Synthesis and macromolecular organization of gastrointestinal mucin.

Mucus glycoproteins (mucins), the principal determinants of mucus protective qualities and mucosal defense, are studied extensively to define pathological aberrations in the relation to gastrointestinal disease and to develop the mucous barrier strengthening agents. Recent work from our laboratory provided evidence as to the initial stages of the gastrointestinal mucin synthesis, molecular size of the apomucin, its macromolecular organization and interaction with other elements of gastrointestinal mucus. Using monoclonal antibodies against apomucin (clone 1H7), O-glycosylated with N-acetylgalactosamine apomucin (clone 2B4), and that against carboxyl terminal of the apomucin (clone 3G12), the mucin synthesizing polysomes were isolated and glycosylated peptides ranging in size from 6-60 kDa identified. The in vitro synthesis in the cell-free system also afforded 60-64 kDa products recognized by 1H7 and 3G12 antimucin MAbs. The obtained results provided evidence that the mucin core consists of 60 kDa peptide which at cotranslational stage is O-glycosylated with N-acetylgalactosamine. Studies on mucin polymer assembly revealed that mucin preparations prepared by equilibrium density gradient centrifugation and Sepharose 2B chromatography (Mantle, M., Mantle, D., and Allen, A. (1981) Biochem. J. 195, 277-285) are not completely purified and contain DNA and extraneous proteins. The evidence was obtained that so called mucin "link protein", 118 kDa glycopeptide, is a N-glycosylated fragment of fibronectin, whereas the supposedly native undegraded mucin isolated by Carlstedt et al. (Biochem. J. (1983) 211, 13-22) was found to contain mucin-fibronectin-DNA complexes. The general picture that emerged from the studies is that the pure mucin consists of 60 kDa glycosylated peptides only. The carboxyl terminal (8-12 kDa fragment) of these peptides is not glycosylated (naked) and is responsible for mucin interaction with fibronectin and other fibronectin-like extracellular matrix proteins. While the formation of the mucosal coat depends on many other factors and extracellular components, our findings on mucin structure and interaction with the extracellular matrix proteins provide explanation as to the possible mechanism of mucin adherence to the epithelial surfaces.     

Accumulation and localization of two adult acinar cell secretory proteins during development of the rat submandibular gland.

The seromucous acinar cells of the adult rat submandibular gland secrete a characteristic mucin glycoprotein and a family of unusual glutamine/glutamic acid-rich proteins (GRP). Monoclonal antibodies to the mucin and GRP localized in a very few Type III cells in glands of newborn and 1 day-old rats, using light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. Both mucin and GRP reactivities were present in the polymorphic Type IIIP granules during the 1st postnatal week. By 9 days after birth, the granules contained both mucin and GRP and were mucous-like in appearance. At earlier stages, however, cells containing only GRP or mucin could be found, indicating that the initiation of GRP and mucin biosynthesis may not be coordinately regulated. No reactivity was seen in the neonatal Type I cells or in duct cells at any age. Northern and Western blot analysis showed GRP mRNA and protein levels to be barely detectable at birth, with marked increases during the first 2 postnatal weeks. In contrast, Western blots of B1-immunoreactive proteins (B1-IP) showed levels highest in the 1st week and markedly decreased in the adult. Immunocytochemical colocalization, using gold particles of different sizes, showed that the B1-IP, mucin, and GRP colocalized in the granules. These results strengthen the hypothesis that the adult acinar cells develop from the neonatal Type III cells. No evidence was obtained for the involvement of Type I cells in the pathway of acinar cell development.     

Effects of peptides derived from dietary proteins on mucus secretion in rat jejunum

The hypothesis that dietary proteins or their hydrolysates may regulate intestinal mucin discharge was investigated in the isolated vascularly perfused rat jejunum using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for rat intestinal mucins. On luminal administration, casein hydrolysate [0.05-5% (wt/vol)] stimulated mucin secretion in rat jejunum (maximal response at 417% of controls). Lactalbumin hydrolysate (5%) also evoked mucin discharge. In contrast, casein, and a mixture of amino acids was without effect. Chicken egg albumin and its hydrolysate or meat hydrolysate also did not modify mucin release. Interestingly, casein hydrolysate-induced mucin secretion was abolished by intra-arterial TTX or naloxone (an opioid antagonist). beta-Casomorphin-7, an opioid peptide released from beta-casein on milk ingestion, induced a strong mucin secretion (response at 563% of controls) that was inhibited by naloxone. Intra-arterial beta-casomorphin-7 also markedly increased mucin secretion (410% of controls). In conclusion, two enzymatic milk protein hydrolysates (casein and lactalbumin hydrolysates) and beta-casomorphin-7, specifically, induced mucin release in rat jejunum. The casein hydrolysate-induced mucin secretion is triggered by a neural pathway and mediated by opioid receptor activation.     

