Application of liposomes to generation of monoclonal antibody to glycosphingolipid: production of monoclonal antibody to GgOse4Cer

Liposomes were applied to the immunization with GgOse4Cer and screening for production of monoclonal antibody to GgOse4Cer. Four-week-old and 22-week-old Balb/c mice were immunized with GgOse4Cer and Salmonella minnesota R595 lipopolysaccharides incorporated liposomes which were composed of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. Since antibody response to GgOse4Cer was higher in 22-week-old than 4-week-old Balb/c mice after immunization, 22-week-old Balb/c mice were used for the immunization prior to generation of the monoclonal antibodies to GgOse4Cer. The screening of monoclonal antibodies was performed by complement-dependent liposome immune lysis assay using GgOse4Cer-containing liposomes. Six kinds of monoclonal antibodies, AG-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, and -6, of the IgM class were established. The specificities of the monoclonal antibodies obtained were defined by complement-dependent liposome immune lysis assay using various glycosphingolipids incorporated in liposomes and by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with immunostaining. All of the monoclonal antibodies reacted only with GgOse4Cer in the liposome immune lysis assay. In addition, the monoclonal antibodies reacted only with GgOse4Cer in the TLC immunostaining. However, none of the monoclonal antibodies obtained was capable of removing natural killer activity from C3H/He mice spleen cell suspensions in vitro. Liposomes may be useful in the procedures of immunization and screening for generation of antiserum and monoclonal antibody to GSLs.     

Gangliosides of murine B-lymphoma MORC-406

Gangliosides of murine B-lymphoma MOPC-406 were studied, using biochemical methods and specific antibodies. The lymphoma was found to contain 12 ganglioside components which were identified as N-acetyl and N-glycoloyl forms of SiaLacCer, SiaGgOse3Cer, II3SiaGgOse4Cer, IV3SiaGgOse4Cer and II3IV3Sia2GgOse4Cer.     

Isolation and characterization of the trisialogangliosides from bovine adrenal medulla

Trisialogangliosides were isolated from bovine adrenal medulla by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Iatrobeads column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by sugar analysis, neuraminidase digestion, and permethylation studies. The complete structures of trisialogangliosides, A to D, were identified as follows. A: GT1b, IV3NeuAc, II3 (NeuAc)2-GgOse4Cer. B: GT1b(NeuAc/NeuAc-NeuGc-); IV3NeuAc, II3 (NeuAc alpha 2-8 NeuGc-)GgOse4Cer. C: GT1b (NeuGc/NeuAc-NeuAc-); IV3NeuGc, II3 (NeuAc alpha 2-8 NeuAc-)GgOse4Cer. D: GT1b (NeuAc/NeuGc-NeuGc-); IV3NeuAc, II3 (NeuGc alpha 2-8 NeuGc-)GgOse4Cer. Gangliosides B, C, and D, which contain N-glycolylneuraminic acid, have not previously been reported in the literature.     

Neutral glycosphingolipids and gangliosides from spleen T lymphoblasts of genetically different inbred mouse strains

