trans-Sialidase catalyzed sialylation of beta-galactosyldisaccharide with an introduction of beta-galactosidase

Introduction of beta-galactosidase into a trans-sialidase reaction, i.e. sialic acid transfer reaction from a donor substrate (alpha2,3-sialyllactose) to an acceptor substrate (beta-galactosyldisaccharide), could improve the yield of desired sialylated trisaccharide by hydrolyzing lactose, a byproduct from the donor. When trans-sialidase reaction was performed with stoichiometric amounts (2 mM) of alpha2,3-sialyllactose and Galbeta(1,3)GlcNAc, the yield of NeuAcalpha(2,3)Galbeta(1,3)GlcNAc increased from 45% to 75% by the coupling of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase. Furthermore, by changing the substrate ratio in the coupled reaction, i.e. two-fold excess of alpha2,3-sialyllactose to Galbeta(1,3)GlcNAc, above 95% of yield was achieved based on the amount of Galbeta(1,3)GlcNAc. However, two-fold excess of Galbeta(1,3)GlcNAc to alpha2,3-sialyllactose in this reaction was more desirable for the purification of NeuAcalpha(2,3)Galbeta(1,3)GlcNAc, since complete consumption of alpha2,3-sialyllactose was achieved. Efficiency of the coupled reaction was affected by the specificity of beta-galactosidase for acceptor substrate. When Galbeta(1,6)GlcNAc was used as the acceptor, E. coli beta-galactosidase hydrolyzed Galbeta(1,6)GlcNAc as well as lactose in the coupled reaction, resulting in a significant decrease in the yield of desired sialylated trisaccharide. The conversion yield of the sialylation of Galbeta(1,6)GlcNAc could be improved by employing Bacillus circulans beta-galactosidase.     

A beta-galactosidase isoenzyme from Turbo cornutus with substrate specificity toward GM1-ganglioside and glycoproteins

beta-Galactosidase from T. cornutus was resolved into two activity peaks by gel filtration column chromatography. The pH optima of the two peaks designated P1 and P2, were 5.5 and 3.0, respectively, when p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside was used as the substrate. The molecular weights of P1 and P2 were 700,000 +/- 70,000 and 78,000 +/- 7800, respectively, when estimated by gel filtration chromatography. The activities of both forms of the enzymes are stimulated by anions such as Cl-, Br- and NO-3. While the activity of P1 was stimulated by low anion concentrations, P2 requires 700 times higher anion concentration for similar enhancement of activity. P1, the high molecular weight form hydrolyzes mainly galactose from small molecular weight beta-galactosides, such as p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, lactose, lactosylceramide and 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-D-arabinose, whereas P2, the low molecular weight form cleaves, in addition, all the beta-galactosides tested, including 2-hexadecanoylamino-4-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, GM1-ganglioside, asialo-GM1-ganglioside, asialo fetuin, alpha 1-acid glycoproteins and the tryptic peptides of the glycoproteins. The optimal conditions for the hydrolysis of the terminal galactose from GM1-ganglioside which does not occur in gastropods, such as T. cornutus, was found to require 40 mM NaCl and 1 mM sodium taurodeoxycholate at pH 3.0 in 50 mM sodium citrate buffer, conditions similar to those by mammalian beta-galactosidase.     

Purification and some characteristics of a recombinant dimeric rhizobium meliloti beta-galactosidase expressed in escherichia coli

A recombinant Rhizobium meliloti beta-galactosidase was purified to homogeneity from an Escherichia coli expression system. The gene for the enzyme was cloned into a pKK223-3 plasmid which was then used to transform E. coli JM109 cells. The enzyme was purified 35-fold with a yield of 34% by a combination of DEAE-cellulose (pH 8.0) and two sequential Mono Q steps (at pH 8.0 and 6.0, respectively). The purified enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of 174 kDa and a subunit molecular weight of 88 kDa, indicating that it is a dimer. It was active with both synthetic substrates p-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (PNPG) and o-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) with K(m)(PNPG) and K(m)(ONPG) of 1 mM at 25 degrees C. The k(cat)/K(m) ratios for both substrates were approximately 70 mM(-1) sec(-1), indicating no clear preference for either PNPG or ONPG, unlike E. coli beta-galactosidase. After non-denaturing electrophoresis, active beta-galactosidase bands were identified using 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (X-gal) or 6-bromo-2-naphthyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (BNG) and diazo blue B.     

