May 17th. 2011
Y-F Wang (M1)

Sweet Genies Hard to Catch~ Molecular Recognition of Carbohydrates in Aqueous Media ~Contents:
1. Background1-1. Carbohydrates' ABC
1-2. Molecular recogniton of carbohydrates in nature-- Studies on protein-carbohydrate complexation
2. Molecular recognition of carbohydrate via covalent interactions
Boronic acid compounds
3. Moleular recognition of carbohydrate via non-covalent interactions
3-1. Small molecule3-2. Macromolecular template
4. Summary

1. Background1-1. Carbohydrates ABC
Defination:
Carbohydrates are compounds defined as aldehydes and ketones with multiple -OH groups. They are one of
the four majar biomolecules along with proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. They also share a synonym called"saccarides", or a more common name "sugar".
Biological and physiologycal importance:
Frame work of RNA/DNA
Energy source(Direct energy: glucose;
Storage: starch, glycogen)

Linked to other biomolecules to achieve newfunctions (glycoproteins, glycolipids etc.)

Carbohydrates
Key intermediates for biosynthesis(amino acid/fatty acid synthesis etc.)

Structure component(cellulose, chitin, proteoglycan)
Vital parts in many co-enzymes(FAD, NAD etc.)
Classification: (2)(3) are for monosaccharides(1) Upon the number of component units:
Monosaccharides (U1), Disaccharides (U2), Oligosaccharides (U3~10), Polysaccharides (U>10)(2) Upon functional groups: Aldoses (aldehyde group), Ketose (keto group)(3) Upon the number of C-atom: Trioses, Tetroses, Pentoses, Hexoses etc. (Max C=9 in Nature)

Various forms of isomerism in monosaccharides:(1) D/L isomers:
D/L are prefixes to distinguish the two mirror-images of a particular sacchrides. They designate the absoluteconfiguraiton of the asymmetric carbon atom farestest from the aldehyde of keto group. When writhen
by Fischer projections,if the OH group is on the right it is designate as "D-", if on the left as "L".
CHO
HO

CHO

CHO
H

H

OH

HO
HO

OH

H
enantiomer

epimer

H

OH

HO

H

HO

H

H

H

OH

HO

H

H

H

OH

H

OH

CH2OH

CH2OH

CH2OH

L- glucose

D-glucose

D-galactose(2) Epimers: Monosaccharides differing in configuration at a single asymmetric centre.
(3) Cyclic isomers:
In cases of sugars which possess more than 5 carbon atoms, they take the 5-membered of 6-membered ringforms rather than open-chain forms because of energetic reason. The 5-membered ring form is called
furanose and 6-membered one called pyranose.
e.g D-glucose in water

<1%

<1%

99%

In case of glucose in solution, more than 99% is in pyranose form and both open-chain and furanose forms areless than 1%.
(4)anomers:
The ring form of sugar creates a new stereocentre at the carbonyl carbon(or anomeric carbon). the newly
generated OH group could take two position relative to the ring's midplane. When written by Haworth projection,
if the OH group comes on the opposite side of the ring from terminal CH2OH it is " ", the same side is " ".

e.g D-glucose in water

CHO
H

OH

HO

H

H

OH

H

OH
CH2OH

33%

<1%

66%

1-2. Studies on molecular recognition of carbohydrates in nature
The recognition of carbohydrates in nature is mainly represented in forms of protein-carbohydrate interactions,carbohydrate-carbohyadrate interactions and very rarely DNA-carbohydrate interactions. Amongst, proteincarbohydrates interactions play the most crucial role and most well studied.
Biological processes mediated by carbohydrates
recognition:
Neuronal development

