A new model of pneumococcal lipoteichoic acid structure resolves biochemical, biosynthetic, and serologic inconsistencies of the current model

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is an essential bacterial membrane polysaccharide (cell wall component) that is attached to the membrane via a lipid anchor. According to the currently accepted structure of pneumococcal LTA, the polysaccharide is comprised of several repeating units, each of which starts with glucose and ends with ribitol, with the lipid anchor predicted to be Glc(beta1-->3)AATGal(beta1-->3)Glc(alpha1-->3)-acyl(2)Gro, where AATGal is 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-galactose. However, this lipid anchor has not been detected in pneumococcal membranes. Furthermore, the currently accepted structure does not explain the Forssman antigen properties of LTA and predicts a molecular weight for LTA that is larger than its actual observed molecular weight. To resolve these problems, we used mass spectrometry to analyze the structure of LTA isolated from several pneumococcal strains. Our study found that the R36A pneumococcal strain produces LTA that is more representative of pneumococci than that previously characterized from the R6 strain. Analysis of LTA fragments obtained after hydrofluoric acid and nitrous treatments showed that the fragments were consistent with an LTA nonreducing terminus consisting of GalNAc(alpha1-->3)GalNAc(beta1-->, which is the minimal structure for the Forssman antigen. Based on these data, we propose a revised model of LTA structure: its polysaccharide repeating unit begins with GalNAc and ends with AATGal, and its lipid anchor is Glc(alpha1-->3)-acyl(2)Gro, a common lipid anchor found in pneumococcal membranes. This new model accurately predicts the observed molecular weights. The revised model should facilitate investigation of the relationship between LTA's structure and its function.     

Structural studies on teichoic acids in cell walls of several serotypes of Listeria monocytogenes

Structural studies were carried out on the teichoic acids in cell walls of Listeria monocytogenes serotypes 3a, 4b, 4f, 6, and 7. The structure of the dephosphorylated repeating units, obtained by treatment with 46% hydrogen fluoride or alkaline hydrolysis, was examined by methylation analysis, acetolysis, and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The results of Smith degradation of the teichoic acids and 13C-NMR spectroscopy led to the following most likely structures of the repeating units of the teichoic acids:----1-[N-acetylglucosaminyl(alpha 1----4)]ribitol-5-phosphate----for serotype 3a,----4-[galactosyl(alpha 1----6)][glucosyl(beta 1----3)]N -acetylglucosaminyl(beta 1----2)ribitol-5-phosphate----for serotype 4b,----4-[galactosyl(alpha 1----6)][N -acetylglucosaminyl(alpha 1----3)]N-acetylglucosaminyl(beta 1----2)ribitol -5-phosphate----for serotype 4f,----4-N-acetylglucosaminyl(beta 1----4)ribitol -5-phosphate----for serotype 6, and----1-ribitol-5-phosphate----for serotype 7. About 40% of the repeating units of the teichoic acid from serotype 4f were not substituted at C-3 of beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl residues.     

Structural studies on the minor teichoic acid of Bacillus coagulans AHU 1631

The minor teichoic acid linked to glycopeptide was isolated from lysozyme digests of Bacillus coagulans AHU 1631 cell walls, and the structure of the teichoic acid moiety and its junction with the peptidoglycan were studied. Hydrolysis of the teichoic-acid--glycopeptide complex with hydrogen fluoride gave a nonreducing oligosaccharide composed of glucose, galactose and glycerol in a molar ratio of 3:1:1 which was presumed to be dephosphorylated repeating units of the polymer chain. From the results of structural analysis involving NaIO4 oxidation, methylation and acetolysis, the above fragment was characterized as glucosyl(beta 1----3)glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactosyl(beta 1----6)glucosyl(alpha 1----1/3)glycerol. In addition, the Smith degradation of the complex yielded a phosphorus-containing fragment identified as glycerol-P-6-glucosyl(beta 1----1/3)glycerol. These results led to the most likely structure for the repeating units of the teichoic acid, -6[glucosyl(beta 1----3)]glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactosyl(beta 1----6)glucosyl(alpha 1----1/3)glycerol-P-. The minor teichoic acid, just like the major teichoic acid bound to the linkage unit, was released by heating the cell walls at pH 2.5. The mild alkaline hydrolysis of the minor teichoic acid after reduction with NaB3H4 gave labeled saccharides characterized as glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactitol and glucosyl(beta 1----3)glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactitol, together with a large amount of the unlabeled repeating units of the teichoic acid chain. Thus, the minor teichoic acid chain is believed to be directly linked to peptidoglycan at the galactose residue of the terminal repeating unit without a special linkage sugar unit.     