The gangliosides GM1b, GalNAc-GM1b and GD1α are typical compounds of concanavalin A stimulated splenic T lymphoblasts of CBA/J inbred mice. Their structural characterization has been described in previous studies. The intention of this work was the comparative TLC immunostaining analysis of the glycosphingolipid composition of lectin stimulated splenic T lymphoblasts obtained from six genetically different inbred mouse strains. The strains examined were AKR, BALB/c, C57BL/6, CBA/J, DBA/2 and WHT/Ht, which are commonly used for biochemical and immunological studies. The neutral glycosphingolipid GgOse4Cer, the precursor for GM1b-type gangliosides, was expressed by all six strains investigated. AKR, C57BL/6 and DBA/2 showed high and BALB/c, CBA/J and WHT/Ht diminished expression in T lymphoblasts, based on single cell calculation. The gangliosides GM1b and GalNAc-GM1b, elongation products of GgOse4Cer, displayed strain-specific differences in their intensities, which were found to correlate with the intensities of GgOse4Cer expression of the same strains. Concerning sialic acid substitution of gangliosides, GM1b and GalNAc-GM1b predominantly carry N-acetylneuraminic acid, whereas choleragenoid receptors GM1a and Gal-GalNAc-GM1b, which are also expressed by all six strains, are characterized by dominance of N-glycolylneuraminic acid. Two highly polar gangliosides, designated with X and Y, which have not been previously recognized in murine lymphoid tissue, were detected by positive anti-GalNAc-GM1b antibody and choleragenoid binding, respectively. Both gangliosides were restricted to AKR, DBA/2 and C57BL/6 mice. The other three strains BALB/c, CBA/J and WHT/Ht are lacking these structures. In summary, the GM1b-type pathway is quite active in all six strains analysed in this study. Strain-specific genetic variations in T lymphoblast gangliosides were observed with the occurrence of gangliosides X and Y. This study and data from other groups strongly indicate for GM1b-type gangliosides a functional association with T cell activation and leukocyte mediated reactions. Abbreviations: ConA, concanavalin A; GSL(s), glycosphingolipid(s); HPTLC, high-performance thin-layer chromatography; NeuAc, N-acetylneuraminic acid; NeuGc, N-glycolylneuraminic acid. The designation of the following glycosphingolipids follows the IUPAC-IUB recommendations (1977) [48] and the ganglioside nomenclature system of Svennerholm [49] for GM1a-type gangliosides. Glucosylceramide or GlcCer, Glcβ1-1Cer; lactosylceramide or LacCer, Galβ1-4Glcβ1-1Cer; gangliotriaosylceramide or GgOse3Cer or Gg3, GalNAcβ1-4Galβ1-4Glcβ1-1Cer; gangliotetraosylceramide or GgOse4Cer or Gg4, Galβ1-3GalNAcβ1-4Galβ1-4Glcβ1-1Cer; gangliopentaosylceramide or GgOse5Cer, GalNAcβ1-4Galβ1-3GalNAcβ1-4Galβ1-4Glcβ1-1Cer; gangliohexaosylceramide or GgOse6Cer, Galβ1-3GalNAcβ1-4Galβ1-3GalNAcβ1-4Galβ1-4Glcβ1-1Cer. GM3, II3NeuAc-LacCer; GM1 or GM1a, II3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer; GM1b, IV3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer; GalNAc-GM1b, IV3NeuAc-GgOse5Cer; GD1a, IV3NeuAc, II3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer; GD1b, II3(NeuAc)2-GgOse4Cer; GD1c, IV3(NeuAc)2-GgOse4Cer; GD1α, IV3NeuAc, III6NeuAc-GgOse4Cer. Only NeuAc-substituted gangliosides are presented in this list of abbreviations This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Modes of shedding of glycosphingolipids from mouse lymphoma cells

To characterize the process by which glycolipids are shed from cell membranes, the cellular and supernatant glycolipids were compared from a variant of the mouse lymphoma L5178Y which had been selected for strong expression of the neutral glycolipid gangliotriaosylceramide (GgOse3Cer). This glycolipid was present in three forms which differed in their fatty acid composition. Whereas the major cell-associated form of GgOse3Cer contained C24 fatty acids, the predominant form shed into the culture supernatant contained C16 fatty acids. Ultracentrifugation of the culture medium yielded a pellet with a GgOse3Cer profile similar to that of the cells and a supernatant enriched in the C16 fatty acid form. Gel filtration of the culture medium revealed two GgOse3Cer-containing pools. The first was excluded from Sepharose CL-2B and had a GgOse3Cer profile similar to that of the cells, while the second migrated with proteins in the range of 25,000-500,000 daltons and was enriched in the C16 fatty acid form. These results suggest two forms in which glycolipids are released from cell membranes. The first is in a large complex, possibly a membrane vesicle, which retains the glycolipid profile of the membrane of intact cells while the second form appears to result from the preferential release of particular glycolipid components.     

