Combinatorial PCR approach to homology-based cloning: Cloning and expression of mouse and human GM3-synthase

GM3-synthase, also known as sialyltransferase I (ST-I), catalyzes the transfer of a sialic acid residue from CMP-sialic acid onto lactosylceramide to form ganglioside GM3. In order to clone this enzyme, as well as other sialyltransferases, we developed an approach that we termed combinatorial PCR. In this approach, degenerate primers were designed on the basis of conserved sequence motifs of the ST3 family of sialyltransferases (STs). The nucleotide sequence of the primers was varied to cover all amino acid variations occurring in each motif. In addition, in some primers the sequence was varied to cover possible homologous substitutions that are absent in the available motifs. A panel of cDNA from 12 mouse and 8 human tissues was used to enable cloning of tissue- and stage-specific sialyltransferases. Using this approach, the fragments of 11 new putative sialyltransferases were isolated and sequenced so far. Analysis of the expression pattern of a particular sialyltransferase across the panel of cDNA from the different tissues provided information about the tissue specificity of ST expression. We chose two new ubiquitously expressed human and mouse STs to clone full-length copies and to assay for GM3-synthase activity. One of the STs, which exhibited the highest homology to ST3 Gal III, showed activity toward lactosylceramide (LacCer) and was termed ST3 Gal V according to the suggested nomenclature [1]. The other ubiquitously expressed sialyltransferase was termed ST3Gal VI. All isolated sialyltransferases were screened for alternatively spliced forms (ASF). Such forms were found for both human ST3Gal V and ST3Gal VI in human fetal brain cDNA library. The detailed cloning strategy, functional assay, and full length cDNA and protein sequences of GM3 synthase (ST3Gal V, or ST-I) are presented.     

小鼠肝癌及肝正常组织B4GalT糖基转移酶家族mRNA表达差异及其对细胞膜相关糖链的影响

探讨肝癌模型鼠与正常小鼠肝组织B4GalT(β-1,4-半乳糖转移酶)家族mRNA表达差异以及对细胞膜相关糖链的影响.采用RT-PCR方法检测肝癌模型鼠和正常对照小鼠肝癌组织中B4GalT家族7个成员以及唾液酸α-2,3转移酶ST3GalⅢ、ST3GalⅣ、ST3GalⅥ、α-1,6-岩藻糖转移酶FUT8 mRNA表达差异,应用凝集素芯片检测细胞膜表面半乳糖、岩藻糖、唾液酸表达情况.结果显示:与正常对照组相比,肝癌模型鼠肝组织中B4GalT-1和B4GalT-3、ST3GalⅣ和ST3GalⅥ、FUT8呈现高表达,肝癌细胞膜半乳糖、岩藻糖、唾液酸类型糖链增加,提示B4GalT-1和B4GalT-3与肝癌细胞膜半乳糖链增加相关.由于细胞Galβ-1,4-GlcNAc糖表位在ST3GalⅢ、ST3GalⅣ或ST3GalⅥ催化下与唾液酸α-2,3连接生成s-lewis x抗原前体,本实验中B4GalT-1和B4GalT-3与ST3GalⅣ、ST3GalⅤ、FUT8 mRNA表达具有相关性,提示B4GalT-1和B4GalT-3可能与ST3GalⅣ、ST3GalⅥ以及FUT4协同作用,导致肝癌细胞膜半乳糖、岩藻糖、唾液酸类型糖链增加.     

Interleukin-1beta induces sialyl Lewis X on hepatocellular carcinoma HuH-7 cells via enhanced expression of ST3Gal IV and FUT VI gene

We previously demonstrated that human hepatocellular carcinoma-derived HuH-7 cells stimulated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) produce alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) with increased amounts of sialyl Lewis X (sLeX) antigen, although the mechanism remained obscure. Here, we report our investigation of the mechanism. sLeX expression on HuH-7 cells was induced 2.5 times more after 48 h stimulation with 100 U/mL IL-1 beta compared with control, as indicated by anti-sLeX antibody binding. Furthermore, expression of 2,3-sialylated N-acetyllactosamine increased gradually up to 48 h after IL-1 beta stimulation; this preceded the increase in sLeX expression. Increases in alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase activity also preceded increases in alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase activity. Furthermore, mRNA levels of ST3Gal IV, FUT IV and VI in HuH-7 cells stimulated with IL- 1beta were increased at 2-4 h, while increases in FUT VI mRNA level occurred gradually after 24 h. IL-1 beta-induced sLeX expression on HuH-7 cells was suppressed by transfection of gene-specific small interference RNAs against FUT VI and ST3Gal IV but not against FUT IV and ST3Gal III. These data results that IL-1 beta induces expression of sLeX on HuH-7 cells by enhanced expression of FUT VI and ST3Gal IV gene.     

Molecular cloning of a novel alpha2,3-sialyltransferase (ST3Gal VI) that sialylates type II lactosamine structures on glycoproteins and glycolipids

A novel member of the human CMP-NeuAc:beta-galactoside alpha2, 3-sialyltransferase (ST) subfamily, designated ST3Gal VI, was identified based on BLAST analysis of expressed sequence tags, and a cDNA clone was isolated from a human melanoma line library. The sequence of ST3Gal VI encoded a type II membrane protein with 2 amino acids of cytoplasmic domain, 32 amino acids of transmembrane region, and a large catalytic domain with 297 amino acids; and showed homology to previously cloned ST3Gal III, ST3Gal IV, and ST3Gal V at 34, 38, and 33%, respectively. Extracts from L cells transfected with ST3Gal VI cDNA in a expression vector and a fusion protein with protein A showed an enzyme activity of alpha2, 3-sialyltransferase toward Galbeta1,4GlcNAc structure on glycoproteins and glycolipids. In contrast to ST3Gal III and ST3Gal IV, this enzyme exhibited restricted substrate specificity, i.e. it utilized Galbeta1,4GlcNAc on glycoproteins, and neolactotetraosylceramide and neolactohexaosylceramide, but not lactotetraosylceramide, lactosylceramide, or asialo-GM1. Consequently, these data indicated that this enzyme is involved in the synthesis of sialyl-paragloboside, a precursor of sialyl-Lewis X determinant.