Interaction of sugars, polysaccharides and cells with boronate-containing copolymers: from solution to polymer brushes

Interaction of mono- and disaccharides, polysaccharide particles and yeast cells with boronate-containing copolymers (BCC) of N-acryloyl-m-aminophenylboronic acid (NAAPBA) with N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) or N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) was studied. The binding of saccharides to BCC of NIPAM resulted in a shift of its phase transition temperature (DeltaTP), which provided a quantitative measure for the complex formation. Among the sugars typical of non-reducing ends of glycoproteins the DeltaTP decreased in the order: N-acetylneuraminic acid > xylose approximately galactose > mannose approximately fucose > N-acetylglucosamine. Strong specific adsorption of the BCC on the cross-linked agarose gel Sepharose CL-6B (15-30 mg/ml gel at pH 9.2) was registered. The copolymers adsorption was due to boronate-sugar interactions and decreased with pH. Multivalent interaction of the BCC with the agarose gel has been proven by liquid column chromatography exhibiting a weak reversible adsorption of NAAPBA and almost irreversible adsorption of DMAA-NAAPBA copolymer from 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.9. The two studied BCCs could be completely desorbed from the gel by 0.1 M fructose in aqueous buffered media with pH from 7.5 to 9.2. In turn, the agarose particles and yeast cells were found to adhere to siliceous supports end-grafted with boronate-BCC of N,N-dimethylacrylamide at pH > or = 7.5, due to the actions. Quantitative detachment of adhered particles or cells could be attained by addition of 20 mM or 100 mM fructose, respectively, in the pH range from 7.5 to 9.2. Affinity adhesion of micron-size carbohydrate particles to boronate-containing polymer brushes fixed on solid supports was considered as a model system suggesting a new approach to isolation and separation of living cells.     

No pathophysiologic relationship of soluble biliary proteins to cholesterol crystallization in human bile

This study explores the pathophysiologic effects of soluble biliary glycoproteins in comparison to mucin gel and cholesterol content on microscopic crystal and liquid crystal detection times as well as crystallization sequences in lithogenic human biles incubated at 37 degrees C. Gallbladder biles from 13 cholesterol gallstone patients were ultracentrifuged and microfiltered (samples I). Total biliary lipids were extracted from portions of samples I, and reconstituted with 0.15 m NaCl (pH 7.0) (samples II). Portions of samples II were supplemented with purified concanavalin A-binding biliary glycoproteins (final concentration = 1 mg/mL) (samples III), or mucin gel (samples IV), respectively, isolated from the same cholesterol gallstone biles. Samples V consisted of extracted biliary lipids from uncentrifuged and unfiltered bile samples reconstituted with 0.15 m NaCl (pH 7.0). Analytic lipid compositions of samples I through IV were identical for individual biles but, as anticipated, samples V displayed significantly higher cholesterol saturation indexes. Detection times of cholesterol crystals and liquid crystals were accelerated in the rank order of samples: IV > V > I = II = III, indicating that total soluble biliary glycoproteins in pathophysiologic concentration had no appreciable effect. Crystallization sequences (D. Q-H. Wang and M. C. Carey. J. Lipid Res. 1996. 37: 606-630; and 2539-2549) were similar among samples I through V. Crystal detection times and numbers of solid cholesterol crystals were accelerated in proportion to added mucin gel and the cholesterol saturation of bile only.For pathophysiologically relevant conditions, our results clarify that mucin gel and cholesterol content, but not soluble biliary glycoproteins, promote cholesterol crystallization in human gallbladder bile.     

A novel approach for chemically deglycosylating O-linked glycoproteins. The deglycosylation of submaxillary and respiratory mucins.

