Mutagenesis and gene transfer define site-specific roles of the gonadotropin oligosaccharides

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone are a family of glycoprotein hormones that share a common alpha subunit but differ in their hormone-specific beta subunits. Using site-directed mutagenesis and gene-transfer, we analyzed the role of the N-linked oligosaccharides of alpha and chorionic gonadotropin (CG)beta in the secretion, assembly, and biologic activity of hCG. Absence of carbohydrate at alpha asparagine (Asn) 52 decreased combination with CG beta but did not alter monomer secretion. Absence of the alpha Asn78 oligosaccharide increased the degradation of the alpha subunit, but the presence of CG beta stabilized this alpha mutant in an efficiently formed dimer complex. Alternatively, absence of both alpha oligosaccharides slowed both secretion and dimer formation but allowed an intermediate level of alpha secreted or dimerized compared to the single-site mutants. Analysis of the CG beta glycosylation mutants revealed that absence of the Asn30 oligosaccharide, but not Asn13, slowed secretion but not assembly, whereas absence of both oligosaccharides slowed both secretion and dimer formation. Analysis of the receptor binding of the hCG glycosylation mutants showed that absence of any or all of the hCG N-linked oligosaccharides had only a minor effect on receptor affinity of the derivatives. However, the absence of alpha Asn52, but not the alpha Asn78 or the CG beta carbohydrate units, reduced the steroidogenic effect, unmasked differences in the beta oligosaccharides, and converted the deglycosylated derivatives into antagonists.     

The synthesis and chemical properties of polyisoprenyl beta-D-mannopyranosyl phosphates.

2,3,4,6-Tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-mannopyranosyl phosphate, free of the alpha anomer, was coupled with citronellol and dolichol in the presence of triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl chloride to give, after chromatographic purification and deacetylation, the respective polyisoprenyl beta-D-mannopyranosyl phosphates. These compounds were compared with the previously synthesized alpha anomers by means of their chromatographic properties, spectra, optical rotations, and hydrolysis reactions when treated with acid and alkali. To characterize the compounds resulting from these treatments, and to determine the mechanism of the alkaline hydrolysis, beta-D-mannopyranosyl phosphate was converted into beta-D-mannonpyranose 1,2-phosphate, and hence into D-mannose 2-phosphate, obtained as a mixture of alpha and beta anomers, characterized by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and elemental analysis. Beta-D-Mannopyranosyl phosphate was readily separated by thin layer chromatography from the corresponding alpha anomer.     

The reduction of CrVI to CrIII by the alpha and beta anomers of D-glucose in dimethyl sulfoxide. A comparative kinetic and mechanistic study

The reduction of CrVI by alpha-D-glucose and beta-D-glucose was studied in dimethyl sulfoxide in the presence of pyridinium p-toluensulfonate, a medium where mutarotation is slower than the redox reaction. The two anomers reduce CrVI by formation of an intermediate CrVI ester precursor of the slow redox step. The equilibrium constant for the formation of the intermediate chromic ester and the rate of the redox steps are different for each anomer. alpha-D-Glucose forms the CrVI-Glc ester with a higher equilibrium constant than beta-D-glucose, but the electron transfer within this complex is slower than for the beta anomer. The difference is attributed to the better chelating ability of the 1,2-cis-diolate moiety of the alpha anomer. The CrV species, generated in the reaction mixture, reacts with the two anomers at a rate comparable with that of CrVI. The EPR spectra show that the alpha anomer forms several linkage isomers of the five-coordinate CrV bis-chelate, while beta-D-glucose affords a mixture of six-coordinate CrV monochelate and five-coordinate CrV bis-chelate. The conversion of the CrV mono- to bis-chelate is discussed in terms of the ability of the 1,2-cis- versus 1,2-trans-diolate moieties of the glucose anomers to bind CrV.     

The anomeric form of D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate used as substrate in the muscle and yeast aldolase reactions.

From a series of rapid quench kinetic experiments, it has been demonstrated that muscle D-fructose bisphosphate aldolase catalyzes the cleavage of beta-D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate but not that of the alpha anomer, although the alpha anomer may be tightly bound. Yeast D-fructose bisphosphate aldolase appears to utilize both alpha and beta anomers of the substrate, with yeast apoaldolase catalyzing the interconversion of the alpha and beta forms.     

