enzymatic glycosylation. Under these conditions several glycosidases readily accept (+)catechin as substrate and the target glycosides were prepared in one step in up to 26% yields. The regioselectivity of the reaction depends on the enzyme and substrate combination used; three positions, 5, 7, and 4', in the flavonoid can be glycosylated. The resulting and similar flavonoid glycosides were further modified by regioselective acylation with vinyl esters of arylpropenoic acids using lipases as biocatalyst. The efficiency of acylation was found to diminish in the order of vinyl cinnamate > vinyl ferulate > vinyl coumarate. This work demonstrates the feasibility of assembling complex flavonoid glycoside esters in just two steps by sequential use of commercially available glycosidases and lipases.

Enzymatic transformations in supersaturated substrate solutions: II. Synthesis of disaccharides via transglycosylation.

Enzymatic transglycosylation in supersaturated solutions of substrates was investigated using crude glycosidase preparations from barley, snail, and coffee beans. It was shown that the use of supersaturated glycoside solutions as media for transglycosylation reactions offers considerable advantages over conventional aqueous systems. These advantages include higher yields, more efficient use of the donor glycosides and improved volumetric productivity, especially in the case of poorly water-soluble substrates. The regioselectivity of the glycosylation was not significantly affected by high concentrations of acceptor glycosides. It was also shown that the regioselectivity of transfer could be directed towards secondary hydroxyl groups by the use of methyl 6-O-acetyl-alpha-galactopyranoside as acceptor. The value of these approaches was demonstrated by the synthesis of methyl 3- and 4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosides and methyl 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-alpha-L-fucopyranoside on a preparative scale.

Diastereoselective resolution of 6-substituted glycosides via enzymatic hydrolysis.

The diastereoselectivity of the enzymatic hydrolyses of 4-nitrophenyl 6-deoxy-6-methyl-(R)- and (S)-sulfinyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (1a,b), 4-nitrophenyl 7-deoxy-D- and L-glycero-beta-D-galacto-heptopyranoside (2a,b) and 4-nitrophenyl 6,7-anhydro-D- and L-glycero-beta-D-galacto-heptopyranoside (3a,b) was investigated using a range of crude glycosidase preparations. It was shown that the enzymes display a high degree of discrimination between diastereomers thereby demonstrating the utility of glycosidases for the diastereomeric resolution of unnatural 6-substituted monosaccharide derivatives.

A phase I trial of paclitaxel and etoposide for metastatic or recurrent malignancies.

Etoposide and paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) each exhibit substantial activity against a variety of solid tumors. Etoposide promotes accumulation of cells in late S phase and in G2. Paclitaxel causes cell arrest in G2 and M. In this phase I trial, an empiric combination of a fixed dose of etoposide daily for 3 days followed by a 3-hour intravenous infusion of escalating doses of paclitaxel on day 4 is being tested. Cycles are repeated every 3 weeks. Dose level I, etoposide 100 mg/m2 intravenously days 1 to 3 and paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 intravenously day 4, was well tolerated. Dose level 2, with paclitaxel at 120 mg/m2, is near completion and appears tolerable as well. Further escalation of the paclitaxel dose is anticipated. Once the maximum tolerated dose of this combination is defined, growth factor will be added and further escalation of the paclitaxel dose will be attempted.