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Reactivity of tolmetin glucuronide with human serum albumin. Identification of binding sites and mechanisms of reaction by tandem mass spectrometry.

The structures of adducts formed from in vitro incubation of a drug (tolmetin) glucuronide (TG) and human serum albumin (HSA), and the preferred binding sites on this protein were determined by mass spectrometry. In addition, the concentration dependence of covalent modification of HSA by TG was studied at three different concentration ratios of TG to HSA. Protein adducts were enzymatically digested and peptide fragments were separated by HPLC. Tolmetin-containing peptides (indicated by absorbance at 313 nm) were analyzed by liquid secondary-ion mass spectrometry, continuous flow-fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and collision-induced dissociation using a four-sector tandem mass spectrometer, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry, and in selected cases by Edman sequencing. The identified peptides contained tolmetin linked covalently via a glucuronic acid to a protein lysine group (lysine 199 and to a lesser extent lysines 195 and 525) or tolmetin directly linked to lysines (lysines 199 and 541), serines (serines 220, 232, and 480), or arginines (arginine 222). In addition, there was indirect evidence for binding of TG to lysine 541, and binding of tolmetin to arginine 521. Our results establish that the binding of these reactive metabolites to nucleophilic sites of proteins occur via two different mechanisms: one involving imine (Schiff base) formation and the other involving nucleophilic displacement of glucuronic acid. Our data suggest, however, that the former, in which the glucuronic acid moiety of the acyl glucuronide is retained within the adducts, is favored at lower (closer to physiological) metabolite concentrations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

High-resolution crystal structure of Arthrobacter aurescens chondroitin AC lyase: an enzyme-substrate complex defines the catalytic mechanism.

Chondroitin lyases (EC 4.2.2.4 and EC 4.2.2.5) are glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzymes that act as eliminases. Chondroitin lyase AC from Arthrobacter aurescens (ArthroAC) is known to act on chondroitin 4-sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate but not on dermatan sulfate. Like other chondroitin AC lyases, it is capable of cleaving hyaluronan. We have determined the three-dimensional crystal structure of ArthroAC in its native form as well as in complex with its substrates (chondroitin 4-sulfate tetrasaccharide, CS(tetra) and hyaluronan tetrasaccharide) at resolution varying from 1.25 A to 1.9A. The primary sequence of ArthroAC has not been previously determined but it was possible to determine the amino acid sequence of this enzyme from the high-resolution electron density maps and to confirm it by mass spectrometry. The enzyme-substrate complexes were obtained by soaking the substrate into the crystals for varying lengths of time (30 seconds to ten hours) and flash-cooling the crystals. The electron density map for crystals soaked in the substrate for as short as 30 seconds showed the substrate clearly and indicated that the ring of central glucuronic acid assumes a distorted boat conformation. This structure strongly supports the lytic mechanism where Tyr242 acts as a general base that abstracts the proton from the C5 position of glucuronic acid while Asn183 and His233 neutralize the charge on the glucuronate acidic group. Comparison of this structure with that of chondroitinase AC from Flavobacterium heparinum (FlavoAC) provides an explanation for the exolytic and endolytic mode of action of ArthroAC and FlavoAC, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural determinants of heparin's growth inhibitory activity. Interdependence of oligosaccharide size and charge.

The glycosaminoglycan heparin inhibits the growth of several cell types in vitro including smooth muscle cells and rat cervical epithelial cells. The commercially available heparin which has antiproliferative activity is a structurally heterogeneous polymer that undergoes extensive modifications during maturation. In this report we have performed structure-function studies on heparin's antiproliferative activity using three different cell types: both rat and calf vascular aortic smooth muscle cells and rat cervical epithelial cells. The minimal oligosaccharide size requirements for antiproliferative activity were determined for the three cell types by using oligosaccharide fragments of defined length prepared by nitrous acid cleavage and gel filtration and a synthetic pentasaccharide. The size requirements are similar but not identical for the different cell types. Hexasaccharide fragments are antiproliferative for all three cell types but the synthetic pentasaccharide inhibits the growth of only the rat and calf vascular aortic smooth muscle cells. The interdependence between size and charge for antiproliferative activity was investigated using chemically modified oligosaccharides as well as oligosaccharides prepared from heparin and separated into fractions of differing charge by ion-exchange chromatography. There is a strong interdependence between size and charge for antiproliferative activity. For example, increasing the charge of inactive tetrasaccharide fragments by O-oversulfation makes them antiproliferative whereas reducing the charge of active larger fragments causes them to loose their antiproliferative activity. Finally the importance of 2-O-sulfate glucuronic acid moieties for antiproliferative activity was investigated using heparin preparations that lack 2-O-sulfate glucuronic acid. These compounds possess antiproliferative activity indicating that 2-O-sulfate glucuronic acid is not required for antiproliferative activity.