Phosphorylation by liver glucokinase of D-glucose anomers at anomeric equilibrium

The relative contribution of each anomer of D-glucose to the overall phosphorylation rate of the hexose tested at anomeric equilibrium was examined in rat liver postmicrosomal supernatants under conditions aimed at characterizing the activity of glucokinase, with negligible interference of either hexokinase, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine kinase or glucose-6-phosphatase (acting as a phosphotransferase). Both at 10 degrees and 30 degrees C, the relative contribution of each anomer was unaffected by the concentration of D-glucose. At both temperatures, the alpha/beta ratio for the contribution of each anomer was slightly, but significantly, lower than the alpha/beta ratio of anomer concentrations. These findings, which are consistent with the anomeric specificity of glucokinase in terms of affinity, cooperativity and maximal velocity, reveal that the preferred alpha-anomeric substrate for both glycogen synthesis and glycolysis is generated by glucokinase at a lower rate than is beta-D-glucose-6-phosphate.     

New efficient electrochemical synthesis of 1,5-dithioxylopyranosides in the presence of a sacrificial anode

Electroreduction of the disulfide derivative RSSR (5, R= [bond]C(6)H(4)[bond]CO[bond]C(6)H(4)[bond]CN) on a mercury pool or a carbon gauze electrode in the presence of 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-5-thio-D-xylopyranosyl bromide (1), using a sacrificial zinc anode gave an alpha,beta anomeric mixture of [4-(4-cyanobenzoylphenyl)] 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-1,5-dithio-D-xylopyranoside (6) in 40-70% yield, according to the experimental conditions used (nature of solvent, electrolyte salt, and temperature). High selectivity favouring the alpha anomer of 6 is observed starting from the alpha anomer of 1. Mechanistic aspects are discussed.     

Anomeric preference of glucose phosphorylation and glycolysis in human erythrocytes

Lactate output from the alpha and beta anomers of glucose was measured in intact human erythrocytes at 37 degrees C; and glucose anomer phosphorylation, in human erythrocyte homogenates. The rates of both glucose metabolism (lactate output) and phosphorylation were higher in the presence of beta-D-glucose as distinct from alpha-D-glucose at three glucose concentrations used (2, 5, and 10 mM). Thus, the v beta/v alpha ratios of metabolism and phosphorylation of glucose at 2 mM were 1.24 and 1.22, respectively. The results indicate that the beta preference of hexokinase, a rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis, is reflected in beta-preferential glycolysis.     

Translation and assembly of HLA-DR antigens in Xenopus oocytes injected with mRNA from a human B-cell line.

HLA-DR antigens are polymorphic cell surface glycoproteins, expressed primarily in B lymphocytes and macrophages, which are thought to play an important role in the immune response. Two polypeptide chains, alpha and beta, are associated at the cell surface, and a third chain associates with alpha and beta intracellularly. RNA isolated from the human B-cell line Raji was injected in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Immunoprecipitates of translation products with several monoclonal antibodies revealed the presence of HLA-DR antigens similar to those synthesized in Raji cells. One monoclonal antibody was able to bind the beta chain after dissociation of the three polypeptide chains with detergent. The presence of all three chains was confirmed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The glycosylation pattern of the three chains was identical to that observed in vivo, as evidenced in studies using tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation. The presence of alpha chains assembled with beta chains in equimolar ratio was further demonstrated by amino-terminal sequencing. An RNA fraction enriched for the three mRNAs, encoding alpha, beta, and intracellular chains, was isolated. This translation-assembly system and the availability of monoclonal antibodies make it possible to assay for mRNA encoding specific molecules among the multiple human Ia-like antigens.     

Substrate form of D-frutose 1,6-bisphosphate utilized by fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase.

Rapid quench kinetic experiments on fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase demonstrate a stereospecificity for the alpha anomer of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate relative to the beta configuration. The beta anomer is only utilized after mutarotation to the alpha form in a process that is not enzyme catalyzed. Studies employing analogues of the acyclic keto configuration indicate that the keto form is utilized at a rate less than 5% that of the alpha anomer, a finding also confirmed by computer simulation of the rapid quench data. Chemical trapping experiments of the keto analogue, xylulose 1,5-bisphosphate, and the normal substrate suggest that interconversion of the acyclic and anomeric configurations is retarded by their binding to the enzyme. A hypothesis is advanced attributing substrate inhibition of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase to possible binding of the keto species.     

Differential and selective inhibition of cellular and herpes simplex virus DNA synthesis by arabinofuranosyladenine.

