Structures of the sugar chains of mouse immunoglobulin G

The asparagine-linked sugar chains of mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG) were quantitatively liberated as radioactive oligosaccharides from the polypeptide portions by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation, and NaB3H4 reduction. After fractionation by paper electrophoresis, lectin (RCA120) affinity high-performance liquid chromatography, and gel filtration, their structures were studied by sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis. Mouse IgG was shown to contain the biantennary complex type sugar chains. Eight neutral oligosaccharide structures, viz, +/- Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----6(+/- Gal beta 1---- 4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4(+/- Fuc alpha 1----6)GlcNAc, were found after the sialidase treatment. The molar ratio of the sugar chains with 2,1, and 0 galactose residues was 2:5:3. The galactose residue in the monogalactosylated sugar chains was distributed on Man alpha 1----3 and Man alpha 1----6 sides in the ratio of 1:3. The oligosaccharides were almost wholly fucosylated and contained no bisecting N-acetylglucosamine which is present in human, rabbit, and bovine IgGs.     

Diversity of oligosaccharide structures linked to asparagines of the scrapie prion protein

Prion proteins from humans and rodents contain two consensus sites for asparagine-linked glycosylation near their C-termini. The asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of the scrapie isoform of the hamster prion protein (PrP 27-30) were released quantitatively from the purified molecule by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation and NaB3H4 reduction. The radioactive oligosaccharides were fractionated into one neutral and three acidic oligosaccharide fractions by anion-exchange column chromatography. All oligosaccharides in the acidic fractions could be converted to neutral oligosaccharides by sialidase digestion. Structural studies on these oligosaccharides including sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis revealed that PrP 27-30 contains a mixture of bi-, tri-, and tetraantennary complex-type sugar chains with Man alpha 1----6(GlcNAc beta 1----4)(Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4-(Fuc alpha 1----6)GlcNAc as their core. Variation is produced by the different combination of the oligosaccharides Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----, Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc beta 1----, GlcNAc beta 1----, Sia alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----, and Sia alpha 2----6Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1---- in their outer chain moieties. When both asparagine-linked consensus sites are glycosylated, the diversity of oligosaccharide structures yields over 400 different forms of the scrapie prion protein. Whether these diverse asparagine-linked oligosaccharides participate in scrapie prion infectivity or modify the function of the cellular prion protein remains to be established.     

Structural study on the carbohydrate moiety of human placental alkaline phosphatase

Alkaline phosphatase purified from human placenta contains a single asparagine-linked sugar chain in one molecule. The sugar chain was quantitatively liberated as radioactive oligosaccharides from the polypeptide moiety by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation and NaB3H4 reduction, and separated by paper electrophoresis into one neutral and two acidic fractions. By a combination of sequential exoglycosidase digestion and methylation analysis, the structures of oligosaccharides in the neutral fraction were confirmed to be as follows: Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----6(Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4(+/- Fuc alpha 1----6)GlcNAc. The acidic oligosaccharide fractions were mixtures of mono- and disialyl derivatives of the neutral fraction. All the sialic acid residues of the sugar chains occur as the NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal group. In the case of monosialyl derivatives, the N-acetylneuraminic acid was exclusively linked to the Man alpha 1----3 arm.     

Sulfated N-linked carbohydrate chains in porcine thyroglobulin

N-linked carbohydrate chains of porcine thyroglobulin were released by the hydrazinolysis procedure. The resulting mixture of oligosaccharide-alditols was fractionated by high-voltage paper electrophoresis, the acidic fractions were further separated by high-performance liquid chromatography on Lichrosorb-NH2, and analyzed by 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy and, partially, by permethylation analysis. Of the acidic oligosaccharide-alditols, the following sulfated carbohydrate chains could be identified: NeuAc alpha 2----6Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----3[(SO3Na----3)Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta1----2-Mana alpha 1----6]Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4[Fuc alpha 1----6]GlcNAc-ol and NeuAc alpha 2----6Gal beta 1----4(SO3Na----)0-1 GlcNAc beta 1----2-Man alpha 1----3[NeuAc alpha 2----6Gal beta 1----4(SO3Na----6)1-0GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----6]Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4[Fuc alpha 1----6]GlcNAc- ol. The sulfated structural elements for porcine thyroglobulin form novel details of N-linked carbohydrate chains. They contribute to the fine structure of these oligosaccharides and are another type of expression of microheterogeneity.     