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.     

Partial purification and properties of porcine thymus lactosylceramide beta-galactosidase.

Porcine thymus lactosylceramide beta-galactosidase was purified by a simple procedure. In the final step of isoelectric focusing the enzyme was separated into two peaks of pI 6.3 (peak I) and 7.0 (peak II), which showed 3,600- and 4,000-fold enhancement of lactosylceramide-hydrolysing activity, respectively. The two peaks had identical mobility on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The apparent molecular weight was 34,000. Neither monosialoganglioside (GM1) nor galactosylceramide was hydrolysed by the purified enzyme fractions. The optimal pH was at 4.6, and sodium taurocholate was essential for the reaction. The apparent Km was 2.3 x 10-5 M. The reaction was stimulated by sodium chloride and linoleic acid, while it was strongly inhibited by Triton X-100 and bovine serum albumin. Galactosylceramide, p-nitrophenyl beta-galactoside, and p-nitrophenol were weak inhibitors. No effects of GM1 and galactose were observed on the hydrolysis of lactosylceramide.     

Regiospecific glycosidase-assisted synthesis of lacto-N-biose I (Galbeta1-3GlcNAc) and 3'-sialyl-lacto-N-biose I (NeuAcalpha2-3Galbeta1-3GlcNAc).

The all-transglycolytic synthesis of lacto-N-biose I (Galbeta1-3GlcNAc) and 3'-sialyl-lacto-N-biose I (NeuAcalpha2-3Galbeta1-3GlcNAc) was performed. The disaccharide lacto-N-biose I was obtained by use of p-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactopyranoside as the donor, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose as the acceptor and Xanthomonas manihotis beta-D-galactosidase as the catalyst. The reaction was shown to be regiospecific, with a high molar yield (about 55%) with respect to the donor. Lacto-N-biose I obtained by this method was used as the acceptor for a subsequent enzymatic reaction catalyzed by Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase in which 2'-(4-methylumbellyferyl)-alpha-D-N-acetylneuraminic was used as the donor of the N-acetylneuraminil moiety. The reaction generated the product, 3'-sialyl-lacto-N-biose I, regiospecifically and with a molar yield of about 35%.     

Biosynthesis of the blood group P antigen-like GalNAc beta 1-->3Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc/Glc structure: a novel N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase in human blood plasma.

Human blood group O plasma was found to contain an N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase which catalyzes the transfer of N-acetylgalactosamine from UDP-GalNAc to Gal beta 1-->4Glc, Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc, asialo-alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, and Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc beta 1-->3Gal beta 1-->4Glc-ceramide, but not to Gal beta 1-->3GlcNAc. The enzyme required Mn2+ for its activity and showed a pH optimum at 7.0. The reaction products were readily hydrolyzed by beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase and released N-acetylgalactosamine. Apparent Km values for UDP-GalNAc, Mn2+, lactose, N-acetyllactosamine, and terminal N-acetyllactosaminyl residues of asialo-alpha 1-acid glycoprotein were 0.64, 0.28, 69, 20, and 1.5 mM, respectively. Studies on acceptor substrate competition indicated that all the acceptor substrates mentioned above compete for one enzyme, whereas the enzyme can be distinguished from an NeuAc alpha 2-->3Gal beta-1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, which also occurs in human plasma. The methylation study of the product formed by the transfer of N-acetylgalactosamine to lactose revealed that N-acetylgalactosamine had been transferred to the carbon-3 position of the beta-galactosyl residue. Although the GalNAc beta 1-->3Gal structure is known to have the blood group P antigen activity, human plasma showed no detectable activity of Gal alpha 1-->4Gal beta-1,3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, which is involved in the synthesis of the major P antigen-active glycolipid, GalNAc beta 1-->3Gal alpha 1-->4Gal beta 1-->4Glc-ceramide. Hence, the GalNAc beta 1-->3Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc/Glc structure is synthesized by the novel Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc/Glc beta-1,3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase.     

