Carbohydrate recognition by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli: characterization of a novel glycosphingolipid from cat small intestine

A key virulence trait of pathogenic bacteria is the ability to bind to receptors on mucosal cells. Here the potential glycosphingolipid receptors of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli were examined by binding of 35S-labeled bacteria to glycosphingolipids on thin-layer chromatograms. Thereby a selective interaction with two nonacid glycosphingolipids of cat small intestinal epithelium was found. The binding-active glycosphingolipids were isolated and, on the basis of mass spectrometry, proton NMR spectroscopy, and degradation studies, identified as Galalpha3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer (isoglobotriaosylceramide) and Galalpha3Galalpha3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer. The latter glycosphingolipid has not been described before. The interaction was not based on terminal Galalpha3 because the bacteria did not recognize the structurally related glycosphingolipids Galalpha3Galalpha4Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer and Galalpha3Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer (B5 glycosphingolipid). However, further binding assays using reference glycosphingolipids showed that the enterohemorrhagic E. coli also bound to lactosylceramide with phytosphingosine and/or hydroxy fatty acids, suggesting that the minimal structural element recognized is a correctly presented lactosyl unit. Further binding of neolactotetraosylceramide, lactotetraosylceramide, the Le(a)-5 glycosphingolipid, as well as a weak binding to gangliotriaosylceramide and gangliotetraosylceramide, was found in analogy with binding patterns that previously have been described for other bacteria classified as lactosylceramide-binding.     

Effect of (1-->3)- and (1-->4)-linkages of fully sulfated polysaccharides on their anticoagulant activity

Chemically fully sulfated polysaccharides including xylan (-->4Xylbeta-(1-->4)Xylbeta1-->), amylose (-->4Glcalpha-(1-->4)Glcalpha1-->), cellulose (-->4Glcbeta-(1-->4)Glcbeta1-->), curdlan (-->3Glcbeta-(1-->3)Glcbeta1-->) and galactan (-->3Galbeta-(1-->3)Galbeta1-->), which have been isolated from Korean clam, were prepared, and their anticoagulant activity was investigated. The results strongly suggest that the activity might not be depending on anomeric configuration (alpha or beta) or monosaccharide species but on the glycosidic linkage, either (1-->3) or (1-->4). 1H NMR studies of these modified polysaccharides show that the neighboring sulfate groups at the C-2 and C-3 positions might have caused the conformational changes of each monosaccharide from 4C(1) to 1C(4). Furthermore, the effect of 6-sulfate residues on the anticoagulant activity was investigated using a specific desulfated reaction for the chemically fully sulfated polysaccharides. The 6-sulfate group is very important in determining anticoagulant activity of (1-->3)-linked polysaccharides, whereas the activity is not affected by presence or absence of the 6-sulfate group in (1-->4)-linked polysaccharides.     

Isolation and characterization of major glycoproteins of pigeon egg white: ubiquitous presence of unique N-glycans containing Galalpha1-4Gal

Ovotransferrin (POT), two ovalbumins (POA(hi) and POA(lo)), and ovomucoid (POM) were isolated from pigeon egg white (PEW). Unlike their chicken egg white counterparts, PEW glycoproteins contain terminal Galalpha1-4Gal, as evidenced by GS-I lectin (specific for terminal alpha-Gal), anti-P(1) (Galalpha1-4Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Glcbeta1-1Cer) monoclonal antibody, and P fimbriae on uropathogenic Escherichia coli (specific for Galalpha1-4Gal). Galalpha1-4Gal on PEW glycoproteins were found in N-glycans releasable by treatment with glycoamidase F. The respective contents of N-glycans in each glycoprotein were 3.5%, POT; 17%, POA(hi); and 31-37%, POM. POA(hi) has four N-glycosylation sites, in contrast to chicken ovalbumin, which has only one. High performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that N-glycans on POA(hi) were highly heterogeneous. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that the major N-glycans were monosialylated tri-, tetra-, and penta-antennary oligosaccharides containing terminal Galalpha1-4Gal with or without bisecting N-acetylglucosamine. Oligosaccharide chains terminating in Galalpha1-4Gal are rare among N-glycans from the mammals and avians that have been studied, and our finding is the first predominant presence of (Galalpha1-4Gal)-terminated N-glycans.     