A new approach for removing O-glycosidically linked carbohydrate side chains from glycoproteins is described. Periodate oxidation of the C3 and C4 carbons in peptide-linked N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) residues generates a dialdehyde product which, under mild alkaline conditions, undergoes a beta-elimination which releases carbohydrate and leaves an intact peptide core. The pH and time dependence, and intermediates of the elimination, have been extensively followed by carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy and amino acid analysis using ovine submaxillary mucin (OSM) as the substrate. The deglycosylation of OSM is complete and provides apomucin in high yield with an amino acid composition identical to the starting material. Carboxymethylated OSM when deglycosylated by this method gives an apomucin with an apparent molecular weight of ca. 700 x 10(3). The molecular weight is the same as that calculated for the peptide core of the starting mucin, demonstrating the absence of peptide core cleavage. This contrasts with the use of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMSA), which generates apomucin products of lower molecular weights. Oligosaccharide side chains substituted at C3 of the peptide-linked GalNAc residue are resistant to the oxidation and elimination. Glycoproteins containing these more complex side chains can be deglycosylated by pretreatment with TFMSA under mild (0 degree C) conditions, which removes peripheral sugars (while leaving the peptide-linked GalNAc residue intact), followed by oxidation and beta-elimination. Studies on the deglycosylation of porcine submaxillary mucin and human tracheobronchial mucin indicate that this approach provides more efficient removal of carbohydrate and less peptide core degradation than a more vigorous (25 degrees C) treatment with TFMSA alone. 13C NMR spectroscopic studies and carbohydrate analysis of the deglycosylation intermediates of the human mucin indicate that certain sialic acid containing and N-acetylglucosamine-containing oligosaccharides have elevated resistance to TFMSA treatment at 0 degrees C. By the use of neuraminidase, repeated mild TFMSA treatments, and multiple oxidations and beta-eliminations, the human mucin can be nearly completely deglycosylated. It is expected that all mucins and most glycoproteins containing O-glycosidic linkages can be readily and nearly completely deglycosylated using this combined approach.     

Isolation and Characterization of Golgi Membranes from Suspension-cultured Cells of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The isolation of Golgi membranes from suspension-cultured cellsof rice (Oryza sativa L.) was attempted by linear glycerol densitygradient centrifugation. When "burst" membranes in the pelletobtaind after differential centrifugation at 100,000 ? g weresuspended in 20% (w/w) glycerol in 50 mM malate-NaOH (pH 6.0)and loaded onto a linear density gradient of glycerol, whichextended from 30 to 80% (w/w) in 1 mM EDTA in 50 mM glycylglycine-NaOH(pH 7.5), IDPase, a marker enzyme for Golgi membranes, was separatedfrom other membrane markers on the glycerol gradient. In addition,UDPase and GDPase activities overlapped with the peak fractionof IDPase activity. Furthermore, membrane glycoproteins in eachfraction were characterized by lectin-peroxidase staining. ConcanavalinA and lentil lectin, which have the ability to bind to the high-mannosetype of oligosaccharide, bound to glycoproteins distributedin ER membrane fractions, while wheat germ lectin, castor beanlectin, peanut lectin, and Ulex europaeus lectin-I which recognizethe complex type and/or the mucin type of oligosaccharides interactedwith glycoproteins in the Golgi membrane fractions but not withthose in the ER membrane. These results strongly suggest thatthe oligosaccharide structures of glycoproteins in the ER membraneare of the high-mannose type, whereas glycoproteins in the Golgimembrane have modified N-linked and/or O-linked oligosaccharidechains. (Received November 9, 1988; Accepted October 17, 1989)     

G.l.c. of O-methyloxime and alditol acetate derivatives of neutral sugars, hexosamines, and sialic acids: "one-pot" quantitative determination of the carbohydrate constituents of glycoproteins and a study of the selectivity of alkaline borohydride reductions

A new procedure for the quantification by g.l.c. of the carbohydrate constituents of glycoproteins is proposed which involves (a) simultaneous action of neuraminidase and neuraminic acid aldolase, (b) hydrolysis with 4M trifluoroacetic acid at 125 degrees for 1 h, and (c) conversion of the products into O-methyloxime acetates and g.l.c. The procedure has been successfully tested on fetuin, transferrin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, and mucin. The g.l.c. conditions used also enabled the complete separation of O-methyloxime and alditol acetate derivatives in one run, so that the release of carbohydrate chains from glycoproteins by treatment with alkaline borohydride can be investigated conveniently. There was complete release of O-linked oligosaccharides from fetuin on treatment with 0.1M NaOH/0.8M NaBH4 (68 h, 37 degrees) or 0.05M KOH/M KBH4 (24 h, 45 degrees) and also release of approximately 75% and 35-40%, respectively, of N-asparagine-linked chains. Reduced oligosaccharides were formed only from O-linked chains; the mechanism by which N-linked chains were released is still not clear.     

