山奈酚和槲皮素对大鼠体内Neu5Gc合成的影响及分子机制探究

非人源性唾液酸N-羟乙酰神经氨酸(N-glycolylneuraminic acid, Neu5Gc)是红肉中潜在的致癌性因子。唾液酸转移酶是涉及转运其前体物质的关键酶之一。大鼠用不同浓度的山奈酚(kaempferol,KA)和槲皮素(quercetin,Qu)灌胃,并模拟宰前对Neu5Gc合成影响的结果表明,不同浓度的KA、Qu对大鼠体内肌肉组织、肝和肾中Neu5Gc的含量均有一定的影响,最大抑制率分别为36.44%±0.11%和33.37%±0.08%。为探究其抑制机制,采用唾液酸转移酶(sialyltransferase,ST)与KA、Qu进行分子对接和分子动力学模拟分析。分子对接复合物二维相互作用图表明:KA和Qu能有效占据ST特异性抑制剂5′-胞苷单磷酸的活性位点氨基酸残基;对最佳复合物进行200 ns的动力学模拟结果显示,ST和KA产生稳定氢键作用的氨基酸残基主要是His301和Gly298,与Qu产生氢键作用的氨基酸残基主要是Gly293、Glu324、Thr272和Ser276。结合自由能分析表明,范德华力、静电吸引作用对抑制过程具有重要作用。本研究为合成和筛选高效ST抑制剂提供了一定实验依据。     

金雀异黄素对大鼠氧化应激损伤的保护作用研究

目的观察金雀异黄素(又称染料木黄酮,genistein,Gen)对β淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)致大鼠氧化应激损伤的保护作用。方法 30只健康雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组和Gen干预组,每组10只。Gen组灌胃剂量为30 mg/(kg.d),假手术组和模型组灌胃等量的0.5%羧甲基纤维素钠。连续灌胃14 d后,模型组和Gen组大鼠双侧海马CA1区注射Aβ25-35,假手术组注射等量生理盐水,于术后7 d,生物化学方法检测脑组织中SOD、GSH-Px、MDA的活性或含量,HE染色观察大鼠海马的形态学改变。结果 (1)与假手术组比较,模型组脑组织SOD及GSH-Px活力明显降低,MDA含量明显升高(P0.01),而Gen组脑组织SOD及GSH-Px活力较模型组升高,MDA含量较模型组降低(P0.05)。(2)假手术组HE染色可见大鼠海马锥体细胞排列整齐、均匀,细胞结构完整,形态正常;模型组可见海马锥体细胞脱失、排列紊乱,结构不清,部分胞核固缩、深染;Gen组海马锥体细胞排列较整齐、均匀,结构尚清晰,形态基本正常。结论 Gen能保护海马神经细胞免受Aβ的损伤,这种作用可能与改善机体氧化还原状态,提高抗氧化水平有关。     

辣木叶黄精多糖组合物的抗疲劳作用及其机制研究*

目的: 探讨辣木叶黄精多糖组合物的抗疲劳作用,并探讨相关的机制。方法: 将30只雄性昆明小鼠随机分为正常对照组(C)、组合物组(MP),每组15只。C组灌胃蒸馏水,MP组灌胃组合物,每组灌胃体积均为0.5 ml。每日灌胃,处理14 d后进行负重游泳实验,按小鼠体质量的3%进行尾部负重,记录力竭游泳时间。在另一项实验中,将48只雄性昆明小鼠随机分为安静对照组(QC)、游泳对照组(SC)、组合物组(MP),每组16只。QC和SC组灌胃蒸馏水,MP组灌胃组合物,灌胃体积均为0.5 ml,每日灌胃,处理14 d。实验第15日,灌胃30 min后,QC组立即取血、肝脏和后腿骨骼肌;SC和MP组进行90 min非负重游泳实验,游泳结束后取血液、肝脏、后腿骨骼肌。采用试剂盒测定血清、组织中的疲劳相关指标、氧化/抗氧化指标、能量代谢指标。结果: MP组小鼠力竭游泳时间较C组显著延长(P<0.05)。与对照组比较,非负重游泳显著降低小鼠血糖和血清谷胱甘肽(GSH)水平、肝糖原和肝脏ATP含量,抑制肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)和ATP酶活性,以及肌肉谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P<0.05)。而血尿素氮(BUN)和血清丙二醛(MDA)水平显著升高(P<0.05)。与SC组比较,MP显著增加小鼠血糖和肝糖原含量,增加血清GSH水平、肝脏SOD活性、肌肉GSH-Px活性,增强肝脏LDH、ATP酶活性,增加肝脏ATP含量(P<0.05),降低血清BUN(P<0.05)。结论: 辣木叶黄精多糖组合物具有抗疲劳作用,抗氧化和改善能量代谢可能是其发挥作用的重要机制。     