Studies on Galalpha3-binding proteins: comparison of the glycosphingolipid binding specificities of Marasmius oreades lectin and Euonymus europaeus lectin

The carbohydrate binding preferences of the Galalpha3Galbeta4 GlcNAc-binding lectins from Marasmius oreades and Euonymus europaeus were examined by binding to glycosphingolipids on thin-layer chromatograms and in microtiter wells. The M. oreades lectin bound to Galalpha3-terminated glycosphingolipids with a preference for type 2 chains. The B6 type 2 glycosphingolipid (Galalpha3[Fucalpha2]Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer) was preferred over the B5 glycosphingolipid (Galalpha3Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer), suggesting that the alpha2-linked Fuc is accommodated in the carbohydrate binding site, providing additional interactions. The lectin from E. europaeus had broader binding specificity. The B6 type 2 glycosphingolipid was the best ligand also for this lectin, but binding to the B6 type 1 glycosphingolipid (Galalpha3[Fucalpha2]Galbeta3GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer) was also obtained. Furthermore, the H5 type 2 glycosphingolipid (Fucalpha2Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer), devoid of a terminal alpha3-linked Gal, was preferred over the the B5 glycosphingolipid, demonstrating a significant contribution to the binding affinity by the alpha2-linked Fuc. The more tolerant nature of the lectin from E. europaeus was also demonstrated by the binding of this lectin, but not the M. oreades lectin, to the x2 glycosphingolipid (GalNAcbeta3Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer) and GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer. The A6 type 2 glycosphingolipid (GalNAcalpha3[Fucalpha2]Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer) and GalNAcalpha3Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1-Cer were not recognized by the lectins despite the interaction with B6 type 2 glycosphingolipid and the B5 glycosphingolipid. These observations are explained by the absolute requirement of a free hydroxyl in the 2-position of Galalpha3 and that the E. europaea lectin can accommodate a GlcNAc acetamido moiety close to this position by reorienting the terminal sugar, whereas the M. oreades lectin cannot.     

Structures of ceramide tetrasaccharides from various sources: uniqueness of rat kidney ceramide tetrasaccharide

Methylation analysis of ceramide tetrasaccharide isolated from human erythrocytes gave acetates of 2,3,6-tri-O-methylgalactitol and 2,4,6-tri-O-methylgalactitol in a ratio of 1:1, and about 50% of the galactose was oxidized by periodate. Rat kidney ceramide tetrasaccharide gave, in contrast, a much larger proportion of the acetates of 2,4,6-tri-O-methylgalactitol (ratio 1:0.3), and less than 20% of the galactose was oxidized by periodate. Sequential degradation by beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase, alpha-galactosidase, and beta-galactosidase showed ceramide tetrasaccharides to have identical carbohydrate sequences and anomeric structures. The major part of ceramide trihexoside derived from rat kidney ceramide tetrasaccharide migrated on thin-layer chromatography more slowly than that derived from other ceramide tetrasaccharides. The structure of a major part of rat kidney ceramide tetrasaccharide was thus determined to be GalNAcbeta(1-->3)Galalpha(1-->3)Galbeta(1-->4)Glcbeta(1-->1)Cer, whereas other ceramide tetrasaccharides have Galalpha(1-->4) structure at the penultimate residue.     

NMR spectroscopy in the structural elucidation of oligosaccharides and glycosides.

The potential of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques for the identification of individual sugar residues, their anomeric configuration, interglycosidic linkages, sequencing and the site of any appended group, in establishing the structures of naturally occurring oligosaccharides and glycosides is presented.     