Effect of NaCl on Biomass and Contents of Sugars, Proline and Proteins in Seedlings and Leaf Explants of Nicotiana tabacum Grown in vitro

Effects of NaCl on growth in vitro and contents of sugars, free proline and proteins in the seedlings and leaf explants of Nicotiana tabacum cv. Virginia were investigated. The fresh and dry mass of the seedlings decreased under salinity. These growth parameters in leaf explants decreased at 50 mM NaCl and increased up to 150 mM NaCl and then decreased at higher level of salinity. Free proline content in both seedlings and leaf explants increased and polysaccharide content decreased continuously with increasing of NaCl concentration. Reducing sugars, oligosaccharides, soluble sugars and total sugars contents in both seedlings and leaf explants decreased up to 150 mM NaCl and then increased at higher concentrations of NaCl.     

Characterization of the oligosaccharide alditols from ovarian cyst mucin glycoproteins of blood group A using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high field 1H NMR spectroscopy

A combination of reverse phase and normal phase high pressure liquid chromatography has been used to separate the reduced oligosaccharides produced by alkaline borohydride degradation of a blood group A ovarian cyst mucin glycoproteins. Fourteen compounds, ranging in size from a monosaccharide to a decasaccharide, have been isolated preparatively using a Zorbax C-18 reverse phase column eluted with water and a MicroPak AX-5 normal phase column eluted with aqueous acetonitrile. The purity of the products and their structures were determined from the fully assigned high field proton NMR spectra. The resonances of exchangeable amide protons, observed by the Redfield selective pulse sequence in H2O, were assigned by decoupling to the resonances of H2 of the 2-acetamido sugars. Nuclear Overhauser effects were used to establish the relationship of the anomeric protons and those of the aglycone. In exception to earlier proposals that nuclear Overhauser effect on irradiation of the anomeric proton should always be observed at the proton attached to the aglycone carbon, we find that for the linkage of GalNAcp(1----3)Gal, nuclear Overhauser effect on irradiation of the alpha-anomeric proton resonance is observed not at H3 but at H4 of galactose. A combination of NMR methods and enzymatic degradation was employed to determine the structures of 13 different oligosaccharides of which seven have not previously been reported. These oligosaccharides, which terminate with beta-Gal, alpha-Fuc, beta-GlcNAc, and alpha-GalNAc, account for 75% of the total glycoprotein carbohydrate, the remainder being isolated as a mixture of glycopeptides and a high molecular weight polysaccharide whose NMR spectrum implies a simple repeating subunit structure closely related to that of the oligosaccharides.     

Identification of Lectin-Purified Neural Glycoproteins, GPs 180, 116, and 110, with NMDA and AMPA Receptor Subunits: Conservation of Glycosylation at the Synapse

Abstract: The postsynaptic apparatus is associated with a number of glycoproteins with apparent molecular masses of 180, 116, and 110 kDa, which are highly concentrated in and may be uniquely associated with this structure. These glycoproteins, purified by concanavalin A lectin-affinity chromatography, showed immunoreactivity in the present study with subunit-specific antibodies to glutamate receptors as follows: GP 180, NMDA receptor subunits NR2A/NR2B; GP 116, NMDA receptor NR1 (1a); and GP 110, pan-α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (pan-AMPA) receptors. Sensitivities to the glycosidases peptide N -glycosidase F and endo -β- N -acetylglucosaminidase H on both western blots and silver-stained gels suggested that the glutamate receptors were at least major constituents of the glycoprotein bands. Similar detailed glycosylation was observed for all three glycoproteins, with neutral oligosaccharides being dominant. Oligomannosidic glycans (with from five to nine mannoses) accounted for ∼50% of the neutral sugars, with Man 5 (at almost 20% of the neutral sugars) always the major glycan. Other abundant neutral oligosaccharides were of the complex type. Similar sensitivities to peptide N -glycosidase F and endo -β- N -acetylglucosaminidase H were observed for cell line-expressed NMDA receptor subunits, suggesting that irrespective of the glycosylation processing available, the least highly processed oligosaccharides will be expressed. This may be indicative of glycosylation sites in these receptors that are inaccessible to the later processing enzymes and favours the oligomannosidic class of glycans in functional roles.     

