alpha3-galactosylated glycoproteins can bind to the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor.

In mammals, clearance of desialylated serum glycoproteins to the liver is mediated by a galactose-specific hepatic lectin, the 'asialoglycoprotein receptor'. In humans, serum glycoprotein glycans are usually capped with sialic acid, which protects these proteins against hepatic uptake. However, in most other species, an additional noncharged terminal element with the structure Galalpha1-->3Galbeta1-->4R is present on glycoprotein glycans. To investigate if alpha3-galactosylated glycoproteins, just like desialylated glycoproteins, could be cleared by the hepatic lectin, the affinities of alpha3-galactosylated compounds towards this lectin were determined using an in vitro inhibition assay, and were compared with those of the parent compounds terminating in Galbeta1-->4R. Diantennary, triantennary and tetraantennary oligosaccharides that form part of N-glycans were alpha3-galactosylated to completion by use of recombinant bovine alpha3-galactosyltransferase. Similarly, desialylated alpha1-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid) was alpha3-galactosylated in vitro. The alpha3-galactosylation of a branched, Galbeta1-->4-terminated oligosaccharide lowered its affinity for the membrane-bound lectin on whole rat hepatocytes 50-250-fold, and for the detergent-solubilized hepatic lectin 7-50-fold. In contrast, alpha3-galactosylation of asialo-alpha1-acid glycoprotein caused only a minor decrease in affinity, increasing the IC50 from 5 to 15 nM. Fully alpha3-galactosylated alpha1-acid glycoprotein, intravenously injected into the mouse, was rapidly cleared from the circulation, with a clearance rate close to that of asialo-alpha1-acid glycoprotein (t1/2 of 0.42 min vs. 0.95 min). Its uptake was efficiently inhibited by pre-injection of an excess asialo-fetuin. Organ distribution analysis showed that the injected alpha1-acid glycoprotein accumulated predominantly in the liver. Taken together, these observations suggest that serum glycoproteins that are heavily alpha3-galactosylated will be rapidly cleared from the bloodstream via the hepatic lectin. It is suggested that glycosyltransferase expression in murine hepatocytes is tightly regulated in order to prevent undesired uptake of hepatocyte-derived, circulating glycoproteins.     

Gel filtration of sialoglycoproteins.

The role of sialic acid in the gel-filtration behaviour of sialoglycoproteins was investigated by using the separated isoenzymes of purified human liver alpha-L-fucosidase and several other well-known sialic acid-containing glycoproteins (fetuin, alpha1-acid glycoprotein, thyroglobulin and bovine submaxillary mucin). For each glycoprotein studied, gel filtration of its desialylated derivative gave an apparent molecular weights much less than that expected just from removal of sialic acid. For the lower-molecular-weight glycoproteins (fetuin and alpha1-acid glyocprotein), gel filtration of the sialylated molecules led to apparent molecular weights much larger than the known values. The data indicate that gel filtration cannot be used for accurately determining the molecular weights of at least some sialoglycoproteins.     

Glycoprotein biosynthesis in calf kidney. Glycoprotein sialyltransferase activities towards serum glycoproteins and calf Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein.

CMP-AcNeu:glycoprotein sialyltransltransltransltransltransferase of calf kidney cortex was characterized using serum glycoproteins and Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein, obtained from calf urine, as acceptors. Native calf Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein showed the best acceptor properties, followed by desialylated calf fetuin and desialylated human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein exhibiting V values of, respectively, 114, 63 and 41 nmol/h per g wet wt. of kidney cortex and Km values of 0.12, 0.16 and 0.26 mM glycoprotein acceptor. Desialylated ovine submaxillary mucine appeared to be a very poor acceptor. Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein sialyltransferase could be distinguished from serum glycoprotein sialyltransferase by competition studies. In addition the two glycoprotein sialyltransferase activities showed different distributions over the three regions of the calf kidney: the ratios of the Tamm-Horsfall to serum glycoprotein sialyltransferase activities decreased from 3.3 in the cortex to 0.8 and 0.4 in the medulla and the papilla, respectively. It was concluded that in calf kidney at least two different sialyltransferases exist. The high cortical Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein sialyltransferases activity corresponds markedly to the origin of the urinary Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein, namely the distal part of the kidney tubule. Inactivation of glycoprotein sialyltransferase activity by preincubation at various temperatures and during storage at 0 degree C, could be reduced by the addition of CMP-AcNeu. The possible relevance towards the in vivo sialylation of this finding is discussed.     

