Monoclonal antibodies against the human lymphocyte differentiation antigen CD 76 bind to gangliosides.

Two monoclonal antibodies, HD 66 and CRIS-4, by which the new CD 76 B-cell-associated cluster was defined, bound to several gangliosides (sialic acid containing glycolipids) of different polarity. One of the gangliosides recognized by HD 66 could be identified as NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-beta 1-1'Cer. This antigen was enzymatically synthesized. Sialidase treatment of the ganglioside antigens abolished binding of HD 66 and CRIS-4.     

A new ganglioside of the lactotetraose series, GalNAc-3'-isoLM1, detected in human meconium

A monoclonal antibody produced by immunization with cells of the human glioma cell line D-54 MG reacted with ganglioside GM2. The binding epitope of the antibody was found to be GalNAc beta 1-4(NeuAc alpha 2-3)Gal. Immunological detection of glycolipid antigens on thin-layer plates with this monoclonal antibody, DMAb-1, revealed the presence of a new ganglioside. This ganglioside, co-migrating with NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer(6'-LM1) and GalNAc beta 1-4(NeuAc alpha 2-3)Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-4Gla beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer (GalNAc-isoGM1) at chromatographic separation was isolated from human meconium. Its structure was determined by permethylation and fast atom bombardment-mass spectometry analyses. The new ganglioside was found to be a combination of the lacto and ganglio series gangliosides, and the structure found to be GalNAc beta 1-4(NeuAc alpha 2-3)Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer(GalNAc-3'-isoLM1).     

Characterization of two monoclonal antibodies specific for lacto-series type 1 chain Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc-terminal structures

Murine monoclonal antibodies, TE-1 and TE-3, generated by immunization with a biosynthetic reaction product containing a terminal Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc structure have been produced and found to react specifically with underivatized type 1 chain lacto-series carbohydrate structures. Detailed analysis of these antibodies, both IgM, indicates two differing classes of epitope specificity. Antibody TE-1 was found to bind preferentially to longer chain carbohydrate structures containing a terminal Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc disaccharide, indicating that optimal antibody binding involved more than recognition of this disaccharide. In contrast, antibody TE-3 was found to bind strongly carbohydrate structures containing terminal Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc structures irrespective of chain length. Modification of core chain structures by addition of fucose and/or sialic acid residues completely abolished antibody binding with either antibody. TLC immunostaining of neutral glycolipids isolated from a variety of human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines indicated intensely stained bands, particularly with antibody TE-3, which correlated with the level of expression of type 1 chain based glycolipid derivatives. These antibodies are applied to the detailed study of the regulation of synthesis of lacto-series type 1 chain based carbohydrate structures.     

Studies on gangliosides with affinity for Helicobacter pylori: binding to natural and chemically modified structures

Helicobacter pylori, like many other microbes, has the ability to bind to carbohydrate epitopes. Several sugar sequences have been reported as active for the bacterium, including some neutral, sulfated, and sialylated structures. We investigated structural requirements for the sialic acid-dependent binding using a number of natural and chemically modified gangliosides. We have chosen for derivatization studies two kinds of binding-active glycolipids, the simple ganglioside S-3PG (Neu5Ac alpha 3Gal beta 4GlcNAc beta 3Gal beta 4Glc beta 1Cer, sialylparagloboside) and branched polyglycosylceramides (PGCs) of human origin. The modifications included oxidation of the sialic acid glycerol chain, reduction of the carboxyl group, amidation of the carboxyl group, and lactonization. Binding experiments confirmed a preference of H. pylori for 3-linked sialic acid and penultimate 4-linked galactose. As expected, neolacto gangliosides (with Gal beta 4GlcNAc in the core structure) were active in our assays, whereas gangliosides with lacto (Gal beta 3GlcNAc) and ganglio (Gal beta 3GalNAc) carbohydrate chains were not. Negative binding results were also obtained for disialylparagloboside (with terminal NeuAc alpha 8NeuAc) and NeuAc alpha 6-containing glycolipids. Chemical studies revealed dependence of the binding on Neu5Ac and its glycerol and carboxyl side chains. Most of the derivatizations performed on these groups abolished the binding; however, some of the amide forms turned out to be active, and one of them (octadecylamide) was found to be an excellent binder. The combined data from molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the binding-active configuration of the terminal disaccharide of S-3PG is with the sialic acid in the anticlinal conformation, whereas in branched PGCs the same structural element most likely assumes the synclinal presentation.     

