Modified azasugar molecules have been synthesized and characterized as excellent pharmacological chaperone candidates to treat the neurodegenerative disorder Krabbe disease.

Krabbe disease is a severe, fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by defects in the lysosomal enzyme galactocerebrosidase (GALC). The correct targeting of GALC to the lysosome is essential for the degradation of glycosphingolipids including the primary lipid component of myelin. Over 100 different mutations have been identified in GALC that cause Krabbe disease but the mechanisms by which they cause disease remain unclear. We have generated monoclonal antibodies against full‐length human GALC and used these to monitor the trafficking and processing of GALC variants in cell‐based assays and by immunofluorescence microscopy. Striking differences in the secretion, processing and endosomal targeting of GALC variants allows the classification of these into distinct categories. A subset of GALC variants are not secreted by cells, not proteolytically processed, and remain trapped in the ER; these are likely to cause disease due to protein misfolding and should be targeted for pharmacological chaperone therapies. Other GALC variants can be correctly secreted by cells and cause disease due to catalytic defects in the enzyme active site, inappropriate post‐translational modification or a potential inability to bind essential cofactors. The classification of disease pathogenesis presented here provides a molecular framework for appropriate targeting of future Krabbe disease therapies.

An epimer of the known glycosidase inhibitor noeurostegine, galacto-noeurostegine, was synthesised in 21 steps from levoglucosan and found to be a potent, competitive and highly selective galactosidase inhibitor of Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase. Galacto-noeurostegine was not found to be an inhibitor of green coffee bean α-galactosidase, yeast α-glucosidase and E. coli β-galactosidase, whereas potent but non-competitive inhibition against sweet almond β-glucosidase was established. The 2-deoxy-galacto-noeurostegine analogue was also prepared and found to be a less potent inhibitor of the same enzymes.

Two novel iminosugars called nojiristegines, being structural hybrids between nor-tropane alkaloid calystegine and nojirimycins, have been synthesised and found to be stable molecules despite the presence of a hemiaminal functionality. The synthesised iminosugars were evaluated against a panel of glycosidases and the best inhibition (IC50), found against α-glucosidases, was in the micromolar region. The compounds were also evaluated as potential antibiotics but no useful level of activity was observed.

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In the chemistry of polyfunctionalized organic compounds, protecting groups that can undergo mild and selective cleavage while still being stable during the entire synthetic sequence are often required. In this work, we present a straightforward conversion of the robust p-chlorobenzyl ether into the more labile and well-described p-methoxybenzyl ether using palladium catalysis. This reaction was demonstrated to be high yielding and compatible with a wide range of functionalities, thereby providing a useful supplement to the conventional ether protecting groups.

Seven novel alkylated or acylated analogues of hexahydropyridazine aza-galacto-fagomine (AGF) was prepared and studied as glycosidase inhibitors with the aim of increasing inhibitory potency and selectivity. The enzyme galactocerebrosidase, implicated in Krabbe disease, was found to be potently inhibited by n-butyl N2-alkylated AGF.

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