Glycosylation sites identified by solid-phase Edman degradation: O-linked glycosylation motifs on human glycophorin A

The human red blood cell sialoglycoprotein, glycophorin A (GpA),contains a ‘mucin-like’ extensively O-glycosylatedextracellular domain which carries the MN blood group antigens.We have revised the sites of O-glyccsylation in the extracellulardomain of GpA by automated solid-phase Edman degradation, whichallowed positive identification and quantitation of O-glycosylatedSer and Thr residues, as well as the single N-glycosylationsite. One N-linked and 16 O-linked sites were identified. Carbohydratewas absent on Ser 1, Ser14, Ser15, Ser23, Thr28 and Thr58 inGpA. We propose that the glycosyltransferases present in erythrocytesrecognize specific flanking sequences around potential O-glycosylationsites. All 16 O-glycosylation sites are explained on the basisof four motifs. Three motifs are associated with Thr-glycosylation:Xaa—Pro—Xaa—Xaa where at least one Xaa = Thr;Thr—Xaa—Xaa—Xaa where at least one Xaa = Thr;Xaa—Xaa—Thr—Xaa where at least one X = Argor Lys. The fourth motif is associated with Ser-glycosylation:Ser—Xaa—Xaa—Xaa where at least one Xaa = Ser.These simple rules explain the glycosylation (or lack of it)on 21 of 22 Ser/Thr in the extracellular domain of GpA. glycophorin A O-glycosylation motif solid-phase Edman degradation     

Unusual glycosylation of proteins: Beyond the universal sequon and other amino acids

BackgroundGlycosylation of proteins is the most common, multifaceted co- and post-translational modification responsible for many biological processes and cellular functions. Significant alterations and aberrations of these processes are related to various pathological conditions, and often turn out to be disease biomarkers. Conventional N-glycosylation occurs through the recognition of the consensus sequon, asparagine (Asn)-X-serine (Ser)/threonine (Thr), where X is any amino acid except for proline, with N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) as the first glycosidic linkage. Usually, O-glycosylation adds a glycan to the hydroxyl group of Ser or Thr beginning with N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc).Scope of reviewProtein glycosylation is further governed by additional diversifications in sequon and structure, which are yet to be fully explored. This review mainly focuses on the occurrence of N-glycosylation in non-consensus motifs, where Ser/Thr at the + 2 position is substituted by other amino acids. Additionally, N-glycosylation is also observed in other amide/amine group-containing amino acids. Similarly, O-glycosylation occurs at hydroxyl group-containing amino acids other than serine/threonine. The neighbouring amino acids and local structural features around the potential glycosylation site also play a significant role in determining the extent of glycosylation. All of these phenomena that yield glycosylation at the atypical sites are reported in a variety of biological systems, including different pathological conditions.Conclusion and SignificanceTherefore, the discovery of more novel sequence patterns for N- and O-glycosylation may help in understanding the functions of complex biological processes and cellular functions. Taken together, all these information provided in this review would be helpful for the biological readers.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of the gene encoding rat submandibular gland apomucin,Mucsmg

Mucin glycoproteins are a major constituent of salivary secretions and play a primary role in the protection of the oral cavity. Rat submandibular glands (RSMG) synthesize and secrete a low molecular weight (114 kDa) mucin glycoprotein. We have isolated, partially sequenced, and characterized the gene which encodes the RSMG apomucin. The gene is encoded by three exons of 106 nt, 69 nt, and 991 nt, separated by introns of 921 nt and 12.5 kb. CAAT and TATA elements are present, at –68 and –26, respectively, in the 5 flanking sequence of the RSMG apomucin gene. The tandem repeat domain present in exon III consists of ten tandem repeats of 39 nt encoding the consensus sequence PTTDSTTPAPTTK. Sequence comparison and organization of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the tandem repeats of two alleles for this gene suggests that the apomucin gene has undergone recombinational events during its evolution. No significant sequence similarity was found with other mucin genes, or with other known salivary gland-specific genes. The gene was localized to rat chromosome 14 using somatic cell hybrids that segregate rat chromosomes. Since this, to our knowledge, represents the first RSMG mucin gene cloned, we have designated this geneMucsmg.Abbreviations RSMG rat submandibular gland - RSM rat salivary mucin - GRP glutamine-glutamic-acid rich protein - nt nucleotide - kb kilobase Sequences reported herein have been assigned GenBank accession numbers U33441 and U33442.     