Estimation of pyruvate decarboxylation in perfused rat skeletal muscle

A total of 46 E. coli strains showing mannose-resistant, P-blood-group independent hemagglutination of human erythrocytes were tested for binding to neuraminic acid. Nine of the strains completely lost their hemagglutination activity after the erythrocytes were treated with neuraminidase. To characterize the receptor structure, different neuraminic acid containing glycoproteins, their desialylated derivatives and neuraminyl oligosaccharides were tested for hemagglutination inhibition. These studies showed that the nine strains had binding specificity for alpha 2-3 linked neuraminic acid.     

Sialyltransferase activity in regenerating rat liver

Liver microsomal fractions catalyse the transfer of sialic acid from CMP-N-acetyl-neuraminic acid to various exogenous acceptors such as desialylated fetuin, desialylated human Tamm–Horsfall glycoprotein and desialylated bovine submaxillary-gland mucin. An increase in the rate of incorporation of sialic acid into desialylated glycoproteins was found after a lag period (7h) in regenerating liver. The increase was maximum 24h after partial hepatectomy for all acceptors tested. At later times after operation the sialyltransferase activity remained high only for desialylated fetuin. No soluble factors from liver or serum of partially hepatectomized animals influenced the activity of the sialyltransferases bound to the microsomal fraction. The sensitivity of sialyltransferases to activation by Triton X-100, added to the incubation medium, was unchanged in the microsomal preparation from animals 24h after sham operation or partial hepatectomy. The full activity of sialyltransferases towards the various desialylated acceptors showed some differences. Human Tamm–Horsfall glycoprotein was a good acceptor of sialic acid only when desialylated by mild acid hydrolysis. After this treatment, but not after enzymic hydrolysis, a decrease in molecular weight of human Tamm–Horsfall glycoprotein was observed. Further, the sialyltransferase activity as a function of incubation temperature gave different curves according to the acceptor used. The relationship between the biosynthesis of glycoproteins by regenerating liver and the sialyltransferase activity of microsomal fraction after partial hepatectomy is discussed.     

The effect of calmodulin on the active calcium-ion transport and (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-dependent ATPase in microsomal fractions of smooth muscle compared with that in erythrocytes and cardiac muscle.

Kupffer cells isolated from the rat liver are able to bind neuraminidase-treated rat erythrocytes via a D-galactose-specific receptor on the cell surface. Binding of desialylated erythrocytes was inhibited by several mono- and oligo-saccharides related to D-galactose, but not by unrelated sugars. However, after phosphorylation at position 6 D-glucose was as good an inhibitor as D-galactose. Two synthetic glycoproteins, D-galactosyl-albumin and, at a higher concentration, D-glucosyl-albumin, strongly inhibit cell contacts. Lectin-mediated binding of desialylated erythrocytes is dependent on the presence of Ca2'ons, but independent of ATP formation and cell motility. It is concluded that binding of desialylated erythrocytes by rat Kupffer cells is mediated by a Ca2-dependent D-galactosyl/D-glucosyl-recognition system.     