Animals↗

Physical properties of chondroitin sulphate/dermatan sulphate proteoglycans from bovine aorta.

Bovine aortic chondroitin sulphate/dermatan sulphate proteoglycans (PG-25, PG-35 and PG-50) were differentially precipitated with ethanol and analysed by a variety of chemical and physical techniques. The glycosaminoglycan chains of PG-25 and PG-35 contained a mixture of glucuronic acid and iduronic acid, whereas the uronic acid component of PG-50 was primarily glucuronic acid. In addition, various amounts of oligosaccharides containing small amounts of mannose, a galactose/hexosamine ratio of 1:1 and an absence of uronic acid were covalently linked to the core protein of all proteoglycans. The weight-average Mr (Mw) values of the proteoglycans determined by light-scattering in 4 M-guanidinium chloride were 1.3 X 10(6) (PG-25), 0.30 X 10(6) (PG-35) and 0.88 X 10(6) (PG-50). The s0 values of the proteoglycans were distributed between 7 and 8 S, and the reduced viscosities, eta sp./c, of all proteoglycans were dependent on the shear rate and polymer concentration. Electron microscopy of spread molecules revealed that PG-25 contained small structural units that appeared to self-associate into large aggregates, whereas PG-35 and PG-50 appeared mainly as monomers consisting of a core with various numbers of side projections. Hyaluronic acid-proteoglycan complexes occurred only with a small proportion of the molecules present in PG-35, and their formation could be inhibited by oligosaccharides. These results suggest the presence in the aorta of subspecies of chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate proteoglycans, which show large variations in their physicochemical and inter- and intra-molecular association properties.

Animals↗

Heparan/chondroitin sulfate biosynthesis. Structure and mechanism of human glucuronyltransferase I.

Human beta1,3-glucuronyltransferase I (GlcAT-I) is a central enzyme in the initial steps of proteoglycan synthesis. GlcAT-I transfers a glucuronic acid moiety from the uridine diphosphate-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcUA) to the common linkage region trisaccharide Gal beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Xyl covalently bound to a Ser residue at the glycosaminylglycan attachment site of proteoglycans. We have now determined the crystal structure of GlcAT-1 at 2.3 A in the presence of the donor substrate product UDP, the catalytic Mn(2+) ion, and the acceptor substrate analog Gal beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Xyl. The enzyme is a alpha/beta protein with two subdomains that constitute the donor and acceptor substrate binding site. The active site residues lie in a cleft extending across both subdomains in which the trisaccharide molecule is oriented perpendicular to the UDP. Residues Glu(227), Asp(252), and Glu(281) dictate the binding orientation of the terminal Gal-2 moiety. Residue Glu(281) is in position to function as a catalytic base by deprotonating the incoming 3-hydroxyl group of the acceptor. The conserved DXD motif (Asp(194), Asp(195), Asp(196)) has direct interaction with the ribose of the UDP molecule as well as with the Mn(2+) ion. The key residues involved in substrate binding and catalysis are conserved in the glucuronyltransferase family as well as other glycosyltransferases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Metabolism of acetaminophen by the isolated perfused kidney.

Acetaminophen (APAP) produces proximal tubular necrosis in the Fisher 344 rat. This lesion may result from the covalent binding of reactive intermediates of APAP to cellular macromolecules when glutathione (GSH) is sufficiently depleted. Experiments were designed to evaluate the ability of the kidney to convert APAP to reactive electrophilic metabolites capable of depleting renal GSH by quantifying GSH concentrations in isolated perfused kidneys perfused with APAP. Perfusion without APAP reduced (3 X 10(-5) -3 X 10(-5) M) to the perfusion medium further reduced renal GSH content. Treatment of rats with polybrominated biphenyls enhanced the ability of 3 X 10(-8) M APAP to deplete GSH. In contrast, treatment with piperonyl butoxide reduced the depletion of GSH produced by 3 X 10(-5) M APAP. At 3 X 10(-5) M APAP, the glucuronic acid, sulfate and the mercapturic acid conjugates were excreted by the isolate perfused kidneys. After treatment with polybrominated biphenyls, mercapturic acid excretion increased 4-fold, whereas the glucuronic acid and sulfate conjugate excretions were unaffected. These data suggest that the kidney can produce an electrophilic metabolite of APAP which can combine with and deplete renal GSH. An electrophilic metabolite of APAP produced by the kidney may initiate APAP induced renal necrosis.