Biosynthesis of gastric mucus glycoprotein of the rat

We have studied the biosynthesis of rat gastric mucin in stomach segments using an antiserum against rat gastric mucin specific for peptide epitopes. Pulse-chase experiments were performed with [35S]methionine, [3H]galactose, and [35S]sulfate to label mucin precursors in different stages of biosynthesis, which were analyzed after immunoprecipitation. The earliest mucin precursor that could be detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was a 300-kDa protein. The occurrence of N-linked "high-mannose" oligosaccharides on this protein was shown by susceptibility to degradation by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. This precursor could be labeled with [35S]methionine and not with [3H]galactose or [35S]sulfate. The 300-kDa precursor was converted into mature mucin after extensive glycosylation and sulfation. The mature mucin but not the 300-kDa precursor was in part secreted into the medium. Specific inhibition of sulfation with sodium chlorate had no effect on rate and amount of mucin secretion. In addition, we show that two core proteins are expressed in rats, slightly varying in Mr among individual animals.     

Human milk-fat globule membrane derived mucin is a disulfide-linked heteromer

The human milk-fat globule membrane (HMFG) contains a number of antigens also expressed on breast tumors. The dominant antigens are a mucin of MW greater than 400,000 and a group of antigens of MW 67,000-70,000. The mucin was separated with monoclonal antibodies against HMFG and a MW 70,000 doublet was found to be associated with the mucin under non-reducing conditions, the latter identifiable by another set of monoclonal antibodies. Immunoprecipitation of the mucin and analysis of the precipitated material using Western blots and identification of transferred material with monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that the MW 70,000 protein and the mucin were co-precipitated and linked by reducible disulfide bonds. Treatment with detergents, protein-dissociating agents and glycosidases did not release the component from the mucin. Mucins in HMFG membrane and breast tumor cells may be associated therefore to disulfide-linked linker proteins similar to those described for intestinal and gastric mucins, that would co-purify with the mucin under non-reducing conditions.     

Role of amylase, mucin, IgA and albumin on salivary protein buffering capacity: A pilot study

It has been suggested that proteins serve as major salivary buffers below pH?5. It remains unclear, however, which salivary proteins are responsible for these buffering properties. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the correlation between salivary concentration of total protein, amylase, mucin, immunoglobulin A (IgA), albumin and total salivary protein buffering capacity at a pH range of 4–5. In addition, the buffering capacity and the number of carboxylic acid moieties of single proteins were assessed. Stimulated saliva samples were collected at 9:00, 13:00 and 17:00 from 4 healthy volunteers on 3 successive days. The buffering capacities were measured for total salivary protein or for specific proteins. Also, the concentration of total protein, amylase, mucin, IgA and albumin were analysed. Within the limits of the current study, it was found that salivary protein buffering capacity was highly positively correlated with total protein, amylase and IgA concentrations. A weak correlation was observed for both albumin and mucin individually. Furthermore, the results suggest that amylase contributed to 35% of the salivary protein buffering capacity in the pH range of 4–5.     

Conjugation Rescue of Exocytosis Mutants in Tetrahymena thermophila Indicates the Presence of Functional Intermediates in the Regulated Secretory Pathway

ABSTRACT. Tetrahymena thermophila possesses a regulated secretory pathway in which mucin proteins are stored in dense-core granules, called mucocysts. Exocytosis-defective mutants exist that fail to secrete mucin in response to secretagogues. Four of the mutants (SB281, SB283, SB285 and SB715) appear to be blocked at different steps of the regulated secretory pathway. SB281 and SB285 accumulate mucin proteins in heterogeneous cytoplasmic organelles which have not yet been identified; SB283 makes mucocyst-like structures but they contain no immunologically identifiable 80-kDa or 50-kDa mucin proteins; and SB715 has more than normal amounts of immature and undocked mucocysts. The organelles that accumulate in exocytosis-defective mutants could be either normal intermediates in the biosynthetic pathway or aberrant structures that form as a result of the mutations. We have used conjugation rescue to analyze steps in the biogenesis of exocytosis-competent mucocysts and to identify functional intermediates. The cytoplasmic organelles that accumulate in SB281 appear to be unidentified biosynthetic intermediates, and the defect is in a cytosolic protein essential for mucocyst maturation. The organelles which accumulate in the other mutants are likely biosynthetic, but their mutations are in proteins which are labile or not free to diffuse into the mutant conjugant.     

