ORCID Profile
0000-0001-6354-605X
Current Organisation
University of California, Irvine
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-02-2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-03-2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-01-2015
DOI: 10.1038/NATURE13995
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-12-2014
Abstract: Glycoside hydrolase family 99 (GH99) was created to categorize sequence-related glycosidases possessing endo-α-mannosidase activity: the cleavage of mannosidic linkages within eukaryotic N-glycan precursors (Glc1-3 Man9 GlcNAc2 ), releasing mono-, di- and triglucosylated-mannose (Glc1-3 -1,3-Man). GH99 family members have recently been implicated in the ability of Bacteroides spp., present within the gut microbiota, to metabolize fungal cell wall α-mannans, releasing α-1,3-mannobiose by hydrolysing αMan-1,3-αMan→1,2-αMan-1,2-αMan sequences within branches off the main α-1,6-mannan backbone. We report the development of a series of substrates and inhibitors, which we use to kinetically and structurally characterise this novel endo-α-1,2-mannanase activity of bacterial GH99 enzymes from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and xylanisolvens. These data reveal an approximate 5 kJ mol(-1) preference for mannose-configured substrates in the -2 subsite (relative to glucose), which inspired the development of a new inhibitor, α-mannopyranosyl-1,3-isofagomine (ManIFG), the most potent (bacterial) GH99 inhibitor reported to date. X-ray structures of ManIFG or a substrate in complex with wild-type or inactive mutants, respectively, of B. xylanisolvens GH99 reveal the structural basis for binding to D-mannose- rather than D-glucose-configured substrates.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-02-2016
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 22-01-2019
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-05-2013
Abstract: The introduction of a hydrophobic group at position 7 of 9-fluorenone-2-carboxylic acid generates new tubulin binders, the design of which is suggested by modeling studies. The synthesis is based on the use of 2,7-dibromo-fluorenone as starting material. The antiproliferative activity on two different cell lines, fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, and sedimentation assay tests confirmed the supposed mechanism.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-02-2016
Abstract: Sulfoquinovose is produced by photosynthetic organisms at a rate of 10(10) tons per annum and is degraded by bacteria as a source of carbon and sulfur. We have identified Escherichia coli YihQ as the first dedicated sulfoquinovosidase and the gateway enzyme to sulfoglycolytic pathways. Structural and mutagenesis studies unveiled the sequence signatures for binding the distinguishing sulfonate residue and revealed that sulfoquinovoside degradation is widespread across the tree of life.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-04-2012
Abstract: A highly stereoselective synthesis of α- or β-glycofuranosyl amides based on the traceless Staudinger ligation of glycofuranosyl azides of the galacto, ribo, and arabino series with 2-diphenylphosphanyl-phenyl esters has been developed. Both α- and β-isomers can be obtained with excellent selectivity from a common, easily available precursor. The process does not depend on the anomeric configuration of the starting azide but appears to be controlled by the C2 configuration and by the protection/deprotection state of the substrates. A mechanistic interpretation of the results, supported by (31)P NMR experiments, is offered and merged with our previous mechanistic analysis of pyranosyl azide ligation reactions.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 30-04-2020
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 18-10-2016
DOI: 10.1021/JACS.6B07935
Abstract: The hydroxide-catalyzed hydrolysis of aryl 1,2-trans-glycosides proceeds through a mechanism involving neighboring group participation by a C2-oxyanion and rate-limiting formation of a 1,2-anhydro sugar (oxirane) intermediate. The transition state for the hydroxide-catalyzed hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl α-d-mannopyranoside in aqueous media has been studied by the use of multiple kinetic isotope effect (KIE) measurements in conjunction with ab initio theoretical methods. The experimental KIEs are C1-
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2014
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 24-07-2013
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 30-09-2020
DOI: 10.1101/2020.09.29.319145
Abstract: The botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) cuts a single peptide bond in SNAP25, an activity used to treat a wide range of diseases. Reengineering the substrate specificity of BoNT/A’s protease domain (LC/A) could expand its therapeutic applications however, LC/A’s extended substrate recognition (≈60 residues) challenges conventional approaches. We report a directed evolution method for retargeting LC/A’s substrate and retaining its exquisite specificity. The resultant eight-mutation LC/A (omLC/A) has improved cleavage specificity and catalytic efficiency (1300- and 120-fold, respectively) for SNAP23 versus SNAP25 compared to a previously reported LC/A variant. Importantly, the BoNT/A holotoxin equipped with omLC/A infiltrates neurons and retains its SNAP23 activity. The identification of substrate control loops outside BoNT/A’s active site could guide the design of improved BoNT proteases and inhibitors. Directed evolution of the BoNT/A protease targets a new cellular protein, SNAP23, expanding its therapeutic potential.
No related grants have been discovered for Gaetano Speciale.