Diplococcal beta-galactosidase with a specificity reacting to beta 1-4 linkage but not to beta 1-3 linkage as a useful exoglycosidase for the structural elucidation of glycolipids

Diplococcal beta-galactosidase, which is known to be useful for the structural studies of glycoprotein-linked oligosaccharides, was found to show the same substrate specificity in cleaving Gal beta 1-4 linkages of glycolipids as that of the oligosaccharides. The optimum conditions of beta-galactosidase in the 80% ammonium sulfate precipitates of the culture medium of Streptococcus (Diplococcus) pneumoniae were determined with nLcOse4Cer radiolabeled by the galactose oxidase-NaB3H4 procedure. Detergent was required for the highest activity, and different combinations of several buffers and detergents showed different properties in stimulating beta-galactosidase, and in enhancing or suppressing N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase which was contaminated in the enzyme preparation. The optimum pH was found to be at 6.5, and specific activity and Km were 8.1 nmol/mg protein/h and 1 nmol, respectively. While more than 70% of beta-galactose was liberated from LacCer and nLcOse4Cer within 1 h under the optimum conditions to form GlcCer and nLcOse3Cer, respectively, none was liberated from LcOse4Cer, GalCer, GgOse4Cer, GbOse3Cer, IV3 alpha GalnLcOse4Cer, and Il3NeuAcGgOse4Cer, showing the substrate specificity solely to Gal beta 1-4 linkage.     

Characterization of tumor-associated fucogangliosides from PC 12 pheochromocytoma cells

PC 12h pheochromocytoma cells were subcutaneously transplanted into rat. We found the transplanted tumors accumulated some fucogangliosides associated with PC 12 cells. These gangliosides were isolated and purified by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Iatrobeads column chromatographies. Their structures were determined by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, permethylation study, and sequential degradation using various exoglycosidases and mild acid hydrolysis. Two tumor-associated fucogangliosides were found to possess the blood group B determinant as follows: G6: IV2Fuc alpha, IV3Gal alpha, II3NeuAc, GgOse4Cer; G11: IV2Fuc alpha, IV3Gal alpha, II3 (NeuAc)2, GgOse4Cer. A ganglioside with the similar structure as ganglioside G6 was isolated from rat hepatoma cells (Holmes, E.H., and Hakomori, S-I. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 7698-7703). However, ganglioside G11 has not previously been reported in the literature. These fucogangliosides reacted with the monoclonal antibody prepared by immunizing mice with PC 12h cells. Other fucogangliosides were also found to accumulate in the transplanted tumor tissues. They were identified as fucosyl-GM1 and fucosyl-GDlb. These fucogangliosides did not react with the monoclonal antibody against PC 12h cells.     

Separation of derivatized glycosphingolipids into individual molecular species by high performance liquid chromatography

The high performance liquid chromatography separation of the perbenzoyl derivatives of the neutral glycosphingolipids (GlcCer, LacCer, GbOse3Cer, GbOse4Cer, and GgOse3Cer) and the p-bromophenacyl and 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazide derivatives of the gangliosides (GM4, GM3, GM2, GM1, GD1a) into individual molecular species on a C18 reversed-phase column is described. Peaks were identified by comparing their relative retention times to the relative retention time of the corresponding glycosphingolipid of known molecular species composition. As little as 5 to 10 pmol of each molecular species of neutral glycosphingolipids and 3 to 5 pmol of the gangliosides can be detected. The effects of changes in the proportion of acetonitrile, methanol, and water in the mobile phase and of column temperature on the molecular species separation are described. A procedure for the tentative identification of glycosphingolipid molecular species based on their relative retention times is presented.     

