Alternate synthesis to d-glycero-β-d-manno-heptose 1,7-biphosphate.

d-glycero-β-d-manno-heptose 1,7-biphosphate (HBP) is an enzymatic intermediate in the biosynthesis of the heptose component of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and was recently revealed to be a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) that allows detection of Gram-negative bacteria by the mammalian immune system. Cellular detection of HBP depends upon its stimulation of a cascade that leads to the phosphorylation and assembly of the TRAF-interacting with forkhead-associated domain protein A (TIFA), which activates the transcription factor NF-κB. In this note, an alternate chemical synthesis of HBP is described and its biological activity is established, providing pure material for further assessing and exploiting the biological activity of this compound.