Pathogen infection

Hormonal activities

Intracellular transportaton

Fertilization

Degradation of proteins

Immune surveillance

Inflammatory responses

Tumor metastasis
M.E. Breimer et al. Immunology and Cell Biology,
2005, 83, 694-708
Generally, there are three types of carbohydrate-binding proteins which are important in biological processes----Lectin, antibody, and carbohydrate-specific enzymes.
Lectin is most major group and can be classified into 3 types:
C-type: Ca2+ takes part in protein-carbohydrate binding by non-covalent bondP-type: Special recognition towards mannose-6-phosphateI-type: Possessing immunogloulin-like domain
Binding patterns of protein-carbohydrate complexes:(1) Direct binding between protein and carbohydrates
Structure of binding domain between Fab 2G12 to disaccharide(Man 1-2Man)
12 hydrogen bonds devoted by a series of polor functional groups and van der
Waals interactions devoted by Leu,Lys(hydrophobic),Phe(CH- ) constituent thestability of the complex.
In this case, direct interaction between saccharide and protein is achieved.
Competition studies indicates:(1) Additional interactions give grave influence upon the affinity(2) Not all parts are involved in recognition(3) Conformation is determinant

Man9GlcNAc2
Additional interactions
contributed by 3,4 mannose
unit

Direct contacts with Fab 2G12 primary binding site

D.R. Burton et al. Science, 2003, 300, 2065-71

(2) Binding with assistance of small molecule (in most cases H2O)
The polar contacts between glucose(analogue) ringOHs and the catalytic site residues of GPb

Binding of -D-glucose to the catalytic siteof glucose-phosphorylase b (GPb)

K.A. Watson et al. Biochem., 1994, 33, 5745-58
Conclusion:
1. Water molecules are involved in the hydrogen bondings formed between carbohydrates and protein.
2. Hydrogen bonds intermediated by water molecules are as strong as those without intervening water
bridges.
Earned hint: Structural water could play as an extension of protein surface.
3. Subtle change on substitution or conformation could lead to drastic variation on binding affinity.
(3) Binding with assistance of metal ions:
In many cases, protein-carbohydrate recognition requires the assistance of metal ions, most commonlyCa2+(such as C-lectin),sometimes Mg2+,Mn2+ or other divalent cation.
e.g. 1mannose-binding site of MBP-A (Ca2+ assistance)

Bipyramid coordination of Ca2+ is formed, involving direct Ca-carbohydrate interaction.
Amino acid residues both accept hydrogen bonds from thecarbohydrate ligand and act as coordination sites for Ca2+,
providing an interlocked lectin-Ca-carbohydrate complex.

W.I. Weis et al. Nature, 1992, 360, 127-34

Ca2+

e.g 2glucose bound to active site of xylose isomerase(Mg2+ assistance)

Bi-nuclear type complex of protein-Mg-carbohydrate is formed.
The glucose substrate provides two ligands to each of two Mg2+, and hydrogenbonded only to His53 and Lys182.

D. Ringe et al. Biochem., 1994, 33, 5469-80
B. Characteristics of carbohydrate recognition in nature(1) The interactions in carbohydrate recognition are far too weaker than other biomolecular associations
Comparison between Kd of protein-protein interaction and protein carbohydrate interaction
Kd (M)
1.2*10-4
6.5*10-7
9.6*10-4
6.8*10-4
1.9*10-5
3.8*10-5
5.5*10-7(2) The driving force for binding is unclear and unpredictable in aqueous media.
Assuming proteins are pre-binded with H2O, the binding of carbohydrates therefore involves the replacement of
H2O to ROH. Thus binding should be entropy driven.
Value of free energy, enthalpy and entropy change in protein-carbohydrate bingding process(kcal)* In most cases, the enthalpy of binding is negative or equal to the free energy of binding.
The recognition(binding) process is driven by enthalpy!!
Possible reason:
1. The carbohydrate-binding process energetically surpass protein's desolvation from H2O.
2. Some enthalpically driven "non-classical" hydrophobic effect may play a role in binding process.
(e.g solvent reorganization, carbohydrate-carbohydrate interaction etc.)