Effect of gangliosides on the cytotoxic activity of natural killers from Syrian hamsters

The ability of various gangliosides to inhibit the cytotoxic activity of natural killers (NK-cells) from Syrian hamsters towards human lymphoma MOLT-4 cells was studied. The inhibitory effect was found to depend on the structure and concentration of the gangliosides. At concentrations corresponding to those in the blood of tumour-bearing hosts, SiaLacCer and Sia2LacCer inhibited the NK-activity. A significant inhibition was also found for (NeuAc)2GgOse3Cer, whereas NeuGcGgOse3Cer and NeuAcGgOse4Cer were practically inactive. Previously it was shown that Sia2LacCer which is either absent or very low in normal blood, is produced by a number of tumours and that tumour cells "shed" considerable amounts of gangliosides. On this ground, it was proposed that elevated concentrations of SiaLacCer and Sia2LacCer in the blood of tumour-bearing animals may inhibit the NK-activity and thus contribute to the "escape" of tumour cells from host immune surveillance.     

A GM2-specific beta-hexosaminidase from the roe of striped mullet (Mugil cephalus)

The roe of striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) was found to contain a beta-hexosaminidase different from the beta-hexosaminidases isolated from other sources. The enzyme from mullet roe is able to cleave GalNAc from GM2 without the assistance of either an activator protein or a detergent. It also cleaves the oligosaccharide derived from GM2 and other oligosaccharides containing the GM2 sequence GalNAc beta 4(NeuAc alpha 3)Gal-. However, it is not effective in hydrolyzing neutral glycosphingolipids containing terminal GalNAc or GlcNAc, such as GbOse4Cer, GgOse3Cer, or LcOse3Cer. These results indicate that mullet roe beta-hexosaminidase can specifically cleave GalNAc from the glycoconjugates containing the GM2 sequence. No beta-hexosaminidase with such specificity has been previously described. Thus, this unique enzyme should be very useful for the detection and analysis of glycoconjugates containing the oligosaccharide chains with GM2 sequence.     

Characterization of a nonspecific activator protein for the enzymatic hydrolysis of glycolipids

We have studied the substrate specificities of a non-specific activator protein on the enzymatic hydrolyses of the following compounds: GM1 and GM2, as well as several of their derivatives including oligosaccharides, GgOse3Cer-II3-sulfate and LacCer-II3-sulfate, Gb-Ose3Cer and GbOse4Cer, three neolacto-series glycosphingolipids, and two non-ceramide glycolipids. Our results show that this activator protein has a broad spectrum of activity and exhibits the properties of a nonspecific natural detergent. The evidence of non-specificity was the ability of this activator protein to stimulate the hydrolyses of glycolipids, regardless of glycosphingolipids or non-ceramide glycolipids, carried out by glycosidases from animals, plants, and microorganisms. Its activity was, however, limited to substrates that had a lipid moiety. The oligosaccharide of GM1 and deacetyl-fatty acid free GM1 (II3-NeuGg-Ose4-sphingosine) were hydrolyzed by beta-galactosidase in the absence of this activator protein.     

Gangliosides of murine T lymphocyte subpopulations

Gangliosides from murine T lymphoblasts were analyzed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography followed by in situ neuraminidase treatment and immunostaining of the resulting asialogangliosides and compared with those from thymocytes and cloned T lymphocytes with defined functions. The ganglioside IVNeuGc/Ac-GgOse5Cer (GalNAc-GM1b), a marker for T lymphoblasts [Müthing, J., Egge, H., Kniep, B., & Mühlradt, P. F. (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 163, 407-416], was found only in small amounts as the N-acetylated species in gangliosides from thymocytes and a cytolytic T cell clone. Two helper clones expressed this ganglioside like T blasts. The structures of the two major disialogangliosides from T blasts, IVNeuAc,IIINeuAc-GgOse4Cer (GD1 alpha type) with C24:0/24:1 and C16:0 fatty acids, were elucidated by neuraminidase treatment and immunostaining and by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Gangliosides of this type were detected in thymocytes only in minor amounts, whereas GM1b-type gangliosides prevailed in cells from this organ. Analysis of the T lymphoblast gangliosides from six genetically unrelated mouse strains showed that terminally sialylated GgOse4Cer (GM1b), IVNeuAc-GgOse5Cer (GalNAc-GM1b), and IVNeuAc,IIINeuAc-GgOse4Cer (GD1 alpha) were conserved structures in all strains examined. We conclude that maturation or stimulation of T cells may be correlated with elongation of a common GM1b-type precursor structure resulting in GalNAc-GM1b or GD1 alpha-type gangliosides.     