Structural studies on N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid-containing and glucuronic acid-containing teichuronic acids in the cell wall of Bacillus megaterium AHU 1375

Structural studies were carried out on two kinds of teichuronic acid-glycopeptide complexes (designated as TU-GP-I and TU-GP-II) isolated from lysozyme digest of N-acetylated cell walls of Bacillus megaterium AHU 1375 by ion-exchange chromatography and gel chromatography. TU-GP-I, accounting for about 25% of the cell walls, contained N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid, N-acetylglucosamine, glucose, galactose, glycerol, and phosphorus in an approximate molar ratio of 1:1:2:1:0.5:0.5, together with small amounts of glycopeptide components. TU-GP-II, accounting for about 9% of the cell walls, contained glucuronic acid, glucose, and fucose in a molar ratio of about 2:1.5:1, together with small amounts of glycopeptide components. The results of analyses involving Smith degradation, chromium oxidation, methylation, acetolysis, and H-NMR measurement led to the conclusion that the polysaccharide chain of TU-GP-I comprised repeating units,----6) Glc(alpha 1----3)-ManNAcUA(beta 1----4)[Gal(alpha 1----3)][Glc(beta 1----6)]GlcNAc(beta 1----. About half of the repeating units were substituted by glycerophosphoryl residues at C-6 of the beta-glucosyl residues linked to the N-acetylglucosamine residues. By means of a similar procedure, the polysaccharide chain of TU-GP-II was shown to comprise repeating units,----4)GlcUA(alpha 1----3)GlcUA(alpha 1----3)Glc(alpha 1----3)Fuc(alpha 1----, of which about half were substituted by alpha-glucosyl residues at C-3 of the 4-substituted glucuronosyl residues.     

A common linkage saccharide unit between teichoic acids and peptidoglycan in cell walls of Bacillus coagulans

Teichoic acid-glycopeptide complexes were isolated from lysozyme digests of the cell walls of Bacillus coagulans AHU 1631, AHU 1634, and AHU 1638, and the structure of the teichoic acid moieties and their linkage regions was studied. On treatment with hydrogen fluoride, each of the complexes gave a hexosamine-containing disaccharide, which was identified to be glucosyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, in addition to dephosphorylated repeating units of the teichoic acids, namely, galactosyl(alpha 1----2)glycerol and either galactosyl(alpha 1----2)[glucosyl(alpha 1----1/3)]glycerol (AHU 1638) or galactosyl(alpha 1----2)[glucosyl(beta 1----1/3)]glycerol (AHU 1631 and AHU 1634). From the results of Smith degradation, methylation analysis, and partial acid hydrolysis, the teichoic acids from these strains seem to have the same backbone chains composed of galactosyl(alpha 1----2)glycerol phosphate units joined by phosphodiester bonds at C-6 of the galactose residues. The presence of the disaccharide, glucosyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, in the linkage regions between teichoic acids and peptidoglycan was confirmed by the isolation of a disaccharide-linked glycopeptide fragment from each complex after treatment with mild alkali and of a teichoic acid-linked saccharide from each cell wall preparation after treatment with mild acid. Thus, it is concluded that despite structural differences in the glycosidic branches, the teichoic acids in the cell walls of the three strains are linked to peptidoglycan through a common linkage saccharide, glucosyl (beta 1----4) N-acetylglucosamine.     

