Purification and characterization of a UDP-Gal:beta-D-Gal(1,4)-D-GlcNAc alpha(1,3)-galactosyltransferase from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

A UDP-Gal:N-acetyllactosaminide alpha (1,3)-galactosyltransferase from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells has been purified over 200,000-fold to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity. The purified enzyme transfers D-galactosyl groups from UDP-Gal to beta-D-Gal-(1,4)-D-GlcNAc in alpha-linkage. The apparent Km values for donor and acceptor substrates are 12.6 microM and 1.15 mM, respectively. The trisaccharides beta-D-Gal(1,4)-beta-D-GlcNAc(1,2)- or (1,6)-D-Man exhibit a Km 5-fold lower than that of N-acetyllactosamine, and an even more pronounced effect is observed with the biantennary pentasaccharide beta-D-Gal(1,4)-beta-D-GlcNAc(1,2)-[beta-D-Gal(1, 4)-beta-D-GlcNAc-(1,6)]-D-Man (Km 0.10 mM). The transferase shows a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions with an apparent subunit molecular weight of 80,000, exhibits a pH optimum at 6.2, and requires Mn2+ ions and detergent for enzymatic activity. Specificity studies using immobilized oligosaccharides show that the minimum acceptor structure for the alpha-galactosyltransferase is N-acetyllactosamine. The narrow specificity of the alpha-galactosyltransferase is indicated by the fact that lactose, beta-D-Gal(1,3)-D-GlcNAc, and beta-D-Gal(1,4)-[alpha-L-Fuc(1,3)]-D-GlcNAc are very poor acceptors. The enzyme differs from the blood-group B-specified galactosyltransferase in that the sequence alpha-L-Fuc(1,2)-beta-D-Gal(1,4)-D-GlcNAc is not an acceptor. Oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, and glycosaminoglycans containing the terminal nonreducing N-acetyllactosamine unit all serve as acceptors for the enzyme.     

Crystal structure of beta1,4-galactosyltransferase complex with UDP-Gal reveals an oligosaccharide acceptor binding site

The crystal structure of the catalytic domain of bovine beta1,4-galactosyltransferase (Gal-T1) co-crystallized with UDP-Gal and MnCl(2) has been solved at 2.8 A resolution. The structure not only identifies galactose, the donor sugar binding site in Gal-T1, but also reveals an oligosaccharide acceptor binding site. The galactose moiety of UDP-Gal is found deep inside the catalytic pocket, interacting with Asp252, Gly292, Gly315, Glu317 and Asp318 residues. Compared to the native crystal structure reported earlier, the present UDP-Gal bound structure exhibits a large conformational change in residues 345-365 and a change in the side-chain orientation of Trp314. Thus, the binding of UDP-Gal induces a conformational change in Gal-T1, which not only creates the acceptor binding pocket for N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) but also establishes the binding site for an extended sugar acceptor. The presence of a binding site that accommodates an extended sugar offers an explanation for the observation that an oligosaccharide with GlcNAc at the non-reducing end serves as a better acceptor than the monosaccharide, GlcNAc. Modeling studies using oligosaccharide acceptors indicate that a pentasaccharide, such as N-glycans with GlcNAc at their non-reducing ends, fits the site best. A sequence comparison of the human Gal-T family members indicates that although the binding site for the GlcNAc residue is highly conserved, the site that binds the extended sugar exhibits large variations. This is an indication that different Gal-T family members prefer different types of glycan acceptors with GlcNAc at their non-reducing ends.     

Branch specificity of bovine colostrum and calf thymus UDP-Gal: N-acetylglucosaminide beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase

The branch specificity of bovine colostrum and calf thymus UDP-Gal:N-acetylglucosaminide beta-1----4-galactosyltransferase toward several branched oligosaccharides, which form part of the complex-type N-glycans of glycoproteins, was investigated. A novel method was used based on acetolysis of the bi[14C,3H] galactosylated oligosaccharide products formed by the enzymes in vitro and analysis of the acetolysis fragments by high-pressure liquid chromatography. It could be established that the galactosylation of different oligosaccharide branches occurred in a preferred order. No difference in branch specificity was observed between the soluble bovine colostrum galactosyltransferase and the enzyme that had been solubilized from calf thymus membranes. A preferential pathway for the biosynthesis of bisialylated biantennary glycans is proposed.     