Acetaminophen↗

Involvement of exo5 in production of surface polysaccharides in Rhizobium leguminosarum and its role in nodulation of Vicia sativa subsp. nigra.

Analysis of two exopolysaccharide-deficient mutants of Rhizobium leguminosarum, RBL5808 and RBL5812, revealed independent Tn5 transposon integrations in a single gene, designated exo5. As judged from structural and functional homology, this gene encodes a UDP-glucose dehydrogenase responsible for the oxidation of UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronic acid. A mutation in exo5 affects all glucuronic acid-containing polysaccharides and, consequently, all galacturonic acid-containing polysaccharides. Exo5-deficient rhizobia do not produce extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) or capsular polysaccharide (CPS), both of which contain glucuronic acid. Carbohydrate composition analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance studies demonstrated that EPS and CPS from the parent strain have very similar structures. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules produced by the mutant strains are deficient in galacturonic acid, which is normally present in the core and lipid A portions of the LPS. The sensitivity of exo5 mutant rhizobia to hydrophobic compounds shows the involvement of the galacturonic acid residues in the outer membrane structure. Nodulation studies with Vicia sativa subsp. nigra showed that exo5 mutant rhizobia are impaired in successful infection thread colonization. This is caused by strong agglutination of EPS-deficient bacteria in the root hair curl. Root infection could be restored by simultaneous inoculation with a Nod factor-defective strain which retained the ability to produce EPS and CPS. However, in this case colonization of the nodule tissue was impaired.

Bacterial Capsules↗

Origin of mammalian biliprotein and rearrangement of bilirubin glucuronides in vivo in the rat.

In hepatobiliary disease bilirubin becomes bound covalently to serum albumin, producing a nondissociable bile pigment-protein complex (biliprotein). To elucidate the mechanism of biliprotein formation we studied the bile pigment composition of blood from animals with experimental cholestasis and carried out comparative studies on the rate of biliprotein formation in vivo and in vitro during incubation of bilirubin glucuronides with albumin. Bile duct ligation in the rat and guinea pig led to rapid accumulation in the circulation of bilirubin, heterogeneous bilirubin esters of glucuronic acid, and a biliprotein that migrated along with albumin on high performance liquid chromatography. When the obstruction was removed, biliprotein remained longer in the circulation than did the other bile pigment species. Biliprotein and heterogeneous bilirubin esters of glucuronic acid were not formed in bile duct-ligated homozygous Gunn rats but they were formed when bilirubin glucuronides were incubated with Sprague-Dawley rat serum or human serum albumin at 37 degrees C in vitro. Bilirubin glucuronide rearrangement in vitro was accompanied by nonenzymic hydrolysis. We conclude that the formation of biliprotein in vivo is probably nonenzymic and suggest that mammalian biliprotein is formed by acyl migration of bilirubin from a bilirubin-glucuronic acid ester to a nucleophilic site on albumin.

Animals↗

Glucuronidation in the rat intestinal wall. Comparison of isolated mucosal cells, latent microsomes and activated microsomes.

Glucuronidation and sulphation of 1-naphthol and 7-hydroxycoumarin was studied in isolated rat intestinal epithelial cells and in microsomes prepared from these cells. In the isolated cells formation of 1-naphthol sulphate could not be detected. Sulphate conjugates of 7-hydroxycoumarin constitute a minor portion of total conjugates formed. Maximum glucuronidation rates for 1-naphthol and 7-hydroxycoumarin do not differ significantly from each other (approximately 12.5 nmoles/min X g intestine). The intestinal microsomal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, prepared from isolated cells, could be activated in vitro by Triton X-100 and MgCl2. Activation increased both Kappm and Vmax for 1-naphthol; Kappm for UDP-glucuronic acid was decreased by activation with MgCl2 but increased again by further addition of Triton X-100. In fully activated microsomes Kappm for 1 naphthol was 69.7 +/- 13.9 microM and Vmax was 70.0 +/- 3.9 nmoles/min X mg microsomal protein; Kappm for UDP-glucuronic acid was 0.67 +/- 0.06 mM. The glucuronidation rate (expressed as nmoles/min X g intestine) in microsomes is substantially higher than in isolated cells. It appears that glucuronidation in intact cells is limited by factors other than the extracellular substrate concn. Both cellular uptake of the substrate and availability of UDP-glucuronic acid can play a significant role. It is concluded that isolated mucosal cells are more suitable for predicting intestinal first-pass metabolism of phenolic xenobiotics than intestinal microsomes, because cellular substrate uptake and cosubstrate availability appear to be important determinants of the maximum glucuronidation rate.