Porcine submaxillary mucin contains a cystine-rich, carboxyl-terminal domain in addition to a highly repetitive, glycosylated domain

The sequence of a 3.65-kilobase cDNA encoding a large portion of the polypeptide chain of porcine submaxillary mucin (apomucin) has been completed. The encoded polypeptide contains 1150 residues with the carboxyl-terminal 240 residues forming a globular domain that is rich in half-cystine, but deficient in sites for oligosaccharide attachment. The remaining 910 residues preceding the half-cystine-rich domain appear devoid of secondary structures, but they are rich in serine and threonine to which the O-linked oligosaccharides are bound. The first 391 residues of apomucin contain several tandemly repeated, identical sequences of 81 residues. Blots of genomic DNA partially digested with restriction nucleases show that at least 25 of these identical repeats are present in apomucin. The amino acid composition of apomucin isolated in the absence of protease inhibitors was shown earlier (Eckhardt, A. E., Timpte, C. S., Abernethy, J. L., Toumadje, A., Johnson, W. C., Jr., and Hill, R. L. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 282, 11339-11344) to be devoid of half-cystine. In contrast, the amino acid composition of mucin purified in the presence of protease inhibitors contains half-cystine in amounts predicted by the cDNA sequence and also suggests that this mucin has about 25 tandem repeats. Thus, apomucin contains at least 2800 amino acid residues. Moreover, immunoblots of apomucin prepared in the presence or the absence of protease inhibitors, with antibodies specific for the half-cystine-rich domains or the tandem repeat sequences, show that the half-cystine-rich domain is absent in apomucin unless protease inhibitors are present throughout. Both types of mucin, however, contain the highly repetitive sequences. The molecular weight of undegraded apomucin has not been established exactly, but gel filtration in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride suggests that it is considerably higher than 250,000. RNA blot analysis shows that apomucin mRNA is large and polydisperse in accord with the message size necessary to synthesize the large apomucin polypeptide. These structural features of apomucin suggest a model for the structure of the mucin molecule that correlates well with its reported properties.     

The degradation of glycoproteins with lithium borohydride: Isolation and analysis ofO-glycopeptides with reducedC-terminal amino acid residue

By the example of fetuin and a blood-group-specific mucin from porcine stomach, we showed that, under conditions of reductive degradation of glycoproteins with LiBH₄-LiOH in 70% aqueoustert-butyl alcohol, the reduction and cleavage of amide bonds occur much faster than the simultaneous β-elimination of carbohydrate chainsO-linked with Ser and Thr residues of the peptide chain. The major degradation products containing theO-linked glycans are theO-glycosylated derivatives of 2-aminopropane-1,3-diol and 2-aminobutane-1,3-diol (the products of reduction of glycosylated Ser and Thr) and the glycopeptides containing 2–4 amino acid residues with reducedC-terminal amino acid. Seventeen homogeneousO-glycopeptides were isolated from the fetuin degradation products by ion-exchange and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and by analyses for amino acids, amino alcohols, and carbohydrates. The application of the reaction for characterization ofO-glycans and localization ofO-glycosylation sites inO- andN,O-glycoproteins is discussed. Deceased.     