GalNAc beta 1----3 terminated glycosphingolipids of human erythrocytes

Nonacid glycosphingolipids with 4 to 10 sugar residues isolated from pooled erythrocytes of blood group O donors have been efficiently separated as peracetylated derivatives on silicic acid. This procedure enabled a quantitative estimate of individual compounds and also revealed several GalNAc beta 1----3 terminated structures. The structural characterization of these glycolipids with 1H-NMR spectroscopy, direct inlet mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified the compounds as GalNAc beta 1----3Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1-N-acetyl sphingosine and GalNAc beta 1----3Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1-N-acetyl phytosphingosine, GalNAc beta 1----3GalNAc beta 1----3Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1 ceramide, and GalNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1 ceramide.     

Complete structure of the cell surface polysaccharide of Streptococcus oralis C104: a 600-MHz NMR study

Specific lectin-carbohydrate interactions between certain oral streptococci and actinomyces contribute to the microbial colonization of teeth. The receptor molecules of Streptococcus oralis, 34, ATCC 10557, and Streptococcus mitis J22 for the galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine reactive fimbrial lectins of Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii are antigenically distinct polysaccharides, each formed by a different phosphodiester-linked oligosaccharide repeating unit. These streptococci all coaggregated strongly with both A. viscosus and A. naesludii strains, whereas S. oralis C104 interacted preferentially with certain strains of the latter species. Receptor polysaccharide was isolated from S. oralis C104 cells and was shown to contain galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine, ribitol, and phosphate with molar ratios of 4:1:1:1. The 1H NMR spectrum of the polysaccharide shows that it contains a repeating structure. The individual sugars in the repeating unit were identified by 1H coupling constants observed in E-COSY and DQF-COSY spectra. NMR methods included complete resonance assignments (1H and 13C) by various homonuclear and heteronuclear correlation experiments that utilize scalar couplings. Sequence and linkage assignments were obtained from the heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation (HMBC) spectrum. This analysis shows that the receptor polysaccharide of S. oralis C104 is a ribitol teichoic acid polymer composed of a linear hexasaccharide repeating unit containing two residues each of galactopyranose and galactofuranose and a residue each of GalNAc and ribitol joined end to end by phosphodiester linkages with the following structure. [----6)Galf(beta 1----3)Galp(beta 1----6)Galf(beta 1----6)GalpNAc(beta 1----3) Galp(alpha 1----1)ribitol(5----PO4-]n     

The c-series gangliosides GT3, GT2 and GP1c are formed in rat liver Golgi by the same set of glycosyltransferases that catalyse the biosynthesis of asialo-, a- and b-series gangliosides.

Biosynthesis of the c-series gangliosides GT3, GT2 and GP1c was studied in Golgi derived from rat liver. Competition experiments show that the synthesis of ganglioside GT2 (GalNAc beta 1----4-(NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3)Gal- beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1Cer) from GT3 (NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----8-NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1Cer) seems to be catalysed by the same N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferase (GalNAc-T), which converts GM3 (NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1Cer) to GM2 (GalNAc beta 1----4(NeuAc alpha 2----3)Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1Cer). Similar competition experiments suggest moreover that the sialytransferase V (SAT V), which catalyses the synthesis of GT1a (NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc beta 1----4- (NeuAc alpha 2----3)-Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1Cer) from GD1a (NeuAc alpha-2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc beta 1----4(NeuAc alpha 2----3)Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1-Cer) appears to be identical to the enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of GP1c (NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3-GalNAc beta 1----4(NeuAc alpha 2----8-NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3)Gal beta-1----4Glc beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1Cer) from GQ1c (NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3Gal-NAc beta 1----4 (NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3)Gal beta 1----4-Glc beta 1----1Cer).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Characterization of a novel linkage unit between ribitol teichoic acid and peptidoglycan in Listeria monocytogenes cell walls

