Structure and dynamics of porcine submaxillary mucin as determined by natural abundance carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy

Nearly all of the resonances in the 13C NMR spectrum of porcine submaxillary mucin glycoprotein (PSM) have been assigned to the peptide core carbons and to the carbons in the eight different oligosaccharide side chains that arise from the incomplete biosynthesis of the sialylated A blood group pentasaccharide (alpha-GalNAc(1-3) [alpha-Fuc(1-2)]-beta-Gal(1-3) [alpha-NeuNGl(2-6)]- alpha-GalNAc-O-Ser/Thr). By use of these assignments, a nearly complete structural analysis of intact PSM has been performed without resorting to degradative chemical methods. Considerable structural variability in the carbohydrate side chains was observed between mucins obtained from different animals, while no variability was observed between glands in a single animal. The dynamics of the PSM core and carbohydrate side chains were examined by using the carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation times and nuclear Overhauser enhancements of each assigned carbon resonance. The peptide core of PSM exhibits internal segmental flexibility that is virtually identical with that of ovine submaxillary mucin (OSM), whose carbohydrate side chain consists of the alpha-NeuNAc(2-6)alpha-GalNAc disaccharide. The longer oligosaccharide side chains of PSM, therefore, have no significant effect on peptide core mobility compared to the shorter side chains of native OSM or asialo-OSM. Although the dynamics of the shorter carbohydrate side chains shared by both OSM and PSM appear to be identical, the A and H blood group structures in PSM have reduced mobilities, indicating that the glycosidic linkages of the terminal sugars in these determinants are relatively inflexible. These results differ from most reports of glycoprotein dynamics, which typically find the terminal carbohydrate residues to be undergoing rapid internal rotation about their terminal glycosidic bonds. The results reported here are consistent with previous studies on the conformations of the A and H determinants derived from model oligosaccharides and further indicate that the conformations of these determinants are unchanged when covalently bound to the mucin peptide core. In spite of their carbohydrate side-chain heterogeneity, mucins appear to be ideal glycoproteins for the study of O-linked oligosaccharide conformation and dynamics and for the study of the effects of glycosylation on polypeptide conformation and dynamics.     

Enhanced self-association of mucins possessing the T and Tn carbohydrate cancer antigens at the single-molecule level

Mucins are linear O-glycosylated glycoproteins involved in inflammation, cell adhesion, and tumorigenesis. Cancer-associated mucins often possess increased expression of the T (Galβ1,3GalNAcαThr/Ser) and Tn (GalNAcαThr/Ser) cancer antigens, which are diagnostic markers for several cancers, including colon cancer. We have used AFM based single-molecule forced unbinding under near physiological conditions to investigate the self-interactions between porcine submaxillary mucin (PSM) as well as between PSM analogs possessing various carbohydrates including the T- and Tn-antigen. Distributions of unbinding forces and corresponding force loading rates were determined for force loading rates from 0.18 nN/s to 39 nN/s, and processed to yield most probable unbinding forces f* and lifetimes of the interactions. Parameter f* varied in the range 27 to 50 pN at force loading rates of about 2 nN/s among the various mucins. All mucin samples investigated showed self-interaction, but the tendency was greatest for PSM displaying only the Tn-antigen (Tn-PSM) or a mixture of Tn-, T-antigen, and the trisaccharide Fucα1,2Galβ1,3GalNAc (Tri-PSM). Weaker self-interactions were observed for native PSM (Fd-PSM), which consists of a nearly equal mixture of the longer core 1 blood group A tetrasaccharide (GalNAcα1,3(Fucα1,2)Galβ1,3GalNAcαSer/Thr) and Tn-antigen. The data are consistent with the truncated Tn and T glycans enhancing self-interaction of the mucins. These carbohydrate cancer antigens may, thus, play an active role in the disease by constitutively activating mucin and mucin-type receptors by self-association on cells.     