Glycosidases of molluscs. Purification and properties of alpha-L-fucosidase from Chamelea gallina L.

An alpha-L-fucosidase had been purified approximately 300-fold from the liver (hepatopancreas) of the marine mollusc Chamelea gallina L. (= Venus gallina L.). During the different steps of the purification procedure it was difficult to remove the contaminant N-acetylglucosaminidase activity; but, after electrofocusing, a final preparation free of this and other glycosidades present in the crude extract was obtained. The purified enzyme has a broad specificity; it hydrolyzes p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-fucoside and natural substrates such as oligosaccharides containing fucosidic residues with alpha 1--2, alpha 1--3 and alpha 1--4 linkages; also it hydrolyzes fucose-containing glycopeptides, such as thyroglobulin glycopeptide, and glycoproteins as procine submaxillary mucin (previously rendered free of sialic acid). The enzyme has a pH optimum of 5.2 +/- 0.2, with a Km of 7 X 10(-5) M using p-nitrophenyl L-fucoside as substrate. It is inhibited by Hg2+ and some sugars, and activated by CN-, Zn2+, Ca2+ and EDTA. It shows two peaks by isoelectric focusing (at 6.3 and 6.6). The molecular weight of the alpha-L-fucosidase by gel filtration was over 2000000.     

On the characterization of pH-sensitive liposome/polymer complexes

A randomly alkylated copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide, methacrylic acid and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone was characterized with regard to its pH- and temperature-triggered conformational change. It was then complexed to liposomes to produce pH-responsive vesicles. Light scattering and differential scanning calorimetry experiments performed at neutral pH revealed that the polymer underwent coil-to-globule phase transition over a wide range of temperatures. At 37 degrees C and pH 7.4, although the polymer was water-soluble, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that it was partly dehydrated. At acidic pH, the decrease in the lower critical solution temperature was accompanied by an increase in cooperativity degree of the phase transition. Complexation of copolymer to liposomes did not substantially influence its phase transition. The liposome/copolymer complexes were stable at neutral pH but rapidly released their contents under acidic conditions. The copolymer slightly increased liposome circulation time following intravenous administration to rats. The addition of poly(ethylene glycol) to the formulation had a detrimental effect on pH-sensitivity but enhanced substantially the circulation time.     

Biosynthesis of high molecular weight breast carcinoma associated mucin glycoproteins

We have studied the biosynthesis of mucin glycoproteins recognized by monoclonal antibody W1 in MCF7 cells. Proteins of Mr 170,000, 185,000, 260,000, and 275,000 were immunoprecipitated from cells pulse-labeled with [3H]threonine and [3H]proline. Evidence suggesting that these proteins were precursors of high molecular weight mucin(s) included: 1) their kinetics of disappearance corresponded with appearance of mature mucin(s) (t1/2 = 30 min); 2) their processing into mature mucin(s) was not blocked by cycloheximide, but was disrupted by monensin, which impairs glycoprotein processing in the Golgi; 3) they were inaccessible to antibody added outside the cells, whereas mature mucin(s) was accessible and appeared at the cell surface with a t1/2 = 45 min; and 4) their mobilities of precursors varied between different cell lines, but generally correlated with mobilities of mature mucin(s). The precursors were sensitive to endoglycosidase H, indicating that they contained high mannose N-linked oligosaccharides. Less than 3% of threonine residues in the precursors, but more than 75% in mature mucin(s), were substituted with O-linked oligosaccharides. Therefore, initiation of N-linked oligosaccharides occurred soon after initiation of core protein synthesis, but initiation of O-linked oligosaccharides occurred much later, just prior to appearance of mature mucin(s) at the cell surface.     