Carbohydrate-binding specificity of pokeweed mitogens

The carbohydrate-binding specificity of two pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) mitogens (Pa-1 and Pa-2) was investigated by means of hemagglutination inhibition assays and the quantitative inhibition of the binding of 125I-labeled lectins to human erythrocytes using various oligosaccharides, glycopeptides and glycoproteins as hapten inhibitors. Among the inhibitors employed in this study, chitin oligosaccharides and the glycopeptides and glycoproteins which bear sugar chains of the type found in serum glycoproteins, particularly PAS-1 glycoprotein and band-3 glycoprotein of human erythrocyte membranes, exerted strong inhibitory activity. The inhibitory constants of band-3 glycoprotein toward the binding of both mitogens to human erythrocytes were found to be very close to the association constants of the mitogens to the cells. Furthermore, the results of competitive binding studies between Pa-1 and Pa-2 indicated that these mitogens share a common oligosaccharide chains on the erythrocyte surface. To isolate the membrane receptors for these two mitogens, the solubilized membranes of human erythrocytes were subjected to affinity chromatographies using Pa-1-Sepharose 4B and Pa-2-Sepharose 4B as specific adsorbents. In both cases of these two specific adsorbents, band-3 glycoprotein was found to bind most strongly. These results suggest that two pokeweed mitogens have essentially the same carbohydrate-binding specificity and they bind primarily to the sugar chains of band-3 glycoprotein, possibly to the core structure of the sugar chains containing a di-N-acetylchitobiose moiety, on human erythrocytes.     

Characterization of peptic inhibitory activity associated with sulfated glycoprotein isolated from gastric mucosa

Sulfated glycoproteins were extracted and purified from porcine stomach mucous scraping. Four sulfated glycoprotein fractions were separated and subsequently purified. These compounds always accompanied the apparent peptic inhibitory activity and consisted of 15–18% (w/w) protein. The carbohydrate portions contained an equimolar ratio of galactose and hexosamine (mainly glucosamine), together with lesser amounts of fucose and sialic acid. The sulfate content of the above fractions was 2–9% (w/w) of the total sulfated glycoprotein.The mode of inhibition of the sulfated glycoproteins to peptic activity was investigated and suggested that there was binding of the sulfated glycoproteins to the substrate of pepsin, making the substrate resistant to peptic activity. The sulfated glycoproteins neither bound pepsin at pH 1.8 nor inhibited the hydrolysis of a synthetic dipeptide substrate of pepsin. Desulfation of the sulfated glycoproteins resulted in the loss of both the inhibitory activity and the precipitate formation. The precipitation curve for sulfated glycoprotein and porcine serum albumin showed that both bound in varying proportions and suggests that both components are multivalent in this precipitate formation.     

Characterization of peptic inhibitory activity associated with sulfated glycoprotein isolated from gastric mucosa.

Sulfated glycoproteins were extracted and purified from porcine stomach mucous scraping. Four sulfated glycoprotein fractions were separated and subsequently purified. These compounds always accompanied the apparent peptic inhibitory activity and consisted of 15-18% (w/w) protein. The carbohydrate portions contained an equimolar ratio of galactose and hexosamine (mainly glucosamine), together with lesser amounts of fucose and sialic acid. The sulfate content of the above fractions was 2-9% (w/w) of the total sulfated glycoprotein. The mode of inhibition of the sulfated glycoproteins to peptic activity was investigated and suggested that there was binding of the sulfated glycoproteins to the substrate of pepsin, making the substrate resistant to peptic activity. The sulfated glycoproteins neither bound pepsin at pH 1.8 nor inhibited the hydrolysis of a synthetic dipeptide substrate of pepsin. Desulfation of the sulfated glycoproteins resulted in the loss of both the inhibitory activity and the precipitate formation. The precipitation curve for sulfated glycoprotein and porcine serum albumin showed that both bound in varying proportions and suggests that both components are multivalent in this precipitate formation.     

A comparative study on the purification of the Amaranthus leucocarpus syn. hypocondriacus lectin.

Amaranthus leucocarpus lectin is a homodimeric glycoprotein of 35 kDa per sub-unit, which interacts specifically with N-acetyl-galactosamine. In this work, we compared different glycoproteins that contain Galbeta1-3 GalNAcalpha1-3 Ser/Thr or GalNAcalpha1-3 Ser/Thr in their structure as ligands to purify the A. leucocarpus lectin. From the glycoproteins tested, fetuin was the most potent inhibitor of the hemagglutinating activity and the better ligand for lectin purification; however, the use of desialylated stroma from erythrocytes represented the cheapest method to purify this lectin. O-linked glycans released from the glycoproteins used as affinity matrix and those from different erythrocytes were less inhibitory than parental glycoproteins. The NH2-terminal of the lectin is blocked; moreover, this is the only example of a lectin isolated from this genus to be a glycoprotein. Analysis of the glycoprotein sequences with inhibitory activity for the lectin, showed a different pattern in the O-glycosylation, which confirms that A. leucocarpus lectin recognizes conformation and, probably, distances among O-linked glycans moieties.     