Animals↗

Up-regulation of human myo-inositol oxygenase by hyperosmotic stress in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.

myo-Inositol oxygenase (MIOX) catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of myo-inositol (MI) to give d-glucuronic acid, a committed step in MI catabolism. d-Glucuronic acid is further metabolized to xylitol via the glucuronate-xylulose pathway. Although accumulation of polyols such as xylitol and sorbitol is associated with MI depletion in diabetic complications, no causal relationship has been established. Therefore we are examining the role of MIOX in diabetic nephropathy. Here we present evidence that the basis for the depletion of MI in diabetes is likely to be mediated by the increased expression of MIOX, which is induced by sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol in a porcine renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1. To understand the molecular mechanism of regulation of MIOX expression by polyols, we have cloned the human MIOX gene locus of 10 kb containing 5.6 kb of the 5' upstream sequence. Analysis of the 5' upstream sequence led to the identification of an osmotic response element (ORE) in the promoter region, which is present approximately 2 kb upstream of the translation start site. Based on luciferase reporter and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, polyols increased the ORE-dependent expression of MIOX. In addition, we demonstrate that the activity of the promoter is dependent on the binding of the transcription factor, tonicity element-binding protein, or osmotic response element-binding protein, to the ORE site. These results suggest that the expression of MIOX is up-regulated by a positive feedback mechanism where xylitol, one of the products of MI catabolism via the glucuronate-xylulose pathway, induces an overexpression of MIOX.

Animals↗

Inhibition of rat liver microsomal bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase by ursodeoxycholic acid.

Ursodeoxycholic acid and its endogenous metabolite tauroursodeoxycholic acid inhibited in vitro the microsomal bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase from rat liver. The magnitude of the inhibition correlated well with the loss of integrity of microsomal vesicles, suggesting that bile salts needed to reach the lumen to exert their inhibitory effects. The endogenous bile acids cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid also exhibited inhibitory effects on bilirubin glucuronidation in digitonin-disrupted microsomes. Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibitory capacity was similar to that of chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid but greater than that of cholic acid, the major endogenous bile salt. Kinetic studies, performed in detergent-activated preparations, showed that the inhibitions produced by ursodeoxycholic and tauroursodeoxycholic acids were competitive toward both bilirubin and UDP-glucuronic acid. The estimated Ki(app) for both substrates did not differ statistically between ursodeoxycholic and tauroursodeoxycholic acids. Both bile salts were weak inhibitors toward bilirubin but rather strong inhibitors toward UDP-glucuronic acid.

Animals↗

The immunological specificity of type II Pneumococcus and its separation into partial specificities.

The specificity of Type II pneumococcus determined by its capsular polysaccharide (S II) may be separated into three partial specificities, each characteristic of one of the three component sugars of S II, namely, glucuronic acid, glucose, and rhamnose. By far the largest portion of antibodies in Type II antipneumococcus horse sera which cross-react with carbohydrates containing one or more of these sugars are reactive with those characterized by multiple groupings of glucuronic acid. This confirms, extends, and explains earlier observations. In confirmation of predictions based upon existing information tamarind seed polysaccharide (jellose), in which much of the glucose exists as 1,4,6-branch points, was found to react in Type II antisera. Several instances are given of cross-reactions in these antisera apparently due to the L-rhamnose component of the reacting polysaccharides. The antisera contain far more antibody capable of precipitating with substances with multiple units of glucuronic acid than with those so far tested containing multiple 1,4,6-branch points of glucose or multiple groupings of rhamnose. The long known increase of titer of gum arabic on partial hydrolysis is now fully explained and discussed, and a chemical picture is given of the change in "avidity." The sum of the partial specificities measured does not equal the whole. Quantitative data illustrating these points are given.

Cross Reactions↗

A quantitative chemical study of the comb and wattle galactosaminoglycans from single comb White Leghorn roosters.