The influence of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine (beta araAdo) and of its anomer 9-alpha-D-arabinofuranosyladenine (alpha araAdo) was studied in non-infected cells and cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV type 2 (HSV-2). alpha AraAdo is a strong inhibitor of proliferation of non-infected cells. Multiplication of HSV-1 and HSV-2 is not affected at all by alpha araAdo, while their growth is strongly inhibited by beta araAdo. alpha AraAdo exerts no effect on the incorporation of dThd into HSV DNA, but blocks the incorporation into host cell DNA. Its anomer, beta araAdo, affects the incorporation rate of both the viral DNA system and the host cell DNA system (the latter one to a lesser extent). alpha AraAMP is incorporated into newly synthesized cellular DNA but not into HSV DNA. Enzymic studies relevant that alpha araATP has no effect on the HSV DNA polymerase system but a high inhibitory potency in the host cell DNA polymerase alpha system. The anomeric form, beta araATP, is a sensitive inhibitor of HSV DNA polymerase while the cellular DNA polymerases alpha and beta are more refractory.     

New alpha-selective thermal glycosylation of acetyl-protected 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl diphenylphosphinate

This paper describes new alpha-selective thermal glycosylation using acetyl-protected 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl diphenylphosphinate (4) as a glycosyl donor. When the glycosylation of 4 with 1-hexanol was carried out under various conditions, the conditions using trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate as a promoter in nitromethane at reflux temperature were most suitable for the formation of the alpha anomer. The glycosylation of 4 with the other common alcohols gave corresponding alpha-glycosides in relatively high yields under the conditions. When cholesterol, a very steric hindered alcohol, was used as a glycosyl acceptor, alpha-glycoside was also produced predominantly.     

Preparative synthesis of C-(alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-alkenes and -alkadienes: Diels-Alder reaction

The reaction of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-1-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-alpha-D-glucopyranose with (E)-penta-2,4-dienyltrimethylsilane and boron trifluoride etherate in acetonitrile afforded stereoselectively (E)-5-(tetra-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,3-pentadiene in good yield. The readily available penta-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-glucopyranose reacted with allyltrimethylsilane in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate in acetonitrile to give 3-(tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-1-propene and its beta anomer in yields of 60% and 2.3%, respectively. Diels-Alder cycloaddition of maleic anhydride to diene 1 afforded the adduct cis,cis-3-(tetra-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosylmethyl)cyclohex -4-ene- 1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride in high yield.     

Preparation of alpha and beta anomers of 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-acetyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-D-galactopyranose based upon anomerization and kinetic acetylation

4-Chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-d-galactopyranose, 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-acetyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-d-galactopyranose and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-acetyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-beta-d-galactopyranose were readily prepared from 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-beta-d-fructofuranosyl 4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-d-galactopyranoside. In the study, we found an interesting anomerization phenomenon of 4-chloro-4-deoxy-d-galactose. The molar ratio of alpha and beta anomers in solution is about 1:2 when the anomerization reaches a dynamic equilibrium, and the beta anomer could completely convert to the alpha anomer in the process of crystallization and precipitation. The acetylation of 4-chloro-4-deoxy-d-galactopyranose is kinetically controlled, and the configuration of the starting galactose determines the configuration of the resulting acetates. The influence of the chloro group at C-4 and the O-acetyl group at the anomeric carbon on the galactopyranose ring conformations is discussed, based upon the crystallographic data for the alpha and beta anomers of 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-acetyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-d-galactopyranose.     

Site specificity of the chorionic gonadotropin N-linked oligosaccharides in signal transduction

The role of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) N-linked oligosaccharides in receptor binding and signal transduction was analyzed using site-directed mutagenesis and transfection studies. hCG derivatives with alterations at individual glycosylation sites were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Receptor binding studies showed that absence of any or all of the hCG N-linked oligosaccharides had only a minor effect on the receptor affinity of the derivatives. Similarly, absence of the N-linked oligosaccharides from the beta subunit or a single oligosaccharide from Asn-78 of alpha had no effect on the production of cAMP or on steroidogenesis. However, the absence of carbohydrate at Asn-52 of alpha decreases both the steroidogenic and cAMP responses. Furthermore, absence of this critical oligosaccharide unit on alpha unmasks differences in the two N-linked oligosaccharides on beta; the beta Asn-13 oligosaccharide but not the beta Asn-30 oligosaccharide plays a more important role in steroidogenesis. Dimers containing deglycosylated beta subunit and an alpha subunit lacking either the Asn-52 oligosaccharide or both oligosaccharides fail to stimulate cAMP or steroid formation. Moreover, these derivatives bind to receptor and behave as competitive antagonists. The use of site-directed mutagenesis was critical in uncovering site-specific functions of the hCG N-linked oligosaccharides in signal transduction and reveals the importance of the Asn-52 oligosaccharide in this process.     

