Synthesis of tetravalent thio- and selenogalactopyranoside-containing glycoclusters using azide-alkyne click strategy is presented. Prepared compounds are potential ligands of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin PA-IL. P. aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen associated with cystic fibrosis, and PA-IL is one of its virulence factors. The interactions of PA-IL and tetravalent glycoconjugates were investigated using hemagglutination inhibition assay and compared with mono- and divalent galactosides (propargyl 1-thio- and 1-seleno-β-d-galactopyranoside, digalactosyl diselenide and digalactosyl disulfide). The lectin-carbohydrate interactions were also studied by saturation transfer difference NMR technique. Both thio- and seleno-tetravalent glycoconjugates were able to inhibit PA-IL significantly better than simple d-galactose or their intermediate compounds from the synthesis.
