Glycosidase-catalysed synthesis of mannobioses by the reverse hydrolysis activity of α-mannosidase: Partial purification of α-mannosidases from almond meal, limpets and Aspergillus niger

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(99)00532-7

Two disaccharides, α-D-Manp-(1→2)-D-Manp 6 and α-D-Manp-(1→3)-D-Manp 7, were synthesised from mannose using the reverse hydrolysis activity of the partially purified α-mannosidases from almond (Prunus amygdalus) meal and limpets (Patella vulgata). Both di

Full text of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(99)00532-7

TETRAHEDRON:
ASYMMETRY
Pergamon
Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 223–229
Glycosidase-catalysed synthesis of mannobioses by the reverse
hydrolysis activity of α-mannosidase: partial purification of
α-mannosidases from almond meal, limpets and Aspergillus niger
∗
Suddham Singh, Michaela Scigelova and David H. G. Crout
Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
Received 2 November 1999; accepted 22 November 1999
Abstract
Two disaccharides, α-D-Manp-(1→2)-D-Manp 6 and α-D-Manp-(1→3)-D-Manp 7, were synthesised from
mannose using the reverse hydrolysis activity of the partially purified α-mannosidases from almond (Prunus amyg-
dalus) meal and limpets (Patella vulgata). Both disaccharides were isolated by carbon–Celite chromatography.
Attempts were also made towards the synthesis of core pentasaccharide using the purified α-mannosidase from
Aspergillus niger. © 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
1
. Introduction
α-D-Manp-(1→2)-D-Manp 6 and α-D-Manp-(1→3)-D-Manp 7 (see Scheme 1) units are found in the
high mannose type sugar chains of glycoproteins. α-D-Manp-(1→2)-D-Manp is a repeating unit of the
1
O-antigen polysaccharide of Salmonella thompson and is also found in a mannohexaose isolated from
2
cells of Candida albicans NIH A-207 serotype strain. α-D-Manp-(1→3)-D-Manp is a core disaccharide
of N-linked glycoproteins.
The prevalence of α-D-Manp-(1→2,3,6) linkages in nature has stimulated a number of investigations
into the formation of these linkages using glycosidases. The principle of this approach is illustrated in
Fig. 1.
A glycosyl donor 1 is incubated with the glycosidase E to give a glycosyl-enzyme intermediate 2
with inversion of configuration at the anomeric centre, according to the normal mechanism of retaining
3
glycosidases. In hydrolysis reactions, this intermediate is intercepted by water to give the hydrolysis
product 3. Alternatively, it may be intercepted by a different acceptor, ROH, such as another carbohydrate
molecule, to give a new glycosidic product 4 with inversion of configuration and overall retention of
∗
Corresponding author. E-mail: msrky@csv.warwick.ac.uk
0
957-4166/00/$ - see front matter © 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0957-4166(99)00532-7
tetasy 3167