Structural characterization of gangliosides from murine T lymphocytes

Mouse spleen cells were prepared from CBA/J mice, and T lymphocytes were selectively stimulated with the T cell mitogen concanavalin A and further propagated in the presence of the T cell growth factor interleukin-2. The T cells were metabolically labeled with D-[1-14C]galactose and D[1-14C]glucosamine, and the gangliosides were extracted and purified by DEAE-Sepharose column chromatography. Carbohydrate backbone structures of the asialogangliosides, prepared by mild acid hydrolysis, were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, treatment with exoglycosidases and immunostaining. Monosialylated gangliosides were isolated by gradient elution from DEAE-Sepharose and further separated by preparative high-performance thin-layer chromatography in two solvent systems. Isolated fractions were characterized by preparation of asialogangliosides by mild acid hydrolysis, the action of Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase, and fast-atombombardment mass spectrometry. The following structures were identified: IVNeuAc-GgOse4Cer; IVNeuGc-GgOse4Cer; IVNeuAc-GgOse5Cer; and IVNeu-Gc-GgOse5Cer. The latter two gangliosides were not detected on B lymphoblasts and may be T-cell-specific structures. All gangliosides were heterogeneous in their ceramide moieties, being substituted with C16:0, C24:0, and C24:1 fatty acids. A preliminary study of several other mouse strains showed no strain-specific genetic variations in the T cell gangliosides. The possible role of these gangliosides is discussed.     

Purification and characterization of a CMP-sialic:LcOse4Cer sialyltransferase from human colorectal carcinoma cell membranes

Purified lactotetraosylceramide (Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4Glc1-Cer) was tested for its ability to accept [14C]sialic acid from CMP-[14C]sialic into monosialoganglioside fractions in the presence of membrane fractions purified from human colorectal carcinoma cells (SW1116). Membrane fractions were isolated by three different methods: sucrose density centrifugation, CMP-agarose gel column chromatography, and LcOse4 gel chromatography. We optimized the incubation conditions for detergent dependency (taurocholate), pH (6.3), and acceptor concentration. The sialyltransferase activity was dependent on membrane protein and linear for time up to at least 4 h. The LcOse4 affinity chromatography of the crude microsomal membrane pellet from these cells yielded a membrane fraction that was 136-fold enriched in LcOse4 acceptor specific activity compared to cell homogenates. The apparent Km for the sialyltransferase activity with LcOse4Cer acceptor in the presence of affinity-purified membranes was 20 microM and the Vmax was 7 pmol h-1 (100 micrograms of protein)-1. Acceptor capabilities of other core structures were 5-20-fold lower: LcOse4Cer much greater than GgOse4Cer greater than nLcOse4Cer much greater than GbOse4Cer. The enzymatic activity was purified further (900-fold) by a combination of LcOse4 and CMP affinity gels. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis of this material showed a major set of closely migrating bands of Mr 58,000-54,000 compared to authentic proteins, as well as a minor band at 27,000. We analyzed picomole quantities of the radioactive product by convenient controlled short-term hydrolyses with an endoglycoceramidase and sialidases (from four different sources) in comparison to sialylated tetrasaccharides of known structure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Biosynthesis of GM1b and similar neolactoseries gangliosides by a partially purified chicken skeletal muscle sialyltransferase. Effect of sphingomyelin and acetylcholine