B3LYP/6-311++G** geometry-optimization study of pentahydrates of alpha- and beta-D-glucopyranose

Five water molecules were placed in 37 different configurations around alpha- and beta-D-glucopyranose in the gt, gg, and tg conformational states, and the glucose-water complexes were geometry optimized using density functionals at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory. The five water molecules were organized in space and energy minimized using an empirical potential, AMB02C, and then further geometry optimized using DFT algorithms to minimum energy positions. Electronic energy, zero point vibrational energy, enthalpy, entropy, stress energy on glucose and the water cluster, hydrogen-bond energy, and relative free energy were obtained for each configuration using thermodynamic procedures and an analytical Hessian program. The lowest energy complex was that of a clustering of water molecules around the 1- and 6-hydroxyl positions of the beta-gt anomer. Configurations in which the water molecules created a favorable network completely around and under glucose were found to have low energy for both alpha and beta anomers. Calculation of the alpha/beta anomeric ratio using the zero point corrected energy gave, approximately 32/68%, highly favoring the beta anomer in agreement with the experimental approximately 36/64% value. This ratio is better than the approximately 50/50% ratio found in our previous monohydrate study. An approximate hydroxymethyl population was obtained by noting average relative energies among the three conformational states, gt, gg, and tg. In the beta anomer complexes the gt conformation was favored over the gg state, while in the alpha anomer complexes the gg state was favored over the gt conformation, with the tg conformations all being of higher energy making little or no contribution to the rotamer population. Some geometry variances, found between glucose in vacuo and glucose after interaction with water molecules, are described and account for some observed C-5-C-6 bond length anomalies reported by us previously for the vacuum glucose structures.     

Identification and characterization of glycosylation sites in human serum clusterin.

Clusterin is a ubiquitous, heterodimeric glycoprotein with multiple possible functions that are likely influenced by glycosylation. Identification of oligosaccharide attachment sites and structural characterization of oligosaccharides in human serum clusterin has been performed by mass spectrometry and Edman degradation. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry revealed two molecular weight species of holoclusterin (58,505 +/- 250 and 63,507 +/- 200). Mass spectrometry also revealed molecular heterogeneity associated with both the alpha and beta subunits of clusterin, consistent with the presence of multiple glycoforms. The data indicate that clusterin contains 17-27% carbohydrate by weight, the alpha subunit contains 0-30% carbohydrate and the beta subunit contains 27-30% carbohydrate. Liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry with stepped collision energy scanning was used to selectively identify and preparatively fractionate tryptic glycopeptides. Edman sequence analysis was then used to confirm the identities of the glycopeptides and to define the attachment sites within each peptide. A total of six N-linked glycosylation sites were identified, three in the alpha subunit (alpha 64N, alpha 81N, alpha 123N) and three in the beta subunit (beta 64N, beta 127N, and beta 147N). Seven different possible types of oligosaccharide structures were identified by mass including: a monosialobiantennary structure, bisialobiantennary structures without or with one fucose, trisialotriantennary structures without or with one fucose, and possibly a trisialotriantennary structure with two fucose and/or a tetrasialotriantennary structure. Site beta 64N exhibited the least glycosylation diversity, with two detected types of oligosaccharides, and site beta 147N exhibited the greatest diversity, with five or six detected types of oligosaccharides. Overall, the most abundant glycoforms detected were bisialobiantennary without fucose and the least abundant were monosialobiantennary, trisialotriantennary with two fucose and/or tetrasialotriantennary. Clusterin peptides accounting for 99% of the primary structure were identified from analysis of the isolated alpha and beta subunits, including all Ser- and Thr-containing peptides. No evidence was found for the presence of O-linked or sulfated oligosaccharides. The results provide a molecular basis for developing a better understanding of clusterin structure-function relationships and the role clusterin glycosylation plays in physiological function.     

Insulin release and eflux of [32P]Phosphate from islets of rat Langerhans treated with iodoacetic acid and the anomers of D-glucose.

To clarify the insulin-releasing mechanism, we studied insulin release and the efflux of [32P]phosphate by glucose at 0.1 mM/min of gradient level or at 16.7 mM, and other metabolism in islets of rat Langerhans. When treated with 1 mM iodoacetic acid (IAA) plus the anomers of D-glucose at 2.8 mM for 6 min at 37 degrees C, islets elicited insulin at half the control rate under the step-wise stimulation by glucose and at the same rate as the control under the slow-rise stimulation by glucose. Using islets treated with IAA plus the alpha anomer at 16.7 mM, the step-wise stimulation secreted insulin at half a rate of the control and the slow-rise stimulation at the rate lower than the control, which was not significantly different from the control rate. Treatment with IAA plus the beta anomer at 16.7 mM inhibited insulin release under both types of stimulations by glucose. The step-wise stimulation caused the same rapid efflux of [32P]phosphate from IAA-treated islets as from the control islets, except for islets treated with IAA plus the beta anomer at 16.7 mM. The rate of glucose utilization in islets was inhibited by all IAA-treatments to the same extent, being merely half the control rate. Treatments with IAA plus the anomers at 16.7 mM significantly reduced the formation of [3H]-cAMP and the activity of protein phosphokinase in islets, while in the presence of the anomers at 2.8 mM IAA produced no significant effect. Neither IAA-treatments altered the uptake of 45Ca and the ATP content in islets. The uptake of [14C]IAA was significantly enhanced by the presence of the beta anomer at 16.7 mM to two times the control level. On the basis of these results, we suggested that the B cell might contain both glucoreceptors and rate-sensors of glucose controlling insulin release and the former might be less sensitive to IAA as compared with the latter.     