LC-MS/MS法检测猪内脏和肌肉中N-乙酰神经氨酸、N-羟乙酰氨酸和脱氨神经氨酸浓度的研究

目的:建立液相色谱-三重四级杆质谱联用法(LC-MS/MS)测定猪内脏和肌肉组织中唾液酸N-乙酰神经氨酸(Neu5Ac)、N-羟乙酰神经氨酸(Neu5Gc)和脱氨神经氨酸(KDN)浓度的分析方法。方法:将内脏肉组织匀浆后,利用三氟乙酸(TFA)将结合态的唾液酸从糖脂或糖蛋白链上解离下来后进样分析。色谱条件:色谱柱为ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18(5μm,4.6×250 mm,Waters),流动相为0.1%醋酸铵-100%乙腈(9:1),柱温:25℃,流速800μL·min~(-1),进样量20μL。质谱条件:离子源为电喷雾化离子源(ESI),扫描方式为多重反应监测(MRM),监测离子对:Neu5Ac:307.7→87.0,Neu5Gc:323.3→116.0,KDN:266.7→87.0,13C3Neu5Ac内标品:310.9→90.0。结果:Neu5Ac、Neu5Gc和KDN分别在0.1~20.0、0.05~10.00和0.005~1.000μmol·L~(-1)的浓度范围内和对照品与内标峰面积比值线性关系良好,重复性平均RSD为1.2%,稳定性平均RSD为1.9%,日间和日内精密度试验RSD均小于6.7%,平均回收率为92.9~106.4%。结论:本方法简便、快速、灵敏度高,可广泛运用于组织和体液中唾液酸的测定。     

红葡萄酒对大鼠肝脏抗氧化酶和脂质过氧化的影响

选用雄性SD大鼠,分别灌胃红葡萄酒、酒精及水。实验90 d中每隔30 d处死一批动物,测定大鼠肝脏匀浆组织中的超氧化物歧化酶(Superoxide dismutase SOD)、过氧化氢酶(Catalase CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(Glutathione peroxidase GSH-Px)活性和脂质过氧化产物丙二醛(Malondialdehyde MDA)含量变化。观察摄入红葡萄酒后大鼠肝脏抗氧化酶活性变化及对肝脏脂质过氧化的影响。结果表明,红葡萄酒能提高SOD活性,且SOD活性与灌胃时间、剂量有一定关系;长期红葡萄酒和酒精摄入可诱导CAT活性增强,加剧肝脏的脂质过氧化(LPO)作用;红葡萄酒组、酒精组0.63、1.25 g/kg剂量GSH-Px活性均明显升高(P<0.05),酒精组1.88 g/kg剂量有极显著性差异(P<0.01);试验初期,红葡萄酒大剂量显著降低肝脏中MDA的含量。试验中期,红葡萄酒中大剂量显著降低MDA含量。试验末期,红葡萄酒大剂量和酒精中大剂量显著升高肝脏中MDA含量。     

脱氢表雄酮对大鼠脂类代谢和抗氧化作用的影响

目的：研究灌胃脱氢表雄酮（DHEA）对大鼠脂类代谢和抗氧化作用的影响。方法：选用健康雄性SD大鼠40只,随机分为4组（n=10）。对照组灌胃给予灭菌生理盐水,实验组灌胃给予20mg／kg、10mg／kg、5mg／kg体重的DHEA受试溶液,灌胃量均为1．5ml。每天一次,连续35d。实验结束后采血测定血糖（BG）、甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（TO）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）,血清和肝脏超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量。结果：DHEA显著降低大鼠血糖、TG、HDL-c及血清和肝脏MDA含量,显著升高血清LDL-c含量和肝脏SOD活性,而对大鼠体重、血清TC含量和SOD活性没有显著影响。结论：DHEA具有降低大鼠血脂和增强抗氧化能力的作用。     