Salivary mucin MG1 is comprised almost entirely of different glycosylated forms of the MUC5B gene product

The MG1 population of mucins was isolated from human whole salivas by gel chromatography followed by isopycnic density gradient centrifugation. The reduced and alkylated MG1 mucins, separated by anion exchange chromatography, were of similar size (radius of gyration 55-64 nm) and molecular weight (2.5-2.9 x 10(6) Da). Two differently-charged populations of MG1 subunits were observed which showed different reactivity with monoclonal antibodies to glycan epitopes. Monosaccharide and amino acid compositional analyses indicated that the MG1 subunits had similar glycan structures on the same polypeptide. An antiserum recognizing the MUC5B mucin was reactive across the entire distribution, whereas antisera raised against the MUC2 and MUC5AC mucins showed no reactivity. Western blots of agarose gel electrophoresis of fractions across the anion exchange distribution indicated that the polypeptide underlying the mucins was the product of the MUC5B gene. Amino acid analysis and peptide mapping performed on the fragments produced by trypsin digestion of the two MG1 populations yielded data similar to that obtained for MUC5B mucin subunits prepared from respiratory mucus (Thornton et al., 1997) and confirmed that the MUC5B gene product was the predominant mucin polypeptide present. Isolation of the MG1 mucins from the secretions of the individual salivary glands (palatal, sublingual, and submandibular) indicate that the palatal gland is the source of the highly charged population of the MUC5B mucin.     

The salivary mucin MG1 (MUC5B) carries a repertoire of unique oligosaccharides that is large and diverse

The high-molecular-mass salivary mucin MG1, one of two major mucins produced by human salivary glands, plays an important role in oral health by coating the tooth surface and by acting as a bacterial receptor. Here this mucin was purified from the submandibular/sublingual saliva of a blood group O individual. The presence of MUC5B as the major mucin in this preparation was confirmed by amino acid analysis and its reactivity with the monoclonal antibody PAN H2. To structurally characterize MG1 carbohydrates the O-glycans were released by reductive beta-elimination. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the nonfractionated mixture showed that (1) fucose was present in blood group H, Le(a), Le(x), Le(b), and Le(y) epitopes; (2) NeuAc was mainly linked alpha 2-3 to Gal or alpha 2-6 to GalNAcol; and (3) the major internal structures were core 1 and core 2 sequences. After this preliminary analysis the released oligosaccharides were separated into neutral (56%), sialylated (26%), and sulfated (19%) fractions, with an average length of 13, 17, and 41 sugar residues, respectively. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of mixtures of neutral and sialylated oligosaccharides revealed at least 62 neutral and 25 sialylated oligosaccharides consisting of up to 20 monosaccharide residues. These results showed that the MG1-derived oligosaccharides were much longer than those of MG2, and only a few species were found on both molecules. Thus, these two mucins create an enormous repertoire of potential binding sites for microorganisms at one of the major portals where infectious organisms enter the body.     

Carbohydrate histochemistry of human Brunner's glands

Summary Brunner's glands are known to produce neutral mucins. In order to achieve a better knowledge of their carbohydrate profile, we used five peroxidase-labeled lectins on surgical specimens of human duodenum. This method allowed us to identify at least two different types of neutral mucins in Brunner's glands secretion, thus demonstrating a heterogeneous mucin production. The structure of terminal oligosaccharidic chains in these glycoproteins has also been hypothesized.     

Carbohydrate histochemistry of human Brunner's glands

Brunner's glands are known to produce neutral mucins. In order to achieve a better knowledge of their carbohydrate profile, we used five peroxidase-labeled lectins on surgical specimens of human duodenum. This method allowed us to identify at least two different types of neutral mucins in Brunner's glands secretion, thus demonstrating a heterogeneous mucin production. The structure of terminal oligosaccharidic chains in these glycoproteins has also been hypothesized.     

Blood group A glycosyltransferase occurring as alleles with high sequence difference is transiently induced during a Nippostrongylus brasiliensis parasite infection

Neutral mucin oligosaccharides from the small intestine of control rats and rats infected with the parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis were released and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Infected animals expressed seven blood group A-like structures that were all absent in the control animals. The blood group A nature of these epitopes was confirmed by blood group A reactivity of the prepared mucins, of which Muc2 was one. Transferase assays and Northern blotting on small intestines from infected animals showed that an alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase similar to the human blood group A glycosyltransferase had been induced. The expression was a transient event, with a maximum at day 6 of the 13-day-long infection. The rat blood group A glycosyltransferase was cloned, revealing two forms with an amino acid similarity of 95%. Both types had blood group A transferase activity and were probably allelic because none of 12 analyzed inbred strains carried both types. The second type was found in outbred rats and in one inbred strain. First generation offspring of inbred rats of each type were heterozygous, further supporting the allelic hypothesis. The transient induction and the large allelic variation could suggest that glycosyltransferases are part of a dynamic system altering mucins and other glycoconjugates as a protecting mechanism against microbial challenges.     