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S. Singh et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 223–229
Fig. 1. Kinetics of glycosidase-catalysed glycoside hydrolysis and synthesis
configuration with respect to the substrate 1. The reaction leading to product formation can be carried out
under either kinetic or thermodynamic control. With an activated donor such as a nitrophenyl glycoside
(
1, AOH=nitrophenol), k 1≈0 and the efficiency of formation of the product 4 is determined by the
−
competition between water and the acceptor ROH for the glycosyl-enzyme intermediate. The reaction
is under kinetic control. However, when the donor is not activated, as in the simplest case where A=H
in substrate 1, the product evolves towards an equilibrium mixture of donor 1, hydrolysis product 3 and
glycosyl transfer product (or products) 4. The reaction is under thermodynamic control and this mode
of operation is frequently referred to as ‘reverse hydrolysis’. Although this latter method can lead to
mixtures of regioisomeric di-, tri- and higher oligosaccharides, its simplicity has much to commend it
where problems of product isolation and purification can be overcome effectively.
Early studies showed that the α-mannosidase from Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) could be used to
4,5
catalyse reverse hydrolysis with D-mannose as substrate. Johansson et al. obtained a product mixture in
4
an overall yield of 37%. It consisted largely of α-D-Manp-(1→6)-D-Manp with smaller and comparable
6
amounts of the corresponding (1→2) and (1→3) disaccharides. Ajisaka et al. used an α-mannosidase
from Aspergillus niger to convert mannose into α-D-Manp-(1→6)-D-Manp (23%), together with the
corresponding 1→2 (3%) and 1→3 (0.4%) isomers and trace amounts of trisaccharides. Suwasono and
7
Rastall showed that by using an α-mannosidase preparation from Aspergillus phoenicis (=A. saitoi) a
single disaccharide product α-D-Manp-(1→2)-D-Manp (22%) was obtained together with minor amounts
7
of α-D-Manp-(1→2)-α-D-Manp (1→2)-D-Manp and traces of tetrasaccharide. Surprisingly, when the
enzyme preparation was immobilised on Biofix-E-2 (a china clay product) and cellulose DE-52, the
α1→6 disaccharide was the major product, whereas when alginate-immobilised enzyme was used,
8
the expected α1→2 dimannoside was the major product, as expected. However, it is known that A.
phoenicis produces two α-mannosidases, one with 1→2 selectivity, the other with selectivity in the
9
,10
order 1→3>1→6≈1→2.
The result observed may therefore be attributable to a differential effect of
immobilisation on the activities of these enzymes.
In this paper we report the synthesis from D-mannose 1 (Scheme 1) of α-D-Manp-(1→2)-D-Manp and
α-D-Manp-(1→3)-D-Manp using α-mannosidases from almond (Prunus amygdalus) meal and limpet
(
Patella vulgata). Emphasis was placed on developing simple methods for the isolation of these products
in pure form. We also report on efforts to synthesise the core pentasaccharide of N-linked glycoproteins
using these enzymes.
Scheme 1. (i) α-Mannosidase from almond meal and limpets

S. Singh et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 223–229
225
2. Results and discussion
α-Mannosidases were partially purified from defatted almond meal and the visceral humps of limpets
Patella vulgata) to remove most of the other glycosidase activities present in these crude preparations.
Incubation of mannose 5 at high concentration with the α-mannosidase from almond meal at 45°C for
(
1
3 days gave a mixture α-D-Manp-(1→2)-D-Manp 6 and α-D-Manp-(1→3)-D-Manp 7 in a 65:35 ratio.
The disaccharides were readily separated using carbon–Celite chromatography. Similarly, incubation of
mannose 5 with the α-mannosidase from limpet gave a mixture of disaccharides 6 and 7 in a 57:43 ratio.
Disaccharides 6 and 7 were obtained repeatedly throughout our experiments when different sources of
almond meal were used. However, the α-mannosidase isolated from almond meal made from pre-soaked
almonds gave a mixture of three disaccharides. The main component was α-D-Manp-(1→6)-D-Manp
8
(Scheme 2) (∼50%) and the remainder consisted of a mixture of the 1→2 6 and 1→3 7 (Scheme 1)
isomers. Upon closer examination of the pre-soaked almonds a substantial fungal growth with apparent
black conidiophores was observed. It has been reported in the literature that the α-mannosidase from
6
Aspergillus niger produced the disaccharide α-D-Manp-(1→6)-D-Manp 8 from D-mannose. We repeated
the synthesis of disaccharide 8 using the α-mannosidase from A. niger according to the published
6
procedure (Scheme 2).
Scheme 2. (i) α-Mannosidase from Aspergillus niger
These findings supported our view that the enzyme preparation from pre-soaked almonds was con-
taminated with A. niger which was then responsible for the formation of the disaccharide α-D-Manp-
(
1→6)-D-Manp 8.
We then moved our attention towards the synthesis of the core pentasaccharide 10 of N-linked
glycoproteins (Scheme 3). We had previously synthesised the trisaccharide, β-D-Manp-(1→4)-β-D-
11
GlcNAcp-(1→4)-D-GlcNAcp 9, of this core pentasaccharide using glycosidases. Transglucosidase
L from A. niger contained, in addition to a host of other glycosidases, a considerable amount of
α-mannosidase activity. Unwanted glycosidases were efficiently removed in our procedure after two
purification steps. The purified preparation of α-mannosidase was then used in an attempted synthesis
of core pentasaccharide 10 starting from the disaccharide 8 as glycosyl donor and the trisaccharide 9
as acceptor. However, in this reaction no transfer product was observed by HPLC. The only reaction
observed was hydrolysis of the donor 8.
With the reverse hydrolysis procedure for the synthesis of mannobiosides described above, all three
common linkage types (1→2, 1→3, 1→6) can be synthesised in a single step. The success of the method
depends on the selectivities of the enzymes employed and on the availability of straightforward methods
for product purification. Although the isolated yields of products from the reactions with almond and
limpet enzymes are nominally low, the disaccharides are readily obtained in hundred milligram amounts
and the unused mannose can be recovered quantitatively, giving a high overall efficiency for the syntheses
in terms of substrate consumed.