Intrinsic inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate binding

Rat brain cytosol was applied to a heparin column and eluted with 0.9 M-NaCl. The total binding activity of [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate to the eluate was increased about 6-fold compared with the original cytosol. When the eluate was mixed with a flow-through fraction from the heparin column, however, the activity returned to the original level, suggesting that the flow-through fraction contained an inhibitory factor(s) which prevented the binding. The factor(s) was purified by sequential column chromatography using gel permeation, a hydrophobic gel, and finally, a hydroxylapatite gel. Silver staining of sodium dedecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis of the sample thus purified showed a broad band located between the authentic molecular weight markers of 580 and 390 k. A carbohydrate staining method showed that the factor is a glycoprotein.     

Identification of liver plasma membrane glycoproteins which bind to 125I-labelled concanavalin A following electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Following electrophoresis of ovalbumin in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) this glycoprotein bound 125I-labelled concanavalin A (Con A). The reaction was specific and proportional to the amount of glycoprotein present on the gel. This technique was used to study the Con-A-binding glycoproteins of liver cell surfaces. Mouse liver plasma membranes were purified and subfractionated to yield two fractions corresponding to the bile canalicular surface and the surface between adjacent hepatocytes (Evans, W.H. (1970) Biochem. J. 116, 833-842). Both fractions bound 125I-labelled Con A, the former binding two to three times more lectin than the latter. Following SDS gel electrophoresis individual membrane glycoproteins reacted with 125I-labelled Con A. Both membrane subfractions yielded qualitatively similar Con A binding profiles, seven binding proteins being present in each. The results are consistent with a generally uniform distribution of glycoproteins over the hepatocyte surface. The reaction of lectins with glycoproteins following SDS gel electrophoresis should find general application in the study of membrane composition.     

A possible role for microsomal hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in microsomal electron transport and mixed-function oxygenase activity.

Erythrocyte aging is accompanied by an overall reduction in surface carbohydrate content. A decrease in sialic acid and an increase in D-galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine in the terminal position of the glycoprotein polysaccharide chains are also observed in aged erythrocytes. In the light of these and other observations, it is proposed that the newly exposed galactose/galactosamine residues in the desialylated glycoproteins may serve as recognition signals triggering the elimination of senescent erythrocytes from circulation.     

Comparative Histochemical and Biochemical Analysis of Endogenous Receptors for Glycoproteins in Human and Pig Peripheral Nerve

Endogenous sugar-binding proteins were localized in sections of human and pig peripheral nerves by the application of two types of labelled ligands: neoglycoproteins (chemically glycosylated carrier proteins that had proven to be histochemically inert) and desialylated, naturally occurring glycoproteins. These proteins allowed evaluation of the presence and distribution of endogenous receptors for carbohydrates, commonly present in cellular glycoconjugates. (Neo)glycoprotein binding was similar, but not identical, for the two types of mammalian peripheral nerves. The pig nerve differed from the human nerve in more pronounced staining when using different types of beta-galactoside-terminated (neo)glycoproteins and charge-carrying neoglycoproteins, such as bovine serum albumin, bearing galactose-6-phosphate residues, glucuronic acid residues, and sialic acid residues. Comparative biochemical analysis of certain classes of sugar receptors by affinity chromatography and gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of sugar receptors that can contribute to the histochemical staining in a pattern with certain significant differences among rather similar expression for the two species. The assessment of sugar receptor distribution by application of (neo)glycoprotein binding among morphologically defined regions in nerves may hold promise in detecting developmental regulation and changes during nerve degeneration and subsequent regeneration after trauma or pathological states. Correlation of these results to changes in the structure and abundance of glycoconjugates, which are the potential physiological ligands of endogenous sugar receptors commonly detected by plant lectins, may help to infer functional relationships.     