Characterization of a glycosphingolipid beta-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferase activity in cultured hamster (nil) cells

The activity of a glycosphingolipid N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (GalNAc transferase) in cultured hamster fibroblasts (NIL-8) was characterized with respect to substrate binding, acceptor specificity, pH optimum and detergent requirements. Of the glycosphingolipid acceptors tested, transferase activity was observed only with globotriaosylceramide. The apparent Km values for uridinediphosphate-N-acetylgalactosamine and globotriasylceramide were 0.14 and 0.42 mM, respectively. The enzyme required Mn2+ for maximum activity (4 mM), and Mg2+ was not able to replace Mn2+. Of the detergents tested, sodium taurodeoxycholate gave the greatest activation of the enzyme at 1 mg/ml. A broad pH optimum (4.5-8.0) was obtained, with maximum activity at pH 6.0 in 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid. Globotetraosylceramide and II3-alpha-N-acetylneuraminyl-lactosylceramide inhibited transferase activity with globotriaosylceramide as substrate, but lactosylceramide had no effect on the activity with this acceptor. The major product of the assay was shown to be a tetraglycosylceramide with a terminal beta-N-acetylgalactosamine moiety by co-migration with authentic globotetraosylceramide on TLC plates and by cleavage of the labeled N-acetylgalactosamine from the product by jack bean beta-hexosaminidase.     

Kinetic studies on endo-beta-galactosidase by a novel colorimetric assay and synthesis of N-acetyllactosamine-repeating oligosaccharide beta-glycosides using its transglycosylation activity.

Novel chromogenic substrates for endo-beta-galactosidase were designed on the basis of the structural features of keratan sulfate. Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta-pNP (2), which consists of two repeating units of N-acetyllactosamine, was synthesized enzymatically by consecutive additions of GlcNAc and Gal residues to p-nitrophenyl beta-N-acetyllactosaminide. In a similar manner, GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta-pNP (1), GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Glcbeta-pNP (3), Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Glcbeta-pNP (4), Galbeta1-3GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Glcbeta-pNP (5), and Galbeta1-6GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Glcbeta-pNP (6) were synthesized as analogues of 2. Endo-beta-galactosidases released GlcNAcbeta-pNP or Glcbeta-pNP in an endo-manner from each substrate. A colorimetric assay for endo-beta-galactosidase was developed using the synthetic substrates on the basis of the determination of p-nitrophenol liberated from GlcNAcbeta-pNP or Glcbeta-pNP formed by the enzyme through a coupled reaction involving beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (beta-NAHase) or beta-d-glucosidase. Kinetic analysis by this method showed that the value of Vmax/Km of 2 for Escherichia freundii endo-beta-galactosidase was 1.7-times higher than that for keratan sulfate, indicating that 2 is very suitable as a sensitive substrate for analytical use in an endo-beta-galactosidase assay. Compound 1 still acts as a fairly good substrate despite the absence of a Gal group in the terminal position. In addition, the hydrolytic action of the enzyme toward 2 was shown to be remarkably promoted compared to that of 4 by the presence of a 2-acetamide group adjacent to the p-nitrophenyl group. This was the same in the case of a comparison of 1 and 3. Furthermore, the enzyme also catalysed a transglycosylation on 1 and converted it into GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta-pNP (9) and GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta-pNP (10) as the major products, which have N-acetyllactosamine repeating units.     

