Sugar-binding sites of the HA1 subcomponent of Clostridium botulinum type C progenitor toxin

Clostridium botulinum type C 16S progenitor toxin contains a hemagglutinin (HA) subcomponent, designated HA1, which appears to play an important role in the effective internalization of the toxin in gastrointestinal epithelial cells and in creating a broad specificity for the oligosaccharide structure that corresponds to various targets. In this study, using the recombinant protein fused to glutathione S-transferase, we investigated the binding specificity of the HA1 subcomponent to sugars and estimated the binding sites of HA1 based on X-ray crystallography and soaking experiments using various sugars. N-Acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylgalactosamine, and galactose effectively inhibited the binding that occurs between glutathione S-transferase-HA1 and mucins, whereas N-acetylglucosamine and glucose did not inhibit it. The crystal structures of HA1 complex with N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylgalactosamine, and galactose were also determined. There are two sugar-binding sites, sites I and II. Site I corresponds to the electron densities noted for all sugars and is located at the C-terminal β-trefoil domain, while site II corresponds to the electron densities noted only for galactose. An aromatic amino acid residue, Trp176, at site I has a stacking interaction with the hexose ring of the sugars. On the other hand, there is no aromatic residue at site II; thus, the interaction with galactose seems to be poor. The double mutant W176A at site I and D271F at site II has no avidity for N-acetylneuraminic acid but has avidity for galactose. In this report, the binding specificity of botulinum C16S toxin HA1 to various sugars is demonstrated based on its structural features.     

Convergent Pathways for Utilization of the Amino Sugars N-Acetylglucosamine, N-Acetylmannosamine, and N-Acetylneuraminic Acid by Escherichia coli

N-Acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) are good carbon sources for Escherichia coli K-12, whereas N-acetylmannosamine (ManNAc) is metabolized very slowly. The isolation of regulatory mutations which enhanced utilization of ManNAc allowed us to elucidate the pathway of its degradation. ManNAc is transported by the manXYZ-encoded phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) transporter producing intracellular ManNAc-6-P. This phosphorylated hexosamine is subsequently converted to GlcNAc-6-P, which is further metabolized by the nagBA-encoded deacetylase and deaminase of the GlcNAc-6-P degradation pathway. Two independent mutations are necessary for good growth on ManNAc. One mutation maps to mlc, and mutations in this gene are known to enhance the expression of manXYZ. The second regulatory mutation was mapped to the nanAT operon, which encodes the NANA transporter and NANA lyase. The combined action of the nanAT gene products converts extracellular NANA to intracellular ManNAc. The second regulatory mutation defines an open reading frame (ORF), called yhcK, as the gene for the repressor of the nan operon (nanR). Mutations in the repressor enhance expression of the nanAT genes and, presumably, three distal, previously unidentified genes, yhcJIH. Expression of just one of these downstream ORFs, yhcJ, is necessary for growth on ManNAc in the presence of an mlc mutation. The yhcJ gene appears to encode a ManNAc-6-P-to-GlcNAc-6-P epimerase (nanE). Another putative gene in the nan operon, yhcI, likely encodes ManNAc kinase (nanK), which should phosphorylate the ManNAc liberated from NANA by the NanA protein. Use of NANA as carbon source by E. coli also requires the nagBA gene products. The existence of a ManNAc kinase and epimerase within the nan operon allows us to propose that the pathways for dissimilation of the three amino sugars GlcNAc, ManNAc, and NANA, all converge at the step of GlcNAc-6-P.     

Conversion of N-acetylglucosamine to CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid in a cell-free system of rat liver

A soluble fraction of rat liver converts glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine in the presence of ATP and UTP to N-acetylneuraminic acid. This system, when supplemented with CTP, forms CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid in high yield. Nicotinamide was found to enhance the synthesis of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid. Kinetic analysis reveals N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylmannosamine, N-acetylmannosamine 6-phosphate and N-acetylneuraminic acid 9-phosphate as intermediates. Under certain experimental conditions, however, an epimerisation of N-acetylglucosamine to N-acetylmannosamine was seen.     