Purification and characterization of Tora-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) lectin

A lectin purified from the Tora-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) by affinity chromatography with Con-A Sepharose was shown to be a glycoprotein containing 7.8% neutral sugars (D-mannose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, L-fucose, and D-xylose, in a molar ratio of 9.6 : 2.0 : 0.6 : 0.7). Its molecular weight was 130,000, as estimated by exclusion gel chromatography, and SDS gel electrophoresis showed that it consists of four subunits of molecular weight 32,000. The lectin reacts with various glycoproteins, i.e., blood group substances, human parotid salivary glycoprotein, fetuin, and bovine submaxillary mucin. Divalent cations, such as Ca2+, Mn2+, and Mg2+, appear to stimulate its reactivity. Inhibition tests using the glycopeptide fragment from fetuin and some oligosaccharides, as well as the binding test with 14C-N-acetyl-lactosamine suggest that the sequence of D-galactose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and D-mannose residues in the carbohydrate chain of fetuin is essential for binding.     

Molecular characterization of the rat Kupffer cell glycoprotein receptor

The Kupffer cell receptor for glycoproteins has been reported to have a role in clearance of galactose- and fucose-terminated glycoproteins from circulation. Although the gene and a cDNA encoding the receptor have been described, there has been little study of the receptor protein. To address some questions about possible ligands and functions for this receptor, fragments representing portions of the extracellular domain have been expressed and characterized. The extracellular domain consists of a trimer stabilized by an extended coiled-coil of alpha-helices. The receptor displays monosaccharide-binding characteristics similar to the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor, but with somewhat less selectivity. The two best monosaccharide ligands are GalNAc and galactose. alpha-Methyl fucoside is a particularly poor ligand. Analysis of Kupffer cell receptor binding to glycoproteins and oligosaccharides released from them reveals highest affinity for desialylated, complex N-linked glycans. The best glycoprotein ligands contain multiple highly branched oligosaccharides. A human ortholog of the rat receptor gene does not encode a full-length protein and is not expressed in liver. These characteristics suggest that the receptor may have functions parallel to those of the hepatocyte asialoglycoprotein receptor in some (but not all) mammalian species.     

Characterization of serum, liver, and intestinal sialyltransferases from rats treated with colchicine

A modified high pressure liquid chromatographic method using lactose (Gal beta 1----4Glc) as an exogenous acceptor has been used to characterize the sialyltransferases known to increase in the serum of colchicine-treated rats. The results show a 10-fold increase of Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc alpha 2----6 sialyltransferase (alpha 2----6 ST), whereas the Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc alpha 2----3 sialyltransferase showed only 1.6-fold increase in the serum after 17 h of colchicine treatment. The sialyltransferase activity in serum using exogenous desialylated, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein as acceptor also showed an eightfold increase. In liver homogenate and Golgi membrane, the sialyltransferase activity when assayed with desialylated alpha 1-acid glycoprotein as acceptor showed a slight decrease after 4 h, but returned to normal level after 17 h. A similar trend was seen when the two transferases were assayed with lactose as acceptor. The antiserum to rat alpha 2----6 ST inhibited the sialyltransferase activity in serum, liver, and jejunal incubation medium. Jejunal sections from rats treated with colchicine for 4 h in presence of heated serum showed a decrease of sialyltransferase, with consequent increase of the alpha 2----6 ST enzyme activity in the medium. This result suggests that intestinal tissue could be a source of increased serum enzyme activity in colchicine treatment.     

