Inhibition of formation of complex oligosaccharides by the glucosidase inhibitor bromoconduritol.

The alpha-glucosidase inhibitor bromoconduritol (6-bromo-3,4,5-trihydroxycyclohex-1-ene) inhibits trimming of the innermost glucose residue from the Glc3Man9GlcNAc2 precursor of high-mannose and complex oligosaccharides. This inhibition occurs both in intact cells and with a microsomal enzyme preparation. The formation of lipid-linked oligosaccharides was increased in glucosidase-inhibited cells. Inhibition of transfer of high-mannose oligosaccharides to protein was not observed. In bromoconduritol-treated virus-infected cells, trimming of mannose can occur despite incomplete removal of glucose. The glucosylated high-mannose oligosaccharides GlcMan9GlcNAc, GlcMan8GlcNAc, and GlcMan7GlcNAc were released from viral glycoproteins after digestion with Pronase and endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. The formation of complex oligosaccharides was concomitantly inhibited. The release of infectious fowl plague virus particles (an influenza virus) was inhibited from bromoconduritol-treated infected chicken-embryo cells.