Mouse monoclonal antibodies with specificity for the melanoma-associated ganglioside disialyllactosylceramide (GD3) also react with the structural analogue disialylparagloboside

A mouse monoclonal IgM antibody, 4.2, has previously been shown to bind preferentially to the surface of human malignant melanoma cells and to have specificity for the GD3 ganglioside (NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4GlcCer). Using overlay of antibodies on thin-layer chromatograms with glycolipids of various sources, it was shown that antibody 4.2, a further IgM and two IgG3 mouse monoclonal antibodies, selected on the basis of reactivity with GD3, also bound with similar strength to the structural analogue NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNac beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcCer or disialylparagloboside. The SK-MEL 28 melanoma cell line used for immunization was shown to contain a large amount of GD3 but to lack disialylparagloboside. The demonstrated cross-reactivity may be of importance when considering the use of these antibodies for biochemical and medical purposes.     

Production of monoclonal antibodies specific for ganglioside GD3.

Four kinds of anti-GD3 monoclonal antibodies, DSG-1, -2, -3, and -4, of the IgM class were obtained by the immunization of BALB/c mice with enzootic bovine leukosis tumor tissue-derived ganglioside GD3 inserted into liposomes with Salmonella minnesota R595 lipopolysaccharides. The specificities of the monoclonal antibodies obtained were defined by complement-dependent liposome immune lysis assay and by enzyme immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography. The reactivities of the monoclonal antibodies obtained to four ganglioside GD3 variants [GD3(NeuAc-NeuAc), GD3(NeuAc-NeuGc), GD3(NeuGc-NeuAc), and GD3(NeuGc-NeuGc)] were tested. All of the monoclonal antibodies were found to react with GD3(NeuAc-NeuAc) and GD3(NeuAc-NeuGc) but not with GD3(NeuGc-NeuAc) or GD3(NeuGc-NeuGc). Furthermore, various purified glycosphingolipids were used to determine the specificity of these monoclonal antibodies. All 4 antibodies reacted only with ganglioside GD3 [GD3(NeuAc-NeuAc) and GD3(NeuAc-NeuGc)], but not with several gangliosides linking the GalNAc, Gal beta 1-3GalNAc, NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GalNAc, or NeuAc alpha 2-8NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GalNAc residue to the Gal moiety of ganglioside GD3 (GD2, GD1b, GT1b, or GQ1b, respectively), ganglioside GT1a having the same terminal NeuAc alpha 2-8NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal residue as ganglioside GD3, other gangliosides, and neutral glycosphingolipids. These findings suggest that the 4 monoclonal antibodies obtained may be specific for the epitope of NeuAc-alpha 2-8Sia alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4Glc residue of ganglioside GD3.     

Glycosphingolipid carriers of carbohydrate antigens of human myeloid cells recognized by monoclonal antibodies

Six monoclonal antibodies with known specificities for the carbohydrate antigens i, X or Y, and seven anti-myeloid antibodies (determinants unknown) selected for their differing reaction patterns with human leucocytes were tested in chromatogram binding assays for reactions with myeloid cell glycolipids derived from normal human granulocytes and chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. Antigenicities were found exclusively on minor glycolipids which were barely or not at all detectable with orcinol-sulphuric acid stain. Among these, a neutral glycosphingolipid bound the anti-i antibody Den and chromatographed as the ceramide octasaccharide, Gal beta 1----4GlcNac beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNac beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4Glc-Cer. Several species of neutral glycosphingolipids with six to more than ten monosaccharides were detected which carry the X antigen and others the Y antigen: Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc and Fuc alpha 1----2Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc, respectively. In addition, three new types of carbohydrate specificities were detected among the myeloid cell glycolipids. Two were associated with neutral glycolipids: the first, recognised by anti-myeloid antibodies VIM-1 and VIM-10, was expressed on a distinct set of glycolipids with six or more monosaccharides, and the second, recognized by VIM-8, was expressed on glycolipids with more than ten monosaccharides. The third specificity, recognised by the anti-myeloid antibody VIM-2, was expressed on slow migrating sialoglycolipids with backbone structures of the poly-N-acetyllactosamine type that are susceptible to degradation with endo-beta-galactosidase. Thus, we conclude that the i and Y antigens occur among the glycolipids of normal myeloid and chronic myelogenous leukemia cells and that a high proportion of hybridoma antibodies raised against differentiation antigens of myeloid cells are directed at carbohydrate structures.     