Fluorogenic substrates of glycogen debranching enzyme for assaying debranching activity

Glycogen debranching enzyme (GDE) degrades glycogen in concert with glycogen phosphorylase. GDE has two distinct active sites for maltooligosaccharide transferase and amylo-1,6-glucosidase activities. Phosphorylase limit dextrin from glycogen is debranched by cooperation of the two activities. Fluorogenic branched dextrins were prepared as substrates of GDE from pyridylaminated maltooctaose (PA-maltooctaose) and maltotetraose, taking advantage of the synthetic action of Klebsiella pneumoniae pullulanase. Their structures were as follows: Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4(Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-6)Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4GlcPA (B3), Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4(Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-6)Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4GlcPA (B4), Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4(Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-6)Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4GlcPA (B5), Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4(Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-6)Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4GlcPA (B6), Glcalpha1-4(Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-6)Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4GlcPA (B7), and Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-6Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4GlcPA (B8). These dextrins were incubated with porcine skeletal muscle GDE. No fluorogenic product was found in the digest of B8. The fluorogenic products from B3, B4, and B5 were PA-maltooctaose only. PA-maltooctaose, PA-maltoundecaose, and 6(7)-O-alpha-glucosyl-PA-maltooctaose were from B7. PA-maltooctaose and 6(6)-O-alpha-glucosyl-PA-maltooctaose were from B6. These results indicate that the maltooligosaccharide transferase removed the maltotriosyl residues from the maltotetraosyl branches by hydrolysis or intramolecular transglycosylation to expose 6-O-alpha-glucosyl residues, and then the amylo-1,6-glucosidase hydrolyzed the alpha-1,6-glycosidic linkages of the products rapidly. Probably, 6-O-alpha-glucosyl-PA-maltooctaoses from B7 and B6 were less susceptible to the amylo-1,6-glucosidase than were those from B3, B4, and B5. Taking this into account, B3, B4, and B5 are suitable substrates for GDE assay.     

Binding of phosphorylated oligosaccharides to immobilized phosphomannosyl receptors

We have purified phosphomannosyl-enzyme receptors from bovine liver on an affinity column composed of glycoproteins isolated from Dictyostelium discoideum secretions. Binding of human fibroblast beta-hexosaminidase B to receptors reconstituted into phosphatidylcholine liposomes was 1) specifically inhibited by mannose 6-phosphate, but not mannose 1-phosphate or glucose 6-phosphate, and 2) had properties similar to the previously reported binding of enzyme to receptors on cell surfaces and isolated membranes. In order to determine the structural features of the phosphomannosyl recognition marker required for receptor recognition, we covalently coupled purified receptor to an agarose gel bead support for affinity chromatography of phosphorylated, high mannose-type oligosaccharides isolated from fibroblast secretions radiolabeled with [2-3H]mannose. Neutral oligosaccharides and oligosaccharides containing one or two phosphates in phosphodiester linkage were not retained by the receptor column. By contrast, oligosaccharides bearing one phosphomonoester moiety were retarded on the column; those bearing two phosphomonoesters were bound to the column and were eluted with 10 mM mannose 6-phosphate. The binding of the oligosaccharides to the immobilized receptor correlates with their ability to be pinocytosed by fibroblasts and shows that the preferred recognition marker for the phosphomannosyl-enzyme receptor is a high mannose-type oligosaccharide chain bearing two uncovered phosphomannosyl groups.     

Osmoregulated trehalose-derived oligosaccharides in Sinorhizobium meliloti

Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil bacterium accumulating glutamate, N-acetylglutaminyl glutamine amide and trehalose in hyperosmolarity. Besides these compatible solutes, we highlighted several compounds in S. meliloti Rm1021 wild-type strain. The purification and the structural characterization based on liquid chromatography evaporative light scattering detector, electrospray ionization high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques showed they were four linear oligosaccharides composed of 3, 4, 5 and 6 glucose units all linked by α-(1 → 2) linkages except a terminal α-(1 ↔ 1) linkage. These oligosaccharides were cytoplasmic and were observed in several wild-type strains suggesting they were common features in S. meliloti strains grown in hyperosmolarity.     