Cover Image,Volume 88, Issue 5

Human pathogenic and commensal bacteria have evolved the ability to scavenge host-derived sialic acids and subsequently degrade them as a source of nutrition. Expression of the Escherichia coli yjhBC operon is controlled by the repressor protein nanR, which regulates the core machinery responsible for the import and catabolic processing of sialic acid. The role of the yjhBC encoded proteins is not known—here, we demonstrate that the enzyme YjhC is an oxidoreductase/dehydrogenase involved in bacterial sialic acid degradation. First, we demonstrate in vivo using knockout experiments that YjhC is broadly involved in carbohydrate metabolism, including that of N-acetyl-d -glucosamine, N-acetyl-d -galactosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid. Differential scanning fluorimetry demonstrates that YjhC binds N-acetylneuraminic acid and its lactone variant, along with NAD(H), which is consistent with its role as an oxidoreductase. Next, we solved the crystal structure of YjhC in complex with the NAD(H) cofactor to 1.35 Å resolution. The protein fold belongs to the Gfo/Idh/MocA protein family. The dimeric assembly observed in the crystal form is confirmed through solution studies. Ensemble refinement reveals a flexible loop region that may play a key role during catalysis, providing essential contacts to stabilize the substrate—a unique feature to YjhC among closely related structures. Guided by the structure, in silico docking experiments support the binding of sialic acid and several common derivatives in the binding pocket, which has an overall positive charge distribution. Taken together, our results verify the role of YjhC as a bona fide oxidoreductase/dehydrogenase and provide the first evidence to support its involvement in sialic acid metabolism.     

N-acetylneuraminic acid and sialoglycoconjugate metabolism in fibroblasts from a patient with generalized N-acetylneuraminic acid storage disease

Cultured skin fibroblasts from a patient suffering from generalized N-acetylneuraminic acid storage disease were found to accumulate large amounts (approx. 4.0 μmol/g fresh weight) of free N-acetylneuraminic acid in a lysosome-enriched subcellular fraction. However, there were no detectable deficiencies in lysosomal hydrolase activities (including neuraminidase), and the activities of CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase and N-acetylneuraminic acid aldolase were within normal limits. The cellular glycoconjugate composition was normal, and pathologic fibroblasts labeled with either [³H]glucosamine-HCl or $\text{N-[}{}^3\text{H]acetylmannosamine}$ showed a marked accumulation of labeled free N-acetylneuraminic acid, along with elevated incorporation into sialoglycoconjugates. Neither normal nor pathologic fibroblasts secreted labeled free N-acetylneuraminic acid into the culture medium. These results are consistent with an inherited defect in N-acetylneuraminic acid reutilization, resulting in the lysosomal accumulation of the free monosaccharide in generalized N-acetylneuraminic acid storage disease.     

An atomic force microscopy method for the detection of binding forces between bacteria and a lipid bilayer containing higher order gangliosides

We developed an atomic force microscopy (AFM) method to determine the binding forces between a model cell wall plasma membrane and Vibrio cholerae. V. cholerae cells were covalently attached to AFM probes and forces were determined against a lipid bilayer containing sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid) molecules as well as several control surfaces.     

Mass spectrometry of pertrimethylsilyl nueraminic acid derivatives

The mass spectra of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of the methyl and trideuteriomethyl esters of N-acetylneuraminic acid, the methyl ester of N-glycolylneuraminic acid, the methyl ester methyl β-glycoside of N-acetylneuraminic acid, the trideuteriomethyl ester trideuteriomethyl β-glycoside of N-acetylneuraminic acid, and the methyl esters of the (2→3)- and (2→6)-linked isomers of N-acetylneuraminic acid—lactose are discussed. The characteristic fragmentation patterns of the sialic acid derivatives can be used for the identification of this type of carbohydrate. The (2→3)- and (2→6)-linked isomers of N-acetylneuraminic acid—lactose can be differentiated.     

Structural Insights into Substrate Specificity in Variants of N-Acetylneuraminic Acid Lyase Produced by Directed Evolution

The substrate specificity of Escherichia coli N-acetylneuraminic acid lyase was previously switched from the natural condensation of pyruvate with N-acetylmannosamine, yielding N-acetylneuraminic acid, to the aldol condensation generating N-alkylcarboxamide analogues of N-acetylneuraminic acid. This was achieved by a single mutation of Glu192 to Asn. In order to analyze the structural changes involved and to more fully understand the basis of this switch in specificity, we have isolated all 20 variants of the enzyme at position 192 and determined the activities with a range of substrates. We have also determined five high-resolution crystal structures: the structures of wild-type E. coli N-acetylneuraminic acid lyase in the presence and in the absence of pyruvate, the structures of the E192N variant in the presence and in the absence of pyruvate, and the structure of the E192N variant in the presence of pyruvate and a competitive inhibitor (2R,3R)-2,3,4-trihydroxy-N,N-dipropylbutanamide. All structures were solved in space group P2₁ at resolutions ranging from 1.65 Å to 2.2 Å. A comparison of these structures, in combination with the specificity profiles of the variants, reveals subtle differences that explain the details of the specificity changes. This work demonstrates the subtleties of enzyme-substrate interactions and the importance of determining the structures of enzymes produced by directed evolution, where the specificity determinants may change from one substrate to another.     