Purification and immunofluorescent localization of rat submandibular mucin

Rat submandibular mucin (RSM) was purified by acid precipitation, then alcohol precipitation of the 30000g supernatant of gland homogenate, followed by column chromatography on Sephadex G-200. The mucin, which was eluted in the void volume, had an amino acid profile typical of a salivary mucus glycoprotein with high proportions of threonine, serine and proline (48.8% of total amino acids), and low proportions of aromatic and basic amino acids. It consisted of 63% (w/w) carbohydrate, which was shown by g.l.c. analysis to contain N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose, sialic acid and fucose in the proportions 1.0:3.4:2.6:3.1:1.2. After staining of the mucin with periodic acid/Schiff reagent, analytical equilibrium ultracentrifugation in a CsCl density gradient produced a symmetrical peak of buoyant density 1.449g/ml, without evidence of protein contaminants. Sedimentation velocity centrifugation revealed a major periodate/Schiff-positive component (S⁰_20,w 5.06) with an associated shoulder of slower sedimenting material, suggesting polydispersity in the size of the mucin. Our findings suggest that the RSM purified in these studies has a molecular weight between 200000 and 1×10⁶. Antibody to RSM was prepared in a rabbit and produced a single precipitin line on immunoelectro-osmophoresis with the mucin. Immunofluorescence studies showed that the antibody localized only to submandibular acinar cells and confirmed that these cells were the source of RSM. The antibody was not directed towards the blood-group-A determinant (terminal N-acetylgalactosamine) present in the mucin.     

Characterization of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides on a mouse submandibular mucin

The asparagine-linked oligosaccharides from an adult femalemouse submandibular gland mucin were released by treatment withpeptide-N⁴-(N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidaseF or endo-ß-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. Endo-ß-N-acetylglucosaminidaseH appeared to be more effective at releasing the asparagine-linkedoligosaccharides from this mucin than was peptide-N⁴-(N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminyl)-asparagineamidase F. After quantitative reductive labelling with the fluorophore,8-aminonaphthalene-1, 3, 6-sulphonic acid, the oligosaccharideswere separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isolated.The individual oligosaccharides were sequenced by a batteryof recombinant exoglycosidases. Approximately 50% of the oligosaccharideswere of the high-mannose type. The five-mannose member of thisfamily was the most prevalent. The second group of oligosaccharideswere of the non-bisected hybrid type. No complex asparagine-linkedoligosaccharides were detected. The hybrids exhibited both biantennaryand triantennary branching patterns. The triantennary hybridwas the most common hybrid at >30% of all oligosaccharides.With 98% of the hybrid oligosaccharides sialylated and all lackinga bisecting N-acetylglucosamine, these oligosaccharides as agroup have been only rarely observed in other glycoproteins.The fully sialylated triantennary hybrid may be unique. asparagine-linked oligosaccharides biantennary salivary mucin sialylated hybrid triantennary     

O-Glycosylation as a Novel Control Mechanism of Peptidoglycan Hydrolase Activity

Acm2, the major autolysin of Lactobacillus plantarum, is a tripartite protein. Its catalytic domain is surrounded by an O-glycosylated N-terminal region rich in Ala, Ser, and Thr (AST domain), which is of low complexity and unknown function, and a C-terminal region composed of five SH3b peptidoglycan (PG) binding domains. Here, we investigate the contribution of these two accessory domains and of O-glycosylation to Acm2 functionality. We demonstrate that Acm2 is an N-acetylglucosaminidase and identify the pattern of O-glycosylation (21 mono-N-acetylglucosamines) of its AST domain. The O-glycosylation process is species-specific as Acm2 purified from Lactococcus lactis is not glycosylated. We therefore explored the functional role of O-glycosylation by purifying different truncated versions of Acm2 that were either glycosylated or non-glycosylated. We show that SH3b domains are able to bind PG and are responsible for Acm2 targeting to the septum of dividing cells, whereas the AST domain and its O-glycosylation are not involved in this process. Notably, our data reveal that the lack of O-glycosylation of the AST domain significantly increases Acm2 enzymatic activity, whereas removal of SH3b PG binding domains dramatically reduces this activity. Based on this antagonistic role, we propose a model in which access of the Acm2 catalytic domain to its substrate may be hindered by the AST domain where O-glycosylation changes its conformation and/or mediates interdomain interactions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that O-glycosylation is shown to control the activity of a bacterial enzyme.     