茶多酚对NASH 大鼠肝脏组织VEGF 及氧化应激的影响

目的:茶多酚对NASH大鼠肝脏组织VEGF及氧化应激的影响。方法:雄性SD大鼠30只,随机分为3组,正常对照组、模型组、茶多酚治疗组。正常组普通饲料喂养,模型组喂高脂饮食,茶多酚治疗组在高脂饮食12周后茶多酚(150mg(/kg.d)灌胃治疗,16周末处死各组大鼠,留取肝脏组织,观察各组大鼠肝组织病理改变,测定其肝脏丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性以及血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原的表达。结果:模型组大鼠肝组织中SOD活性降低而MDA含量以及VEGF、Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原表达均明显高于正常组。茶多酚治疗可减轻肝纤维化程度,显著升高肝组织中SOD活性、降低MDA含量以及VEGF、Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原表达水平。结论:茶多酚可通过抑制肝纤维化组织VEGF表达,降低肝组织氧化应激水平而发挥抗肝纤维化作用。     

甲亢大鼠肝脏组织中HO-1、Fn及肾脏组织中的抗氧化酶活性的变化分析

为了研究甲亢大鼠肝脏组织中血红素加氧酶1 (HO-1)、铁蛋白(Fn)及肾脏组织中抗氧化酶活性的变化及其意义,本研究选取了36只SD雌性成年大鼠,采用随机数字表法分为甲亢组、对照组。采用优甲乐灌胃造模,通过RT-PCR法检测两组大鼠肝脏组织中HO-1 mRNA、Fn mRNA (含有H和L两种亚基)的表达水平,测定肾脏组织中丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、过氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的水平并进行比较。研究结果发现,甲亢组大鼠的血清三碘甲状腺素(T3)、甲状腺素(T4)水平显著的高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(p0.05);甲亢组大鼠血清促甲状腺激素(TSH)水平显著的低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(p0.05);甲亢组大鼠的肝脏组织中HO-1 mRNA、Fn-H mRNA表达水平显著的高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(p0.05);甲亢组大鼠肝脏组织中Fn-L mRNA表达水平显著的低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(p0.05);甲亢组大鼠肾脏组织中MDA的水平显著的高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(p0.05);甲亢组大鼠肾脏组织中CAT、GSH-Px、SOD的水平显著的低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(p0.05)。本研究表明,甲亢会导致大鼠肝脏铁蛋白含量水平的增加,引起HO-1表达升高,同时通过氧化应激对肾脏造成损伤。     

鳖甲育肝颗粒对乙醇性肝纤维化大鼠的影响

目的:探讨鳖甲育肝颗粒对乙醇性肝纤维化大鼠的防治作用。方法:将SD大鼠随机分为空白对照组、模型对照组、鳖甲育肝颗粒对照组、秋水仙碱组、鳖甲育肝颗粒低剂量组和鳖甲育肝颗粒高剂量组(n=8),采用梯度乙醇灌胃法复制肝纤维化动物模型,即除了空白对照组及鳖甲育肝颗粒对照组灌胃等量纯净水外,其余各组大鼠第1～4周灌胃5 g/(kg·d)乙醇,第5～8周灌胃7 g/(kg·d)乙醇,第9～12周灌胃9 g/(kg·d)乙醇,第13～24周灌胃9.5 g/(kg·d)乙醇,其中乙醇剂量计算采用下列公式:乙醇剂量(g)=无水乙醇体积(ml)×预配乙醇浓度(%)×0.8(g/ml),同时每天灌胃相应的药物:鳖甲育肝颗粒对照组灌胃鳖甲育肝颗粒5.55 g/kg、秋水仙碱组灌胃秋水仙碱0.1 mg/kg、鳖甲育肝颗粒低剂量组灌胃鳖甲育肝颗粒1.85 g/kg、鳖甲育肝颗粒高剂量组灌胃鳖甲育肝颗粒5.55 g/kg,空白对照组及模型对照组灌胃等量纯净水。实验第169日观测鳖甲育肝颗粒对大鼠肝脏脏器宏观变化、肝组织含水量及其纤维化病理变化、肝组织羟脯氨酸(Hyp)含量及α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)、CREB...     