The structure of the linkage unit between ribitol teichoic acid and peptidoglycan in the cell walls of Listeria monocytogenes EGD was studied. A teichoic-acid--glycopeptide preparation isolated from lysozyme digests of the cell walls of this strain contained mannosamine, glycerol, glucose and muramic acid 6-phosphate in an approximate molar ratio of 1:1:2:1, together with large amounts of glucosamine and other components of teichoic acid and glycopeptides. A teichoic-acid-linked sugar preparation, obtained by heating the cell walls at pH 2.5, also contained glucosamine, mannosamine, glycerol and glucose in an approximate molar ratio of 25:1:1:2. Part of the glucosamine residues were shown to be involved in the linkage unit. Thus, on mild alkaline hydrolysis, the teichoic-acid-linked sugar preparation gave a disaccharide characterized as N-acetylmannosaminyl(beta 1----4)-N-acetylglucosamine [ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc] in addition to the ribitol teichoic acid moiety, whereas the teichoic-acid - glycopeptide was separated into disaccharide-linked glycopeptide and the ribitol teichoic acid moiety by the same procedure. Furthermore, Smith degradation of the cell walls gave a characteristic fragment, EtO2-P-Glc(beta 1----3)Glc(beta 1----1/3)Gro-P-ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc (where EtO2 = 1,2-ethylenediol and Gro = glycerol). The results lead to the conclusion that in the cell walls of this organism, the ribitol teichoic acid chain is linked to peptidoglycan through a novel linkage unit, Glc(beta 1----3)Glc(beta 1----1/3)Gro-P-(3/4)ManNAc-(beta 1----4)GlcNAc.     

Carbohydrate specificity of the receptor sites of mistletoe toxic lectin-I.

The carbohydrate specificity of mistletoe toxic lectin-I (ML-I) was studied by haemagglutination-inhibition assay. The results indicated that ML-I has a broad range of affinity for Gal alpha,beta linked sequences. The galabiose (E, Gal alpha 1----4Gal) sequence, a receptor of the uropathogenic E. coli ligand, was one of the best disaccharide inhibitors tested. The lectin also exhibits affinity for Lac(Gal beta 1----4Glc), T(Gal beta 1----3GalNAc), I/II(Gal beta 1----3/4GlcNAc) and B(Gal alpha 1----3Gal) sequences. Gal alpha 1----4Gal and Gal beta 1----4Glc are frequently occurring sequences of many glycosphingolipids located at the mammalian cell membranes, such as intestinal and red blood cell membranes, for ligand binding and toxin attachment. This finding provides important information concerning the possible mechanism of intoxication of cells by the mistletoe preparation.     

Novel phosphorus-containing glycosphingolipids from the blowfly Calliphora vicina Meigen. Structural analysis by 1H and 1H[31P]-edited NMR spectroscopy at 600 and 500 megahertz

Two novel phosphorus-containing neutral glycosphingolipids of the arthro series were isolated from the blowfly Calliphora vicina Meigen: GalNAc alpha 1----4GalNAc beta 1----(X---- 6)4GlcNAc beta 1----3Man beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1-ceramide and GalNAc beta 1----(X----6)4GlcNAc beta 1----3Man beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1- ceramide (X = -O-P(O)(O-)-OC-H2CH2NH3+). The primary structure of the ceramide pentasaccharide was elucidated de novo using two-dimensional 1H NMR correlation spectroscopy at 500 MHz and multistep relayed coherence transfer spectroscopy at 600 MHz. Localization of the 2'-aminoethyl phosphate substituent was established with the aid of 1H-detected, 31P-edited NMR spectroscopy at 500/202 MHz.     

Characterization of the Streptococcus adjacens group antigen structure.