Structural properties of porcine submaxillary gland apomucin

Porcine submaxillary gland mucin was deglycosylated with a mixture of pure glycosidases to give apomucin containing less than 1% carbohydrate. The resulting apomucin freed of glycosidases was found to contain nine amino acids: threonine, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, and arginine. Serine, threonine, glycine, and alanine comprise 77% of the composition. The molecular weight of apomucin was 96,500 as determined by gel filtration in guanidine hydrochloride. Its Stokes radius was greater than 68.6 A, a far larger value than expected for a globular protein with Mr = 96,500. Circular dichroism spectroscopy of apomucin suggests that it contains 42% aperiodic or "other" structure, 40% beta-turns, 10% antiparallel pleated sheet, and 8% helical structures. The predicted secondary structure of a 50-residue peptide from ovine submaxillary gland mucin resembles the circular dichroism predictions, being dominated by turns that would lead to an extended nonglobular structure. Analysis for the secondary structure of a 36-residue tryptic peptide derived from porcine submaxillary gland apomucin predicts a similar structure. It is concluded that apomucin is likely devoid of traditional secondary structure and serves as a scaffold upon which oligosaccharides are added in O-glycosidic linkage. When sufficient sialic acid is present in the oligosaccharides, native highly viscous mucin containing about two-thirds carbohydrate by weight is obtained.     

O-Linked Glycosylation of the Mucin Domain of the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-specific Glycoprotein gC-1 Is Temporally Regulated in a Seed-and-spread Manner

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein gC-1, participating in viral receptor interactions and immunity interference, harbors a mucin-like domain with multiple clustered O-linked glycans. Using HSV-1-infected diploid human fibroblasts, an authentic target for HSV-1 infection, and a protein immunoaffinity procedure, we enriched fully glycosylated gC-1 and a series of its biosynthetic intermediates. This fraction was subjected to trypsin digestion and a LC-MS/MS glycoproteomics approach. In parallel, we characterized the expression patterns of the 20 isoforms of human GalNAc transferases responsible for initiation of O-linked glycosylation. The gC-1 O-glycosylation was regulated in an orderly manner initiated by synchronous addition of one GalNAc unit each to Thr-87 and Thr-91 and one GalNAc unit to either Thr-99 or Thr-101, forming a core glycopeptide for subsequent additions of in all 11 GalNAc residues to selected Ser and Thr residues of the Thr-76–Lys-107 stretch of the mucin domain. The expression patterns of GalNAc transferases in the infected cells suggested that initial additions of GalNAc were carried out by initiating GalNAc transferases, in particular GalNAc-T2, whereas subsequent GalNAc additions were carried out by followup transferases, in particular GalNAc-T10. Essentially all of the susceptible Ser or Thr residues had to acquire their GalNAc units before any elongation to longer O-linked glycans of the gC-1-associated GalNAc units was permitted. Because the GalNAc occupancy pattern is of relevance for receptor binding of gC-1, the data provide a model to delineate biosynthetic steps of O-linked glycosylation of the gC-1 mucin domain in HSV-1-infected target cells.     