C. The role of water in recognition(1) Mediates hydrogen-bonding interactions between proteins and carbohydrates.
(2) May provide a favorable contribution to H and G through the release from solute surfaces.
R.U. Lemieux et al. Acc. Chem. Res. 1996, 29, 373

Conclusion:(1) The driving force of carbohydrate recognition is complicated. No specific factor always plays a dominant role.
(2) Binding of carbohydrates is usually weak, also an aggregate result.

Challenges in carbohydrate receptor design in aqueous media
A. The amount of targets is tremendous and subtle changes could have great influence in binding process.
e.g 6 carbohydrate monomers can yield >1012 oligomeric structure (compared to 4096 for nucleotides and6*107 for peptides)
B. As no specific interaction accounts for the binding, both polar and apolar interactions are required in receptor design.
C. For the polyol moiety that carbohydrates hold, the differentiation between H2O and carbohydrate molecule is difficult.
Put these challenges on mind, let's review how the scientists progressed in carbohydrate receptor design.

2. Molecular carbohydrate recognition via covalent bonds
This stratey is mainly relies on the reversible formation of covalent bonds from diol units and boronic acids, which isan interaction not employed in nature.
(1) Basis of boronic acid- carbohydrate interaction

Two trends can be observed:
a. For a given boronic acid, as the pKa of the diol decreases, the stability constant increases
b. For a given diol, as the pKa of the boronic acid decreases, the stability constant increases
As in cases of carbohydrates, the pKa of the ligand are always quite high, which means the reaction is proceeded
without ligand deprotonation

A clear conclusion could be drawn that the complexation process under this condition is dominantly depended
on ligands.

The plausible transition state for this process is supposed as below:

One proton(in italic) is transferred from fully protonated ligand to theleaving hydroxide on boron
The other one is displaced directly by boron.
The rate-limiting step is supposed to be ring closure process.
Because the simple boronic acids always have pKa value in a range from 8 to 10, considering the futureapplication would mostly under neutral pH condition, the lowering of this value is highly demanded.
(2) Carbohydrate receptors developed under this concept
a.By means of employing B-N interaction
As introducing strong electro-withdrawing groups to aromatic ring of the boronic acid moiety requires highsynthetic efforts. Here another practical strategy was employed.
The exchanges rate between free diols and diol esters of boronic acids can be greatly enhanced byneighbouring amino functionalities in boronic acids.

A: ligand replacement

S. Shinkai et al. JACS, 1995, 117, 8982-87(pKa=4.8)(pKa=2.9)

The order of selectivity for monoboronic acid 3 is:D-fructose> D-allose D-galactose> D-glucose> ethyleneglycol
In comparison, the order is switched in diboronic acid 8 (log K2-log K1):
D-glucose(+1.8)> D-allose(+0.3)> D-galactose(0)> ethylene glycol(-0.2)> D-fructose(-0.5)
Reason for the reversion of selectivity probably due to the relative stability of 8b

1.Glucose was the best fits with thesaccharide cleft and fructose wasworst.
2. Molecular complementarity isimportant, and selectivity could betuned by molecular design.

Chiral recognition has also been achieved by similar compound.
S. Shinkai et al. Nature, 1995, 374, 345-47

3R shows great stability of complexation with D-fructose, D-glucose, D-mannoseand L-galactose
3S shows greater stability of complexation with L-fructose, L-glucose
This is one of few examples that could achieve chiarl carbohydrate recognition
up to now.
b. Application of cationic moiety
The goal of lowering down boronic acid's pKa was also achieved by employing cationic moiety below.
*The cationic pyridinium not only lowered the pKa of boronic acid (down to 3.8),
but also increased the solubility in water.
* Another intersting point observed in this compound is that binds to glucose infuranose form rather than pyranose form.
The recognition pattern would shift by subtle cleft change

J.C. Norrid et al. JOC, 1999, 64, 3846-52
Summary:
The method employing boronic acid-diol covalent interacion has successfully achieved carbohydrate recognition andis probably the most mature methodology in this field.
The reversible binding of boron to diol moieties in carbohydrate smartly avoid the competition of H2O molecules
because of stable ring formation.
However, there still remains several drawbacks in this strategy:
1. The pKa of boronic acid is a limitation.
2. The solubility of this group compound is mostly not so satisfying in neat water system.
3. Differentiation between carbohydrates is difficult as the recognizing part is not specific enough.
4. The boronic acid part is sensitive to other functional groups(e.g -NH2), which limits its application scope.