The reactivities of human erythrocyte autoantibodies anti-Pr2, anti-Gd, Fl and Sa with gangliosides in a chromatogram binding assay.

The thin layer chromatogram binding assay was used to study the reaction of several natural-monoclonal autoantibodies which recognize sialic acid-dependent antigens of human erythrocytes. Immunostaining of gangliosides derived from human and bovine erythrocytes was achieved with four autoantibodies designated anti-Pr2, anti-Gd, Sa and Fl, each of which has a different haemagglutination pattern with untreated and proteinase-treated erythrocytes and with cells of I and i antigen types. From the chromatogram binding patterns of anti-Pr2 with gangliosides of the neolacto and the ganglio series, it is deduced that this antibody reacts best with N-acetylneuraminic acid when it is alpha 2-3- or alpha 2-6-linked to a terminal Gal(beta 1-4)Glc/GlcNAc GlcNAc sequence and to a lesser extent when it is alpha 2-3-linked to a terminal Gal(beta 1-3)GalNAc sequence or to an internal galactose and when it is alpha 2-8-linked to another, internal N-acetylneuraminic acid residue. The other three antibodies differ from anti-Pr2 in their lack of reaction with glycolipids of the ganglio series. They react with the NeuAc(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc/GlcNAc sequence as found in GM3 and in glycolipids of the neolacto series, but show a preference for the latter, longer sequences. Thus all four antibodies react with sialylated oligosaccharides containing i type (linear) and I type (branched) neolacto backbones. Fl antibody differs from the other three in its stronger reaction with branched neolacto sequences in accordance with its stronger agglutination of erythrocytes of I rather than i type. The four antibodies show a specificity for N-acetyl- rather than N-glycolyl-neuraminic acid.     

Different fine binding specificities of monoclonal antibodies to disialosylganglioside GD2

The fine structural specificities of six monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to ganglioside GD2, GalNAc beta 1----4(NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3)Gal beta 1----4Glc-Cer, were studied. The binding specificities of these MAbs were found to differ from each other by virtue of their binding to structurally related authentic standard glycolipids as revealed by three different assay systems, including enzyme immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immune adherence inhibition assay. The MAbs examined could be divided into three binding types. MAbs A1-201, A1-410, and A1-425 bound specifically to ganglioside GD2 and none of the other gangliosides tested. Two other MAbs (A1-245 and A1-267) reacted not only with GD2, but also with several other gangliosides having the sequence NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal (GD3, GD1b, GT1a, GT1b, and GQ1b). The reactivities with these gangliosides varied to some degree. In addition, these MAbs were found to react with both GD3(NeuAc-NeuAc) and GD3(NeuGc-NeuAc), but not with GD3(NeuAc-NeuGc) or GD3(NeuGc-NeuGc). The last MAb (A1-287) also reacted with several other gangliosides but with lower avidity than A1-245 and A1-267. These findings suggest that each MAb to ganglioside GD2 may have an individual binding specificity and avidity. These MAbs represent potentially useful reagents for analyzing the function of GD2 on cell surface membranes, and provide a system for precisely studying the interactions between an anti-ganglioside antibody and the binding epitope of the antigenic determinant.     

Characterization of the binding epitope of the monoclonal antibody DMAb-1 to ganglioside GM2.