Serological classification of bacteria requires the presence of an antigen unique to the organism of interest. Streptococci are serologically differentiated by group antigens, many of which are carbohydrates, although some are amphiphiles. This report describes the chemical characterization of the Streptococcus adjacens group antigen structure. Previous studies demonstrated that the amphiphile contained phosphorus, ribitol, galactose, galactosamine, alanine, and fatty acids. Phosphodiester bonds present in the purified group antigen were identified as part of a poly(ribitol phosphate), since ribitol phosphate was the only organic phosphate detected after acid hydrolysis. Hydrofluoric acid cleavage of the phosphodiester bonds generated oligosaccharide repeating units. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of the methylated, acetylated oligosaccharide suggested that the repeating unit is a trisaccharide of Galp beta 1-3Galp beta 1-4GalNac with N-acetylgalactosamine attached in beta-linkage to either the number two or the number four carbon of ribitol. The lipid- and carbohydrate-substituted poly(ribitol phosphate) of the S. adjacens group antigen therefore is a unique amphiphile structure, differing in its repeating-unit structure from the polyglycerophosphate structure of the more common gram-positive amphiphile lipoteichoic acid.     

Novel phosphonoglycosphingolipids containing pyruvylated galactose from the nervous system of Aplysia kurodai

We have reported the existence of a phosphonoglycosphingolipid containing a pyruvylated galactose, FGL-IIb, in nerve fibers of Aplysia kurodai (Araki, S., Abe, S., Ando, S., Kon, K., Fujiwara, N. & Satake, M. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 19922-19927). We have now isolated two other pyruvylated galactose-containing phosphonoglycosphingolipids, named FGL-V and FGL-IIa, from the nervous tissue of Aplysia, and characterized them as [3,4-O-(S-1-carboxyethylidene)]Gal beta 1----3GalNAc alpha 1----3[6'-O-(2- aminoethylphosphonyl)Gal alpha 1----2] (2-aminoethylphosphonyl----6) Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1 ceramide and [3,4,O-(S-1-carboxyethylidene)] Gal beta 1----3GalNAc alpha 1----3[6'-O-(2-aminoethylphosphonyl)Gal alpha 1----2]Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 11----ceramide, respectively. Their major aliphatic components are palmitic acid, octadeca-4-sphingenine and anteisononadeca-4-sphingenine. Thus, the nervous system of Aplysia contains several pyruvylated phosphonoglycolipids.     

Structure of acidic polysaccharide from cell wall of Propionibacterium acnes strain C7

The structure of polysaccharide prepared by lysozyme digestion from the cell wall of Propionibacterium acnes strain C7 was examined. The polysaccharide fraction was composed of glucose, galactose, mannose, galactosamine, and diaminomannuronic acid in a molar ratio of 1:1:0.3:1:2. By Smith degradation of the polysaccharide, diaminouronic acid-containing fractions were obtained, and the configuration of diaminouronic acid was identified as 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxymannuronic acid [Man(NAc)2A] by means of 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic analyses. The results of analyses involving methylation and partial acid hydrolysis led to the conclusion that the polysaccharide has the repeating unit----6)Gal(alpha 1----4)Man(NAc)2A(beta 1----6)Glc(alpha 1----4)Man(NAc)2A (beta 1----3)GalNAc(beta 1--. In addition, a portion of the galactose residues were substituted at C-4 by alpha 1----2 linked mannotriose.     

Structural characterization of a blood group A heptaglycosylceramide with globo-series structure. The major glycolipid based blood group A antigen of human kidney

A blood group A glycosphingolipid with the globo-series structure has been isolated from human kidney and structurally characterized. The structure was shown by mass spectrometry and proton NMR spectroscopy of the intact permethylated and permethylated-reduced derivatives together with degradation studies to be, GalNAc alpha 1----3Gal(2----1 alpha Fuc)beta 1----3GalNAc beta 1----3Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1 Ceramide. This glycolipid reacts with both polyclonal and monoclonal anti-A blood group typing antisera and it is the major glycolipid based blood group A antigen present in the human kidney.     