An alpha 2----3 glycolipid galactosyl sialyltransferase (SAT3/4) has been partially purified from embryonic chicken skeletal muscle. It is preserved in 50 mM Hepes buffer (pH 6.8) containing 1% Triton CF-54 and 20% glycerol at -70 degrees C for a period of 6 months without loss of activity. The SAT3+4 preparation transfers sialic acid to nLcOse4Cer, nLcOse6Cer and GgOse4Cer with respective Km values of 1.4, 0.83 and 0.45 mM. The activity is stimulated 2-3-fold at high substrate concentration and 6-8-fold at low substrate concentration; 0.01 and 0.005 mumol for asialo GM1 and 0.025 and 0.01 mumol for other glycolipids in the presence of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) at an optimum concentration 0.75%. A higher concentration is inhibitory. SM from chicken muscle is more effective than that from bovine brain and the stimulation is qualitatively proportional to that of the saturated fatty acyl content of SM. Free fatty acids (palmitic and stearic), their sodium salts, other choline compounds including choline chloride, phosphorylcholine and acetylcholine either do not have any effect or are inhibitory. Acetylcholine, even in the presence of SM and PC, is strongly inhibitory (70%).     

Enzymatic basis for changes in fucoganglioside during chemical carcinogenesis. Induction of a specific alpha-fucosyltransferase and status of an alpha-galactosyltransferase in precancerous rat liver and hepatoma

Previous studies indicated that accumulation of alpha-fucosyl-GM1 (IV2FucII3NeuAcGgOse4Cer) and alpha-galactosyl-alpha-fucosyl-GM1 (IV3GalIV2FucII3NeuAcGgOse4Cer) occurs in precancerous livers of rats fed the chemical carcinogen N-2-acetylaminofluorene, before development of hepatoma. Both fucogangliosides were completely absent in normal rat liver as well as in livers of rats fed a nonhepatic carcinogen and tumor promoters (Holmes, E.H., and Hakomori, S. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 7698-7703). The enzymatic basis of the chemical changes described above is reported in this paper. The alpha-L-fucosyltransferase activity toward GM1 (II2NeuAcGgOse4Cer) as well as asialo-GM1 (GgOse4Cer) was almost undetectable in extracts from normal rat liver, but significant activity of this enzyme was detected in extracts of rat livers after 4 weeks of feeding a diet containing N-2-acetylaminofluorene. The same enzyme activity in cultured rat hepatoma cells was 18- to 47-fold higher than in N-2-acetylaminofluorene-fed rat liver. In contrast, alpha-galactosyltransferase activity with a broad substrate specificity was detected in normal as well as in N-2-acetylaminofluorene-fed liver, although the specific activity of this enzyme in Golgi membranes in precancerous liver was significantly higher than that of normal rat liver. Thus, the appearance of alpha-fucosyl-alpha-galactosyl-GMI in precancerous liver is due to an induction of synthesis of alpha-fucosyl-GMI which is the substrate for the normally existing alpha-galactosyltransferase. The activity of alpha-fucosyltransferase was highly specific toward a substrate structure Gal beta 1 leads to 3GalNAc beta 1 leads to R in GMI or asialo-GMI and showed an anomalous inhibition by a large variety of detergents tested. In contrast, the alpha-galactosyltransferase showed a wide substrate specificity, activated by detergents and Mn2+ ion. Membrane alterations in precancerous and malignant transformation of rat liver is associated with an induction of an unusual alpha-fucosyltransferase which is the key step in synthesis of both fucogangliosides.     