Several derivatives of ganglioside GM2 were synthesized for mapping of the binding epitope of a monoclonal antibody raised against this ganglioside. The GM2 ganglioside was modified in both the hydrophobic and the hydrophobilic part of the molecule. The synthesized derivatives were characterized with fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS). Affinity of the monoclonal antibody for the GM2 derivatives was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on microtitre plates or by TLC immunostaining. Modifying the GM2 sialic acid by deacetylation or blocking of the carboxyl moiety abolished the binding to the monoclonal antibody while the cleaving of the glycol group on the sialic acid tail led to a 70% reduced binding affinity. Removal of the fatty acid (lyso-GM2) eliminated the binding to the antibody. GM2 derivatives with fatty acid moieties of 8 carbon atoms or less showed almost no reactivity. GM2 with saturated fatty acids 16:0, 18:0 and 20:0 had binding affinity similar to natural GM2, while the 24:0 fatty acid had only half the binding affinity. The results demonstrate the importance of ganglioside fatty acid composition with regard to ligand binding between the monoclonal antibody and its specific ganglioside antigen. Thus, caution must be shown in the application of immunaffinity methods with monoclonal antibodies for the quantitative determination of glycosphingolipids from different tissues.     

Oligosaccharides as receptors for JC virus

JC virus (JCV) belongs to the polyomavirus family of double-stranded DNA viruses and in humans causes a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Its hemagglutination activity and entry into host cells have been reported to depend on an N-linked glycoprotein containing sialic acid. In order to identify the receptors of JCV, we generated virus-like particles (VLP) consisting of major viral capsid protein VP1. We then developed an indirect VLP overlay assay to detect VLP binding to glycoproteins and a panel of glycolipids. We found that VLP bound to sialoglycoproteins, including alpha1-acid glycoprotein, fetuin, and transferrin receptor, and that this binding depended on alpha2-3-linked sialic acids and N-linked sugar chains. Neoglycoproteins were synthesized by using ovalbumin and conjugation with oligosaccharides containing the terminal alpha2-3- or alpha2-6-linked sialic acid or the branched alpha2-6-linked sialic acid. We show that the neoglycoprotein containing the terminal alpha2-6-linked sialic acid had the highest affinity for VLP, inhibited the hemagglutination activity of VLP and JCV, and inhibited the attachment of VLP to cells. We also demonstrate that VLP bound to specific glycolipids, such as lactosylceramide, and gangliosides, including GM3, GD2, GD3, GD1b, GT1b, and GQ1b, and that VLP bound weakly to GD1a but did not bind to GM1a, GM2, or galactocerebroside. Furthermore, the neoglycoprotein containing the terminal alpha2-6-linked sialic acid and the ganglioside GT1b inhibited JCV infection in the susceptible cell line IMR-32. These results suggest that the oligosaccharides of glycoproteins and glycolipids work as JCV receptors and may be feasible as anti-JCV agents.     

Isolation and fine-structure characterization of four monoclonal antibodies reactive with glycoconjugates containing terminal GlcNAc residues: application to aspects of lacto-series tumor antigen biosynthesis.

A series of murine monoclonal antibodies, each reactive with terminal GlcNAc residues expressed on glycolipids, have been isolated after immunization with the glycolipid nLc5 (GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1---- 4Glc beta 1----1Cer). The derived antibodies, designated TE-4, TE-5, TE-6, and TE-7, were tested for binding specificity with a variety of terminal GlcNAc-containing oligosaccharides expressed on glycolipids and glycoproteins. Antibody TE-4 was found to be reactive only with linear and branched terminal GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal containing structures present in lacto-series carbohydrates irrespective of core chain length. The binding specificity of TE-7 was similar except that no reactivity was observed with the short chain structure Lc3 and was weakly reactive with branched agalacto-I structures, suggesting a longer recognition epitope than for the TE-4 antibody. Antibodies TE-5 and TE-6 reacted with terminal GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal structures and as well GlcNAc beta 1----2(6)Man structures present on BSA-oligosaccharide conjugates. Weak binding was also observed with GlcNAc beta 1----6Gal structures with these antibodies. TE-5 was found to be particularly sensitive to low amounts of terminal GlcNAc-containing glycolipids in both solid phase assays and in TLC-immunostaining studies of neutral glycolipids extracted from colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines and tumors. No reactivity was observed with internal GlcNAc residues with any antibody tested. The panel of antibodies was applied to studies of binding to Triton X-100-solubilized fractions from normal mucosal and adenocarcinoma cell lines after desialylation and Smith degradation to expose terminal GlcNAc residues on glycoproteins and glycolipids. Binding of antibodies TE-4 and TE-7 was restricted to adenocarcinoma-derived cell fractions. Application of these antibodies in studies of lacto-series core chain synthesis and in immunodiagnostic procedures after initial treatments to concentrate lacto-series antigens into terminal GlcNAc-containing structures is discussed.     