A vector projection method for predicting the specificity of GalNAc-transferase

The specificity of UDP-Gal-NAc:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminytransferase (GalNAc-transferase) is consistent with the existence of an extended site composed of nine subsites, denoted by P₄, P₃, P₂, P₁, P₀, P₁′, P₂′, P₃′, and P₄′, where the acceptor at P₀ is being either Ser or Thr. To predict whether a peptide will react with the enzyme to form a Ser- or Thr-conjugated glycopeptide, a vector projection method is proposed which uses a training set of amino acid sequences surrounding 90 Ser and 106 Thr O-glycosylation sites extracted from the National Biomedical Research Foundation Protein Database. The model postulates independent interactions of the 9 amino acid moieties with their respective binding sites. The high ratio of correct predictions vs. total predictions for the data in both the training and the testing sets indicates that the method is self-consistent and efficient. It provides a rapid means for predicting O-glycosylation and designing effective inhibitors of GalNAc-transferase. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Recombinant human heterodimeric IL-15 complex displays extensive and reproducible <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-linked glycosylation

Human interleukin 15 (IL-15) circulates in blood as a stable molecular complex with the soluble IL-15 receptor alpha (sIL-15Rα). This heterodimeric IL-15:sIL-15Rα complex (hetIL-15) shows therapeutic potential by promoting the growth, mobilization and activation of lymphocytes and is currently evaluated in clinical trials. Favorable pharmacokinetic properties are associated with the heterodimeric formation and the glycosylation of hetIL-15, which, however, remains largely uncharacterized. We report the site-specific N- and O-glycosylation of two clinically relevant large-scale preparations of HEK293-derived recombinant human hetIL-15. Intact IL-15 and sIL-15Rα and derived glycans and glycopeptides were separately profiled using multiple LC-MS/MS strategies. IL-15 Asn79 and sIL-15Rα Asn107 carried the same repertoire of biosynthetically-related N-glycans covering mostly α1-6-core-fucosylated and β-GlcNAc-terminating complex-type structures. The two potential IL-15 N-glycosylation sites (Asn71 and Asn112) located at the IL-2 receptor interface were unoccupied. Mass analysis of intact IL-15 confirmed its N-glycosylation and suggested that Asn79-glycosylation partially prevents Asn77-deamidation. IL-15 contained no O-glycans, whereas sIL-15Rα was heavily O-glycosylated with partially sialylated core 1 and 2-type mono- to hexasaccharides on Thr2, Thr81, Thr86, Thr156, Ser158, and Ser160. The sialoglycans displayed α2-3- and α2-6-NeuAc-type sialylation. Non-human, potentially immunogenic glycoepitopes (e.g. N-glycolylneuraminic acid and α-galactosylation) were not displayed by hetIL-15. Highly reproducible glycosylation of IL-15 and sIL-15Rα of two batches of hetIL-15 demonstrated consistent manufacturing and purification. In conclusion, we document the heterogeneous and reproducible N- and O-glycosylation of large-scale preparations of the therapeutic candidate hetIL-15. Site-specific mapping of these molecular features is important to evaluate the consistent large-scale production and clinical efficacy of hetIL-15.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding a novel cuticle protein in the silkworm,Bombyx mori

We have cloned the full length of a novel cDNA named Bombyx mori cuticle protein that contains an AlaAlaProAla/Val-repeat (BMCPA) from a cDNA library of integument in the larval silkworm. Both a typical tandem repeat (A-A-P-A/V) for cuticle protein and a unique tandem repeat with Ser, Ala, Gly, Pro, Val, Tyr and Thr were observed in the predicted amino acid sequence of the cDNA encoding BMCPA. Approximately 80% of the amino acids in BMCPA were composed of Ser, Ala, Gly, Pro, Val and Tyr. Northern-hybridization analysis indicated that BMCPA mRNA is expressed only in the larval epidermis and that the expression pattern of the BMCPA gene in the developmental stage was observed mainly at the larval stage. We propose BMCPA may be a novel component of cuticle, and may play an important role in the integument of the larval silkworm.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis and MALDI–mass spectrometry for the monitoring of in vitro O-glycosylation of a threonine/serine-rich MUC5AC hexadecapeptide

