Designed Mannosylerythritol Lipid Analogues Exhibiting both Selective Cytotoxicity against Human Skin Cancer Cells and Recovery Effects on Damaged Skin Cells.

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are a class of amphipathic molecules bearing a hydrophilic 4-O-ß-D-mannopyranosyl-D-erythritol skeleton. Here, we designed and synthesized four kinds of MEL analogues R-MEL-A ([2R,3S]-erythritol type), S-mannosylthreitol lipid (MTL)-A ([2S,3S]-threitol type), R-MTL-A ([2R,3R]-threitol type), and α-S-MEL-A ([2S,3R]-erythritol type) using our previously reported boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) method and a neighboring group assisted glycosylation method. The selective cytotoxicity of the target compounds against cancer cells was evaluated, with R-MTL-A showing the highest selective cytotoxicity against human skin squamous carcinoma HSC-5 cells. Our findings suggest that R-MTL-A induces necrosis-like cell death against HSC-5 cells by decreasing cell membrane fluidity. R-MTL-A also exhibits an efficient recovery effect on damaged skin cells, indicating that R-MTL-A has potential as a lead compound for new cosmeceuticals with both cancer cell-selective toxicity and recovery effects on damaged skin cells.

Photo-induced glycosylation using the edible polyphenol curcumin.

Photo-induced glycosylations of trichloroacetimidate donors and alcohols using an edible polyphenol, curcumin, were examined under visible photo-irradiation (470 nm). It was found, for the first time, that these glycosylations proceed smoothly under mild reaction conditions to give the corresponding glycosides in high yields. In addition, the present glycosylation method was applicable to a wide range of trichloroacetimidate donors and alcohol acceptors and showed high chemoselectivity over glycosyl phosphite, phosphate, (N-phenyl)trifluoroacetimidate, fluoride, glycal and thioglycoside.

Total Synthesis of Mannosylerythritol Lipids and Structure-Function Relationship Studies.

Mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL) has attracted much attention as an environmentally benign and biocompatible material in many research fields due to its significant biochemical and physiological properties. However, heterogeneity always exists in MEL obtained from microbial products with respect to the chain length of the fatty acids. In this context, the total synthesis of the 20 members of MEL was effectively and stereoselectively achieved using our boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) method. In addition, structure-function relationship (SFR) studies of antibacterial activity, self-assembling properties, and recovery effects on damaged skin cells have been conducted, and these results are introduced in this mini-review article.

Regioselective and Stereospecific ß-Arabinofuranosylation by Boron-Mediated Aglycon Delivery.

Regio- and stereoselective formation of the 1,2-cis-furanosidic linkage has been in great demand for efficient synthesis of biologically active natural glycosides. In this study, we developed a regioselective and ß-stereospecific d-/l-arabinofuranosylation promoted by a boronic acid catalyst under mild conditions. The glycosylations proceeded smoothly for a variety of diols, triols, and unprotected sugar acceptors to give the corresponding ß-arabinofuranosides (ß-Arbf) in high yields with complete ß-stereoselectivity and high regioselectivity. The regioselectivity was completely reversed depending on the optical isomerism of the donor used and was predictable a priori using predictive models. Mechanistic studies based on DFT calculations revealed that the present glycosylation occurs through a highly dissociative concerted SN i mechanism. The usefulness of the glycosylation method was demonstrated by the chemical synthesis of trisaccharide structures of arabinogalactan fragments.

Destabilization of vitelline membrane outer layer protein 1 homolog (VMO1) by C-mannosylation.

