GPI membrane anchors: synthesis and functional evaluation of aminoglucosyl phosphatidylinositol core analogs

Analogs of GPI membrane anchor precursors were prepared from chiral inositol 1 and evaluated as substrates in rodent and trypanosomal cell-free incubates. Di-octanoyl GlcNα-PI 5b was an efficient mannose acceptor whereas di-palmitoyl GlcNα-PI 5a was unexpectedly refractory. Di-octanoyl β-anomer 8 was mannosylated only under conditions that permitted acylation of the inositol residue.