Increased Understanding of the Biochemistry and Biosynthesis of MUC2 and Other Gel-Forming Mucins Through the Recombinant Expression of Their Protein Domains

The gel-forming mucins are large and heavily O-glycosylated proteins which build up mucus gels. The recombinant production of full-length gel-forming mucins has not been possible to date. In order to study mucin biosynthesis and biochemistry, we and others have taken the alternative approach of constructing different recombinant proteins consisting of one or several domains of these large proteins and expressing them separately in different cell lines. Using this approach, we have determined that MUC2, the intestinal gel-forming mucin, dimerizes via its C-terminal cysteine-knot domain and also trimerizes via one of the N-terminal von Willebrand D domains. Both of these interactions are disulfide bond mediated. Via this assembly, a molecular network is built by which the mucus gel is formed. Here we discuss not only the functional understanding obtained from studies of the recombinant proteins, but also highlight the difficulties encountered when these proteins were produced recombinantly. We often found an accumulation of the proteins in the ER and consequently no secretion. This was especially apparent when the cysteine-rich domains of the N- and C-terminal parts of the mucins were expressed. Other proteins that we constructed were either not secreted or not expressed at all. Despite these problems, the knowledge of mucin biosynthesis and assembly has advanced considerably through the studies of these recombinant proteins.     

Influence of mucin on glycosidase, protease and arylamidase activities of human gut bacteria grown in a 3-stage continuous culture system

Human intestinal bacteria were grown in a 3-stage continuous culture system on a medium containing complex polysaccharides and proteins as carbon and nitrogen sources. Selected bacterial populations were enumerated and glycosidase, protease and arylamidase activities measured. Comparison of arylamidase and glycosidase activities in the multichamber system (MCS) and faeces showed that the predominant faecal enzymes were also produced by bacteria growing in the MCS. After 48 d operation, porcine gastric mucin (5.8 g/d) was independently fed to vessel 1. Elevated levels of volatile fatty acid (VFA) formation showed that the glycoprotein was actively fermented. The increase in carbohydrate availability as a result of breakdown of the mucin oligosaccharides stimulated bacterial growth and activities. The enzymological measurements showed that mucin increased production of both cell-bound and extracellular glycosidases, such as β-galactosidase, α-glucosidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase. Protease activities were profoundly influenced by mucin. These were largely cell-bound in non-mucin cultures but were predominantly extracellular and collagenolytic when mucin was present. Experiments with protease inhibitors showed that cysteine proteases were the major cell-bound and extracellular enzymes in both mucin and non-mucin cultures, but that serine and metalloproteases were also present. The effect of mucin on arylamidase formation was less marked, although there was increased production of these enzymes in vessels 1 and 2 of the MCS. These results suggest that host-produced substances such as mucin glycoprotein may play a role in modulating the growth and activity of bacteria growing in the human large intestine.     

Influence of mucin on glycosidase, protease and arylamidase activities of human gut bacteria grown in a 3-stage continuous culture system

Human intestinal bacteria were grown in a 3-stage continuous culture system on a medium containing complex polysaccharides and proteins as carbon and nitrogen sources. Selected bacterial populations were enumerated and glycosidase, protease and arylamidase activities measured. Comparison of arylamidase and glycosidase activities in the multichamber system (MCS) and faeces showed that the predominant faecal enzymes were also produced by bacteria growing in the MCS. After 48 d operation, porcine gastric mucin (5.8 g/d) was independently fed to vessel 1. Elevated levels of volatile fatty acid (VFA) formation showed that the glycoprotein was actively fermented. The increase in carbohydrate availability as a result of breakdown of the mucin oligosaccharides stimulated bacterial growth and activities. The enzymological measurements showed that mucin increased production of both cell-bound and extracellular glycosidases, such as beta-galactosidase, alpha-glucosidase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase. Protease activities were profoundly influenced by mucin. These were largely cell-bound in non-mucin cultures but were predominantly extracellular and collagenolytic when mucin was present. Experiments with protease inhibitors showed that cysteine proteases were the major cell-bound and extracellular enzymes in both mucin and non-mucin cultures, but that serine and metalloproteases were also present. The effect of mucin on arylamidase formation was less marked, although there was increased production of these enzymes in vessels 1 and 2 of the MCS. These results suggest that host-produced substances such as mucin glycoprotein may play a role in modulating the growth and activity of bacteria growing in the human large intestine.     