2
26
S. Singh et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 223–229
Scheme 3. (i) α-Mannosidase from Aspergillus niger
3. Experimental
1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra were determined at 250 or 400 MHz and 62.89 or 100.62 MHz,
respectively, using either Bruker AC250 or WH 400 spectrometers. Mass spectra were determined with a
Bruker 9.4 T BioApex FTICR mass spectrometer. Optical rotations were determined using an AA-10000
polarimeter (Optical Activity Ltd.) with a 2 dm cell. Optical rotations are given in units of 10 deg cm2
−
1
−1
g . Celite 535 was obtained from Fluka and activated carbon (Darco G-60, 100 mesh) was obtained
from Aldrich. Thin layer chromatography was carried out using Silica Gel 60 GF254 (Merck) with the
solvent system propan-1-ol:nitromethane:water (10:9:2). Oligosaccharides were visualised by spraying
with 10% H SO and charring.
2
4
3
3
.1. α-D-Manp-(1→2)-D-Manp 6 and α-D-Manp-(1→3)-D-Manp 7
.1.1. Using the α-mannosidasae from almond meal
Mannose 5 (4 g) in sodium acetate buffer (0.1 M, 1.25 ml; pH 4.8) was incubated with α-mannosidase
−1
from almond meal (1 ml; 6.3 U ml ) at 45°C for 13 days. The reaction was stopped by heating in
the boiling water bath for 5 min. The mixture was purified by carbon–Celite (290 g, 1:1) column
chromatography. The column was eluted first with water (150 ml) followed by 2% ethanol (4 l), 3%
ethanol (1 l) and 4% ethanol (1 l) to give starting mannose 5, α-D-Manp-(1→2)-D-Manp 6 (190 mg, 5%)
and α-D-Manp-(1→3)-D-Manp 7 (113 mg, 3%).
2
2
12
For disaccharide 6 (mixture of alpha and beta anomers, α:β=88:12): [α] =+38.7 (c 1.19, H O), lit.
D
2
1
3
1
[
(
4
3
7
6
α] =+60 (c 0.1, H O), lit. [α] =+51.8 (c 0.52, 1:1 H O:MeOH); H NMR (400 MHz, D O): 5.34
D
2
D
2
2
0
0
d, 0.88H, J=1.32 Hz, H-1α), 5.10 (d, 0.12H, J=1.64 Hz, H-1 β), 4.99 (d, 0.88H, J=1.64 Hz, H-1 α),
0
0
.87 (d, 0.12H, J=1.32 Hz, H1β) 4.07–4.05 (m, 0.12H, H-2 ), 4.03 (dd, 1H, J=3.22 and 1.64 Hz, H-2 ),
13
.91–3.56 (m, 10.88H), 3.33–3.39 (m, 0.12H); C NMR (400 MHz, D O): 102.82, 102.07, 94.07, 93.16,
2
9.75, 78.81, 77.34, 74.05, 73.86, 73.48, 73.09, 70.94, 70.75, 70.60, 67.67, 67.49, 67.38, 67.27, 61.69,
+
1.58, 62.51; m/z (M ) found: 365.106. C H NaO requires: 365.1054.
1
2
22
11
2
2
For disaccharide 3 (mixture of alpha and beta anomers, α:β=70:30): [α] =+48.11 (c 1.09, H O),
D
2
lit.1 [α] =+48.4 (c 0.72, H O); H NMR (400 MHz, D O): 5.11 (d, 0.70H, J=1.96 Hz, H-1α), 5.10 (d,
4
27
D
1
2
2