Tetraspanin CD151 regulates glycosylation of (alpha)3(beta)1 integrin

The tetraspanin CD151 forms a stoichiometric complex with integrin alpha3beta1 and regulates its endocytosis. We observed that down-regulation of CD151 in various epithelial cell lines changed glycosylation of alpha3beta1. In contrast, glycosylation of other transmembrane proteins, including those associated with CD151 (e.g. alpha6beta1, CD82, CD63, and emmprin/CD147) was not affected. The detailed analysis has shown that depletion of CD151 resulted in the reduction of Fucalpha1-2Gal and bisecting GlcNAc-beta(1-->4) linkage on N-glycans of the alpha3 integrin subunit. The modulatory activity of CD151 toward alpha3beta1 was specific, because stable knockdown of three other tetraspanins (i.e. CD9, CD63, and CD81) did not affect glycosylation of the integrin. Analysis of alpha3 glycosylation in CD151-depleted breast cancer cells with reconstituted expression of various CD151 mutants has shown that a direct contact with integrin is required but not sufficient for the modulatory activity of the tetraspanin toward alpha3beta1. We also found that glycosylation of CD151 is also critical; Asn(159) --> Gln mutation in the large extracellular loop did not affect interactions of CD151 with other tetraspanins or alpha3beta1 but negated its modulatory function. Changes in the glycosylation pattern of alpha3beta1 observed in CD151-depleted cells correlated with a dramatic decrease in cell migration toward laminin-332. Migration toward fibronectin or static adhesion of cells to extracellular matrix ligands was not affected. Importantly, reconstituted expression of the wild-type CD151 but not glycosylation-deficient mutant restored the migratory potential of the cells. These results demonstrate that CD151 plays an important role in post-translation modification of alpha3beta1 integrin and strongly suggest that changes in integrin glycosylation are critical for the promigratory activity of this tetraspanin.     

Conformational preferences in glycosylamines. implications for the exo-anomeric effect

The conformational preferences about the C-N bond in N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha (1) and beta-D-glucopyranosylamine (2), in the solid state and in solution, have been investigated. The crystal structure of the axially substituted alpha anomer (1) indicates a conformational preference about the C-1-N bond in which nN-->sigma*C-O exo-anomeric interactions may be expressed, although this conformational preference is not displayed in solution. The solution conformation relieves steric interactions that result from expression of the exo-anomeric effect in the solid-state conformation. The conformational preference in the equatorially substituted beta anomer (2) both in solution and in the solid state is similar and permits expression of nN-->sigma*C-O exo-anomeric interactions. The structural data for 1 and 2 indicate significant differences in O-5-C-1-N-1 bond angles but insignificant differences in each of the O-5-C-1 or C-1-N-1 bond lengths. The J(C-1-H-1 coupling constants in 1 and 2 indicate a greater coupling constant for the alpha anomer that is consistent with a dominant nO-->sigma*C-H orbital interaction in the beta anomer that weakens the C-1-H-1 bond.     

Ethynylestradiol-17 beta D-ring glucuronide conjugates are potent cholestatic agents in the rat

17 alpha-Ethynylestradiol-17 beta (beta-D-glucuronide) [EE217 beta (beta G)], a metabolite of 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2) identified in urine of women taking EE2 in oral contraceptives, and its synthetic anomer, 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol-17 beta (alpha-D-glucuronide), [EE217 beta (alpha G)], were administered intravenously to female rats in order to determine their effects on bile flow. Both agents induced an immediate, profound and dose-dependent decrease in bile flow which returned to control levels within 1-8 hr. The logarithm of the dose vs the cholestatic response curves for the two anomers were not parallel. EE217 beta (alpha G) was significantly more potent than EE217 beta (beta G) such that the doses inhibiting bile flow by 50% were 1.25 and 11 mumol/kg for the alpha-and beta-anomer respectively.