Identification by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of 4-O-acetyl-9-O-lactyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid,a new sialic acid from horse submandibular gland

The novel sialic acid 4-O-acetyl-9-O-lactyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid has been identified as a constituent of horse submandibular gland glycoproteins in addition to the already know equine sialic acids, N-acetylneuraminic acid, 4-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid, 9-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid, 4,9-di-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-glycolylneuraminic acid, 4-O-acetyl-N-glycolylneuraminic acidand 9-O-acetyl-N-glycolylneuraminic acid. The structure has been established by combined gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.     

The nature of sialic acids in human lymphocytes

Analysis of the sialic acids obtained by mild acid hydrolysis of B lymphocytes reveals the presence of N-acetylneuraminic acid and 9-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid. For T lymphocytes only N-acetylneuraminic acid has been demonstrated to occur. The applied methods include quantitative colorimetry, thin-layer chromatography and combined gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.     

The Aspergillus fumigatus sialidase is a 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-2-nonulosonic acid hydrolase (KDNase): structural and mechanistic insights

Aspergillus fumigatus is a filamentous fungus that can cause severe respiratory disease in immunocompromised individuals. A putative sialidase from A. fumigatus was recently cloned and shown to be relatively poor in cleaving N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) in comparison with bacterial sialidases. Here we present the first crystal structure of a fungal sialidase. When the apo structure was compared with bacterial sialidase structures, the active site of the Aspergillus enzyme suggested that Neu5Ac would be a poor substrate because of a smaller pocket that normally accommodates the acetamido group of Neu5Ac in sialidases. A sialic acid with a hydroxyl in place of an acetamido group is 2-keto-3-deoxynononic acid (KDN). We show that KDN is the preferred substrate for the A. fumigatus sialidase and that A. fumigatus can utilize KDN as a sole carbon source. A 1.45-Å resolution crystal structure of the enzyme in complex with KDN reveals KDN in the active site in a boat conformation and nearby a second binding site occupied by KDN in a chair conformation, suggesting that polyKDN may be a natural substrate. The enzyme is not inhibited by the sialidase transition state analog 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac2en) but is inhibited by the related 2,3-didehydro-2,3-dideoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-nonulosonic acid that we show bound to the enzyme in a 1.84-Å resolution crystal structure. Using a fluorinated KDN substrate, we present a 1.5-Å resolution structure of a covalently bound catalytic intermediate. The A. fumigatus sialidase is therefore a KDNase with a similar catalytic mechanism to Neu5Ac exosialidases, and this study represents the first structure of a KDNase.     

Fluorometric assay of neuraminidase with a sodium (4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-D-N-acetylneuraminate) substrate.

This report describes the preparation of a sodium (4-methylumbelliferyl-α-d-N-acetylneuraminate) substrate and its use in a sensitive fluorometric assay of neuraminidase (EC 3.2.1.18) from Vibrio cholerae, cultured fibroblasts, and human leucocytes. V. cholerae neuraminidase showed maximum activity at pH 4.6 and an apparent K_m of 1.5 mm and was activated by CaCl₂ and inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetate, NaCl, and N-acetylneuraminic acid. The inhibition by N-acetylneuraminic acid was competitive (K_i = 6.1 mm). Cultured fibroblast and leucocyte neuraminidases showed maximum activity between pH 4.2 and 4.4 and apparent K_m values of 0.13 and 0.22 mm, respectively. Neuraminidase activity was considerably reduced in cultured fibroblasts of patients with mucolipidosis types I, II, and III.     

Determination of N-acetylneuraminic acid by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with a stable isotope as internal standard

N-Acetylneuraminic acid was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using selected ion-monitoring technique with N-[²H₃]acetylneuraminic acid as an internal standard. M-COOTMS fragments at $\text{m}\text{z}$ 624 of trimethylsilyl derivatives of N-acetylneuraminic acid and at $\text{m}\text{z}$ 627 of that of the internal standard were used as monitoring ions. The standard curve obtained was linear in the range of over 10³, and the lower limit for quantitation was estimated to be a few hundred picograms. This method was used to measure total N-acetylneuraminic acid in the plasma of healthy humans and patients with lung cancer. The total N-acetylneuraminic acid level in the plasma was two to three times higher in the patients than in controls. A few hundred nanoliters of plasma was sufficient for the analysis. The mass fragmentogram of plasma gave a good signal/noise ratio, and measurements were very specific, accurate, and reproducible.     