Rapid intramolecular turnover of N-linked glycans in plasma membrane glycoproteins. Extension of intramolecular turnover to the core sugars in plasma membrane glycoproteins of hepatoma

Plasma membrane glycoproteins of rat hepatocytes undergo a rapid terminal deglycosylation in that the terminal sugars of the oligosaccharide side chains are rapidly removed from the otherwise intact glycoproteins [Tauber, R., Park, C.S. & Reutter, W. (1983) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 80, 4026-4029]. The present paper demonstrates that this rapid intramolecular turnover of plasma membrane glycoproteins is not restricted to peripheral sugars but, in contrast to liver, in hepatoma the core sugars of the oligosaccharide chains are also involved. Intramolecular turnover was measured in Morris hepatoma 7777 in five plasma membrane glycoproteins with Mr of 85,000 (hgp85), 105,000 (hgp105), 115,000 (hgp115), 125,000 (hgp125), 175,000 (hgp175) (hgp = hepatoma glycoprotein) that were isolated and purified to homogeneity by concanavalin-A--Sepharose affinity chromatography and semipreparative SDS gel electrophoresis. Analysis of the carbohydrates of hgp85, hgp105, hgp115 and hgp125 revealed the presence of N-linked oligosaccharides containing L-fucose, D-galactose, D-mannose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, but only of trace amounts of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine; hgp175 additionally contained significant amounts of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, indicating the presence of both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. As shown by digestion with endoglucosaminidase H, the N-linked oligosaccharides of hgp105, hgp115, hgp125 and hgp175 were of the complex type, whereas hgp85 also contained oligosaccharides of the high-mannose type. Half-lives of the turnover of the oligosacharide chains and of the protein backbone of the five glycoproteins were measured in the plasma membrane in pulse-chase experiments in vivo, using L-[3H]fucose as a marker of terminal sugars, D-[3H]mannose as marker of a core sugar and L-[3H]leucine for labelling the protein backbone. Protein backbones of the five glycoproteins were degraded with individual half-lives ranging over 41-90 h with a mean of 66 h. Compared to the degradation of the polypeptide backbone, both the terminal sugar L-fucose and the core sugar D-mannose turned over with much shorter half-lives averaging about 20 h in the five glycoproteins. The data show that, conversely to liver, within plasma membrane glycoproteins of hepatoma not only peripheral sugars but also core sugars of the oligosaccharides are split off during the life-span of the protein backbone. It may therefore be assumed that this reprocessing of plasma membrane glycoproteins is sensitive to malignant transformation.     

Purification of lectin from fruiting bodies of Lactarius rufus (Scop.: Fr.)Fr. and its carbohydrate specificity

A lectin from fruiting bodies of Lactarius rufus (Scop.: Fr.)Fr. has been purified by affinity chromatography on copolymer of polyvinyl alcohol with a blood group B specific substance. The lectin gives a single band at disk-electrophoresis in acidic (pH 4.3) and alkaline (pH 8.6) buffer systems. Under electrophoresis in 10-20% SDS-PAGE, the lectin consists of identical subunits with molecular weight 17 +/- 1 kDa. Molecular weight of the lectin is 98 kDa according to gel-chromatography on Tojopearl HW-55. It is supposed that the lectin contains six subunits. The lectin is quite enough stable in pH 4.0-10.0, its activity does not depend upon bivalent metal ions. When heating the lectin solution to 65 degrees C it lost more than 85% of its activity. The lectin agglutinates human etrythrocytes without any marked group specificity, it agglutinates 2-4 times worse rabbit erythrocytes, very weakly crucian erythrocytes and does not agglutinate sheep erythrocytes. Mono- and disaccharides are not inhibitors of the lectin activity, while alpha-phenyl-N-acethyl-D-glucosaminopyranosid (0.08 mM) and 4-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucosamin are the best inhibitors of its activity. Among glycoproteins the best inhibitors of the lectin activity are: group-specific substances from human blood erythrocytes, asialosubmaxillary bovine mucin, human and bovine thyroglobulin and more weak inhibitors are fetuin, transferrin and human Ig G.     

Biochemical characterization of the component parts of intestinal mucin from patients with cystic fibrosis.