Altered mucin expression in the gastrointestinal tract: a review

Early studies of changes in mucin expression in disorders of the gastrointestinal tract focused on alterations in the carbohydrate chain. This review briefly considers the various mechanisms by which such alterations may come about: (a) normal variation, (b) sialic acid alterations, (c) defective assembly of carbohydrate side-chains, (d) changed expression of core proteins and (e) epithelial metaplasia. The availability of monoclonal antibodies to mucin core proteins adds a new dimension to mucin histochemistry. It is now possible to offer explanations for traditional mucin histochemical findings on the basis of lineage-specific patterns of mucin core protein expression. Changes in core protein expression are described in inflammatory, metaplastic and neoplastic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The possibility that mucin change could be important in the aetiology of some diseases such as ulcerative colitis and H. pylori gastritis is considered. It is more probable, however, that changes in mucin expression are secondary to reprogramming of cellular differentiation and altered cell turnover. As such they may serve as markers to explain pathogenesis and provide novel diagnostic and prognositc information.     

Breakdown of mucin as barrier to digestive enzymes in the ischemic rat small intestine

Loss of integrity of the epithelial/mucosal barrier in the small intestine has been associated with different pathologies that originate and/or develop in the gastrointestinal tract. We showed recently that mucin, the main protein in the mucus layer, is disrupted during early periods of intestinal ischemia. This event is accompanied by entry of pancreatic digestive enzymes into the intestinal wall. We hypothesize that the mucin-containing mucus layer is the main barrier preventing digestive enzymes from contacting the epithelium. Mucin breakdown may render the epithelium accessible to pancreatic enzymes, causing its disruption and increased permeability. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of mucin as a protection for epithelial integrity and function. A rat model of 30 min splanchnic arterial occlusion (SAO) was used to study the degradation of two mucin isoforms (mucin 2 and 13) and two epithelial membrane proteins (E-cadherin and toll-like receptor 4, TLR4). In addition, the role of digestive enzymes in mucin breakdown was assessed in this model by luminal inhibition with acarbose, tranexamic acid, or nafamostat mesilate. Furthermore, the protective effect of the mucin layer against trypsin-mediated disruption of the intestinal epithelium was studied in vitro. Rats after SAO showed degradation of mucin 2 and fragmentation of mucin 13, which was not prevented by protease inhibition. Mucin breakdown was accompanied by increased intestinal permeability to FITC-dextran as well as degradation of E-cadherin and TLR4. Addition of mucin to intestinal epithelial cells in vitro protected against trypsin-mediated degradation of E-cadherin and TLR4 and reduced permeability of FITC-dextran across the monolayer. These results indicate that mucin plays an important role in the preservation of the mucosal barrier and that ischemia but not digestive enzymes disturbs mucin integrity, while digestive enzymes actively mediate epithelial cell disruption.     

Use of a three-stage continuous culture system to study the effect of mucin on dissimilatory sulfate reduction and methanogenesis by mixed populations of human gut bacteria

A mixed culture of human fecal bacteria was grown for 120 days in a three-stage continuous culture system. To reproduce some of the nutritional and pH characteristics of the large gut, each vessel had a different operating volume (0.3, 0.5, and 0.8 liter) and pH (6.0, 6.5, and 7.0). A mixture of polysaccharides and proteins was used as carbon and nitrogen sources. Measurements of H2, CH4, S2-, sulfate reduction rates, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), and volatile fatty acids were made throughout the experiment. After 48 days of running, porcine gastric mucin (5.8 g/day) was independently fed to vessel 1 of the multichamber system. The mucin was extensively degraded as evidenced by the stimulation of volatile fatty acid production. In the absence of mucin, sulfate-reducing activity was comparatively insignificant and methanogenesis was the major route for the disposal of electrons. The reverse occurred upon the addition of mucin; sulfate reduction predominated and methanogenesis was completely inhibited. This was attributed to release of sulfate from the mucin which enabled SRB to outcompete methanogenic bacteria for H2. SRB stimulated by mucin were acetate-utilizing Desulfobacter spp., lactate- and H2-utilizing Desulfovibrio spp., and propionate-utilizing Desulfobulbus spp. When the mucin pump was switched off, the multichamber system reverted to a state close to its original equilibrium. These data provide further evidence that sulfated polysaccharides such as mucin may be a source of sulfate for SRB in the human large gut.     