Systematic fractionation of oligosaccharides of human immunoglobulin G by serial affinity chromatography on immobilized lectin columns

Human immunoglobulin G is known to contain 16 different biantennary complex-type asparagine-linked sugar chains, each of which occurs in a nonsialylated, monosialylated, or disialylated form. These oligosaccharides can be separated into 14 fractions by sequential affinity chromatography with Aleuria aurantia lectin (AAL)-Sepharose, RCA120-WG003, and E4-phytohemagglutinin-agarose columns. Twelve of them were found to contain a single oligosaccharide, while the fraction which passed through all three columns was shown to contain two oligosaccharides, GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----6(+/- GlcNAc beta 1----4) (GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4GlcNAcOT. The fraction, which bound to the AAL-Sepharose column and passed through the remaining two lectin columns, also contained two oligosaccharides, GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----6(+/- GlcNAc beta 1----4) (GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4 (Fuc alpha 1----6)GlcNAcOT. These results indicated that serial affinity chromatography with the three lectin columns can be used effectively to detect changes in the sugar chains of IgG resulting from diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.     

Structural studies of the asparagine-linked sugar chains of two immunoglobulin M's purified from a patient with Waldenstr?m's macroglobulinemia

The structures of the sugar chains present in two human monoclonal IgM molecules purified from the serum of a patient with Waldenstr?m's macroglobulinemia have been determined. The asparagine-linked sugar chains were liberated as oligosaccharides by hydrazinolysis and labeled by reduction with NaB3H4 after N-acetylation. Their structures were studied by serial lectin column chromatography and sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis. These two IgM's were shown to contain almost the same sugar chains. The sugar chains were a mixture of a series of high-mannose-type and biantennary complex-type oligosaccharides. The complex-type oligosaccharides contain Man alpha 1----6(+/- GlcNAc beta 1----4)(Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----6)GlcNAc as their core and GlcNAc beta 1----, Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1---- and Neu5Ac alpha 2----6Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1---- groups in their outer chain moieties.     

Asparagine-linked sugar chains of fetuin: occurrence of tetrasialyl triantennary sugar chains containing the Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc sequence

Asparagine-linked sugar chains were quantitatively released from fetuin by hydrazinolysis. Structural analysis of the sugar chains by sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis and Smith degradation revealed that most of them have typical biantennary (8%) and triantennary (74%) structures containing different amounts of N-acetylneuraminic acid residues. In addition, an unusual tetrasialyl triantennary sugar chain (17%) containing the Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc sequence in the outer chain moiety was detected, and its structure was elucidated as NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3(NeuAc alpha 2----6)-GlcNAc beta 1----4(NeuAc alpha 2----6Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2)Man alpha 1----3(NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----6)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4GlcNAc.     

Oligosaccharides at individual glycosylation sites in glycoprotein 71 of Friend murine leukemia virus

Glycoprotein 71 from Friend murine leukemia virus was digested with proteases and the glycopeptides obtained were isolated and assigned, by amino acid sequencing, to the eight N-glycosylated asparagines in the molecule; only Asn334 and Asn341 could not be separated. The oligosaccharides liberated from each glycopeptide by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H, or by peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase F, were fractionated and subjected to structural analysis by one- and two-dimensional 1H NMR, as well as by methylation/gas-liquid-chromatography/mass-fragmentography. At each glycosylation site, the substituents were found to be heterogeneous including, at Asn334/341 and Asn410, substitution by different classes of N-glycans: oligomannosidic oligosaccharides, mainly Man alpha 1----6(Man alpha 1----3)Man alpha 1----6(Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----, were detected at Asn168, Asn334/341 and Asn410. Hybrid species, partially sialylated, intersected and (proximally) funcosylated Man alpha 1----6(Man alpha 1----3)Man alpha 1----6 and Man alpha 1----3Man alpha 1----6 and Man alpha 1----3Man alpha 1----6(Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----, were found at Asn12, as previously published [Schlüter, M., Linder, D., Geyer, R., Hunsmann, H., Schneider, J. & Stirm, S. (1984) FEBS Lett. 169, 194-198] and at Asn334/341. N-Acetyllactosaminic glycans, mainly partially intersected and fucosylated NeuAc alpha 2----3 or Gal alpha 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----6(NeuAc alpha 2----6 or NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal-beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNac beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1---- with some bifurcation at ----6Man alpha 1----6, were obtained from Asn266, Asn302, Asn334/341, Asn374 and Asn410. In addition, Thr268, Thr277, Thr279, Thr304/309, as well as Ser273 and Ser275, were found to be O-glycosidically substituted by Gal beta 1----3GalNAc alpha 1----, monosialylated or desialylated at position 3 of Gal or/and position 6 of GalNAc.     