C-mannosylation is a rare type of protein glycosylation whereby a single mannose is added to the first tryptophan in the consensus sequence Trp-Xaa-Xaa-Trp/Cys (in which Xaa represents any amino acid). Its consensus sequence is mainly found in proteins containing a thrombospondin type-1 repeat (TSR1) domain and in type I cytokine receptors. In these proteins, C-mannosylation affects protein secretion, intracellular localization, and protein stability; however, the role of C-mannosylation in proteins that are not type I cytokine receptors and/or do not contain a TSR1 domain is less well explored. In this study, we focused on human vitelline membrane outer layer protein 1 homolog (VMO1). VMO1, which possesses two putative C-mannosylation sites, is a 21-kDa secreted protein that does not contain a TSR1 domain and is not a type I cytokine receptor. Mass spectrometry analyses revealed that VMO1 is C-mannosylated at Trp105 but not at Trp44 . Although C-mannosylation does not affect the extracellular secretion of VMO1, it destabilizes the intracellular VMO1. In addition, a structural comparison between VMO1 and C-mannosylated VMO1 showed that the modification of the mannose changes the conformation of three loops in VMO1. Taken together, our results demonstrate the first example of C-mannosylation for protein destabilization of VMO1.

Boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) for the stereoselective synthesis of 1,2-cis glycosides.

1,2-cis Glycosides are frequently found in biologically active natural products, pharmaceutical compounds, and highly functional materials. Therefore, elucidating the role of mechanism of their biological activities will help clarify the structure-activity relationships of these diverse compounds and create new lead compounds for pharmaceuticals by modifying their structures. However, unlike 1,2-trans glycosides, the stereoselective synthesis of 1,2-cis glycosides remains difficult due to the nonavailability of neighboring group participation from the 2-O-acyl functionalities of the glycosyl donors. In this context, we recently developed organoboron-catalyzed 1,2-cis-stereoselecitve glycosylations, called boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) methods. In this review article, we introduce the BMAD methods and several examples of their application to the synthesis of biologically active glycosides.

Synthesis of Mannosylerythritol Lipid Analogues and their Self-Assembling Properties, Recovery Effects on Damaged Skin Cells, and Antibacterial Activity.

Synthesis of three types of purpose-designed mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL)-D analogues with decanoyl groups, ß-GlcEL-D, α-GlcEL-D, and α-MEL-D, was accomplished utilizing our boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) methods. Their self-assembling properties, recovery effects on damaged skin cells, and antibacterial activity were evaluated. It was revealed, for the first time, that α-GlcEL-D and α-MEL-D only generated giant vesicles, indicating that slight differences in the steric configuration of an erythritol moiety and fatty acyl chains affect the ability to form vesicles. Analogue α-MEL-D exhibited significant recovery effects on damaged skin cells. Furthermore, α-MEL-D exhibited antibacterial activity as high as that for MEL-D, indicating that α-MEL-D is a promising artificial sugar-based material candidate for enhancing the barrier function of the stratum corneum, superior to a known cosmetic ingredient, and possesses antibacterial activity.

Recent advances in boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) for the efficient synthesis of 1,2-cis glycosides.

Highly stereoselective synthesis of 1,2-cis glycosides remains a challenging task due to the lack of reliable neighboring group participation (NGP) from the 2-O-acyl functionality in the glycosyl donor. In this context, our group recently developed highly 1,2-cis-stereoselective glycosylation methods, named boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD), using organoboron reagents and 1,2-anhydroglycosyl donors. In this mini-review article, we introduce the BMAD methods and their applications to the synthesis of biologically active natural products and complex glycosides reported since our mini-review article published in this journal in 2017.

Self-Assembling Properties and Recovery Effects on Damaged Skin Cells of Chemically Synthesized Mannosylerythritol Lipids.

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), which are one of the representative sugar-based biosurfactants (BSs) produced by microorganisms, have attracted much attention in various fields in the sustainable development goals (SDGs) era. However, they are inseparable mixtures with respect to the chain length of the fatty acids. In this study, self-assembling properties and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of recovery effects on damaged skin cells using chemically synthesized MELs were investigated. It was revealed, for the first time, that synthetic and homogeneous MELs exhibited significant self-assembling properties to form droplets or giant vesicles. In addition, a small difference in the length of the fatty acid chains of the MELs significantly affected their recovery effects on the damaged skin cells. MELs with medium or longer length alkyl chains exhibited much higher recovery effects than that of C18-ceramide NP.

