Design and Synthesis of Labystegines, Hybrid Iminosugars from LAB and Calystegine, as Inhibitors of Intestinal α-Glucosidases: Binding Conformation and Interaction for ntSI

This paper identifies the required configuration and orientation of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, miglitol, alpha-1-C-butyl-DNJ, and alpha-1-C-butyl-LAB for binding to ntSI (isomaltase). Molecular dynamics (MD) calculations suggested that the flexibility around the keyhole of ntSI is lower than that of ctSI (sucrase). Furthermore, a molecular-docking study revealed that a specific binding orientation with a CH-pi interaction (Trp370 and Phe648) is a requirement for achieving a strong affinity with ntSI. On the basis of these results, a new class of nortropane-type iminosugars, labystegines, hybrid iminosugars of LAB and calystegine, have been designed and synthesized efficiently from sugar-derived cyclic nitrones with intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition or samarium iodide catalyzed reductive coupling reaction as the key step. Biological evaluation showed that our newly designed 3(S)-hydroxy labystegine (6a) inherited the selectivity against intestinal alpha-glucosidases from LAB, and its inhibition potency was 10 times better than that of miglitol. Labystegine, therefore, represents a promising new class of nortropane-type iminosugar for improving postprandial hyperglycemia.