Use of a three-stage continuous culture system to study the effect of mucin on dissimilatory sulfate reduction and methanogenesis by mixed populations of human gut bacteria.

A mixed culture of human fecal bacteria was grown for 120 days in a three-stage continuous culture system. To reproduce some of the nutritional and pH characteristics of the large gut, each vessel had a different operating volume (0.3, 0.5, and 0.8 liter) and pH (6.0, 6.5, and 7.0). A mixture of polysaccharides and proteins was used as carbon and nitrogen sources. Measurements of H2, CH4, S2-, sulfate reduction rates, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), and volatile fatty acids were made throughout the experiment. After 48 days of running, porcine gastric mucin (5.8 g/day) was independently fed to vessel 1 of the multichamber system. The mucin was extensively degraded as evidenced by the stimulation of volatile fatty acid production. In the absence of mucin, sulfate-reducing activity was comparatively insignificant and methanogenesis was the major route for the disposal of electrons. The reverse occurred upon the addition of mucin; sulfate reduction predominated and methanogenesis was completely inhibited. This was attributed to release of sulfate from the mucin which enabled SRB to outcompete methanogenic bacteria for H2. SRB stimulated by mucin were acetate-utilizing Desulfobacter spp., lactate- and H2-utilizing Desulfovibrio spp., and propionate-utilizing Desulfobulbus spp. When the mucin pump was switched off, the multichamber system reverted to a state close to its original equilibrium. These data provide further evidence that sulfated polysaccharides such as mucin may be a source of sulfate for SRB in the human large gut.     

Influence of autonomic agonists on the in vitro incorporation of [3H]leucine and N-acetyl[14C]mannosamine into submandibular action of the mouse

The influence of isoproterenol and pilocarpine on the in vitro incorporation of [3H]leucine and N-acetyl[14C]mannosamine into the proteins of the submandibular glands of the mouse has been investigated during a 10 h period. The total uptake of both labelled precursors into the glands was hardly affected by isoproterenol and pilocarpine during the first 2 h of incubation, thereafter both agonists decreased the uptake slightly. The incorporation of [3H]leucine into secreted proteins was largely similar for the control, isoproterenol and pilocarpine during an incubation of 10 h. [14C]ManNAc incorporation showed a lag period of about 2 h and could be observed in the secreted proteins after 2 h. Particularly after 6 h a strong increase was observed for the control and isoproterenol, whereas pilocarpine showed a much lower increase. The secreted protein components were separated by electrophoresis to study the incorporation of the labelled precursors in separate secretory proteins such as submandibular mucin. Apparently, both agonists increased the incorporation of [14C]ManNAc relative to [3H]leucine into submandibular mucin of the mouse. During a period of 10 h the [14C]ManNAc incorporation into the mucin was enhanced 2-3-fold by isoproterenol and 3-4-fold by pilocarpine. A non-radioactive experiment in vitro showed that the molar ratio of the sugar residues did not change. However, the total amount of sugars relative to the amino acids increased by 50%, pointing to an increase in the degree of glycosylation. This suggests that both adrenergic and cholinergic agonists regulate the total number of carbohydrate chains attached to one and the same polypeptide core of the submandibular mucin of the mouse.     

Characterization of mucin isolated from rat tracheal transplants

Subcutaneous rat tracheal grafts yield several milligrams of secretions from which a homogeneous mucin fraction was isolated and purified. Histological evidence demonstrated that a normal mucociliary epithelium and mucous secretion were maintained for the 4-6 weeks of the experiment. The collected secretions were initially characterized by column chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B which separated the excluded high molecular weight mucins (unpurified mucin fraction) from most of the serum-type glycoproteins and proteins, including albumin. A reductive alkylation treatment of the unpurified mucin fraction followed by Sepharose CL-4B chromatography removed contaminating protein and most of the mannose-containing material from the mucin fraction. The void volume material from this column produced a single high molecular weight band upon sodium dodecyl sulfate agarose/acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified mucin fraction contained 16.5% protein and primarily galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, and sialic acid. This fraction also underwent beta-elimination in the presence of alkaline borohydride, demonstrating the presence of O-glycosidic linkages.     