Previous studies have shown that human small-intestinal mucin consists of high-Mr glycoproteins and a smaller S-S-bonded protein of 118 kDa. The major antigenic determinants of the mucin were associated with the large glycoproteins, but depended for stability on intact disulphide bonds, and were destroyed by digestion with Pronase. In the present study we isolated and analysed the component parts of mucin from patients with cystic fibrosis with special attention being paid to the peptide constituents. After reduction with 0.2 M-beta-mercaptoethanol [5 min, 100 degrees C in 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate)], the large glycoproteins and smaller peptide with an apparent molecular size of 118 kDa were separated by equilibrium density-gradient centrifugation in CsCl, Sepharose 4B chromatography or preparative SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The large glycoproteins contained about 70% of the protein of the native mucin. Digestion with Pronase resulted in a further loss of 'naked' protein (10% of the native mucin protein) from the C-terminal end of the glycoprotein peptide core, and left behind highly glycosylated proteins comprised mainly (70 mol%) of threonine, serine and proline. The 118 kDa component, which contained about 30% of the native mucin protein, consisted mainly of aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid and glycine (40 mol%), plus threonine, proline, alanine, valine and leucine (35 mol%). Together with the 'naked' protein segment, the 118 kDa component contained most of the cysteine residues of the native mucin. Surprisingly, the peptide also contained carbohydrate (less than or equal to 5% of the native mucin carbohydrate but 50% by weight of the 118 kDa component), which included 9 mol% mannose, suggesting the presence of N-linked oligosaccharides. The peptide exhibited strong non-covalent interactions with the high-Mr glycoproteins and a tendency to self-aggregate in the absence of dissociating agents. Our findings therefore suggest that native mucin consists of large glycoproteins capable of forming disulphide bridges from their C-terminal 'naked' (antigenic) regions to a smaller glycopeptide having an Mr of 118 000.     

A misfolded protein conformation is not a sufficient condition for in vivo glucosylation by the UDP-Glc:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase.

A key element in the quality control of glycoprotein folding is the UDP-Glc:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase (GT), which in cell-free assays exclusively glucosylates misfolded glycoproteins. In order to test if such a protein conformation is a sufficient condition for in vivo glucosylation of all N-linked oligosaccharides by GT, a Schizosaccharomyces pombe double mutant (gls2/alg6) was constructed. With this mutant, Man9GlcNAc2 is transferred to proteins and no removal of glucose units added by GT occurs as it lacks glucosidase II. The same proportion of glucosylated (Glc1Man9GlcNAc2) and unglucosylated (Man9GlcNAc2 and Man8GlcNAc2) endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-specific compounds was produced when cells were pre-incubated for 10, 20 or 30 min and further incubated with [14C]glucose for 10 min at 28 degrees C with or without 5 mM dithiothreitol (DTT), thus indicating not only that DTT did not affect protein glucosylation but also that no increased glucosylation of glycoproteins occurred in the presence of the drug. Monitoring Golgi-specific modifications of oligosaccharides after pulse-chase experiments performed in the presence or absence of 5 mM DTT showed that exit of the bulk of glycoproteins synthesized from the ER and thence their proper folding had been prevented by the drug. Cells pulse-chase labeled at 37 degrees C in the absence of DTT also yielded glucosylated and unglucosylated protein-linked oligosaccharides without Golgi-specific modifications. It was concluded that a misfolded protein conformation is not a sufficient condition for in vivo glucosylation of all N-linked oligosaccharides by GT.     

A selective method for sequential splitting of O- and N-linked glycans from N,O-glycoproteins.

O-Linked oligosaccharides from N,O-glycoproteins were selectively split off by treatment with alkaline sodium borohydride in the presence of cadmium salt. The side reaction of reductive cleavage of N-glycosylamide and peptide bonds, observed under standard conditions of splitting of O-linked chains (M NaBH4 and 50mM NaOH, 16 h, 50 degrees), was inhibited by addition of 50-10 mM cadium acetate and 5-10mM EDTA.Na4, as shown by treatment of model compounds and several glycoproteins (ovomucoid, group-specific glycoproteins H and B, fetuin, and asialofetuin). This treatment, in combination with the previously developed procedure for the release of the N-linked oligosaccharide chains by lithium borohydride, allows a sequential, selective cleavage of O-, and then N-linked oligosaccharides from N,O-glycoproteins by chemical methods.     