Syngeneic monoclonal antibody against melanoma antigen with interspecies cross-reactivity recognizes GM3, a prominent ganglioside of B16 melanoma

It has previously been reported that a mouse (C57BL/6) monoclonal antibody, M2590, was established against syngeneic melanoma B16 cells, which was shown to react only with melanoma cells from various species but not with other tumor cells or normal tissues (Taniguchi, M., and Wakabayashi, S. (1984) Gann 75, 418-426). In the present study, the specificity of M2590 antibody was shown to be directed to a saccharide arrangement (NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4Glc (or -GlcNAc)) of gangliosides by three different assay systems including enzyme immunostaining on thin layer plates, sandwich radioimmunoassay, and enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assays using a variety of glycolipids with known structures. Neither gangliosides having NeuGc terminus, including NeuGc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-ceramide and NeuGc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-ceramide, nor ganglio series gangliosides carrying NeuAc reacted with the antibody. An M2590 antibody-reactive antigen was isolated from B16 melanoma cells, and its structure was determined to be NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-ceramide by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, methylation analysis, and exoglycosidase treatment. The ceramide was composed of d18:1 as its long-chain base and C16:0, C24:1, and C24:0 as major fatty acids. The same ganglioside was also detected in the culture supernatant of the melanoma cells as shedding antigen.     

Sialylpentaosylceramide detected with anti-GM2 monoclonal antibody. Structural characterization and complementary expression with GM2 in gastric cancer and normal gastric mucosa

The ganglioside fraction of human gastric mucosa was analyzed with a newly established anti-GM2 monoclonal antibody KM531. Using this antibody, accumulation of GM2 was observed in all of four cases of gastric carcinoma. In all ganglioside fractions extracted from normal gastric mucosa obtained from eight cases of peptic ulcer GM2 itself was not detected, but three kinds of glycolipid showing slower mobility than GM2 on thin-layer plates were detected by immunostaining with KM531. These glycolipids were assigned as NGM-1, -2, and -3. They were completely lost in all carcinoma tissues and in non-cancerous gastric mucosa from two cases of gastric cancer, and they were also not detected in the ganglioside fraction of small or large intestine. Of these glycolipids, the major one, NGM-1, was isolated from the pooled ganglioside fraction of normal gastric mucosa obtained from cases of peptic ulcer. The structure was determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, negative ion fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and treatment with exoglycosidases and mild acid hydrolysis. The structure was GalNAc beta 1----4(NeuAc alpha 2----3) Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3 Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1Cer, which has the same terminal sequence as GM2 but has internal neolacto series structure. This epitope was previously identified as Cad blood group antigen. The decrease of this glycolipid and the increase of GM2 was considered to be a cancer-associated change in gastric mucosa.     

Identification of N-glycolylneuraminic acid-containing gangliosides of cat and sheep erythrocytes. 252Cf fission fragment ionization mass spectrometry in the analysis of glycosphingolipids

A number of gangliosides were isolated from cat and sheep erythrocytes for use in analyzing the specificity of a panel of human anti-heterophile monoclonal antibodies. The structures of these compounds were determined by a combination of different procedures, including sugar analysis, glycosidase treatment, periodate oxidation, TLC immunostaining, methylation analysis, and mass spectrometry. These methods identified the cat erythrocytes gangliosides (C1 and C2) as N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc)-containing hematosides; C1 was shown to be NeuGc alpha 2----8NeuGc alpha 2----3Gal beta I----4Glc-Cer [NeuGc)2GD3) and C2 to be NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuGc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4Glc-Cer [NeuAc-NeuGc-)GD3). The two sheep gangliosides (S1 and S2) were found to be novel glycolipids based on the paragloboside sequence; S1 was identified as NeuGc alpha 2----8NeuGc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4Glc-Cer [NeuGc)2-disialylparagloboside) and S2 as NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuGc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4Glc-Cer [NeuAc-NeuGc-)-disialylparagloboside). Structural analysis of these compounds was aided by the use of 252Cf fission fragment ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This method provided easily interpretable spectra on methylated derivatives which were particularly useful in determining the sialic acid composition of the gangliosides and the sequence of their disialosyl side chains.     

