Epimerization of an Ascaroside-Type Glycolipid Downstream of the Canonical β-Oxidation Cycle in the Nematode Caenorhabditis nigoni

Org Lett. 2019 Dec 20;21(24):9889-9892. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b03808. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

Abstract

A species-specific ascaroside-type glycolipid was identified in the nematode Caenorhabditis nigoni using HPLC-ESI-(-)-MS/MS precursor ion scanning, HR-MS/MS, and NMR techniques. Its structure containing an l-3,6-dideoxy-lyxo-hexose unit was established by total synthesis. The identification of this novel 4-epi-ascaroside (caenorhabdoside) in C. nigoni along with the previous identification of 2-epi-ascarosides (paratosides) in Pristionchus pacificus indicate that nematodes can generate highly specific signaling molecules by epimerization of the ascarylose building block downstream of the canonical β-oxidation cycle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis / chemistry*
  • Caenorhabditis / metabolism*
  • Carbohydrate Conformation
  • Glycolipids / chemistry*
  • Glycolipids / metabolism*
  • Oxidation-Reduction

Substances

  • Glycolipids
  • ascaroside C