辣木叶粉对大鼠生长性能、血液与肝脏抗氧化及免疫指标的影响

探究辣木叶粉对SD大鼠生长性能、血液生化指标、血液与肝脏抗氧化及免疫指标的影响。选取体重相近的雄性SD大鼠40只,随机分为灌胃等容积生理盐水的对照组,以及灌胃剂量分别为0.45、0.9、1.8和3.6 g/kg/体重(BW)的辣木叶粉悬浊液的实验组,预饲3 d,连续灌胃21 d后,摘眼球取血,处死,摘取脏器称重,所有样品用于抗氧化和免疫指标的检测。结果显示辣木叶粉能够有效降低血液中的胆固醇(CHOL)、甘油三酯(TG)、尿素氮(BUN)和肌酐(CREA)的含量(P0.05),提高大鼠血液及肝脏的过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)的活力,降低丙二醛(MDA)的含量(P0.05)。与对照组相比,实验组血液中免疫球蛋白A(Ig A)和免疫球蛋白G(Ig G)的含量显著升高(P0.05),另外,血液及肝组织中的抗炎因子白介素-10(IL-10)的含量均显著升高,血液中促炎因子白介素-1β(IL-1β)、白介素-6(IL-6)以及肝组织中的白介素-17(IL-17)的含量显著降低(P0.05)。实验结果表明辣木叶粉对大鼠生长性能无明显促进作用,但可有效降低血液中血脂、尿素氮和肌酐的含量,提高肾小球的滤过率,改善大鼠血液生化指标,提高SD大鼠血液及肝脏的抗氧化活性及免疫能力,且剂量在0.9~1.8 g/kg(BW)范围内效果表现较好。     

Rat liver contains age-regulated cytosolic 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-non-2-ulopyranosonic acid (Kdn).

Kdn (3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-non-2-ulopyranosonic acid), a unique deaminated member of the sialic acid family, has emerged as a new building block of glycoconjugates from a wide variety of organisms, ranging from bacteria to mammals. In particular, the presence of Kdn has been demonstrated in different rat organs and tissues, but not in liver. Here we report on the detection and quantitation of Kdn in rat liver and on its variations with postnatal development and aging. We have previously established the optimal conditions for derivatization of Kdn with 1,2-diamino-4, 5-methylene-dioxybenzene (DMB), and detection by reverse-phase HPLC. Analysis of whole liver homogenates and different subcellular fractions reveals that Kdn is fundamentally present in the cytosolic fraction as nucleotide precursor. The expression of Kdn, Neu5Gc, and Neu5Ac changes unevenly with age. While the content of Neu5Ac, the major species, and Neu5Gc decreases to a different extent from newborn to old animals, Kdn content decreases from newborn to trace amounts in adult rats and increases again with aging. Thus, expression of Kdn, Neu5Gc, and Neu5Ac appears to be independently regulated.     

Oxygenation alters ganglioside expression in rat liver following partial hepatectomy

Gangliosides from livers of weanling rats were analyzed after 15% partial hepatectomy (PH) and different pre- and post-operative hyberbaric oxygenation (pre- and postHBO). Neu5Ac was the predominant ganglioside-derived sialic acid (>85%) compared to Neu5Gc. Almost identical low total sialic acid content (Neu5Ac+Neu5Gc) of the control and operated nonHBO animals opposed a 6.4- to 7.6-fold increase in pre- and postHBO animals (69.26 and 81.64pmol/mg wet weight, respectively). NanoESI-QTOF mass spectrometry combined with HPTLC immunostaining revealed GM3(Neu5Ac) and GM3(Neu5Gc) as major gangliosides, correlating with the respective sialic acid concentrations. Minor neolacto-series gangliosides were enhanced in preHBO and postHBO, but GM1-core gangliosides only in preHBO rats. GM2 and GalNAc-GM1b were clearly detectable in oxygenated rats compared to traces in the control and nonHBO animals. These results point at a functional role of gangliosides in liver growth regulation and reconstitution after PH combined with pre- and post-operative HBO treatment.     