Properties of a protein activator of glycosphingolipid hydrolysis isolated from the liver of a patient with GM1 gangliosidosis,Type 1

The heat stable protein activator of GM1 ganglioside hydrolysis was isolated from the liver of a patient with GM1 gangliosidosis, Type 1. It was found to be present at a level about 35 times that found in a liver sample from an age matched control. This activator protein was demonstrated to stimulate the hydrolysis of GM1 ganglioside and GA1 (asialo-GM1 ganglioside) in the presence of purified GM1 ganglioside β-galactosidase without the need for bile salt detergents. It could not stimulate the hydrolysis of two other galactosphingolipids, galactosylceramide and lactosylceramide, in the presence of the same enzyme. Lactosylceramide was a good substrate for this enzyme when sodium glycodeoxycholate was included in the assay. This activator protein had two isoelectric points pH 4.1 and 4.6, and it had an apparent molecular weight of 27,000 by gel filtration.     

Glycosidases of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and ascitic fluid--purification and substrate specificity of alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase and alpha-galactosidase: comparison with coffee bean alpha-galactosidase

Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and ascitic fluid were assayed for glycosidase activity. alpha-Galactosidase and beta-galactosidase, alpha- and beta-mannosidase, alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activities were detected using p-nitrophenyl glycosides as substrates. alpha-Galactosidase and alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase were isolated from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells on epsilon-aminocaproylgalactosylamine-Sepharose. alpha-Galactosidase was purified 160,000-fold and was free of other glycosidase activities. alpha-N-Acetylgalactosaminidase was also purified 160,000-fold but exhibited a weak alpha-galactosidase activity which appears to be inherent in this enzyme. Substrate specificity of the alpha-galactosidase was investigated with 12 substrates and compared with that of the corresponding coffee bean enzyme. The pH optimum of the Ehrlich cell alpha-galactosidase centered near 4.5, irrespective of substrate, whereas the pH optimum of the coffee bean enzyme for PNP-alpha-Gal was 6.0, which is 1.5 pH units higher than that for other substrates of the coffee bean enzyme. The reverse was found for alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase: the pH optimum for the hydrolysis of PNP-alpha-GalNAc was 3.6, lower than the pH 4.5 required for the hydrolysis of GalNAc alpha 1,3Gal. Coffee bean alpha-galactosidase showed a relatively broad substrate specificity, suggesting that it is suited for cleaving many kinds of terminal alpha-galactosyl linkages. On the other hand, the substrate specificity of Ehrlich alpha-galactosidase appears to be quite narrow. This enzyme was highly active toward the terminal alpha-galactosyl linkages of Ehrlich glycoproteins and laminin, both of which possess Gal alpha 1, 3Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc beta-trisaccharide sequences. The alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase was found to be active toward the blood group type A disaccharide, and trisaccharide, and glycoproteins with type A-active carbohydrate chains.     

Activity of human hepatic beta-galactosidase toward natural glycosphingolipid substrates.

1. Human hepatic "acid" beta-galactosidase preparations, which had been purified approximately 250-fold, were examined for activities toward 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-galactoside, galactosylceramide, lactosylceramide, galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosyl-glucosylceramide (GM1-Ganglioside) and galactosyl-Cacetylgalactosaminyl-galactosyl-glucosylceramide (asialo GM1-ganglioside). 2. The enzyme was active toward the synthetic substrate, GM1-ganglioside and asialo GM1-ganglioside but was inactive toward galactosylceramide. Under our assay conditions, optimized for lactosylceramidase II, the preparations were as active toward lactosylceramide as toward GM1-ganglioside or its asialo derivative. Teh apparent Km values for the three natural substrates were similar. When determined by the assay system of Wenger, D.A., Sattler, M., Clark, C. and McKelvey, H. (1974) Clin. Chim. Acta 56, 199-206, lactosylceramidecleaving activity was 0.2% of that determined by our assay system. This confirmed our previous suggestion that the Wenger assay system determines exclusively the activity of lactosylceramidase I, which is probably identical with galactosylceramide beta-galactosidase. 3. Crude sodium taurocholate was far more effective than pure taurocholate in stimualting hydrolysis of the three glycosphingolipids by the beta-galactosidase. However, crude tauroxycholate, suggesting that the unique activating capacity of the crude taurocholate might be due to taurodeoxycholate present as the major impurity. 4. Cl- was generally stimulatory for hydrolysis of the natural glycosphingolipids by our enzyme preparation. Effects of additional oleic acid and Triton X-100 Were generally minor in either direction. 5. When the enzyme preparation was diluted with water, activity toward the synthetic substrate declined rapidly while those toward the natural substrates were essentially stable. Activity toward the synthetic substrate remained much more stable when the enzyme was diluted with 0.1 M sodium citrate/phosphate buffer, pH 5.0. 6. These observations provide insight into the complex relationship among the human hepatic beta-galactosidases.     