S. Singh et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 223–229
227
0
0
0
(
.70H, J=2 Hz, H-1 α), 5.09 (d, 0.30H, J=2.32 Hz, H-1 β) 4.87 (d, 0.30H, J=1.00 Hz, H-1β), 4.04–4.02
0
13
m, 2H, H-2 and H-2 ), 3.92–3.79 (m, 4.70H), 3.75–3.58 (m, 6H), 3.40–3.35 (m, 0.30H); C NMR (400
MHz, D O): 102.99, 102.85, 94.66, 94.16, 80.99, 78.55, 76.60, 73.95, 73.20, 71.58, 71.00, 70.70, 67.47,
2
+
6
7.41, 66.88, 66.69, 61.65, 61.50; m/z (M ) found: 365.105. C H NaO requires: 365.1054.
12
22
11
3.1.2. α-Mannosidase from limpet
Mannose (5, 4 g) in sodium acetate buffer (0.1 M, 1.25 ml; pH 4.8) was incubated with α-mannosidase
−
1
from limpet (0.1 ml; 14 U ml ) at 35°C for 12 days. The reaction was stopped by heating in the boiling
water bath for 5 min. The mixture was purified as above to give α-D-Manp-(1→2)-D-Manp (6, 181 mg)
and α-D-Manp-(1→3)-D-Manp (7, 137 mg).
3.2. Preparation of α-D-Manp-(1→6)-D-Manp 8 using the α-mannosidase from Aspergillus niger
Mannose (5, 8 g) in sodium acetate buffer (0.1 M, 2.5 ml, pH 4.8) was incubated with transglucosidase
L (1.7 ml) from Amano at 50°C for 17 days. The reaction was stopped by heating in the boiling water
bath for 5 min. The mixture was purified as above to give disaccharide 8 (1.76 g).
3
3
.3. Purification of α-mannosidases
.3.1. Materials and general procedures
Sweet almonds (Tesco Stores; defatted almond meal from Sigma), visceral hump from limpets (Patella
vulgata) and transglucosidase L (Amano) from Aspergillus niger were identified as sources of α-
mannosidase. p-Nitrophenyl derivatives of various monosaccharides used as enzyme substrates were
obtained from Sigma. Buffers were prepared with ultra-pure water (Elga). Other chemicals were of analy-
tical grade from commercial sources. All operations were carried out at 4°C. Chromatography columns
(XK series, Pharmacia) with a water cooling jacket were used for protein purification. The following
chromatography media were used: Macro-Prep ceramic hydroxyapatite (Bio-Rad), Q-Sepharose and
CM-Sepharose (both from Pharmacia). A Waters 650E Advanced Protein Purification System (Millipore,
USA) was employed for column development. Extraction and elution buffers were supplemented with
2-mercaptoethanol and zinc sulphate (5 mM and 0.1 mM, respectively). Samples were centrifuged on a
Sorvall RC-5B refrigerated superspeed centrifuge (8500 g, 20 min, 4°C). Proteins were concentrated
by membrane ultra filtration (Centriprep, Amicon, 30 kDa cut-off) on a Mistral 2000R refrigerated
centrifuge (3500 g; repeated 15-min runs at 4°C). Samples of a small volume were concentrated in
Minicon concentration cells (Amicon, 15 kDa cut-off).
3.4. Enzyme activity assay
Activities of glycosidases were detected and quantified using appropriate p-nitrophenyl glycosides as
substrates. The assay mixture contained a corresponding 5 mM p-nitrophenyl glycoside and the enzyme
in McIlvain (citrate–phosphate) buffer (50 mM, pH 5.0). The mixture was incubated at 30°C for 10 min.
The reaction was terminated by the addition of Na CO (0.1 M, 3.9 ml) and absorbance was read at 400
2
3
nm. One unit of activity was defined as the amount of enzyme releasing 1 µmol of p-nitrophenol per
minute. The specific activity was expressed as units per mg of protein. Protein content was estimated
1
5
by Bio-Rad protein assay using bovine serum albumin as standard. As the α-mannosidase from A.
niger does not accept p-nitrophenyl α-mannopyranoside as a substrate the activity was assayed only
qualitatively (TLC) using α-D-Manp-(1→6)-D-Manp 8 as an alternative substrate.