The in vitro N-acetylgalactosaminylation by human gastric UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases was assessed using the peptide motif GTTPSPVPTTSTTSAP, which is found naturally in the tandem repeat domains of the apomucin encoded by the gene MUC5AC. This peptide appeared to be an excellent tool for obtaining an insight into the extensive O-glycosylation processes of apomucins. Up to six N-acetylgalactosamines were added and the given glycopeptide species were well separated by capillary zone electrophoresis. Moreover, the degree of glycosylation (number of monosaccharide O-linked attachments) could be determined by MALDI–mass spectrometry without prior separation. Using different incubation times, we evidenced the accumulation of various glycopeptides, suggesting that the total glycosylation of an apomucin-peptide requires orderly N-acetylgalactosaminylation processing. This information was completed by experimental data showing that N-acetylgalactosaminylated octapeptides (the peptide backbones of which are part of GTTPSPVPTTSTTSAP) were able to selectively inhibit some N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases. Our results suggest that this inhibition may influence the quality of the intermediate products appearing during the in vitro O-glycosylation process.     

Microheterogeneity of N-glycosylation on a stylar self-incompatibility glycoprotein of Nicotiana alata

Gametophytic self-incompatibility, a mechanism that preventsinbreeding in some families of flowering plants, is mediatedby the products of a single genetic locus, the S-locus. Theproducts of the S-gene in the female sexual tissues of Nicotianaalata are an allelic series of glycoproteins with RNase activity.In this study, we report on the microheterogeneity of N-linkedglycosylation at the four potential N-glycosylation sites ofthe S²-glycoprotein. The S-glycoproteins from N.alata containfrom one to five potential N-glycosylation sites based on theconsensus sequence Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr. The S²-glycoprotein containsfour potential N-glycosylation sites at Asn²⁷, Asn³⁷, Asn¹³⁸and Asn¹⁵⁰, designated sites I, n, IV and V, respectively. SiteIII is absent from the S₂-glycoprotein. Analysis of glycopeptidesgenerated from the S₂-glycoprotein by trypsin and chymotrypsindigestions revealed the types of glycans and the degree of microheterogeneitypresent at each site. Sites I (Asn²⁷) and IV (Asn¹³⁸) displaymicroheterogeneity, site II (Asn³⁷) contains only a single typeof N-glycan, and site V (Asn¹⁵⁰) is not glycosylated. The microheterogeneityobserved at site I on the S₂-glycoprotein is the same as thatobserved at the only site, site I, on the Srglycoprotein (Woodwardet al., Glycobiology, 2, 241-250, 1992). Since the N-glycosylationconsensus sequence at site I is conserved in all S-glycoproteinsfrom other species of self-incompatible solanaceous plants,glycosylation at this site may be important to their function.No other post-translational modifications (e.g. O-glycosylation,phosphorylation) were detected on the S₂-glycoprotein. fertilization microheterogeneity N-glycans plants RNase     

Characterization of the major and minor mucus glycoproteins from bovine submandibular gland

Two mucins were isolated from bovine submandibular glands and termed major and minor on a quantitative basis. The major mucin representing over 80% of the total glycoprotein fraction contained 37% of its dry weight as protein in contrast to 62% for the minor mucin. Differences in the amino acid composition reflected the higher proportion of typically non-glycosylated peptide in the minor mucin. The molar ratio ofN-acetylgalactosamine to serine plus threonine was 0.82 in major and 0.65 in minor mucins, indicating a lower degree of substitution of potential glycosylation sites in the minor mucin.Differences in the carbohydrate composition were found largely related to the sialic acids, with higher relative amounts ofN-glycoloylneuraminic acid in the minor mucin. In addition, the proportion of di-O-acetylated sialic acids was higher in the major mucin. The rate of sialidase action on the two mucins could be correlated with the content ofN-glycoloylneuraminic acid in each glycoprotein. There was no difference in the type of oligosaccharide found in each mucin and the differences in relative proportions reflected the monosaccharide composition for the two mucins. Gel filtration on Sepharose CL 2B showed a lower molecular weight distribution for the minor in contrast to the major mucin which was partially excluded. Density gradient centrifugation reflected this variation. SDS-PAGE demonstrated a regular banding pattern for the major mucin with a lowest subunit size of 1.8×10⁵ Da and aggregates in excess of 10⁶ Da, while the minor mucin ranged from 3.0 × 10⁵ to 10⁶ Da. The chemical composition of the isolated mucins was compared with previous histochemical analysis of mucin distribution in bovine submandibular glands and indicates a possible cellular location for each mucin.Abbreviations PBS 0.01m sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.3, containing 0.15m NaCl - Neu5Ac N-acetylneuraminic acid - Neu5Gc N-glycoloylneuraminic acid - GalNAc-ol N-acetylgalactosaminitol     