Ganglioside expression in tissues of mice lacking the tumor necrosis factor receptor 1

This study presents a comparative analysis of gangliosides from lymphoid (spleen and thymus) and other tissues (brain, liver, lung, muscle) of C57BL/6 mice homozygous (-/-) and heterozygous (+/-) for the tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFRp55). Quantitative and qualitative differences in the expression of the lipid-bound N-acetylneuraminic (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) and of various ganglioside biosynthesis pathways were detected between the tissues of the TNFRp55 -/- and the control TNFRp55 +/- mice. Sialic acid profiles showed a strong decrease in the absolute amount of sialic acids (Neu5Ac + Neu5Gc) in the lungs and thymus of homozygous (1.41 and 0.3 ng/mg wet weight, respectively) compared with control heterozygous animals (7.18 and 2.05 ng/mg wet weight, respectively). Considerable differences of Neu5Ac/Neu5Gc ratios in the lungs, muscle, spleen, and thymus were also detected. The gangliosides GM3(Neu5Ac) and GM3(Neu5Gc) were the dominant gangliosides in the lungs of the control animals, whereas the knockout mice almost completely lacked these structures in this organ. Reduced expression of GM1b-type gangliosides (GM1b and GalNAc-GM1b) was also found in the lungs, spleen, and thymus of the TNFRp55 knockout mice. On the other hand, neolacto-series gangliosides were more abundant in the lungs, brain, and muscle of the knockout mice, whereas their expression in the liver, spleen, and thymus was similar in both groups of animals. This study provides in vivo evidence that TNF signaling via the TNFRp55 is involved in the acquisition of a distinct ganglioside assembly in different mouse organs. TNFRp55 signaling seems to be especially important for the activation of the GM1b-type ganglioside biosynthetic pathway that is a unique characteristic of the mouse lymphoid tissues.     

Structural analysis of trisialylated biantennary glycans isolated from mouse serum transferrin. Characterization of the sequence Neu5Gc(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-3)[Neu5Gc(alpha 2-6)]GlcNAc(beta 1-2)Man

Five variants of mouse serum transferrin (mTf, designated mTf-I to mTf-V) with respect to carbohydrate composition have been isolated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography in the following relative percentages: mTf-I: 0.55; mTf-II: 0.79; mTf-III: 71.80; mTf-VI: 21. 90 and mTf-V: 4.96. The primary structures of the major glycans from mTf-III and mTf-IV were determined by methylation analysis and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All glycans possessed a common trimannosyl-N,N'-diacetylchitobiose core. From the glycovariant mTf-III two isomers of a conventional biantennary N-acetyllactosamine type were isolated, in which two N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) residues are linked to galactose either by a (alpha 2-6) or (alpha 2-3) linkage. A subpopulation of this glycovariant contains a fucose residue (alpha 1-6)-linked to GlcNAc-1. The structure of the major glycan found in variant mTf-IV contained an additional Neu5Gc and possessed the following new type of linkage: Neu5Gc(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-3)[Neu5Gc(alpha 2-6)]GlcNAc(beta 1-2 )Man(alpha 1-3). In addition to this glycan, a minor compound contained the same antennae linked to Man(alpha 1-6). In fraction mTf-V, which was found to be very heterogeneous by (1)H NMR analysis, carbohydrate composition and methylation analysis suggested the presence of tri'-antennary glycans sialylated by Neu5Gc alpha-2,6- and alpha-2, 3-linked to the terminal galactose residues. In summary, mTf glycans differed from those of other analyzed mammalian transferrins by the presence of Neu5Gc and by a Neu5Gc(alpha 2-6)GlcNAc linkage in trisialylated biantennary structures, reflecting in mouse liver, a high activity of CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase and (alpha 2-6)GlcNAc sialyltransferase.     