Galactosaminoglycans from mature rooster comb and wattle tissues were separated into five fractions by ethanol precipitation. An average of 90% total uronic acid was recovered in Fractions I to III. Fractions I and II were dermatan sulfate with relatively high proportions of L-iduronic acid (61 to 80%), but this uronic acid was a minor component (30%) in Fraction III, in which D-glucuronic acid was the major uronic acid. Digestion with testicular hyaluronidase suggested that most if not all of the galactosaminoglycans in Fractions I to III were copolymers containing both L-iduronic acid and D-glucuronic acid. Fractions IV and V contained much lower proportions of L-iduronic acid and showed broader electrophoresis bands than did Fraction III.

Animals↗

Synthesis of acylglucuronides of drugs using immobilized dog liver microsomes octadecylsilica particles coated with phospholipid.

Immobilized dog liver microsome octadecylsilica (ODS) particles coated with phospholipid were developed for the synthesis of acylglucuronides of drugs. The phospholipid-coated ODS particles were readily prepared by stirring a solution containing L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine with the ODS particles, in which the phospholipid was absorbed on the ODS surfaces by hydrophobic interaction between the acyl group of phospholipid and the otcadecyl group of the ODS particles. Similarly, the microsome-immobilized particles were readily prepared by stirring a buffer solution containing dog liver microsomes with the phospholipid-coated ODS particles, in which the microsomes were immobilized on the phospholipid-coated ODS particles by hydrophobic binding. The microsome-immobilized particles exhibited UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity which catalyzed the glucuronidation of ketoprofen and a nonpeptide endothelin receptor antagonist, S-1255 ([R]-[+]-2-[benzo(1,3)dioxol-5-yl]-6-isopropyl-4-[4-methoxyphenyl]-2H-chromene-3-carboxylic acid), to the corresponding acylglucuronide in the presence of uridine 5(')-diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronic acid, and two acylglucuronides of ketoprofen and S-1255 were synthesized using the microsome-immobilized particles. These acylglucuronides were synthesized by simply shaking the microsome-immobilized particles adsorbed on the substrate in a buffer solution containing UDP-glucuronic acid with a thermostated mixer. The molecular weights and chemical structures of the synthesized acylglucuronides were identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, respectively. The productivity of S-1255 acylglucuronide using microsome-immobilized particles was approximately threefold higher than that observed with free microsomes, whereas the ketoprofen acylglucuronide productivity was slightly lower than that observed with free microsomes. The present method should be very useful for the synthesis of acylglucuronides of drugs, which are slightly soluble aqueous solutions in the drug development stage.

Acylation↗

Metabolic fate of aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic organisms: analysis of metabolites by thin-layer chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography.

Aquatic organisms convert aromatic hydrocarbons into a variety of conjugated and nonconjugated derivatives. Analytical techniques based on thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) were employed to separate, identify and quantitate individual metabolites from fish exposed to radiolabeled naphthalene and 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. Significant differences in profiles of individual metabolites were found in relation to the type of biological sample analyzed. Liver of naphthalene-exposed salmonids contained eight polar derivatives, as shown by HPLC. Two nonconjugates (1-naphthol and 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene) and three conjugates (1-naphthyl glucuronic acid, 1-naphthyl sulfate and 1-naphthyl glucoside) were identified. HPLC revealed that brain of 3H-naphthalene-exposed trout contained essentially the nonconjugated derivatives, 1-naphthol and 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene. TLC showed that the metabolites from trout urine were 1-naphthol, 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxynapthalene, and 1-naphthyl glucuronic acid (99% of the total metabolites detected). Major components of the metabolite fractions of tissues and biological fluids were 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy and glucuronic acid derivatives. Dihydrodiol derivatives arise from the corresponding arene oxides, some of which have been shown to be cytotoxic to certain mammalian systems.

Animals↗

Assay and properties of dititonin-activated bilirubin uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase from rat liver.