Hypocrellin B-based activatable photosensitizers for specific photodynamic effects against high H2O2-expressing cancer cells.

A novel tumor-related biomarker, a H2O2-activatable photosensitizer 4 based on the 1,3-dicarbonyl enol moieties of hypocrellin B (3), was designed and synthesized. The photosensitizer 4 showed a blue-shifted absorption band compared with 3, and showed negligible photosensitizing ability without H2O2. However, the release of 3 from 4 by the reaction with H2O2 regenerated the photosensitizing ability. Furthermore, 4 exhibited selective and effective photo-cytotoxicity against high H2O2-expressing cancer cells upon photo-irradiation with 660 nm light, which is inside the phototherapeutic window.

Synthesis of a Pentasaccharide Repeating Unit of Lipopolysaccharide Derived from Virulent E. coli O1 and Identification of a Glycotope Candidate of Avian Pathogenic E. coli O1.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a common bacterial pathogen infecting chickens, resulting in economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. In particular, APEC O1, one of the most common serotypes of APEC, is considered problematic due to its zoonotic potential. Therefore, many attempts have been made to develop an effective vaccine against APEC O1. In fact, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen of APEC O1 has been shown to be a potent antigen for inducing specific protective immune responses. However, the detailed structure of the O-antigen of APEC O1 is not clear. The present study demonstrates the first synthesis of a pentasaccharide repeating unit of LPS derived from virulent E. coli O1 and its conjugate with BSA. ELISA tests using the semi-synthetic glycoconjugate and the APEC O1 immune chicken serum revealed that the pentasaccharide is a glycotope candidate of APEC O1, with great potential as an antigen for vaccine development.

Synthesis of low-molecular weight fucoidan derivatives and their binding abilities to SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins.

Fucoidan derivatives 10-13, whose basic sugar chains are composed of repeating α(1,4)-linked l-fucopyranosyl residues with different sulfation patterns, were designed and systematically synthesized. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) study examined competitive inhibition by thirteen fucoidan derivatives against heparin binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. The results showed for the first time that 10 exhibited the highest inhibitory activity of the fucoidan derivatives used. The inhibitory activity of 10 was much higher than that of fondaparinux, the reported ligand of SARS-CoV-2 S protein. Furthermore, 10 exhibited inhibitory activities against the binding of heparin with several mutant SARS-CoV-2 S proteins, but was found to not inhibit factor Xa (FXa) activity that could otherwise lead to undesirable anticoagulant activity.

Diboron-Catalyzed Regio- and 1,2-cis-α-Stereoselective Glycosylation of trans-1,2-Diols.

Regio- and 1,2-cis-α-stereoselective glycosylations were investigated using 1,2-anhydroglucose donors and trans-1,2-diol sugar acceptors in the presence of a diboron catalyst. The reactions proceeded smoothly to provide the corresponding 1,2-cis-α-glycosides with consistently very high stereoselectivity and were regioselectivity controlled by the protecting groups of the acceptor. The present glycosylation method was applied successfully to the efficient synthesis of α-1,3-glucan pentasaccharide.

Total Synthesis of Terpioside B.

The first total synthesis of terpioside B (1) has been accomplished. Key steps include the stereoselective installments of a set of challenging 1,2-cis-glycosidic linkages. Thus, α(1,4)-linked d-galactoside was effectively constructed from a 1,2-anhydrogalactose donor and an unprotected 1,6-anhydrogalactose acceptor by using a boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) method. In addition, α-l-fucofuranosides were stereoselectively and simultaneously constructed by remote group-assisted 1,2-cis-α-stereoselective glycosylations.

2-Naphthol Moiety of Neocarzinostatin Chromophore as a Novel Protein-Photodegrading Agent and Its Application as a H2 O2 -Activatable Photosensitizer.