Metabolism of Vertebrate Amino Sugars with N-Glycolyl Groups: MECHANISMS UNDERLYING GASTROINTESTINAL INCORPORATION OF THE NON-HUMAN SIALIC ACID XENO-AUTOANTIGEN N-GLYCOLYLNEURAMINIC ACID

Although N-acetyl groups are common in nature, N-glycolyl groups are rare. Mammals express two major sialic acids, N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc). Although humans cannot produce Neu5Gc, it is detected in the epithelial lining of hollow organs, endothelial lining of the vasculature, fetal tissues, and carcinomas. This unexpected expression is hypothesized to result via metabolic incorporation of Neu5Gc from mammalian foods. This accumulation has relevance for diseases associated with such nutrients, via interaction with Neu5Gc-specific antibodies. Little is known about how ingested sialic acids in general and Neu5Gc in particular are metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract. We studied the gastrointestinal and systemic fate of Neu5Gc-containing glycoproteins (Neu5Gc-glycoproteins) or free Neu5Gc in the Neu5Gc-free Cmah(-/-) mouse model. Ingested free Neu5Gc showed rapid absorption into the circulation and urinary excretion. In contrast, ingestion of Neu5Gc-glycoproteins led to Neu5Gc incorporation into the small intestinal wall, appearance in circulation at a steady-state level for several hours, and metabolic incorporation into multiple peripheral tissue glycoproteins and glycolipids, thus conclusively proving that Neu5Gc can be metabolically incorporated from food. Feeding Neu5Gc-glycoproteins but not free Neu5Gc mimics the human condition, causing tissue incorporation into human-like sites in Cmah(-/-) fetal and adult tissues, as well as developing tumors. Thus, glycoproteins containing glycosidically linked Neu5Gc are the likely dietary source for human tissue accumulation, and not the free monosaccharide. This human-like model can be used to elucidate specific mechanisms of Neu5Gc delivery from the gut to tissues, as well as general mechanisms of metabolism of ingested sialic acids.     

Low incidence of N-glycolylneuraminic acid in birds and reptiles and its absence in the platypus

The sialic acids of the platypus, birds, and reptiles were investigated with regard to the occurrence of N-glycolylneuraminic (Neu5Gc) acid. They were released from tissues, eggs, or salivary mucin samples by acid hydrolysis, and purified and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry. In muscle and liver of the platypus only N-acetylneuraminic (Neu5Ac) acid was found. The nine bird species studied also did not express N-glycolylneuraminic acid with the exception of an egg, but not tissues, from the budgerigar and traces in poultry. Among nine reptiles, including one turtle, N-glycolylneuraminic acid was only found in the egg and an adult basilisk, but not in a freshly hatched animal. BLAST analysis of the genomes of the platypus, the chicken, and zebra finch against the CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase did not reveal the existence of a similar protein structure. Apparently monotremes (platypus) and sauropsids (birds and reptiles) cannot synthesize Neu5Gc. The few animals where Neu5Gc was found, especially in eggs, may have acquired this from the diet or by an alternative pathway. Since Neu5Gc is antigenic to man, the observation that this monosaccharide does not or at least only rarely occur in birds and reptiles, may be of nutritional and clinical significance.     

A study on the regulation of N-glycoloylneuraminic acid biosynthesis and utilization in rat and mouse liver