Mass spectra of acetylated derivatives of sialic acids

The fragmentation pattern in electron-impact mass spectrometry has been established for the peracetylated methyl ester methyl glycoside derivative of N-acetylneuraminic acid. The resulting, data allow the interpretation of the mass spectrum of the corresponding derivative of a new sialic acid isolated from the starfish Distolasterias nipon which is shown to be 8-O-methyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid.     

2-Acetamidoglucal,a new metabolite isolated from the urine of a patient with sialuria

A new metabolite, namely 2-acetamidoglucal, has been found in the urine of a patient with sialuria in addition to the metabolites N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylmannosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and N-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-Nacetylneuraminic acid reported earlier. The structure has been identified by mass spectrometry and 360 MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and verified by synthesis. All accumulated compounds fit into the metabolic pathway for the biosynthesis of CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid. Sialuria is discussed in terms of a failure of regulation of UDP-N-acetyl-glucosamine 2-epimerase.     

Binding properties of Clostridium botulinum type C progenitor toxin to mucins

It has been reported that Clostridium botulinum type C 16S progenitor toxin (C16S toxin) first binds to the sialic acid on the cell surface of mucin before invading cells [A. Nishikawa, N. Uotsu, H. Arimitsu, J.C. Lee, Y. Miura, Y. Fujinaga, H. Nakada, T. Watanabe, T. Ohyama, Y. Sakano, K. Oguma, The receptor and transporter for internalization of Clostridium botulinum type C progenitor toxin into HT-29 cells, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 319 (2004) 327–333]. In this study we investigated the binding properties of the C16S toxin to glycoproteins. Although the toxin bound to membrane blotted mucin derived from the bovine submaxillary gland (BSM), which contains a lot of sialyl oligosaccharides, it did not bind to neuraminidase-treated BSM. The binding of the toxin to BSM was inhibited by N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-glycolylneuraminic acid, and sialyl oligosaccharides strongly, but was not inhibited by neutral oligosaccharides. Both sialyl α2–3 lactose and sialyl α2–6 lactose prevented binding similarly. On the other hand, the toxin also bound well to porcine gastric mucin. In this case, neutral oligosaccharides might play an important role as ligand, since galactose and lactose inhibited binding. These results suggest that the toxin is capable of recognizing a wide variety of oligosaccharide structures.     

High-performance liquid chromatography of N,O-acylated sialic acids

A rapid, isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-glycolylneuraminic acid, and their O-acetylated derivatives is described. Separation of sialic acids and of other monosaccharides as sugar-borate complexes is achieved on an anion-exchange resin. The sialic acids elute as individual peaks after the other sugars tested. The method allows quantitative determination, for example, of amounts of N-acetylneuraminic acid as small as 10 nmol. On cation-exchange resin sialic acids cannot be differentiated, but can be separated from neutral and amino sugars, allowing the determination of as little as 3 nmol of total sialic acids.     

Sialic acid attenuates the cytotoxicity of the lipid hydroperoxides HpODE and HpETE

Reduction of peroxide molecular species is an essential function in living organisms. In previous studies, we proposed a new function for the sialic acid N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac)—that of antioxidant/hydrogen peroxide scavenging agent. On the basis of the reaction scheme, Neu5Ac is thought to act as a general antioxidant of all hydroperoxide-type species (R-OOHs). The concentration of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) decreased after co-incubation with N-acetylneuraminic acid. Neu5Ac also decreased the R-OOH concentration in solutions of peroxylinolenic acid (13(S)-hydroperoxy-(9Z,11E)-octadecadienoic acid, HpODE) and peroxyarachidonic acid (15(S)-hydroperoxy-(5Z,8Z,11Z,13E)-eicosatetraenoic acid, HpETE)—two lipid hydroperoxides that participate in many physiological events. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of both these lipid hydroperoxides was attenuated by reaction with Neu5Ac acid. Our results suggest that N-acetylneuraminic acid is a potential antioxidant of most hydroperoxides that accumulate in organisms.     

A glycopeptide resistant to exoglycosidases

The carboxyl group of the terminal N-acetylneuraminic acid residue of the glycopeptide, prepared from α₁-acid glycoprotein by protease digestion, was esterified with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide, and then reduced with sodium borohydride. The reduced glycopeptide, thus prepared, containing the reduced N-acetylneuraminic acid, was resistant to hydrolysis by neuraminidase, and consequently to other exoglycosidases. The penultimate β-d-galactosyl residue of the oligosaccharide chain of the reduced glycopeptide was hydrolyzed by β-d-galactosidase only after the removal of the terminal, reduced, sialic acid by mild hydrolysis with acid. The reduced glycopeptide should be a useful substrate for the assay of endoglycosidases in the presence of exoenzymes. It should also find use as a carbon source in the growth of endoglycosidase-elaborating bacteria.