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.     

Characterization and specific assay for a galactoside beta-3-galactosyltransferase of human kidney

Two galactosyltransferases identified as UDP-galactose:lactose (lactosylceramide) alpha-4- and beta-3-galactosyltransferases [Bailly P. et al. (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 141, 84-91] have been characterized in human kidney microsomes. Using methyl beta-D-galactoside as acceptor substrate, we have determined the experimental conditions (pH 5.0, 4 mM Cd2+) in which only the beta-3-galactosyltransferase activity is detectable. The reaction product has been characterized by chemical methods and glycosidase studies. Under these experimental conditions, some of the enzyme properties have been further investigated. Apparent Km values are for UDP-galactose, 0.170 mM; for lactose, 242 mM; and for lactosylceramide, 2.5 mM. Acceptor specificity studies suggest that the beta-3-galactosyltransferase is specific for terminal Gal beta 1-4Glc(NAc) residues and responsible for elongation of oligosaccharide chains in glycolipids. Competition studies with lactose and N-acetylgalactosamine as acceptor substrates indicate that the transferase described here can be distinguished from the UDP-galactose:2-acetamide-2-deoxy-D-galactose beta-3-galactosyltransferase and therefore represents a novel enzyme capable of synthesizing unusual carbohydrate structures similar to those which accumulate in certain neurological diseases.     

Lectinochemical characterization of a GalNAc and multi-Galbeta1-->4GlcNAc reactive lectin from Wistaria sinensis seeds.

An agglutinin that has high affinity for GalNAcbeta1-->, was isolated from seeds of Wistaria sinensis by adsorption to immobilized mild acid-treated hog gastric mucin on Sepharose 4B matrix and elution with aqueous 0.2 M lactose. The binding property of this lectin was characterized by quantitative precipitin assay (QPA) and by inhibition of biotinylated lectin-glycan interaction. Of the 37 glycoforms tested by QPA, this agglutinin reacted best with a GalNAcbeta1-->4 containing glycoprotein (GP) [Tamm-Horsfall Sd(a+) GP]; a Galbeta1-->4GlcNAc containing GP (human blood group precursor glycoprotein from ovarian cyst fluid and asialo human alpha1-acid GP) and a GalNAcalpha1-->3GalNAc containing GP (asialo bird nest GP), but poorly or not at all with most sialic acid containing glycoproteins. Among the oligosaccharides tested, GalNAcalpha1-->3GalNAcbeta1-->3Galalpha1-->4Galbeta 1-->4Glc (Fp) was the most active ligand. It was as active as GalNAc and two to 11 times more active than Tn cluster mixtures, Galbeta1--> 3/4GlcNAc (I/II), GalNAcalpha1-->3(L-Fucalpha1-->2)Gal (Ah), Galbeta1-->4Glc (L), Galbeta1-->3GalNAc (T) and Galalpha1--> 3Galalpha-->methyl (B). Of the monosaccharides and their glycosides tested, p-nitrophenyl betaGalNAc was the best inhibitor; it was approximately 1.7 and 2.5 times more potent than its corresponding alpha anomer and GalNAc (or Fp), respectively. GalNAc was 53.3 times more active than Gal. From the present observations, it can be concluded that the Wistaria agglutinin (WSA) binds to the C-3, C-4 and C-6 positions of GalNAc and Gal residues; the N-acetyl group at C-2 enhances its binding dramatically. The combining site of WSA for GalNAc related ligands is most likely of a shallow type, able to recognize both alpha and beta anomers of GalNAc. Gal ligands must be Galbeta1-->3/4GlcNAc related, in which subterminal beta1-->3/4 GlcNAc contributes significantly to binding; hydrophobicity is important for binding of the beta anomer of Gal. The decreasing order of the affinity of WSA for mammalian structural carbohydrate units is Fp >/= multi-II > monomeric II >/= Tn, I and Ah >/= E and L > T > Gal.     