The relative contribution of N-glycoloyl-beta-D-neuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) to total sialic acids expressed in mouse and rat liver glycoconjugates was found to be 95% and 11%, respectively. This considerable difference in sialic acid composition made these two tissues suitable models for a comparative investigation into the regulation of Neu5Gc biosynthesis and utilization. An examination of the CMP-glycoside specificity of Golgi-associated sialyltransferases using CMP-N-acetyl-beta-D-neuraminic acid (CMP-Neu5Ac) and CMP-Neu5Gc revealed no significant tissue-dependent differences. The Golgi membrane CMP-sialic acid transport system from rat liver did, however, exhibit a slightly higher internalisation rate for CMP-Neu5Ac, though no preferential affinity for this sugar nucleotide over CMP-Neu5Gc was observed. In experiments, where Golgi membrane preparations were incubated with an equimolar mixture of labelled CMP-Neu5Ac and CMP-Neu5Gc, no significant tissue-dependent differences in [14C]sialic acid composition were observed, either in the luminal soluble sialic acid fraction or in the precipitable sialic acid fraction, results which are consistent with the above observations. From this experiment, evidence was also obtained for the presence of a Golgi-lumen-associated CMP--sialic acid hydrolase which exhibited no apparent specificity for either CMP-Neu5Ac or CMP-Neu5Gc. The specific activity of the CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase, the enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of Neu5Gc, was found to be 28-fold greater in high-speed supernatants of mouse liver than of rat liver. No hydroxylase activity was detected in the Golgi membrane preparations. It is therefore proposed that the cytoplasmic ratio of CMP-Neu5Ac and CMP-Neu5Gc produced by the hydroxylase, remains largely unmodified after CMP-glycoside uptake into the Golgi apparatus and transfer on to growing glycoconjugate glycan chains. The close relationship between the total sialic acid composition and the sialic acid pattern in the CMP-glycoside pools of the tissues lends considerable weight to this hypothesis.     

Structural analysis of trisialylated biantennary glycans isolated from mouse serum transferrin: Characterization of the sequence Neu5Gc(α2-3)Gal(β1-3)[Neu5Gc(α2-6)]GlcNAc(β1-2)Man

Five variants of mouse serum transferrin (mTf, designated mTf-I to mTf-V) with respect to carbohydrate composition have been isolated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography in the following relative percentages: mTf-I: 0.55; mTf-II: 0.79; mTf-III: 71.80; mTf-VI: 21.90 and mTf-V: 4.96. The primary structures of the major glycans from mTf-III and mTf-IV were determined by methylation analysis and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All glycans possessed a common trimannosyl-N,N′-diacetylchitobiose core. From the glycovariant mTf-III two isomers of a conventional biantennary N-acetyllactosamine type were isolated, in which two N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) residues are linked to galactose either by a (α2-6) or (α2-3) linkage. A subpopulation of this glycovariant contains a fucose residue (α1-6)-linked to GlcNAc-1. The structure of the major glycan found in variant mTf-IV contained an additional Neu5Gc and possessed the following new type of linkage: Neu5Gc(α2-3)Gal(β1-3)[Neu5Gc(α2-6)]GlcNAc(β1-2)Man(α1-3). In addition to this glycan, a minor compound contained the same antennae linked to Man(α1-6). In fraction mTf-V, which was found to be very heterogeneous by ¹H NMR analysis, carbohydrate composition and methylation analysis suggested the presence of tri′-antennary glycans sialylated by Neu5Gc α-2,6- and α-2,3-linked to the terminal galactose residues. In summary, mTf glycans differed from those of other analyzed mammalian transferrins by the presence of Neu5Gc and by a Neu5Gc(α2-6)GlcNAc linkage in trisialylated biantennary structures, reflecting in mouse liver, a high activity of CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase and (α2-6)GlcNAc sialyltransferase.     

Evidence of free radical participation in N-glycolylneuraminic acid generation in liver of chicken treated with gallotannic acid

The occurrence of N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) in cancerous tissue and inflammatory diseases, conditions associated with increased oxidative stress suggests the participation of reactive oxygen radicals in Neu5Gc generation, where an oxygen atom is transferred. To study this possibility, we treated two groups of domesticated birds and rabbits with different dosages of gallotannic acid (GTA), a compound known to cause generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The antioxidant status and leukocyte capacity, as well as amount and form of sialic acids were assessed in plasma and liver. Results showed that while lipid peroxides were increased, white blood cell (WBC) count was decreased significantly in all treated groups. The increased sialic acids and low protein contents were observed in plasma, possibly as a result of decreased sialic acid cycling crucial for formation of new glycoconjugates in tissues, caused by decreased protein synthesis due to microsomal degranulation. The activities of antioxidant enzymes were also decreased in treated groups, implying increased oxidative stress. The presence of Neu5Gc and apparent absence of Neu5Ac hydroxylase activity in liver of chicken treated with GTA indicate that free radicals might be involved in the non-enzymatic hydroxylation of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) to Neu5Gc in liver, which normally does not express this sialic acid.