Binding studies of alpha-GalNAc-specific lectins to the alpha-GalNAc (Tn-antigen) form of porcine submaxillary mucin and its smaller fragments

Isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC) and hemagglutination inhibition measurements demonstrate that a chemically and enzymatically prepared form of porcine submaxillary mucin that possesses a molecular mass of approximately 10(6) daltons and approximately 2300 alpha-GalNAc residues (Tn-PSM) binds to the soybean agglutinin (SBA) with a K(d) of 0.2 nm, which is approximately 10(6)-fold enhanced affinity relative to GalNAcalpha1-O-Ser (Tn), the pancarcinoma carbohydrate antigen. The enzymatically derived 81 amino acid tandem repeat domain of Tn-PSM containing approximately 23 alpha-GalNAc residues binds with approximately 10(3)-fold enhanced affinity, while the enzymatically derived 38/40 amino acid cleavage product(s) of Tn-PSM containing approximately 11-12 alpha-GalNAc residues shows approximately 10(2)-fold enhanced affinity. A natural carbohydrate decorated form of PSM (Fd-PSM) containing 40% of the core 1 blood group type A tetrasaccharide, and 58% peptide-linked GalNAcalpha1-O-Ser/Thr residues, with 45% of the peptide-linked alpha-GalNAc residues linked alpha-(2,6) to N-glycolylneuraminic acid, shows approximately 10(4) enhanced affinity for SBA. Vatairea macrocarpa lectin (VML), which is also a GalNAc binding lectin, displays a similar pattern of binding to the four forms of PSM, although there are quantitative differences in its affinities as compared with SBA. The higher affinities of SBA and VML for Tn-PSM relative to Fd-PSM indicate the importance of carbohydrate composition and epitope density of mucins on their affinities for lectins. The higher affinities of SBA and VML for Tn-PSM relative to its two shorter chain analogs demonstrate that the length of a mucin polypeptide and hence total carbohydrate valence determines the affinities of the three Tn-PSM analogs. The results suggest a binding model in which lectin molecules "bind and jump" from alpha-GalNAc residue to alpha-GalNAc residue along the polypeptide chain of Tn-PSM before dissociating. The complete thermodynamic binding parameters for these mucins including their binding stoichiometries are presented. The results have important implications for the biological activities of mucins including those expressing the Tn cancer antigen.     

Structure and biosynthesis of human salivary mucins

Human salivary glands secrete two types of mucins: oligomeric mucin (MG1) with molecular mass above 1 MDa and monomeric mucin (MG2) with molecular mass of 200-250 kDa. Monomers of MG1 and MG2 contain heavily O-glycosylated tandem repeats located at the central domain of the molecules. MG1 monomers are linked by disulfide bonds located at sparsely glycosylated N- and C-end. MG1 are synthesized by mucous cells and MG2 by the serous cells of human salivary glands.     

Comparative study of blood group-recognizing lectins toward ABO blood group antigens on neoglycoproteins, glycoproteins and complex-type oligosaccharides

Binding specificities of ABO blood group-recognizing lectins toward blood group antigens on neoglycoproteins, glycoproteins and complex-type oligosaccharides were studied by lectin-blotting analysis, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and lectin-conjugated agarose column chromatography. Human serum albumin conjugated with A- and B-trisaccharides was clearly recognized by Helix pomatia (HPA), Phaseolus lunatus, Dolichos biflorus agglutinins, and Griffonia simplicifolia I agglutinin B(4), respectively. Almost the same results were obtained for human group A and B ovarian cyst and A-active hog gastric mucins, but Glycine max agglutinin only reacted to the group A hog mucin. When human plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF), having Asn-linked blood group antigens, was tested, HPA was highly sensitive to blood group A antigen on the vWF. Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-I) preferentially bound to the vWF from blood group O plasma. Within the GalNAc-recognizing lectins examined, a biantennary complex-type oligosaccharide having the blood group A structure retarded on an HPA-agarose column, and the affinity was diminished after digestion with alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase. This product bound to UEA-I agarose column. These results indicate that HPA and UEA-I are most sensitive for detection of glycoproteins possessing small amounts of blood group A and H antigens and also useful for fractionation of complex-type oligosaccharides with blood group A and H antigens, respectively.     