O-glycosylation of mucin-like domain retains the neutral ceramidase on the plasma membranes as a type II integral membrane protein

Ceramidase is a key enzyme involved in regulating cellular levels of ceramide, sphingosine, and possibly sphigosine 1-phosphate and thus could modulate sphingolipid signaling. Here we report that O-glycosylation of the mucin-like domain of neutral ceramidases was required for localization to the surface of plasma membranes. The deduced amino acid sequences of the mammalian enzymes contain a serine-threonine-rich domain (mucin box), which follows the signal/anchor sequence, whereas those of bacterial and invertebrate enzymes completely lack a mucin box, suggesting that the specific domain has been acquired during evolution. In HEK293 cells overexpressing ceramidase, the enzyme was not only secreted into the medium after cleavage of the NH(2)-terminal signal/anchor sequence but also localized at the plasma membrane as a type II integral membrane protein. Lectin blot analysis using peanut agglutinin revealed that the mucin box of the enzyme is highly glycosylated with O-glycans. Interestingly, a mutant lacking the mucin box or possible O-glycosylation sites in the mucin box was secreted into the medium but not localized at the surface of the cells. Furthermore, a mucin box-fused chimera green fluorescent protein (GFP), but not GFP itself, with the signal/anchor sequence was distributed on the surface of the cells. These results suggest that O-glycosylation of the mucin box retains proteins on the plasma membranes. We also found that the 112-kDa membrane-bound enzyme from mouse kidney is O-glycosylated, whereas the 94-kDa soluble enzyme from liver is not. These results clearly indicate that post-translational modification of the enzyme with O-glycans is tissue-specific and helps the enzyme to localize at the surface of plasma membranes as a type II membrane protein.     

Biosynthesis of high molecular weight breast carcinoma associated mucin glycoproteins

We have studied the biosynthesis of mucin glycoproteins recognized by monoclonal antibody W1 in MCF7 cells. Proteins of Mr 170,000, 185,000, 260,000, and 275,000 were immunoprecipitated from cells pulse-labeled with [3H]threonine and [3H]proline. Evidence suggesting that these proteins were precursors of high molecular weight mucin(s) included: 1) their kinetics of disappearance corresponded with appearance of mature mucin(s) (t1/2 = 30 min); 2) their processing into mature mucin(s) was not blocked by cycloheximide, but was disrupted by monensin, which impairs glycoprotein processing in the Golgi; 3) they were inaccessible to antibody added outside the cells, whereas mature mucin(s) was accessible and appeared at the cell surface with a t1/2 = 45 min; and 4) their mobilities of precursors varied between different cell lines, but generally correlated with mobilities of mature mucin(s). The precursors were sensitive to endoglycosidase H, indicating that they contained high mannose N-linked oligosaccharides. Less than 3% of threonine residues in the precursors, but more than 75% in mature mucin(s), were substituted with O-linked oligosaccharides. Therefore, initiation of N-linked oligosaccharides occurred soon after initiation of core protein synthesis, but initiation of O-linked oligosaccharides occurred much later, just prior to appearance of mature mucin(s) at the cell surface.     

Ultrastructure and function of the fractalkine mucin domain in CX(3)C chemokine domain presentation

Fractalkine (FKN), a CX(3)C chemokine/mucin hybrid molecule on endothelium, functions as an adhesion molecule to capture and induce firm adhesion of a subset of leukocytes in a selectin- and integrin-independent manner. We hypothesized that the FKN mucin domain may be important for its function in adhesion, and tested the ability of secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) fusion proteins containing the entire extracellular region (FKN-SEAP), the chemokine domain (CX3C-SEAP), or the mucin domain (mucin-SEAP) to support firm adhesion under flow. CX3C-SEAP induced suboptimal firm adhesion of resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells, compared with FKN-SEAP, and mucin-SEAP induced no firm adhesion. CX3C-SEAP and FKN-SEAP bound to CX(3)CR1 with similar affinities. By electron microscopy, fractalkine was 29 nm in length with a long stalk (mucin domain), and a globular head (CX(3)C). To test the function of the mucin domain, a chimeric protein replacing the mucin domain with a rod-like segment of E-selectin was constructed. This chimeric protein gave the same adhesion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells as intact FKN, both when immobilized on glass and when expressed on the cell surface. This implies that the function of the mucin domain is to provide a stalk, extending the chemokine domain away from the endothelial cell surface to present it to flowing leukocytes.     

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.