2
28
S. Singh et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 223–229
3
3
.5. Enzyme extraction and purification
.5.1. α-Mannosidase from almonds (Prunus amygdalus)
Almonds (95 g dry weight) were extensively washed in distilled water, rinsed with acetone and blotted
dry. The material was homogenised in a stainless steel blender and chilled acetone was added (200 ml,
kept on dry ice). The homogenation was carried out in four 30 s bursts (high power). The finely ground
material was filtered through a fine cloth, and washed with chilled acetone followed by hexane. Residual
solvent was removed under reduced pressure at 30°C for several hours and the dry almond meal (39 g)
was kept at 4°C. Almond meal (10 g) was extracted with sodium acetate buffer (20 mM, pH 4.5) for
3
0 min, filtered and centrifuged. The proteins were fractionated by ammonium sulphate precipitation
(35–75% saturation), the precipitate was collected by centrifugation and extensively dialysed against the
same buffer. Dialysed proteins were applied to a column of CM-Sepharose (13×2.6 cm i.d.) equilibrated
with sodium acetate buffer (20 mM, pH 4.5). The column was eluted with an increasing salt concentration
(
0–0.4 M NaCl) in the same buffer. α-Mannosidase emerged in a broad elution profile together with β-
galactosidase and β-glucosidase (Table 1).
Table 1
Purification of α-mannosidase from almond meal
3
.5.2. α-Mannosidase from limpets (Patella vulgata)
Limpets (Patella vulgata) were collected in the Plymouth (UK) area. The visceral humps removed
from the organisms (each batch approx. 100 g) were homogenised with 300 ml of ice-cold acetone for
min at maximum speed. The solvent was filtered off and the tissue debris was extracted once more
1
with ice-cold acetone in the blender. The acetone was removed, the material was resuspended in ice-cold
diethyl ether and filtered. The residual solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the desiccated
powder was kept at 4°C. The glycosidases were extracted from the crude powder (112 g) with 500 ml of
McIlvain buffer (50 mM, pH 5.5) at 4°C overnight. The debris was removed by centrifugation and the
proteins in the extract were precipitated by ammonium sulphate. A fraction collected between 40–60%
ammonium sulphate saturation was enriched in α-mannosidase activity (specific activity 0.260 unit per
mg protein, 745 units in total).
3.5.3. α-Mannosidase from Aspergillus niger
Transglucosidase L from A. niger (Amano; 50 ml) was diluted with 50 ml of distilled water, 2-
mercaptoethanol was added to a final concentration of 5 mM and the proteins were fractionated by
ammonium sulphate precipitation (40–70% saturation). The collected precipitate was dialysed overnight
against potassium phosphate buffer (20 mM, pH 6.5) and loaded onto a Q-Sepharose column (30×2.6
cm i.d.) equilibrated with the same buffer. Unbound proteins were eluted with the same buffer and the
column was developed with an increasing salt concentration (0.0–0.27 M NaCl linear gradient; 1.5 ml
per min). α-Mannosidase activity (detected with α-D-Manp-(1→6)-D-Manp 8 as a substrate) was eluted
at high salt concentration and the proteins in active fractions were collected by ammonium sulphate
precipitation (100% saturation). No β-mannosidase activity was detected in this preparation. The protein

S. Singh et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 11 (2000) 223–229
229
precipitate was exhaustively dialysed against potassium phosphate buffer (2 mM, pH 6.5) and loaded onto
a hydroxyapatite column (33×1.6 cm) equilibrated with the same buffer. The column was eluted with
increasing phosphate buffer concentration (0.002–0.2 M linear gradient; 1.5 ml per min). α-Mannosidase
activity was detected in the first major peak after the onset of the gradient. The active fractions were
pooled, concentrated by ultra filtration and stored at 4°C in the presence of sodium azide (0.02%). This
purification step completely removed those contaminating glycosidase activities still present after the
chromatography on Q-Sepharose.
Acknowledgements
We thank the BBSRC for financial support and Mr. Fred Fretsome of the Marine Biological Associa-
tion, Plymouth, for assistance with the collection of limpets.
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