3. Molecular recognition of carbohydrates via non-covalent interaction
Without the assistance of strong interactions like covalent bond, the recognizor design become much morechanllenging,because at this situation, the receptor must "fight" directly with H2O molecules to catch carbohydrates.
Therefore, the real rational design of such receptors is highly demanded.
Criteria supposed to be met in recepor design:a. Delicate array both polar and apolar functional groups to match the potential of a carbohydrateb. Have rigidity to prevent intramolecular recognition or self-associationc. Show good solubility in water
Retrospecting the previous works, such receptors could be catagorized into two groups according to the moleculesize---- Small molecule receptors and macromolecule templates.
3-1. Designed small molecules as carbohydrate recognizor
Small molecule design is relatively easy to achieve because the interaction spots are limited and troubles likeintramolecular recognition can be avoided.
A. Aromatic-centred compound
A.D. Hamillton et al. JACS, 1994, 116, 11139-40
Strategy:

Biomimetic anionic-OH hydrogen bond forming
Substrate recognition pocket of maltose binding protein

Design point:
1. Introduction of anionic function group
2. Employing aromatic ring as backbone.
3. Bidentate form

Selective recognition to diol moiety, increase solubility
Introduce additional CH- interaction
Increase stablility of binding complex

Achievement:
High affinity towards monosacchride--goals of design are almost
achieved.

structure for the complex between 4 and1-O-methyl -D-glucopyranoside

Drawbacks:
Only works in aprotic polar solvent.
Differentiation between monosaccharides is impossible.
Does not show affinity towards unprotected monosaccharideM. Mazik et al. JOC, 2006, 71, 2957-63
X
X

11a:X= Na
11b:X=N(CH3)4

1. Both hydrogen bonds and apolar interaction are
successfully formed.((a)&(b))
2. The affinity dropped significantly in water system
3. The selectivity shifted from monosaccharide in organic
solvent to dissacharide in water system.

C. Schmuck et al. O.L., 2005, 7, 3517-20

1. High affinity towards monosaccharide phosphate (Ka> 104 M-1) was achieved.
Ion pairs formation levels up the affinity
2. Preference for saccharides to simple anions
Besides ion pair formation, H-bonds to the sugar also formed.
3. Preference for phosphate to carboxylate
Strongness of ion pair in this case is crucial
4. The affinity is pH depended
The protonation state of the receptor also plays key role in recognition

B. Metal complex
S. Striegler et al. JACS. 2003, 125, 11518-24

Other experimental facts:
1. CD spectroscopy differs substantially between mannose and glucose.
2. Complex between mannose-1 and glucose 1 showed differant absorption shift pattern in UV/vis.
3. Neither -methyl mannose nor -methyl glucose forms complex with 1.
4. Removing C2-OH of either mannose or glucose fails the complex formation.
5. Methylation of C3-OH decrease the affinity to mannose significantly but slightly to glucose.
Differant binding pattern of 1 to mannose and glucose
Complex formation supposed by authors:

This kind of recognizor is not "non-covalent" complex in the strict sense of the word, as the sugar OHs have got
deprotonated and make ionic interaction to metal ions. However, this kind of recognizer has successfully employed
the strategy of C-lectin. But at present this type recognizor is hardly reported.