Biosynthetic pathways for the Leb and Y glycolipids in the gastric carcinoma cell line KATO III as analyzed by a novel assay

The biosynthetic pathways for the difucosylated type 1 and 2 glycolipids, Leb and Y, respectively, were investigated in the gastric carcinoma cell line KATO III, using a novel chromatogram binding assay. The type of fucosylation obtained was deduced from the binding pattern of monoclonal antibodies specific for the biosynthesized glycolipid products using microsomal fractions as the source of enzyme, pure glycolipids and non-radioactive GDP-fucose as acceptor and donor substrates, respectively. The Leb glycolipid (Fuc alpha 1----2Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc(4----1 alpha Fuc) beta 1----3LacCer) was synthesized mainly via the blood group H, type 1, precursor (Fuc alpha 1----2Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc beta 1----3LacCer). However, the Lea glycolipid (Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc(4----1 alpha Fuc)beta 1----3LacCer) also served as a precursor for the alpha 1----2 fucosyltransferase, thus allowing conversion of Lea to Leb. This biosynthetic route represents either an "aberrant" specificity of the Fuc alpha 1----2 transferase associated with these gastric carcinoma cells and/or a new member of the alpha 1----2 fucosyltransferase family. The Y glycolipid (Fuc alpha 1----2Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc(3----1 alpha Fuc)beta 1----3LacCer) was synthesized exclusively via the classical pathway using the blood group H type 2 glycolipid (Fuc alpha 1----2Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3LacCer) as precursor. The X glycolipid (Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc(3----1 alpha Fuc)beta 1----3LacCer) did not serve as an acceptor substrate for the alpha 1----2 fucosyltransferase(s) present. The use of non-radioactive sugar-nucleotides as donor substrate, defined glycolipid precursors as acceptor substrates and of specific monoclonal anti-glycolipid antibodies for detection provides a rapid and highly specific assay for analyzing biosynthetic pathways of glycosyltransferases.     

Identification and Characterization of Gangliosides Reacting with IgM Paraproteins in Three Patients with Neuropathy Associated with Biclonal Gammopathy

IgM monoclonal antibodies from three patients with polyneuropathy associated with biclonal gammopathy reacted with monosialoganglioside GM1 on thin-layer chromatograms. An IgM paraprotein in one of the patients with a predominantly motor neuropathy also reacted strongly with the ganglioside GD1b and asialo-GM1. All three of these antigenic lipids have a Gal(beta 1-3)GalNAc moiety in common which would appear to be the antigenic determinant. However, this IgM also cross-reacted weakly with paragloboside which has an N-acetyllactosaminyl [Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc] terminal structure. The specificity of the other paraprotein in this patient is not known. The IgM paraproteins reacting with GM1 in both of the other patients exhibited different specificity because they did not react with GD1b and asialo-GM1, but reacted strongly with GM2 ganglioside. The data suggest that the epitope for both of these IgMs is in the GalNAc(beta 1-4)(NeuAc alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc region of the gangliosides that is common to both GM2 and GM1. The second IgM paraproteins in both of these latter patients react with the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and two 3-sulfoglucuronyl glycolipids that share antigenic determinants with MAG.     