Substrate reduction reduces gangliosides in postnatal cerebrum-brainstem and cerebellum in GM1 gangliosidosis mice

II3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer (GM1) gangliosidosis is an incurable lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency in acid beta-galactosidase (beta-gal), resulting in the accumulation of ganglioside GM1 and its asialo derivative GgOse4Cer (GA1) in the central nervous system, primarily in the brain. In this study, we investigated the effects of N-butyldeoxygalacto-nojirimycin (N B-DGJ), an imino sugar that inhibits ganglioside biosynthesis, in normal C57BL/6J mice and in beta-gal knockout (beta-gal-/-) mice from postnatal day 9 (p-9) to p-15. This is a period of active cerebellar development and central nervous system (CNS) myelinogenesis in the mouse and would be comparable to late-stage embryonic and early neonatal development in humans. N B-DGJ significantly reduced total ganglioside and GM1 content in cerebrum-brainstem (C-BS) and in cerebellum of normal and beta-gal-/- mice. N B-DGJ had no adverse effects on body weight or C-BS/cerebellar weight, water content, or thickness of the external cerebellar granule cell layer. Sphingomyelin was increased in C-BS and cerebellum, but no changes were found for cerebroside (a myelin-enriched glycosphingolipid), neutral phospholipids, or GA1 in the treated mice. Our findings indicate that the effects of N B-DGJ in the postnatal CNS are largely specific to gangliosides and suggest that N B-DGJ may be an effective early intervention therapy for GM1 gangliosidosis and other ganglioside storage disorders.     

Binding of d-tubocurarine by gangliosides.

The binding of d-tubocurarine by ganglioside mixtures from chicken and bovine brain as well as by the single gangliosides GGtet1-NeuAc, GGtet2aNeuAc and GGtet3aNeuAc was demonstrated by means of equilibrium gel filtration. The sialyl-oligosaccharide derivatives of GGtet1NeuAc and GGtet2aNeuAc, however, did not bind any d-tubocurarine. A lack of binding was also found for the gangliotetraosyl-ceramide GgOse4Cer, free NeuAc, mucin and sphingomyelin. Under saturation conditions, GGtet1NeuAc bound 0.58, GGtet2aNeuAc 0.92 and GGtet3a-NeuAc 1.23 mol d-tubocurarine per mol ganglioside. Half-maximal binding was achieved between 1 and 1.5 x 10(-5)M d-tubocurarine. Ca2 was found to inhibit the binding of d-tubocurarine to gangliosides (50% at 4 x 10(-4)M Ca2). Mg2 was about 4 times less effective. Acetylcholine caused a 40% inhibition at 4 x 10(-3)M, whereas K and Na had only slight effects even at 5 x 10(-2)M.     

Glycosphingolipid expression in human skeletal and heart muscle assessed by immunostaining thin-layer chromatography