Polysialoglycoproteins of Salmonidae fish eggs. Complete structure of 200-kDa polysialoglycoprotein from the unfertilized eggs of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Polysialoglycoproteins (PSGP) we first isolated from the unfertilized eggs of rainbow trout (Salmo gairderi) and now found to be a ubiquitous component of Salmonidae fish eggs are a novel type of glycoprotein. PSGP from rainbow trout has a molecular weight of 200 X 10(3), a low protein content (about 15% w/w), and a high sialic acid (N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc] content (about 60%, w/w). In any evaluation of the biological functions of PSGP, information about the complete structure of this unique macromolecular component is relevant. We have now completed the determination of the overall structural organization of the 200-kDa PSGP, and this is the first report of the complete structural analysis of this novel class of glycoprotein: (Asp)0-2-Ala-Thr*-Ser*-Glu-(Ala-Ala-Thr*-Gly-Pro-Ser-Gly-Asp-Asp-Ala-Thr *-Ser*- Glu)n-Ala-Ala-Thr*-Gly-Pro-Ser-Gly where * indicates the amino acid residues to which oligo- and/or polysialylglycan units are attached and n = 25. Thus the most outstanding structural features of PSGP isolated from the unfertilized eggs of rainbow trout are now the occurrence of (a) tandem repeats of a tridecapeptide and (b) an alpha-2----8-linked oligo(poly)sialyl group on each of the core oligosaccharide chains, i.e. GalNAc- beta 1----4(NeuGc alpha 2----3)GalNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4Gal beta 1----3[----8NeuGc alpha 2)n----6)GalNAc alpha 1----Ser (or Thr), Fuc alpha 1----3GalNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4Gal beta 1----3[----8NeuGc alpha 2)n ----6)GalNAc alpha 1----Ser (or Thr), GalNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4Gal beta 1----3[----8NeuGc alpha 2)n----6)GalNAc alpha 1----Ser (or Thr), Gal beta 1----4Gal beta 1----3[----8NeuGc alpha 2)n----6)GalNAc alpha 1----Ser (or Thr), and Gal beta 1----3[----8NeuGc alpha 2)n----6) GalNAc alpha 1----Ser (or Thr).     

Structural and conformational analysis of sialyloligosaccharides using carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The analysis of the carbon-13 chemical shift data of NeuAc alpha (2----3)Gal beta (1----4)Glc and NeuAc alpha (2----3)Gla beta-(1----4)GlcNAc and their respective NeuAc alpha (2----6) isomers established distinct and different conformations of the sialic acid residue, depending on the type of anomeric linkage [alpha-(2----3) vs. alpha (2----6)]. Interactions between the NeuAc residue and the Glc or GlcNAc residue are particularly strong in the case of the alpha (2----6) isomers. Similar effects are observed for the larger oligosaccharides [II3(NeuAc)2Lac and IV6NeuAcLcOse4] and even in intact glycoproteins and polysaccharides. It is proposed that the NeuAc alpha (2----3) isomers assume an extended conformation with the sialic residue at the end (terminal) of the oligosaccharide chain or branch. The NeuAc alpha (2----6) isomers are assumed to be folded back toward the inner core sugar residues.     

Polar glycosphingolipids in insect: chemical structures of glycosphingolipid series containing 2'-aminoethylphosphoryl-(----6)-N-acetylglucosamine as a polar group from larvae of the green-bottle fly, Lucilia caesar.

