Enzymatic synthesis of N-formylated sialosides via a five-enzyme cascade

Org Biomol Chem. 2024 Sep 18;22(36):7485-7491. doi: 10.1039/d4ob00874j.

Abstract

Here we report an enzymatic approach to synthesize N-formylneuraminic acid (Neu5Fo) containing sialosides, through a five-enzyme cascade. This method stands as an alternative to traditional chemical syntheses, aiming for precision and efficiency in generating sialosides with a tailored N-formyl group generated directly from formic acid. The newly synthesized Neu5Fo was characterized using various NMR techniques revealing a conformational equilibrium at the amide bond of the formyl group in slow exchange on the NMR time scale with a trans : cis ratio of ∼2 : 1. This work not only suggests potential for exploring the biological roles of sialosides but also points to the possibility of developing novel therapeutic agents.

MeSH terms

  • Formates / chemical synthesis
  • Formates / chemistry
  • Formates / metabolism
  • Sialic Acids* / chemical synthesis
  • Sialic Acids* / chemistry
  • Sialic Acids* / metabolism

Substances

  • Sialic Acids
  • Formates