The "epimerisation" of UDP-GlcNAc to ManNAc, the first step in the biosynthesis of sialic acids, is catalyzed by UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase. In this paper we report the synthesis of transition state based inhibitors of this enzyme. To mimic the assumed first transition state of this reaction (TS 1), we designed and synthesized the novel UDP-exo-glycal derivatives 1-4. We also report herein the synthesis of 5 and 6, the first C-glycosidic derivatives of 2-acetamidoglucal, and the synthesis of the ketosides 7 and 8, which were designed as bis-substrate analogue and bis- product analogue, respectively, to mimic the second step of the reaction via the assumed second transition state TS 2.

The bifunctional enzyme UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase is the key enzyme for the biosynthesis of sialic acids. As terminal components of glycoconjugates, sialic acids are associated with a variety of pathological processes such as inflammation and cancer. For the first time, this study reveals characteristics of the interaction of the epimerase site of the enzyme with its natural substrate, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) and derivatives thereof at atomic resolution. Saturation transfer difference NMR experiments were crucial in obtaining ligand binding epitopes and to rank ligands according to their binding affinities. Employing a fragment based approach, it was possible to assign the major component of substrate recognition to the UDP moiety. In particular, the binding epitopes of the uridine moieties of UMP, UDP, UDP-GalNAc, and UDP-GlcNAc are rather similar, suggesting that the binding mode of the UDP moiety is the same in all cases. In contrast, the hexopyranose units of UDP-GlcNAc and UDP-GalNAc display small differences reflecting the inability of the enzyme to process UDP-GalNAc. Surprisingly, saturation transfer difference NMR titrations show that UDP has the largest binding affinity to the epimerase site and that at least one phosphate group is required for binding. Consequently, this study provides important new data for rational drug design.

The first step in the biosynthesis of neuraminic acid, the “epimerisation” of UDP‐GlcNAc to ManNAc, is catalyzed by UDP‐GlcNAc 2‐epimerase. In this paper we report the synthesis of the C‐glycosidic UDP‐GlcNAc analogues 1−5 as substrate‐based inhibitors of this enzyme. The focus is on the optimal distance and geometry of the connection between the sugar and the UDP‐moiety, which are both important for recognition by UDP‐GlcNAc 2‐epimerase. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)

Arbuzov reaction of O-acetyl-protected glycosylthiomethyl chlorides with triethyl phosphite and then phosphonate ethyl ester cleavage with trimethylsilyl bromide afforded glycosylthiomethyl phosphonates 13, 18, 22, and 26. These intermediates could be readily transformed into the O-deprotected phosphonates 7-10 and into title compounds 1-4. Similarly, sulfonomethyl phosphonate moieties containing UDP-sugar analogues 5 and 6 were obtained.