Chemical synthesis of the pentasaccharide repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide from Ruminococcus gnavus

Abstract

Microorganisms present in the guts are the causative agents for various diseases in humans. More and more studies are correlating such diseases and the responsible microorganism. The Gram-positive bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus (R. gnavus) has been identified to be responsible for symptoms of Crohn's disease. R. gnavas produces a glucorhamnan polysaccharide and it is postulated that this polysaccharide induces inflammatory response through toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). The current manuscript describes the chemical synthesis of the pentasaccharide repeating unit of the O-polysachharide from R. gnavus. The major challenge associated with this particular synthesis is the presence of two consecutive 1,2-cis glucose units. The target oligosaccharide is achieved through a linear strategy from commercially available sugars through rational protecting group manipulation. 1,2-cis glycosylation of glucose through remote participation of acyl group at the 6-O position is used successfully with excellent yield. In both cases, sole 1,2-cis products are obtained at −20 °C through the activation of thioglycosides.