Synthesis of the core structure of the lipoteichoic acid of streptococcus pneumoniae

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae LTA is a highly complex glycophospholipid that consists of nine carbohydrate residues: three glucose, two galactosamine and two 2-acetamino-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxygalactose (AATDgal) residues that are each differently linked, one ribitol and one diacylated glycerol (DAG) residue. Suitable building blocks for the glucose and the AATDgal residues were designed and their synthesis is described in this paper. These building blocks permitted the successful synthesis of the core structure GlcBeta(1-3)AATDgalBeta(1-3)GlcAlpha(1-O)DAG in a suitably protected form for further chain extension (lb, le) and as unprotected glycolipid (la) that was employed in biological studies. These studies revealed that la as well as 1 lead to interleukin-8 release, however not via TLR2 or TLR4 as receptor.