3-2. Supramolecule as carbohydrate recognizor
A. Oligo-aromatic hosts
Strategy: Positive application of CH- interaction as such hydrophobic forces are especially enhanced.
Y. Aoyama et al. JACS, 1992, 114, 10307-13

From the result several points could be concluded:
1. Apolar CH moieties provide the primary binding sites.
2. Ch- interactions lay great influence upon binding affinity
3. The binding affinity are almost insensitive to the hydrophility of guest compounds
4. The affinity to all carbohydrates' cases is very low (Ka<10).
B. porphyline
F.P. Schmidtchen et al. OL, 2001, 3, 873-76

X= (CH2)64: n=1 Ar= H

Y= CO(CH2)4CO

5: n=1 Ar= p-tolyl

6: n=0 Ar= p-tolyl

Job plot indicating a maximum at amol fraction of 0.5 (i.e. 1:1 stoichiometry)

1. Ka shows in order of mono-< di-< tri-, but diminishes
again with higher oligomers of glucose
2. Able to differentiate - and - anomers.
3. 4/5 is much affable to trisaccharide moiety.

C. Cyclodetrins
Cyclodextrins are also exploited as carbohydrate recognizor by taking advance of its fine solubility in water and probablecarbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions.
H. Schneider et al. JACS, 1994, 116, 6081-88
Table 1. Binding Constants K (M-1) and G(Kj/mol) in complexation

1. Nucleotides recognition is achieved at hight affinity (Ka>103 in 1a, >105 in 1b)
2. The electrostactic interactions play key role in complexation rather than the interaction to neutralcarbohydrate moiety
3. High nucleabase selectivity is achieved in 1a. Purine-based nucleatides (AMP,GMP) shows specially high affinity.
The effect of direct recognition to carbohydrates was also checked by Aoyama group at earlier time (ACIE, 1992, 31,
745-47)Using CyD template as recognizor is not so efficient as expectation.
D. Ab initio desigbed Cyclic cages
Original design of a cyclic molecule was synthesized by A.P. Davis' group , which provide an example for rational
design of carbohydrate receptor.
A.P. Davis et al. ACIE, 2005, 44, 298-302
Strategy:

Molecular design for all-equatorial carbohydrates

Table 1: Assotiation Constants (Ka) for binding of carbohyadrates in water to 51c

51c: X= NHC(CH2OCH2CH2COO-)3

Partial NOESY spectrum of receptor 51c and 1000 eq.
of D-glucose in H2O/D2O 93:7 (600Hz)

1:D-glucose (M)Figure 1:

1:D-glucose (M)(a)NMR titration of
51c+1(proton B); (B) fluorescence emission titration of 51c+1 (cps= counts
per second;l x= 266nm, l x= 475nm)

Figure 2: Structure between 51c and GlcNAc -OMe 32

A.P. Davis et al. Science, 2007, 318, 619-22
Based on the same idea, similar receptor was also developed to recognize oligosaccharides by extending thereceptor sphere.

1. Good affinity to all-equatorial disaccharides especially 29
2. This complexation process is enthalpy driven ( H= -3.22 kcal/mol) and a minor contribution from entropy(T S= 0.62 kcal/mol), which lies well within the range observed for lectins.
This kind of carbohydrate receptors achieved a high resembleness to natural lectins yet do not suffering denaturation
problem. Also by tuning external functional groups, they can confer good solubility in almost any medium, which
provides an ideal way to clarify the role of solvent in natural carbohydrate recognition.

Summary:
1. Carbohydrate recognition in aqueous media has been approached either from covalent interaction or non-covalentinteraction strategy, and a number of such sugar-receptors have been developed.
2. Most of so far developed receptors still suffer a low affinity (Ka>100 is rare in rare)
3. Still no efficient methodology and clear conception in receptor design.
4. Far from realizing the recognition of much more complicated oligo-saccharide chain, which is most common formin various biological process contributed by carbohydrates.
As synthetic carbohydrate receptors could be used as drugs (eg. anti-infective agents) or drug tranportors to target at
specific cell types, or just as sugar-chain sensor in diagnosis or medical treatment, the deveplopment in this field ishighly demanded. However, how to conquer the limits listed above remains of much difficulty. Really looking forward
to a breakthrough that scientists can catch this "sweet genie" out of "troubled water".