In this study the comparative TLC immunostaining investigation of neutral GSLs and gangliosides from human skeletal and heart muscle is described. A panel of specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies as well as the GM1-specific choleragenoid were used for the overlay assays, combined with preceding neuraminidase treatment of gangliosides on TLC plates. This approach proved homologies but also quantitative and qualitative differences in the expression of ganglio-, globo- and neolacto-series neutral GSLs and gangliosides in these two types of striated muscle tissue within the same species. The main neutral GSL in skeletal muscle was LacCer, followed by GbOse3Cer, GbOse4Cer, nLcOse4Cer and monohexosylceramide, whereas in heart muscle GbOse3Cer and GbOse4Cer were the predominant neutral GSLs beside small quantities of LacCer, nLcOse4Cer and monohexosylceramide. No ganglio-series neutral GSLs and no Forssman GSL were found in either muscle tissue. GM3(Neu5Ac) was the major ganglioside, comprising almost 70% in skeletal and about 50% in cardiac muscle total gangliosides. GM2 was found in skeletal muscle only, while GD3 and GM1b-type gangliosides (GM1b and GD1) were undetectable in both tissues. GM1a-core gangliosides (GM1, GD1a, GD1b and GT1b) showed somewhat quantitative differences in each muscle; lactosamine-containing IV3Neu5Ac-nLcOse4Cer was detected in both specimens. Neutral GSLs were identified in TLC runs corresponding to e.g. 0.1 g muscle wet weight (GbOse3Cer, GbOse4Cer), and gangliosides GM3 and GM2 were elucidated in runs which corresponded to 0.2 g muscle tissue. Only 0.02 g and 0.004 g wet weight aliquots were necessary for unequivocal identification of neolacto-type and GM1-core gangliosides, respectively. Muscle is known for the lowest GSL concentration from all vertebrate tissues studied so far. Using the overlay technique, reliable GSL composition could be revealed, even from small muscle probes on a sub-orcinol and sub-resorcinol detection level. Abbreviations: ATCC, American Type Culture Collection; GSL(s), glycosphingolipid(s); HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; HPTLC, high performance thin layer chromatography; Neu5Ac, N-acetylneuraminic acid; Neu5Gc, N-glycolylneuraminic acid [78]; PBS, phosphate buffered saline. The designation of the following glycosphingolipids follows the IUPAC-IUB recommendations [79] and the ganglioside nomenclature system of Svennerholm [80]. Lactosylceramide or LacCer, Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer; gangliotriaosylceramide or GgOse3Cer, GalNAc1-4Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer; gangliotetraosylceramide or GgOse4Cer, Gal1-3GalNAc1-4Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer; globotriaosylceramide or GbOse3Cer, Gal1-4Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer; globoside or globotetraosylceramide or GbOse4Cer, GalNAc1-3Gal1-4Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer; Fo or Forssman GSL, GalNAc1-3GalNAc1-3Gal1-4Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer; paragloboside or lacto-N-neotetraosylceramide or nLcOse4Cer, Gal1-4GlcNAc1-3Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer; lacto-N-norhexaosylceramide or nLcOse6Cer, Gal1-4GlcNAc1-3Gal1-4GlcNAc1-3Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer; GM3, II3Neu5Ac-LacCer; GM2, II3Neu5Ac-GgOse3Cer; GM1 or GM1a, II3Neu5Ac-GgOse4Cer; GM1b, IV3Neu5Ac-GgOse4Cer; GD3, II3(Neu5Ac)2-LacCer; GD1a, IV3Neu5Ac,II3Neu5Ac-GgOse4Cer; GD1b, (II3Neu5Ac)2-GgOse4Cer; GD1, IV3Neu5Ac,III6Neu5Ac-GgOse4Cer; GT1b, IV3Neu5Ac,II3(Neu5Ac)2-GgOse4Cer; GQ1b, IV3(Neu5Ac)2, II3(Neu5Ac)2-GgOse4Cer.     

Gangliosides: differentiation markers for murine T helper lymphocyte subpopulations TH1 and TH2.

On the basis of the pattern of lymphokines they secrete, murine T helper clones can be divided into two subsets, TH1 and TH2. This concept of two different T helper effector cells helps to explain the diversity of immune reactions occurring in different parts of the body. The in vivo localization of T helper subtypes is of great interest, but up to now no biochemical or surface markers were available to distinguish between them. We analyzed the glycolipids from altogether 12 murine TH1 and TH2 cell lines or clones. A comparison of the gangliosides by thin-layer chromatography showed differences between the TH1 and TH2 cells. Binding studies with specific antibodies to asialo backbone structures after degradation by neuraminidases showed that the main gangliosides from these lymphocytes shared a common GgOse4 backbone and thus differed only in their degree or position of sialylation. Two disialogangliosides appeared to be characteristic. They were isolated from the D10.G4.1 TH2 cell clone and identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry as IVNeuAc,IINeuAc-GgOse4Cer (GD1a) and IVNeuAc,IIINeuAc-GgOse4Cer (GD1 alpha), respectively. GD1a was characteristically only detected in TH2 cells, whereas GD1 alpha was preferably, but not exclusively, expressed by TH1 lymphocytes. Although GD1a was also found in the lung, heart, kidney, and spleen, its expression within the murine immune cells under investigation was unique to TH2 lymphocytes. Scarcely any GD1a was found in thymocytes, B cells, or CD8 positive (cytolytic) T cells, but significant expression was seen in CD4 positive (helper) T cells which include the TH2 subpopulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)