Enzymatic synthesis and characterization of oligosaccharides structurally related to the repeating unit of Pullulan

A trisaccharide (Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-6Glc) and a tetrasaccharide (Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-6Glc) the structures of which are related to that of repeating unit of pullulan have been obtained, exploiting the transglycolytic activity of Aspergillus niger cyclodextrin glucanotransferase. Both products were obtained in one-pot reaction using as a donor the alpha-cyclodextrin and as an acceptor the disaccharide isomaltose. The regioselectivity of the reaction was 85% for the tetrasaccharide and 80% for the trisaccharide. The yield of reaction resulted to be 42% for the synthesis of trisaccharide and 25% for that of tetrasaccharide. Purification of products was performed by size exclusion chromatography and by semipreparative reverse phase HPLC after reversible derivatization with 2-aminopyridine. Structural characterization was performed by capillary electrophoresis, ion-spray mass spectrometry, and by 13C-NMR spectroscopy. A comparison of these results with those obtained by using alpha-D-glucosidase, which had been effective for the synthesis of the disaccharide isomaltose, is reported.     

The Drosophila gene brainiac encodes a glycosyltransferase putatively involved in glycosphingolipid synthesis

The Drosophila genes fringe and brainiac exhibit sequence similarities to glycosyltransferases. Drosophila and mammalian fringe homologs encode UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:fucose-O-Ser beta1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases that modulate the function of Notch family receptors. The biological function of brainiac is less well understood. brainiac is a member of a large homologous mammalian beta3-glycosyltransferase family with diverse functions. Eleven distinct mammalian homologs have been demonstrated to encode functional enzymes forming beta1-3 glycosidic linkages with different UDP donor sugars and acceptor sugars. The putative mammalian homologs with highest sequence similarity to brainiac encode UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:beta1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases (beta3GlcNAc-transferases), and in the present study we show that brainiac also encodes a beta3GlcNAc-transferase that uses beta-linked mannose as well as beta-linked galactose as acceptor sugars. The inner disaccharide core structures of glycosphingolipids in mammals (Galbeta1-4Glcbeta1-Cer) and insects (Manbeta1-4Glcbeta1-Cer) are different. Both disaccharide glycolipids served as substrates for brainiac, but glycolipids of insect cells have so far only been found to be based on the GlcNAcbeta1-3Manbeta1-4Glcbeta1-Cer core structure. Infection of High Five(TM) cells with baculovirus containing full coding brainiac cDNA markedly increased the ratio of GlcNAcbeta1-3Manbeta1-4Glcbeta1-Cer glycolipids compared with Galbeta1-4Manbeta1-4Glcbeta1-Cer found in wild type cells. We suggest that brainiac exerts its biological functions by regulating biosynthesis of glycosphingolipids.     

Characterization of a novel triphosphonooctaosylceramide from the eggs of the sea hare, Aplysia kurodai

We have reported the existence of a triphosphonoglycosphingolipid, EGL-I, in the eggs of a sea gastropod, Aplysia kurodai [Yamada, S., Araki, S., Abe, S., Kon, K., Ando, S., and Satake, M. (1995) J. Biochem. 117, 794-799]. We have now isolated a novel glycosphingolipid, named EGL-II, from the eggs of Aplysia. By component analysis, sugar analysis, permethylation studies, fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and proton magnetic resonance spectrometry, its structure was revealed to be as follows: Galalpha1-->3(GlcNAcalpha1-->2)Galalpha1-->3(3-O-MeGalalpha1-->2)Galalpha1-->3[6'-O-(2-aminoethylphosphonyl)Galalpha1-->2](2-aminoethylphosphonyl-->6)Galbeta1-->4(2-aminoethylphosphonyl-->6)Glcbeta1-->1ceramide. The major aliphatic components of the ceramide are palmitic acid, stearic acid, and anteisononadeca-4-sphingenine.     