Almost all human gastric mucin O-glycans harbor blood group A, B or H antigens and are potential binding sites for Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori infects more than half of the world's population. Although most patients are asymptomatic, persistent infection may cause chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. Adhesion of the bacteria to the gastric mucosa is a necessary prerequisite for the pathogenesis of H. pylori-related diseases and is mediated by mucin O-glycans. In order to define which glycans may be implicated in the binding of the bacteria to the gastric mucosa in humans, we have characterized the exact pattern of glycosylation of gastric mucins. We have identified that the major component was always a core 2-based glycan carrying two blood group H antigens, whatever was the blood group of individuals. We have also demonstrated that around 80% of O-glycans carried blood group A, B or H antigens, suggesting that the variation of gastric mucin glycosylation between individuals is partly due to the blood group status. This study will help better understanding the role of O-glycans in the physiology and homeostasis of gastric mucosa. Overall, the results reported here give us the necessary background information to begin studies to determine whether individuals who express certain carbohydrate epitopes on specific mucins are predisposed to certain gastric diseases.     

Human gastric mucins differently regulate Helicobacter pylori proliferation, gene expression and interactions with host cells

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the mucus niche of the gastric mucosa and is a risk factor for gastritis, ulcers and cancer. The main components of the mucus layer are heavily glycosylated mucins, to which H. pylori can adhere. Mucin glycosylation differs between individuals and changes during disease. Here we have examined the H. pylori response to purified mucins from a range of tumor and normal human gastric tissue samples. Our results demonstrate that mucins from different individuals differ in how they modulate both proliferation and gene expression of H. pylori. The mucin effect on proliferation varied significantly between samples, and ranged from stimulatory to inhibitory, depending on the type of mucins and the ability of the mucins to bind to H. pylori. Tumor-derived mucins and mucins from the surface mucosa had potential to stimulate proliferation, while gland-derived mucins tended to inhibit proliferation and mucins from healthy uninfected individuals showed little effect. Artificial glycoconjugates containing H. pylori ligands also modulated H. pylori proliferation, albeit to a lesser degree than human mucins. Expression of genes important for the pathogenicity of H. pylori (babA, sabA, cagA, flaA and ureA) appeared co-regulated in response to mucins. The addition of mucins to co-cultures of H. pylori and gastric epithelial cells protected the viability of the cells and modulated the cytokine production in a manner that differed between individuals, was partially dependent of adhesion of H. pylori to the gastric cells, but also revealed that other mucin factors in addition to adhesion are important for H. pylori-induced host signaling. The combined data reveal host-specific effects on proliferation, gene expression and virulence of H. pylori due to the gastric mucin environment, demonstrating a dynamic interplay between the bacterium and its host.     

Localisation of epidermal growth factor receptor in mucous cells of human salivary glands

EGFR activation has been related to an increase in synthesis and secretion of mucins in epithelial cells, so that the use of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors has been proposed in the therapy of mucin hypersecretory diseases. In this paper, we describe the ultrastructural localisation of EGFR in the mucous elements of human major and minor salivary glands and relate it to mucin distribution. A post-embedding immunogold staining method has been applied to normal surgical samples of human submandibular, sublingual, and labial glands, using a mouse monoclonal antibody specific for the intracellular domain of human EGFR. In mucous cells of all the glands examined, specific reactivity was detected in the cytoplasmic basolateral portions and near the mucous droplets, but not on cell surfaces. Since this pattern of labelling must be related to the internalisation process of the ligand-GFR complex, our results support the hypothesis that EGFR activation takes place in mucous cells and affects mucin production in human salivary glands.     