A simple method for the release of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides from a glycoprotein purified by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

A simple method for the release of oligosaccharides from glycoproteins separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) has been developed. Asialo-alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, which was tritiated at the nonreducing terminal D-galactopyranosyl residue by reduction with sodium borotritide after incubation with D-galactose oxidase, was used as a model compound. After electrophoretic separation of the glycoprotein, oligosaccharides were released by the use of a gas-phase hydrazinolysis apparatus. In the first method, the gel was stained with Coomassie Blue and the glycoprotein together with the gel was directly subjected to gas-phase hydrazinolysis after removal of water in a P2O5 desiccator. The recovery of released oligosaccharides was 25.9 +/- 2.4%, based on the amount of the glycoprotein loaded on the gel within the range of 3.5-28.5 micrograms. In the second method, the glycoprotein was electroblotted onto an Immobilon transfer membrane and was visualized by staining with Coomassie Blue. A small piece of the membrane with the corresponding band was cut out, dried in a desiccator and subjected to gas-phase hydrazinolysis. In this case, the recovery of released oligosaccharides was 15.2 +/- 1.0%. These procedures, particularly the first one, should be widely applicable for the isolation of oligosaccharides from glycoproteins separated by SDS-PAGE.     

Interaction of sialoglycoproteins with wheat germ agglutinin-sepharose of varying ratio of lectin to Sepharose. Use for the purification of mucin glycoproteins from membrane extracts

The influence of varying the amount of wheat germ agglutinin immobilized on Sepharose beads on the binding of glycoproteins to these beads was investigated. A series of wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose gels containing between 0.10 and 10.0 mg of lectin/ml of gel was prepared, and the actual lectin content was established by acid hydrolysis of the gel followed by analysis of glycine, a major amino acid in wheat germ agglutinin. Affinity chromatography of labeled glycoproteins indicated that glycophorin bound to all the wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose preparations. Fetuin, ovomucoid, and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein bound not at all or very poorly to gels with a low content of wheat germ agglutinin (less than 0.95 mg/ml). The specific binding of these glycoproteins increased with increasing lectin content on the gels, and on gels of high content (greater than 3 mg/ml) the binding was virtually quantitative. On chromatographing a mixture of glycophorin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, fetuin, and ovomucoid on wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose, containing 0.08 mg of lectin/ml of gel, glycophorin was selectively retained on the gel. It was possible to purify glycophorin from an extract of human erythrocyte membranes in one step by chromatography on the above gel. By using the series of gels, it was demonstrated that Morris hepatoma 7777 membranes contained at least 4-fold more sialoglycoproteins which bound to low density wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose compared to rat liver membranes. These hepatoma sialoglycoproteins were isolated, purified, and partially characterized as having a high proportion of O-linked sialyloligosaccharides. Our studies illustrate the use of low density wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose gels both for the detection and for easy isolation of mucin-type glycoproteins from crude extracts of cells or membranes.     

Fucosylation of N-glycans regulates the secretion of hepatic glycoproteins into bile ducts

Fucosylated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a highly specific tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanism by which serum level of fucosylated AFP increases in patients with HCC remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the fucosylation of glycoproteins could be a possible signal for secretion into bile ducts in the liver. We compared oligosaccharide structures on glycoproteins in human bile with those in serum by several types of lectin blot analyses. Enhanced binding of biliary glycoproteins to lectins that recognize a fucose residue was observed over a wide range of molecular weights compared with serum glycoproteins. A structural analysis of oligosaccharides by two-dimensional mapping high performance liquid chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of flight mass spectrometry confirmed the increases in the fucosylation of biliary glycoproteins. Purification followed by structural analysis on alpha1-antitrypsin, alpha1-acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin, which are synthesized in the liver, showed higher fucosylation in bile than in serum. To find direct evidence for fucosylation and sorting signal into bile ducts, we used alpha1-6 fucosyltransferase (Fut8)-deficient mice because fucosylation of glycoproteins produced in mouse liver was mainly an alpha1-6 linkage. Interestingly, the levels of alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha1-acid glycoprotein were quite low in bile of Fut8-deficient mice as compared with wild-type mice. An immunohistochemical study showed dramatic changes in the localization of these glycoproteins in the liver of Fut8-deficient mice. Taken together, these results suggest that fucosylation is a possible signal for the secretion of glycoproteins into bile ducts in the liver. A disruption in this system might involve an increase in fucosylated AFP in the serum of patients with HCC.