Rapid and sensitive GC/MS characterization of glycolipid released Galalpha1,3Gal-terminated oligosaccharides from small organ specimens of a single pig

Pig to human xenotransplantation is considered a possible solution to the prevailing chronic lack of human donor organs for allotransplantation. The Galalpha1,3Gal determinant is the major porcine xenogeneic epitope causing hyperacute rejection following human antibody binding and complement activation. In order to characterize the tissue distribution of Galalpha1,3Gal-containing and blood group- type glycosphingolipids in pig, acid and nonacid glycosphingolipids were isolated from the kidney, small intestine, spleen, salivary gland, liver, and heart of a single pig obtained from a semi-inbred strain homozygous at the SLA locus. Glycolipids were analyzed by thin-layer immunostaining using monoclonal antibodies, and following ceramide glycanase cleavage as permethylated oligosaccharides by gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and matrix- assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The kidney contained large amounts of Galalpha1,3Gal-containing penta- and hexasaccharides having carbohydrate sequences consistent with the Galalpha1,3nLc4and Galalpha1,3Lexstructures, respectively. The former structure was tentatively identified in all organs by GC/MS. The presence of extended Galalpha1,3Gal-terminated structures in the kidney and heart was suggested by antibody binding, and GC/MS indicated the presence of a Galalpha1,3nLc6structure in the heart. The kidney, spleen, and heart contained blood group H pentaglycosylceramides based on type 1 (H-5-1) and type 2 (H-5-2) chains, and H hexaglycosylceramides based on the type 4 chain (H-6-4). In the intestine H-5-1 and H-6-4 were expressed, in the salivary gland H-5-1 and H-5-2, whereas only the H-5-1 structure was identified in the liver. Blood group A structures were identified in the salivary gland and the heart by antibody binding and GC/MS, indicating an organ- specific expression of blood group AH antigens in the pig.      

Human gastric glycosphingolipids recognized by Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin VacA

Many bacterial toxins utilize cell surface glycoconjugate receptors for attachment to target cells. In the present study the potential carbohydrate binding of Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin VacA was investigated by binding to human gastric glycosphingolipids on thin-layer chromatograms. Thereby a distinct binding of the toxin to two compounds in the non-acid glycosphingolipid fraction was detected. The VacA-binding glycosphingolipids were isolated and characterized by mass spectrometry and proton NMR as galactosylceramide (Galbeta1Cer) and galabiosylceramide (Galalpha4Galbeta1Cer). Comparison of the binding preferences of the protein to reference glycosphingolipids from other sources showed an additional recognition of glucosylceramide (Glcbeta1Cer), lactosylceramide (Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer) and globotriaosylceramide (Galalpha4Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer). No binding to the glycosphingolipids recognized by the VacA holotoxin was obtained with a mutant toxin with deletion of the 37 kDa fragment of VacA (P58 molecule). Collectively our data show that the VacA cytotoxin is a glycosphingolipid binding protein, where the 37 kDa moiety is required for carbohydrate recognition. The ability to bind to short chain glycosphingolipids will position the toxin close to the cell membrane, which may facilitate toxin internalization.     

Schizosaccharomyces pombe produces novel Gal0-2Man1-3 O-linked oligosaccharides

Schizosaccharomyces pombe whole-cell glycoproteins, previously depleted of N-linked glycans by sequential treatment with endo-ss-N-acetylglucosaminidase H and peptide-N4-asparagine amidohydrolase F, were ss-eliminated with 0.1 M NaOH/1 M NaBH4 to release the O-linked oligosaccharides. The saccharide-alditols were separated by gel-exclusion chromatography into pools from Hexitol to Hex4Hexitol in size. Analysis of the Hexitol pool indicated Man to be the only sugar linked to Ser or Thr residues. The Hex1Hexitol pool contained two components, Galalpha1,2Man-ol (2A) and Manalpha1, 2Man-ol (2B). The Hex2Hexitol pool contained two components, Galalpha1,2Manalpha1,2Man-ol (3A) and Manalpha1,2Manalpha1,2Man-ol (3B). The two Hex3Hexitol components were Galalpha1,2(Galalpha1, 3)Manalpha1,2Man-ol (4A) and Manalpha1,2(Galalpha1,3)Manalpha1, 2Man-ol (4B). The Hex4Hexitol component was found to be a single isomer with the composition of Galalpha1,2(Galalpha1,3)Manalpha1, 2Manalpha1,2Man-ol (5AB). Surprisingly, galactobiose was not detected in any of these oligosaccharides. The gma12 (T. G. Chappell and G. Warren (1989) J. Cell Biol., 109, 2693-2707) and gth1 (T. G. Chappell personal communication) alpha1, 2-galactosyltransferase-deficient mutants and the gma12/gth1 double mutant S.pombe strains were similarly examined. The results indicated that gma12p is solely responsible for the addition of terminal alpha1,2-linked Gal in compound 2A, while one or both of gma12p and gth1p are required for the alpha1,2-linked Gal in 4A. Both transferases are largely responsible for terminal Gal in isomer 5AB. Neither gma12 nor gth1 had any discernible effect on the structure of the large N-linked galactomannans as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Thus, while gth1p and gma12p appear responsible for adding alpha1,2-linked Gal to terminal Man, neither adds galactose side chains to the N-linked poly alpha1,6-Man outerchain, nor the O-linked branch-forming alpha1,3-linked Gal. Furthermore, the presence of Hexalpha1,2(Galalpha1,3)Manalpha1,2- structures in the O-linked glycans implies the presence of a novel branch-forming alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase in S.pombe.     