Host-Specific Hemagglutination of Influenza A (H1N1) Virus

H1N1 strains of influenza A virus isolated during the influenza season of 1991–92 were divided into two groups according to the property of host-specific hemagglutination. Group 1 viruses agglutinated human and chicken red blood cells. Group 2 viruses agglutinated human but not chicken red blood cells. The viruses of both groups, however, showed the same antigenic structure determined with ferret antisera. The virus clones which were plaque-purified twice from a group 2 virus retained the characteristic of host-specific hemagglutination after five successive passages in MDCK cells, indicating that this phenomenon is genetically determined. However, the amino acid, sequences of the hemagglutinin (HA) polypeptides deduced from the nucleotide sequences of the HA gene of the two groups did not show any differences between them. This suggests a difference in amino acids in some other polypeptide(s), which affects the host-specific hemagglutination.     

Purification, characterization, and sugar binding specificity of an N-Glycolylneuraminic acid-specific lectin from the mushroom Chlorophyllum molybdites

A carbohydrate-binding protein was isolated from the carpophores of the mushrooms and designated the Chlorophyllum molybdites lectin (CML) based on its origin. The molecular mass of CML was 32 kDa, and it was composed of two 16-kDa monomers with no disulfide bonds. Monosaccharide analysis indicated that 12% of the mass of CML was carbohydrate and consisted of GlcNAc:GalNAc:Gal:Man:l-Fuc in a molar ratio of 1.5:1.9: 4.4:4.8:1.0. In the hemagglutination inhibition assay, CML exhibited the strongest binding specificity toward N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) among the monosaccharides tested, whereas NeuAc did not inhibit the hemagglutination at all. GalNAc and Mealpha-GalNAc were also inhibitory at much higher concentrations than NeuGc. Among the glycoproteins, asialobovine submaxillary mucin (BSM) and porcine stomach mucin (PSM) showed strong inhibitory effects. In surface plasmon resonance analysis, asialo-BSM and PSM exhibited the strongest binding affinity. After co-injection of CML and NeuGc or GalNAc onto the asialo-BSM- or PSM-immobilized chip, the dissociation of CML from the immobilized PSM was accelerated by NeuGc and GalNAc, but the dissociation of CML from the immobilized asialo-BSM was only promoted by GalNAc. These results and the other surface plasmon resonance experiments allowed us to conclude that the binding of asialo-BSM to CML was because of an interaction between the lectin and the GalNAc residues of asialo-BSM, and both the NeuGc and GalNAc residues were responsible for the binding of PSM to CML. The results also suggested that CML had two different carbohydrate binding domains, one specific for NeuGc and the other for GalNAc.     

Antigenic and blood group activity of lamb gastric mucoproteins]

The antigenic properties of a lamb mucin and of a glycoprotein isolated from it are investigated. The proteins are studied by immunoelectrophoresis of the mucin and of the glycoprotein against either a sheep serum antiserum or an exclusively glycoprotein antiserum. No serum protein could be shown in the mucin. In addition, the glycoprotein gives a precipitin line only with the specific antiserum; its antigenic power seems to be concealed in the original mucin. The carbohydrates are studied through the investigation of the blood group activities by the hemagglutination inhibition technique. The mucin and the isolated glycoprotein show the same types of activities: they both prevent the agglutination of A1 and 0 red cells. The presence of two blood group activities in that glycoportein and its non-reactivity against A2 red cells corroborate the hypothesis that carbohydrate chains must be branched for the elicitation of these activities in a single molecule.     

Localization of amylase and mucins in the major salivary glands of the mouse

Summary Antibodies against murine submandibular and sublingual mucins have been raised in rabbits. Both antisera appeared to be specific. Using these antibodies, the mucins were localized in the acinar cells of the submandibular and sublingual glands respectively.The dyed amylopectin method was used to estimate the activity of amylase in the salivary glands. The enzyme was localized either by a starch-substrate film method or with antibodies against purified parotid amylase. The activity of amylase in parotid homogenates is about 1000-fold higher than that in homogenates of either submandibular or sublingual glands, in which the activity was comparable. Amylase was localized in the acinar cells of the parotid gland with both localization techniques. In the sublingual gland, amylase was found predominantly in the stroma around the acini, and there was some evidence that amylase was present in the demilune cells as well. In the submandibular gland, contradictory results were obtained with both techniques. With the starch-substrate film method, amylase activity was found in the granular convoluted tubular cells, whereas immuno-reactive amylase could only be demonstrated in the acinar cells of this gland. It is concluded that in the submandibular gland amylase and mucin are present in the same cell type.