Porcine submaxillary gland apomucin contains tandemly repeated, identical sequences of 81 residues

A lambda gt11 cDNA library, prepared from porcine submaxillary gland mRNA, was screened with anti-apomucin IgG, and five antibody-reactive phage were isolated. The phage with the largest cDNA insert, designated lambda PSM103, was further characterized. Its fusion protein reacted with anti-apomucin IgG and was used to affinity purify antibodies that specifically reacted with apomucin, indicating that the protein shares antigenic determinants with apomucin. The nucleotide sequence of 1510 bases in the 3.7-kilobase cDNA insert of lambda PSM103 has been established, thereby giving a deduced amino acid sequence of 503 residues in apomucin, or about 45% of the molecule. The deduced sequence of the apomucin polypeptide was found to contain 4.8 tandemly repeated, identical sequences of 81 residues each. The presence of these uniquely repeated sequences was confirmed by restriction endonuclease digestion of DNA derived from lambda PSM103. The repeat sequence was also confirmed in apomucin by the isolation of an 81-residue tryptic peptide with an amino acid composition and an amino-terminal amino acid sequence (up to 44 residues) identical to those of the tandem repeat. Moreover, the peptide was isolated in 760% yield, indicating that the tandem repeat occurs at least eight times in apomucin. The presence of such a long repetitive region in the gene for apomucin raises the possibility for considerable polymorphism in the gene and a corresponding size heterogeneity of apomucin. The predicted secondary structure of the 503 residues confirms the earlier proposal that apomucin is an extended, nonglobular polypeptide. Although the sequences around 192 serine and threonine residues have been established in apomucin, a recognition sequence for the N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase that initiates glycosylation of apomucin is not evident, except that the glycosylated residues occur in turns.     

Unexpected mucin-type O-glycosylation and host-specific N-glycosylation of human recombinant interleukin-17A expressed in a human kidney cell line

The T helper cell-derived cytokine interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is a variably glycosylated disulfide-linked homodimer of 34–38 kDa. Its polypeptide monomer contains one canonical N-glycosylation site at Asn68, and human recombinant IL-17A was partly N-glycosylated when expressed in human kidney (HEK293) cells as a fusion protein with a melittin signal sequence and an N-terminal hexahistidine tag. Orbitrap mass analyses of the tryptic N-glycopeptide 63–69 indicated that the N-glycosylation was of the GalNAc-terminated type characteristic of cultured kidney cells. The mass spectrum of IL-17A monomer also included peaks shifted by +948 Da from the respective masses of unglycosylated and N-glycosylated polypeptides. These were caused by unpredicted partial O-glycosylation of Thr26 with the mucin-like structure -GalNAc(-NeuNAc)-Gal-NeuNAc. Identical O-glycosylation occurred in commercially sourced recombinant IL-17A also expressed in HEK293 cells but with a different N-terminal sequence. Therefore, the kidney host cell line not only imposed its characteristic pattern of N-glycosylation on recombinant IL-17A but additionally created an O-glycosylation not known to be present in the T cell-derived cytokine. Mammalian host cell lines for recombinant protein expression generally impose their characteristic patterns of N-glycosylation on the product, but this work exemplifies how a host may also unpredictably O-glycosylate a protein that is probably not normally O-glycosylated.