The effect of the lipid bilayer state on fluorescence intensity of fluorescein-PE in a saturated lipid bilayer

Fluorescein-PE is a fluorescence probe that is used as a membrane label or a sensor of surface associated processes. Fluorescein-PE fluorescence intensity depends not only on bulk pH, but also on the local electrostatic potential, which affects the local membrane interface proton concentration. The pH sensitivity and hydrophilic character of the fluorescein moiety was used to detect conformational changes at the lipid bilayer surface. When located in the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer, probe fluorescence depends on conformational changes that occur during phase transitions. Relative fluorescence intensity changes more at pretransition than at the main phase transition temperature, indicating that interface conformation affects the condition in the vicinity of the membrane. Local electrostatic potential depends on surface charge density, the local dielectric constant, salt concentration and water organisation. Initial increase in fluorescence intensity at temperatures preceding that of pretransition can be explained by the decreased value of the dielectric constant in the lipid polar headgroups region related in turn to decreased water organisation within the membrane interface. The abrupt decrease in fluorescence intensity at temperatures between 25 degrees C and 35 degrees C (DPPC pretransition) is likely to be caused by an increased value of the electrostatic potential, induced by an elevated value of the dielectric constant within the phosphate group region. Further increase in the fluorescence intensity at temperatures above that of the gel-liquid phase transition correlates with the calculated decreased surface electrostatic potential. Above the main phase transition temperature, fluorescence intensity increase at a salt concentration of 140 mM is larger than with 14 mM. This results from a sharp decline of the electrostatic potential induced by the phosphocholine dipole as a function of distance from the membrane surface.     

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     

Glycoprotein synthesis in a temperature-sensitive Chinese hamster cell cycle mutant

A temperature-sensitive mutant of Chinese hamster cells is described which has two interesting properties: (1) it is a cell cycle mutant and (2) glycoprotein synthesis appears to be affected at the at the non-permissive temerature (40degreesC). Synchronized cells shifed to 40degreesC in the beginning of their G1 phase do not incorporate [3H]-thymidine into DNA during the expected S-phase, but once DNA synthesis has been initiated ( approximately 10 hours after termination of serum starvation) a shift to 40 degrees C no longer leads to an arrest of DNA synthesis. Flow microfluorimetric analysis of DNA content/cell supports this conclusion and indicates that a majority of cells become arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle when a non-synchronized population of cells is transferred to 40degreesC. Apparently at all times in the cell cycle there is a drastic reduction if incorporation of labeled sugars (particularly fucose) into glycoproteins. The uptake of fucose and its conversion to GDP-fucose appears to be normal at 40degreesC. Chromatographic analysis indicates that all classes of glycoproteins are affected, and we do not find any evidence for partially completed oligosaccharides at 40 degrees C. Overall protein synthesis is not reduced at he nonpermissive temperature during the time interval under consideration and the number of polysomes attached to membranes (RER) is also normal at 40degreesC. This suggests that the defect is at an early step in the synthesis or regulation of synthesis of glycoproteins. The mutation is a recessive mutation in hybrid cells and mutagen induced revertants can be obtained which grow normally at 40degreesC and in which glycoprotein synthesis at 40 degrees C is restored to normal, wild type levels.     

Partial purification and characterization of an endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase from the culture of medium of Diplococcus pneumoniae.

The culture medium of Diplococcus pneumoniae contains enzymic activity that cleaves Galbeta1 leads to 3GalNAc from desialized human erythrocyte membrane glycoprotein. The enzyme was purified 180-fold by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration through a Sephadex G-200 column, and DEAE A-25 Sephadex chromatography. The purified enzyme liberates Galbeta1 leads to 3GalNAc from glycopeptides and glycoproteins with Galbeta1 leads to 3GalNAcalpha1 leads to Ser and Thr moieties. The optimum pH of this enzyme is 6.0. Using glycopeptides obtained by trypsin digestion of human erythrocyte membrane glycoprotein as a substrate, a Km of 0.20 mM (on the basis of the amount of Galbeta1 leads to 3GalNAc residues) was obtained. So far, the enzyme appears to have a strict specificity for Galbeta1 leads to 3GalNAcalpha1 leads to Ser and Thr structures, because no oligosaccharides larger than trisaccharides were liberated from porcine submaxillary mucin.