Release and utilization of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine from human milk oligosaccharides by Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis

Human milk contains high amounts of complex oligosaccharides, which can be utilized especially by Bifidobacterium species in the infant gut as a carbon and energy source. N-acetyl-D-glucosamine is a building block of these oligosaccharides, and molecular details on the release and utilization of this monosaccharide are not fully understood. In this work we have studied some of the enzymatic properties of three N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidases encoded by the genome of the intestinal isolate Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis ATCC 15697 and the gene expression of the corresponding genes during bacterial growth on human milk oligosaccharides. These enzymes belong to the glycosyl hydrolase family 20, with several homologs in bifidobacteria. Their optimum pH was 5.0 and optimum temperature was 37 °C. The three enzymes were active on the GlcNAcβ1-3 linkage found in lacto-N-tetraose, the most abundant human milk oligosaccharide. Blon_0459 and Blon_0732, but not Blon_2355, cleaved branched GlcNAcβ1-6 linkages found in lacto-N-hexaose, another oligosaccharide abundant in breast milk. Bifidobacterium infantis N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidases were induced during early growth in vitro on human milk oligosaccharides, and also during growth on lacto-N-tetraose or lacto-N-neotetraose. The up-regulation of enzymes that convert this monosaccharide into UDP-N-acetylglucosamine by human milk oligosaccharides suggested that this activated sugar is used in peptidoglycan biosynthesis. These results emphasize the complexity of human milk oligosaccharide consumption by this infant intestinal isolate, and provide new clues into this process.     

Liquid chromatographic assay for a glucose tetrasaccharide, a putative biomarker for the diagnosis of Pompe disease

A HPLC method associated with butyl-p-aminobenzoate derivatization has been developed for the analysis of a tetraglucose oligomer, Glcalpha1-6Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glc, designated Glc(4), in biological fluids. This tetraglucose, normally excreted in the urine, has previously been shown to be elevated in a number of pathological conditions including Pompe disease (glycogen storage disease type II), which is caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase. Concentrations of Glc(4) in both urine and plasma were established for the age ranges of <1, 1-5, 6-10, 11-20, and >20 years, both in normal individuals and in a cohort of 21 patients with enzymatically confirmed Pompe disease. The Glc(4) concentration decreased with age in both groups, but all the patients had elevated Glc(4) levels compared with age-matched controls. Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry was employed to establish the homogeneity of the HPLC peak for Glc(4) and to investigate the identity of other unusual oligosaccharides excreted in patient urine. Our results demonstrate that this method is suitable for application in clinical laboratories to help establish the diagnosis of Pompe disease.     