A series of glycosphingolipids containing 2'-aminoethylphosphoryl(----6)-N-acetylglucosamine as a polar group has been demonstrated in larvae of the green-bottle fly, Lucilia caesar. The thin-layer chromatographic pattern of the total polar glycolipid revealed the presence of more than eight components, of which five major components were purified by the use of successive column chromatography on QAE- and DEAE-Sephadex and silicic acid (Iatrobeads). From structural studies including compositional sugar analysis, hydrogen fluoride degradation, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, their structures were deduced to be as follows: 2'-aminoethylphosphoryl----6GlcNAc beta 1-3Man beta 1-4Glc beta 1-Cer, GalNAc beta 1-4(2'-aminoethylphosphoryl----6)GlcNAc beta 1-3Man beta 1-4Glc beta 1-Cer, GalNAc alpha 1-4GalNAc beta 1-4(2'-aminoethylphosphoryl----6)GlcNAc beta 1-3Man beta 1-4Glc beta 1-Cer, Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha 1-4GalNAc-beta 1-4(2'-aminoethylphosphoryl----6)GlcNAc beta 1-3Man beta 1-4Glc beta 1-Cer, and GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal-beta 1-3GalNAc alpha 1-4GalNAc beta 1-4 (2'-aminoethylphosphoryl----6)GlcNAc beta 1-3Man beta 1-4Glc-beta 1-Cer. The main molecular species of the ceramide moiety was arachidinyltetradecasphingenine in all of the major glycolipids.     

Specificity of the sialic acid-binding lectin from the snail Cepaea hortensis.

The specificity of the sialic acid-binding lectin from the snail Cepaea hortensis, purified by affinity chromatography on fetuin-Sepharose, was studied by hemagglutination inhibition assay applying 32 sialic acid derivatives and 14 glycoproteins. 2-alpha-Methyl-9-O-acetyl-NeuAc was the most potent inhibitor, followed closely by 2-alpha-methyl-NeuAc and 2-alpha-benzyl-NeuAc. An axially orientated carboxyl group is a prerequisite for maximal lectin-sugar binding. Neither size nor polarity of the alpha-anomeric substituent significantly influenced inhibition potency. An intact sialic acid N-acetyl group is essential for optimal lectin-sugar interaction. The trihydroxypropyl side chain also is of great importance. However, a bulky hydrophobic substituent at the side chain like a 9-O-tosyl residue did not decrease binding to the lectin. The lectin did not distinguish between NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4Glc and NeuAc alpha 2----6Gal beta 1----4Glc. Among other sugars tested, only N-acetylglucosamine showed inhibition, although 50-fold less. The most potent glycoprotein inhibitors were those carrying O-chains only or preferentially, as ovine submaxillary mucin, bovine submaxillary mucin, and glycophorin A. Tamm-Horsfall protein was an exception being a strong inhibitor, although carrying only N-chains. Asialoglycoproteins were inactive. Glycoproteins containing the NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal sequence inhibited the lectin as well as those with NeuAc alpha 2----6GalNAc. From the results a model of the lectin's binding site for sialic acid is suggested.     

Isolation and structural elucidation of a novel type of ganglioside, deaminated neuraminic acid (KDN)-containing glycosphingolipid, from rainbow trout sperm. The first example of the natural occurrence of KDN-ganglioside, (KDN)GM3

Rainbow trout sperm contained almost exclusively monoanionic ganglioside fraction as a major acidic glycosphingolipid. Two monoacidic gangliosides were isolated and purified in this study and designated as sperm ganglioside 1 and 2 (sg-1 and sg-2). The two gangliosides, sg-1 and sg-2, contained the same neutral sugars, galactose and glucose in molar ratio of 1:1 and no GalNAc except for the presence of N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (NeuAc) in sg-1 and deaminated neuraminic acid (KDN; 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nononic acid) in sg-2. The complete structures of these gangliosides were determined by a combination of methylation analysis, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, 400-MHz one- and two-dimensional 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, fatty acid analysis, and endoglycoceramidase digestion NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----Cer sg-1 [(NeuAc)GM3] KDN alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----Cer sg-2 [(KDN)GM3] where, for both sg-1 and sg-2, the ceramide moieties (Cer) were found to be made up of 4-sphingenine and mainly C16:0 fatty acid (palmitate; 95%) with a minor amount of C24:1 fatty acyl chain (nervonate, 5%). The structure of sg-2 is novel and represents the first example of a new class of gangliosides, i.e. KDN-gangliosides.