Monoclonal antibody R24 distinguishes between different N-acetyl- and N-glycolylneuraminic acid derivatives of ganglioside GD3

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) R24 was previously shown to be directed toward ganglioside GD3 [Pukel, C. S., Lloyd, K. O., Travassos, L. R., Dippold, W. G., Oettgen, H. F., and Old, L. J. (1982) J. Exp. Med. 155, 1133-1147]. The structural specificity of the MAb has now been further characterized based on binding to structurally related glycolipids, including four GD3 derivatives with different N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) substituents. Three assay systems (enzyme immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immune adherence inhibition assay) were used. MAb R24 was found to react with (NeuAc-NeuAc-)GD3 and (NeuAc-NeuGc-)GD3 but not with (NeuGc-NeuAc-)GD3 or (NeuGc-NeuGc-)GD3. These results clearly indicate that the outer sialic acid (Sia) moiety of GD3 is crucial and must be a NeuAc residue, while the inner sialic acid is less involved in binding to the MAb and can be either NeuAc or NeuGc. The MAb was also found to cross-react weakly with two gangliosides, GT1a and GQ1b, but none of other gangliosides nor neutral glycolipids tested reacted. These findings suggest that the epitope detected by MAb R24 is the trisaccharide structure NeuAc alpha 2----8Sia alpha 2----3Gal-, which must be in a terminal position.     

Idiotypic determinants of monoclonal antibodies that bind to 3-fucosyllactosamine

Many monoclonal antibodies that react with the lacto-N-fucopentaose III (LNF III) antigenic determinant, Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc, have been described recently. The terminal trisaccharide of this determinant, fucosyllactosamine, is present on glycolipids and glycoproteins and on the surface of granulocytes, monocytes, and other cells. To study the structural and genetic diversity of these antibodies, syngeneic anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies were produced in BALB/c mice against PMN 6, a monoclonal antibody directed against this sequence. Anti-idiotypic antibodies 6B1 and 6C4 reacted with 50% of a panel of 20 anti-LNF III monoclonal antibodies, whereas 6A3 reacted strongly only with PMN 6. This indicates that the determinants recognized by 6C4 and 6B1 represent major cross-reactive idiotopes of this family of antibodies. The binding of idiotypic antibodies to a glycolipid bearing this antigenic determinant was completely inhibited by the three anti-idiotypic antibodies, 6A3, 6B1, and 6C4. The idiotopes could be demonstrated on the heavy chain of the monoclonal antibodies by an antibody transfer technique when mild reducing conditions were employed, but a high concentration of reducing agent destroyed the idiotypic determinants. This suggests that the anti-idiotypic antibodies recognize conformational structures expressed on the heavy chain molecules. The binding of 18 monoclonal antibodies to two glycolipid antigens and to a fucosyllactosamine-bovine serum albumin conjugate was compared. Antibodies that possessed the 6C4 cross-reactive idiotope bound to fucosyllactosamine-bovine serum albumin more weakly than idiotype-negative antibodies (p = 0.001). This suggests that the 6C4-positive antibodies might represent germline structures.     

Monosialoganglioside (GM1) immunofluorescence in rat spinal roots studied with a monoclonal antibody

Gangliosides are characteristic glycolipid components of plasma cell membranes, especially enriched in the CNS and PNS. In some diseases involving the PNS, in particular motor neuropathies associated with conduction block, IgM autoantibodies against ganglioside GM1 have been implicated as a pathogenic factor. In order to study the GM1 distribution in peripheral nerves we have investigated its in situ localization using a new anti-GM1 monoclonal antibody, GM1:1. Immunization and production of the monoclonal antibody was made by common protocols and binding specificity was investigated by using structurally related glycolipids and modified GM1-molecules. The result showed that an α2–3 bound sialic acid together with a terminal galactose moiety were essential for GM1:1 binding. In situ localization of GM1 in rat dorsal and ventral spinal roots was investigated by conventional immunomicroscopy. GM1 immunoreactivity was the same in both roots and appeared like a finely granular, in places confluent, material confined to Schmidt-Lanterman’s incisures, to myelin sheath paranodal end segments and to some extent to the abaxonal Schwann cell cytoplasm; all of these structures are likely to be the target for GM1 antibodies in peripheral neuropathies. Nodal gaps and fibre contours showed a weak non-specific fluorescence. The localization of GM1 to the incisures of Schmidt-Lanterman and the paranodal end segments of the myelin sheaths might indicate a role of gangliosides as adhesion molecules.