The crucial role of trehalose and structurally related oligosaccharides in the biosynthesis and transfer of mycolic acids in Corynebacterineae

Trehalose (alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-alpha'-D-glucopyranoside) is essential for the growth of the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis but not for the viability of the phylogenetically related corynebacteria. To determine the role of trehalose in the physiology of these bacteria, the so-called Corynebacterineae, mutant strains of Corynebacterium glutamicum unable to synthesize trehalose due to the knock-out of the genes of the three pathways of trehalose biosynthesis, were biochemically analyzed. We demonstrated that the synthesis of trehalose under standard conditions is a prerequisite for the production of mycolates, major and structurally important constituents of the cell envelope of Corynebacterineae. Consistently, the trehalose-less cells also lack the cell wall fracture plane that typifies mycolate-containing bacteria. Importantly, however, the mutants were able to synthesize mycolates when grown on glucose, maltose, and maltotriose but not on other carbon sources known to be used for the production of internal glucose phosphate such as fructose, acetate, and pyruvate. The mycoloyl residues synthesized by the mutants grown on alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-containing oligosaccharides were transferred both onto the cell wall and free sugar acceptors. A combination of chemical analytical approaches showed that the newly synthesized glycolipids consisted of 1 mol of mycolate located on carbon 6 of the non reducing glucopyranosyl unit. Additionally, experiments with radioactively labeled trehalose showed that the transfer of mycoloyl residues onto sugars occurs outside the plasma membrane. Finally, and in contradiction to published data, we demonstrated that trehalose 6-phosphate has no impact on mycolate synthesis in vivo.     

In vitro hydrolysis of oligomannosyl oligosaccharides by the lysosomal alpha-D-mannosidases

In vitro incubation of the oligomannosyl oligosaccharides Man9GlcNAc and Man5GlcNAc with isolated disrupted lysosomes yields different oligosaccharide isomers resulting from mannosidase hydrolysis. These isomers were isolated by HPLC and characterized by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The first steps of the degradation involve an (alpha 1-2)mannosidase activity and lead to the formation of one Man8GlcNAc, one Man7GlcNAc, two Man6GlcNAc and two Man5GlcNAc isomers. These reactions do not require Zn2+ as activator. On the other hand, the following steps, which lead to the formation of Man3GlcNAc and Man2GlcNAc, are Zn2(+)-dependent. This process is characterized by the preferential action of an (alpha 1-3)mannosidase activity, and the formation of Man(alpha 1-6)Man(alpha 1-6)Man(beta 1-4)GlcNAc and Man(alpha 1-6)Man(beta 1-4)GlcNAc. Therefore, the digestion of Man9GlcNAc inside the lysosome appears to follow a very specific pathway, since only nine intermediate compounds can be identified instead of the 38 possible isomers. Our results are consistent both with the existence of several specific enzymes for alpha 1-2, alpha 1-3 and alpha 1-6 linkages, and with the presence of a unique enzyme whose specificity would be dependent either on Zn2+ or on the spatial conformation of the glycan. Nevertheless, previous work on the structural analysis of oligosaccharides excreted in the urine of patients suffering from mannosidosis, demonstrates the absence of the core alpha 1-6-linked mannosyl residue in the major storage product derived from oligomannosyl oligosaccharides. This observation indicates the presence of a specific (alpha 1-6)mannosidase form, unaffected in mannosidosis.     

Trehalose is required for growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis

Mycobacteria contain high levels of the disaccharide trehalose in free form as well as within various immunologically relevant glycolipids such as cord factor and sulfolipid-1. By contrast, most bacteria use trehalose solely as a general osmoprotectant or thermoprotectant. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis possess three pathways for the synthesis of trehalose. Most bacteria possess only one trehalose biosynthesis pathway and do not elaborate the disaccharide into more complex metabolites, suggesting a distinct role for trehalose in mycobacteria. We disabled key enzymes required for each of the three pathways in M. smegmatis by allelic replacement. The resulting trehalose biosynthesis mutant was unable to proliferate and enter stationary phase unless supplemented with trehalose. At elevated temperatures, however, the mutant was unable to proliferate even in the presence of trehalose. Genetic complementation experiments showed that each of the three pathways was able to recover the mutant in the absence of trehalose, even at elevated temperatures. From a panel of trehalose analogs, only those with the native alpha,alpha-(1,1) anomeric stereochemistry rescued the mutant, whereas alternate stereoisomers and general osmo- and thermoprotectants were inactive. These findings suggest a dual role for trehalose as both a thermoprotectant and a precursor of critical cell wall metabolites.