1. The bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase assay described by Van Roy & Heirwegh (1968) has been improved. 2. Extraction of final azo-derivatives is rendered more simple and efficient by thorough emulsification and by cooling. 3. Pretreatment of homogenates and cell fractions with digitonin increases the sensitivity of the assays and gives less variable results than those with untreated preparations. The activation procedure is flexible. 4. Blank values (obtained from incubation mixtures from which activating bivalent metal ion and UDP-glucuronic acid were omitted) are low. No endogenous conjugate formation could be detected except with untreated, fresh liver homogenates. Control incubation mixtures containing the latter preparations are preferably kept at 0 degrees C. 5. With activated microsomal preparations, rates of breakdown of UDP-glucuronic acid (as monitored by release of P(i)) were low. Little if any increase in enzyme activity was found when UDP-N-acetylglucosamine was included in the incubation mixtures. 6. Slight deviation from Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to bilirubin observed at low substrate concentrations is probably related to the use of binding protein in the assay mixtures. Michaelis-Menten kinetics were followed with respect to UDP-glucuronic acid. Part of the enzyme in microsomal preparations from rat liver functioned independently of added bivalent metal ions. Mn(2+) was slightly more, and Ca(2+) somewhat less, stimulatory than Mg(2+). The Mg(2+)-dependent fraction showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to the added Mg(2+). 7. The enzyme activities found were higher than values reported in the literature for untreated or purified preparations from rat liver. They were above reported values of the maximal biliary excretion rate of bilirubin.

Animals↗

Chemical synthesis of bilirubin glucuronide conjugates.

In dimethylformamide, the two carboxyl groups of bilirubin react with the bifunctional coupling agent, carbonyldimidazole, to form bilirubin diimidazole, which was isolated and crystallised. The bilirubin diimidazole, termed "activated bilirubin", was shown to react spontaneously with primary alcohols to form diesters of bilirubin. After addition of the tetrabutyl ammonium salt of glucuronic acid, compounds with chromatographic mobilities similar to those of bilirubin mono- and diglucuronides from bile were formed. Bilirubin diglucuronides were isolated by barium precipitation followed by solvent extraction. The bilirubin diglucuronides were considered to be a mixture of alpha and beta glucuronides esterified at positions 1,2,3, or 4 of glucuronic acid because the compound(s) was resistant to hydrolysis with glucuronidase and gave multiple sponts by chromatography after diazotization with ethyl anthranilate. The model compounds lauryl glucuronides were synthesized similarly; the most polar product by chromatography and had identical chromatographic mobility to synthetic lauryl 1-D-glucuronide prepared by reductive debenzylation of lauryl (benzyl (2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl))-D-glucuronide. It is concluded that bilirubin-1-di-beta-D-glucuronide can be synthesized when suitable protecting groups for the 2, 3, and 4 hydroxyl groups of glucuronic acid become available.

Bilirubin↗

An acidic arabinogalactan-protein from the roots of Baptisia tinctoria.

An acidic arabinogalactan-protein (AGP) isolated from an aqueous extract of the roots of wild indigo [ Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br.] by precipitation with beta-glucosyl Yariv reagent consists of L-arabinose (34.0 %) and D-galactose (58.7 %) (1 : 1.7), minor amounts of D-glucuronic acid (4.0 %) and traces of D-rhamnose (2.3 %) and D-glucose (<1 %). The protein part of the AGP mainly contains asparagine/aspartic acid (11.3 %), glutamine/glutamic acid (10.8 %), alanine (8.0 %), serine (8.0 %), leucine (7.0 %) and hydroxyproline (6.3 %). Methylation analysis revealed that the carbohydrate moiety of the glycoprotein has a highly branched structure. The core consists of 3-linked beta- D-galactopyranose units carrying side chains of 6-linked beta- D-galactopyranose in position C(O)6, partly substituted in position C(O)3 by side chains of 5- and 3-linked alpha- L-arabinofuranosyl residues and 4-linked beta- D-galactopyranose units. Galactose and arabinose as well as glucose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid occur in terminal positions. The presence of these glycosyl linkage types was confirmed by (13)C-NMR data. The AGP was separated into two fractions by SEC. The major peak corresponded to a hydrodynamic volume of 5.6 x 10 (4) Da (AGP-F2) and the minor peak to a hydrodynamic volume of 1.2 x 10 (6) Da (AGP-F1). MALLS revealed apparent weight average molecular masses of 1.4 x 10 (5) Da and >1.0 x 10 (7) Da, respectively. Both fractions show corresponding carbohydrate compositions and structural features with regard to the carbohydrate moiety. Mild acid hydrolysis of the AGP leads to loss of terminal arabinofuranosyl units. The residual galactan backbone does not react with the Yariv reagent in gel diffusion tests while the total AGP still interferes with the reagent following reduction of terminal glucuronic acid residues.

Fabaceae↗