Enzymatic synthesis of poly-N-acetyllactosamines as potential substrates for endo-beta-galactosidase-catalyzed hydrolytic and transglycosylation reactions

Enzymatic synthesis of GlcNAc-terminated poly-N-acetyllactosamine beta-glycosides GlcNAcbeta1,3(Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta1,3)(n)Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta-pNP (n=1-4) was demonstrated using a transglycosylation reaction of Escherichia freundii endo-beta-galactosidase. The enzyme catalyzed a transglycosylation reaction on GlcNAcbeta1,3Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta-pNP (1), which served both as a donor and an acceptor, and converted 1 into p-nitrophenyl beta-glycosides GlcNAcbeta1,3(Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta1,3)(1)Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta-pNP (2), GlcNAcbeta1,3(Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta1,3)(2)Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta-pNP (3), GlcNAcbeta1,3(Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta1,3)(3)Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta-pNP (4) and GlcNAcbeta1,3(Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta1,3)(4)Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta-pNP (5). When 2 was used as an initial substrate, it led to the preferential synthesis of nonasaccharide beta-glycoside 4 to heptasaccharide beta-glycoside 3. This suggests that 4 is directly synthesized by transferring the tetrasaccharide unit GlcNAcbeta1,3Galbeta1,4GlcNAcbeta1,3Gal to nonreducing end GlcNAc residue of 2 itself. The efficiency of production of poly-N-acetyllactosamines by E. freundii endo-beta-galactosidase was significantly enhanced by the addition of BSA and by a low-temperature condition. Resulting 2 and 3 were shown to be useful for studying endo-beta-galactosidase-catalyzed hydrolytic and transglycosylation reactions.     

Characterization of two noncellulosomal subunits,ArfA and BgaA,from Clostridium cellulovorans that cooperate with the cellulosome in plant cell wall degradation

Plant cell wall degradation by Clostridium cellulovorans requires the cooperative activity of its cellulases and hemicellulases. To characterize the alpha-L-arabinosidases that are involved in hemicellulose degradation, we screened the C. cellulovorans genomic library for clones with alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase or alpha-L-arabinopyranosidase activity, and two clones utilizing different substrates were isolated. The genes from the two clones, arfA and bgaA, encoded proteins of 493 and 659 amino acids with molecular weights of 55,731 and 76,414, respectively, and were located on neighboring loci. The amino acid sequences for ArfA and BgaA were related to alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase and beta-galactosidase, respectively, which are classified as family 51 and family 42 glycosyl hydrolases, respectively. Recombinant ArfA (rArfA) had high activity for p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinofuranoside, arabinoxylan, and arabinan but not for p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinopyranoside. On the other hand, recombinant BgaA (rBgaA) hydrolyzed not only p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinopyranoside but also p-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactopyranoside. However, when the affinities of rBgaA for p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinopyranoside and p-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactopyranoside were compared, the K(m) values were 1.51 and 6.06 mM, respectively, suggesting that BgaA possessed higher affinity for alpha-L-arabinopyranose residues than for beta-D-galactopyranoside residues and possessed a novel enzymatic property for a family 42 beta-galactosidase. Activity staining analyses revealed that ArfA and BgaA were located exclusively in the noncellulosomal fraction. When rArfA and rBgaA were incubated with beta-1,4-xylanase A (XynA), a cellulosomal enzyme from C. cellulovorans, on plant cell wall polymers, the plant cell wall-degrading activity was synergistically increased compared with that observed with XynA alone. These results indicate that, to obtain effective plant cell wall degradation, there is synergy between noncellulosomal and cellulosomal subunits.     

