SYNTHESIS AND UTILIZATION OF GDP-D-ARABINOPYRANOSIDE

We describe a procedure for the enzymatic synthesis of labeled or unla beled GDP-D-arabinopyranoside. This method uses two enzymes purified f rom pig kidney: an L-fucokinase and a GDP-L-fucose pyrophosphorylase. The isolated GDP-D-[H-3]arabinose served as a precursor for arabinose addition to lipophosphoglycan (LPG) of Leishmania major, using a paras ite membrane fraction as the source of arabinosyltransferase. The proc edures described provide a useful means for obtaining radiolabeled GDP -D-arabinopyranoside to study synthesis of D-arabinopyramoside-contain ing glycoconjugates. (C) 1997 Academic Press