Purification and characterization of thymidylate synthetase in the liver of the mouse bearing Ehrlich ascites tumor

The activity of thymidylate synthetase in the liver of the ddY strain male mouse increased transitorily according to the increase in tumor cell number at maximum 7-9 days after ip transplantation of Ehrlich ascites tumor. The enzyme was able to be purified from the tumor host mouse liver or from the normal mouse liver in the same manner as from tumor cells using Affi-Gel blue and methotrexate-Sepharose 4B affinity column chromatography. The three enzyme preparations obtained were purified at 27,000-38,000-, and 8,000-fold, and yielded total activities of 11, 3, and 16% of these homogenates, respectively. These preparations were similar in molecular weight to the whole enzyme (67,000) and its subunit (34,000), optimum pH, and Km values either for deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate or tetrahydrofolate in the presence of formaldehyde. Furthermore, the amount of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate forming the ternary complex with the enzyme and tetrahydrofolate paralleled the enzyme activities in the cytosol fractions of the three tissues. The characteristics of the tumor host liver enzyme were similar to those of the proliferating tissues, the Ehrlich ascites tumor.     

Purification and characterization of butyrate-induced protein phosphatase involved in apoptosis of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Short chain fatty acids including butyrate exhibit wide variety of biological effects towards cell growth, morphology and gene expression. In this report, we study the mechanism by which butyrate (BuA) modulates the expression of protein phosphatase when treated to the cells. As a model system, we used Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAT) cells in which BuA-treatment induces expression of a protein phosphatase enzyme. Subsequently, BuA-induced protein phosphatase has been biochemically purified and characterized. Further, pretreatment of caspase-3 inhibitor abolished the activity of BuA-induced protein phosphatase indicating the involvement of caspase-3 in the activation of BuA-induced protein phosphatase. In addition, the relationship between BuA-induced protein phosphatase and apoptosis has been verified. Activation of endonuclease-II has been shown in BuA-treated EAT cells and that activity was completely inhibited by sodium orthovanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor suggesting that endonuclease-II may serve as a possible down-stream target for BuA-induced protein phosphatase. Together, the data suggest that activation of protein phosphatase may be an early and essential step in BuA-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway in EAT cells.     

Purification and characterization of cytoplasmic 14C-arginine rich basic proteins of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Summary Arginine rich basic proteins from cytoplasm of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells have been separated and partially characterized. All proteins show a cationic character with the following isoelectric points: 8.45, 8.60, 8.70, 8.90, and possess various amount of arginine. The protein of the highest molecular weight (75000) has the greatest amount of arginine (18.1%), specific radioactivity (19760 cpm/mg, min) and isoelectric point (8.9). The significance of those proteins in the cytoplasm of tumor cells has been discussed briefly.     

Purification of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells by chromatography on DNA-agarose.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase with a high specific activity was obtained from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells by extraction of nuclei with 175 mM potassium phosphate, followed by chromatography on DNA-agarose. Electrophoretic analysis indicated that the preparation contained two proteins, one of which was shown to catalyze the synthesis of poly(ADP-ribose). As expected from results obtained by other workers, the synthesis was inhibited by nicotinamide and thymidine, and stimulated by DNA. Addition of histones gave inhibition of the synthesis, unless DNA was present in the reaction mixture.     

Plasma membrane association, purification, and partial characterization of mouse sperm beta 1,4-galactosyltransferase

Gamete recognition in the mouse is mediated, in part, by the binding of sperm surface galactosyltransferase (GalTase) to appropriate substrates in the egg zona pellucida. In this paper, sperm GalTase is shown to be an externally oriented, integral plasma membrane component. GalTase is not peripherally adsorbed to the cell surface, nor is it bound to cell surface glycoside substrates. GalTase can be released from the surface of intact sperm by either mild proteolysis or by detergent under conditions in which the sperm membranes remain intact as judged by double-label indirect immunofluorescence. Detergent-solubilized sperm GalTase has been purified to apparent homogeneity by affinity chromatography and characterized as a beta 1,4-GlcNAc:GalTase by substrate and kinetic analyses. Purified and membrane-bound GalTase both show an unusual thermal inactivation above 39-40 degrees C, whereas other sperm enzyme activities as well as GalTase activity from other cell types are temperature-dependent. Purified sperm GalTase inhibits sperm binding to the egg zona pellucida, consistent with its proposed role during gamete recognition.     

Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) chalone effects on nascent DNA synthesis and DNA polymerase alpha and beta.

EAT chalone effects on nascent DNA synthesis and DNA polymerase were examined. Concentration related inhibition of 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation into EAT cell DNA was noted over a chalone range of 50-200 mug/ml. RNA synthesis was not affected, but protein synthesis decreased an average of 82% during 3 hr. Nascent DNA pulse-labeled for 2 min was normally incorporated into bulk DNA in the presence of chalone, but crude alpha- and beta-polymerase activities were inhibited. Crude DNA polymerase for C3H mouse kidney and spleen was also partially inhibited by EAT chalone, suggesting non-specific inhibition of DNA polymerase. Preincubation studies of chalone with crude EAT DNA polymerase or 'gapped' DNA primer had no effect on chalone activity. Chalone may control mitotic activity by inhibiting alpha- and beta-polymerase activity, thereby decreasing nascent DNA synthesis. Nascent DNA is incorporated normally into bulk DNA in the presence of chalone, indicating the DNA ligase is not inhibited.     

Purification and characterization of Novikoff ascites tumor protein kinase.

A protein kinase, designed KII, has been purified 5000-fold from Novikoff ascites tumor cells. The purification procedure also allows for the purification of a second major protein kinase, designated KI, as well as RNA polymerase I and II. Purified KII has a sedimentation constant of 7.6 S and a Stokes radius of 39 A, suggesting a molecular weight of about 122000. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the enzyme in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate suggests the enzyme is composed of subunits of molecular weights 44 000, 40 000, and 26 000 present in a molar ratio of 1:1:2. Incubation of the enzyme alone in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP results in the phosphorylation of the 26 000-dalton subunit. Protein kinase II actively phosphorylates phosvitin, casein, and nonhistone chromosomal proteins but does not phosphorylate basic proteins such as histones or protamine to an appreciable extent. Km values of 3.6 micron for ATP and 6.5 micronM for GTP were determined in the presence of 4mM Mg2+. The enzyme is neither stimulated by cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate or cyclic guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate nor inhibited by the regulatory subunit of rabbit muscle protein kinase. Its activity is stimulated by KCl at concentrations below 0.2 M and inhibited by higher concentrations.     

Expression of N-acetyllactosamine and beta1,4-galactosyltransferase (beta4GalT-I) during adenoma-carcinoma sequence in the human colorectum.

We set out to determine the expression profiles of glycoproteins possessing N-acetyllactosamine, a precursor carbohydrate of sialyl Le(x), during colorectal cancer development. We immunohistochemically analyzed the distribution of N-acetyllactosamine as well as of beta4GalT-I, a member of the beta1, 4-galactosyltransferase family responsible for N-acetyllactosamine biosynthesis, in normal mucosa and in adenoma and carcinoma of the human colorectum. Using monoclonal antibody H11, N-acetyllactosamine was barely detectable in the normal mucosa. In low-grade adenoma, however, N-acetyllactosamine was weakly but definitely expressed on the cell surface, and its expression level was moderately increased in high-grade adenoma and markedly increased in carcinoma in situ as well as in advanced carcinoma. To detect beta4GalT-I, we used a newly developed polyclonal antibody (designated A18G), which is specific for the stem region of human beta4GalT-I. Faint expression of beta4GalT-I was detectable in normal mucosa, and the expression level was moderately increased in low-grade adenoma and in high-grade adenoma and markedly increased in carcinoma in situ and advanced carcinoma. The expression of N-acetyllactosamine was highly correlated with the expression of beta4GalT-I in these tumor cells. These results indicate that the expression level of beta4GalT-I is apparently enhanced during tumorigenesis in the colorectum and that beta4GalT-I mostly directs the carcinoma-associated expression of N-acetyllactosamine on the colorectal tumor cell surface. (J Histochem Cytochem 47:1593-1601, 1999)     

Electron-transferring enzymes in the plasma membrane of the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell.