A 2-naphthol derivative 2 corresponding to the aromatic ring moiety of neocarzinostatin chromophore was found to degrade proteins under photo-irradiation with long-wavelength UV light without any additives under neutral conditions. Structure-activity relationship studies of the derivative revealed that methylation of the hydroxyl group at the C2 position of 2 significantly suppressed its photodegradation ability. Furthermore, a purpose-designed synthetic tumor-related biomarker, a H2 O2 -activatable photosensitizer 8 possessing a H2 O2 -responsive arylboronic ester moiety conjugated to the hydroxyl group at the C2 position of 2, showed significantly lower photodegradation ability compared to 2. However, release of the 2 from 8 by reaction with H2 O2 regenerated the photodegradation ability. Compound 8 exhibited selective photo-cytotoxicity against high H2 O2 -expressing cancer cells upon irradiation with long-wavelength UV light.

Diastereoselective desymmetric 1,2-cis-glycosylation of meso-diols via chirality transfer from a glycosyl donor.

Chemical desymmetrization reactions of meso-diols are highly effective for the precise and efficient synthesis of chiral molecules. However, even though enzyme-catalyzed desymmetric glycosylations are frequently found in nature, there is no method for highly diastereoselective desymmetric chemical glycosylation of meso-diols. Herein, we report a highly diastereoselective desymmetric 1,2-cis-glycosylation of meso-diols found in myo-inositol 1,3,5-orthoesters using a boronic acid catalyst based on predictions of regioselectivity by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The enantiotopic hydroxyl groups of the meso-diols are clearly differentiated by the stereochemistry at the C2 position of the glycosyl donor with excellent regioselectivities. In addition, the present method is successfully applied to the synthesis of core structures of phosphatidylinositolmannosides (PIMs) and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors, and common ß-mannoside structures of the LLBM-782 series of antibiotics.

Photo-induced glycosylation using a diaryldisulfide as an organo-Lewis photoacid catalyst.

Photo-induced glycosylations of several acceptors with trichloroacetimidate donors using bis(2-naphthyl)disulfide as an organo-Lewis photoacid (LPA) catalyst proceeded effectively to give the corresponding glycosides in good to high yields. In addition, the ground and excited state absorption spectra of bis(2-naphthyl)disulfide with or without NEt3 suggested the Lewis acidity of bis(2-naphthyl)disulfide upon photo-irradiation.

Total Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationship Study of Vineomycin A1.

The first total synthesis of vineomycin A1 (1) has been accomplished. Structure-activity relationship studies for cytotoxicity against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells using several synthetic vineomycin A1 analogues differing in the number and position of glycon moieties revealed that the cytotoxicity increased as the number of glycon moieties increased. The position of the glycon moiety was one of the key factors for the cytotoxicity of 1. Moreover, in vitro analysis of the cytotoxicity of 1 against MCF-7 cells indicated for the first time that 1 effectively induced cancer cell death by apoptosis, not by acting as a DNA intercalating agent.

2-Phenylquinoline-Sugar Hybrids as Photoswitchable α-Glucosidase Inhibitors.

Purpose-designed 2-phenylquinoline (PQ)-sugar hybrids 1 and 2 were synthesized and evaluated for their photodegradation activities against an α-glucosidase target. The results indicated that PQ-mannose hybrid 2 selectively and effectively photodegraded α-glucosidase and significantly inhibited its enzymatic activity upon irradiation with long-wavelength UV light in the absence of any additives under neutral and aqueous conditions. Furthermore, 2 selectively and effectively inhibited α-glucosidase activity only with photo-irradiation even in complex cell lysate.

An anthraquinone-enzyme-peptide hybrid as a photo-switchable enzyme.

A purpose-designed anthraquinone-horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-cell penetrating peptide hybrid 1 showed high and effective cell permeability. Furthermore, 1 exhibited enzymatic activity without photo-irradiation, whereas significant self-degradation and loss of enzymatic activity occurred upon photo-irradiation in living cells.