Rat small-intestinal galactosidases. Separation by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration

1. The chromatography of rat small-intestinal beta-galactosidase activities on gel-filtration and ion-exchange columns has been studied. Five different substrates were used to measure beta-galactosidase activity (lactose, phenyl beta-galactoside, o-nitrophenyl beta-galactoside, p-nitrophenyl beta-galactoside and 6-bromo-2-naphthyl beta-galactoside) and the activity was measured at one acid and one more neutral pH value. 2. By gel filtration one acid beta-galactosidase, hydrolysing lactose and the hetero-beta-galactosides at about the same rate, and one more neutral beta-galactosidase, hydrolysing lactose much more rapidly than the hetero-beta-galactosides, were separated. 3. By ion-exchange chromatography the acid enzyme was fractionated into two components. These may be individual enzymes or different forms of the same enzyme.     

Characterization of a CMP-sialic acid:lactosylceramide sialyltransferase activity in cultured hamster cells

Previous studies have shown a strong correlation between reduced levels of GM3 ganglioside and an increase in the oncogenic transformation of cultured cells. CMP-sialic acid:lactosylceramide sialyltransferase, which catalyzes GM3 synthesis, was characterized in cultured hamster fibroblasts (NIL-8) with respect to substrate binding, pH optimum, detergent requirements, metal ion requirements, activity during cell cycle phases and activity during cell growth phases. The apparent Km values for CMP-sialic acid and lactosylceramide were 0.16 and 0.11 mM, respectively. The enzyme required Mn2+ (15 mM) for maximal, but Mg2+ and Ca2+ were able to substitute to a lesser extent. Triton CF-54 (0.3%, w/v) compared to other nonionic detergents gave the greatest enzyme activation, while ionic detergents inhibited the enzyme. A broad pH optimum (4.5-8.0) was obtained, with maximum activity at pH 6.5 in cacodylate-HCl buffer. No buffer effects on enzyme activity were seen. Sialyltransferase activity was found to be highest in the M and G1 phases of the cell cycle and in the contact-inhibited phase of cell growth.     

Isolation and characterization of an endo-beta-galactosidase from Bacteroides fragilis.

Six strains of Bacteroides fragilis were examined and all found to produce endo-beta-galactosidase, an enzyme that hydrolyses internal beta-galactosidic linkages of oligosaccharides belonging to the poly-N-acetyl-lactosamine series, with the common structure GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 4GlcNAc/Glc. The enzyme was produced without the addition of an inducer such as keratan sulphate. It was purified 7000-fold from the culture supernatant and obtained with a yield 4-10-fold greater than from sources described previously. The specificity of the enzyme towards bovine corneal keratan sulphate, milk oligosaccharides and the glycolipids lacto-N-neotetraosylceramide and lacto-N-tetraosylceramide closely resembled that of the endo-beta-galactosidase isolated from Escherichia freundii. A novel observation was that both enzymes hydrolysed the type 2 sequence, Gal beta 1 leads to 4GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 4Glc, at about twice the rate of the type 1 isomer, Gal beta 1 leads to 3GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 4Glc. Because of the ease of purification of the enzyme and high yield in the absence of contaminating glycosidases and proteinases, Bacteroides fragilis is a valuable source of endo-beta-galactosidase for the structural analysis of carbohydrate chains.