The plasma membrane of the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell contains an NADH dehydrogenase. This activity was shown not to be due to contamination by other subcellular membranes. A variety of electron acceptors have been compared as to rate with the following result: ferricyanide greater than cytochrome c greater than cytochrome b5 greater than glyoxylate greater than dichlorophenolindophenol. Oxygen acceptance could not be detected. The optimum assay temperature and pH ranges were 30--40 degrees C and pH 6--8, respectively. With respect to either NADH or ferricyanide, the kinetics yielded linear double-reciprocal plots. Inhibition of the enzyme by sulfhydryl reagents could be blocked by excess NADH. Detergents such as Triton X-100 or cholate resulted in solubilization of the enzymatic activity, but phospholipase A2 did not. The activity differed from that of the mitochondria in that it was not inhibited by rotenone or antimycin A. The possible involvement of NADH oxidation in the energetics of plasma membrane transport is discussed.     

Glycoproteins from ascitic fluid of Ehrlich ascites tumor. Isolation and chemical characterization.

Three glycoprotein bands were identified by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis in the perchloric acid soluble fraction of ascitic fluid of Ehrlich ascites tumor in mice. The three proteins were first separated by a new discontinuous preparative electrophoresis apparatus described previously [1]. They were further purified on Sephadex G-100 and then were subjected to chemical characterization. These glycoproteins were rich in glutamic and aspartic acids and contained the sugar moieties galactose, mannose, fucose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and sialic acid. The percent sugar composition ranged from 17.7-37.3% of the total weights of these glycoproteins.     

Identification of the full-length coding sequence for human galactosyltransferase (beta-N-acetylglucosaminide: beta 1,4-galactosyltransferase)

A lambda gt11 human placenta cDNA library was screened using a cDNA probe encoding the COOH-terminal region of human beta 1,4-galactosyltransferase and with a synthetic oligonucleotide having a sequence corresponding to that of the 5' end of the cDNA probe. The newly isolated cDNA was found to code for the NH2-terminal and the 5'-untranslated region, primed at an (A)8 region in the coding sequence. A complete amino acid sequence has been deduced which shows only one membrane anchoring domain near the NH2-terminus. Comparison of the sequence to the soluble enzyme suggests proteolytic cleavage at Arg 77. Presently obtained information of human beta 1,4-galactosyltransferase makes it possible to study DNA mutations responsible for genetic defects such as the altered expression of galactosyltransferase found in a variant of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II (HEMPAS).     

Glycoproteins from ascitic fluid of Ehrlich ascites tumor: Isolation and chemical characterization

Three glycoprotein bands were identified by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis in the perchloric acid soluble fraction of ascitic fluid of Ehrlich ascites tumor in mice. The three proteins were first separated by a new discontinuous preparative electrophoresis apparatus described previously [1]. They were further purified on Sephadex G-100 and then were subjected to chemical characterization. These glycoproteins were rich in glutamic and aspartic acids and contained the sugar moieties galactose, mannose, fucose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and sialic acid. The percent sugar composition ranged from 17.7–37.3% of the total weights of these glycoproteins.     

Kinetic analysis of cell size and DNA content distributions during tumor cell proliferation: Ehrlich ascites tumor study.

In order to study the growth dynamics of proliferating and non-proliferating cells utilizing discrete-time state equations, the cell cycle was divided into a finite number of age compartments. In analysing tumor growth, the kinetic parameters associated with a retardation in the growth rate of tumors were characterized by computer simulation in which the simulated results of the growth curve, the growth fraction, and the mean generation time were adjusted to fit the experimental data. The cell age distibution during the period of growth was obtained and by a linear transformation of the state transition matrices, was employed to specify the cell size and DNA content distributions. In an application of the model, the time-course behavior of cell cycle parameters of Ehrlich ascites tumor is illustrated, and the parameters important for the transition of cells in the proliferating compartment to the non-proliferating compartment are discussed, particularly in relation to the G1-G0 and G2-G0 transitions of non-cycling cells as revealed by the variation of cell size distribution.