Structural study of the carbohydrate moieties of two human immunoglobulin subclasses (IgG2 and IgG4)

Asparagine-linked sugar chains were quantitatively released as oligosaccharides from human IgG2 and IgG4 myeloma proteins by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation and NaB3H4 reduction. Each oligosaccharide was isolated by serial lectin column chromatography. Study of their structures by sequential exoglycosidase digestion and methylation analysis, revealed that all of them were of the bi-antennary complex-type containing Man alpha 1-6(+/- GlcNAc beta 1-4)(Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4(+/- Fuc alpha 1-6)GlcNAc as core structures, and GlcNAc beta 1-, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1- and Sia alpha 2-6Gal beta 1- in their outer chain moieties. However, the molar ratio of each oligosaccharide was different in each IgG sample, indicating that clonal variation is included in the sugar chain moieties of IgG molecules. One of the IgG2 contained four asparagine-linked sugar chains in one molecule, two on the Fc fragment and the remainder on the Fab fragment. The sugar chains in the Fc fragment contained much less galactose as compared with the Fab fragment.     

Carbohydrate structures of nonspecific cross-reacting antigen-2, a glycoprotein purified from meconium as an antigen cross-reacting with anticarcinoembryonic antigen antibody. Occurrence of complex-type sugar chains with the Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----outer chains

Nonspecific cross-reacting antigen-2 (NCA-2) is a glycoprotein purified from meconium as a closely correlated entity with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). As in the case of CEA, only asparagine-linked sugar chains are included in NCA-2. In order to elucidate the structural characteristics of the sugar chains of NCA-2, they were quantitatively released from the polypeptide backbone by hydrazinolysis and reduced with NaB3H4 after N-acetylation. The radioactive oligosaccharides were fractionated by paper electrophoresis, serial chromatography on immobilized lectin columns, and Bio-Gel P-4 (under 400 mesh) column chromatography. Structures of the oligosaccharides were estimated from the data of the binding specificities of immobilized lectin columns and the effective size of each oligosaccharide determined by passing through a Bio-Gel P-4 column and were then confirmed by endo-beta-galactosidase digestion, sequential digestion with exoglycosidases with different aglycon specificities, and methylation analysis. NCA-2 contains a similar number (27 mol) of sugar chains in one molecule compared with CEA (24-26 mol). However, all sugar chains of NCA-2 were complex-type in contrast to CEA, approximately 8% of the sugar chains of which were high mannose-type (Yamashita, K., Totani, K., Kuroki, M., Matsuoka, Y., Ueda, I., and Kobata, A. (1987) Cancer Res. 47, 3451-3459). About 80% of the oligosaccharides from NCA-2 contain bisecting N-acetylglucosamine residues, and the percent molar ratio of mono-, bi, tri, and tetraantennary oligosaccharides was 2:14:57:27. (+/- Fuc alpha 1----2)Gal beta 1----4(+/- Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc, (+/- Fuc alpha 1----2)Gal beta 1----3(+/- Fuc alpha 1----4)GlcNAc, (+/- Fuc alpha 1----2)Gal beta 1----4(+/- Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc beta 1---- 3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc, (+/- Fuc alpha 1----2)Gal beta 1----3(+/- Fuc alpha 1----4)GlcNAc beta 1---- 3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc, and GalNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc were found as their outer chain moieties. Approximately 60% of the oligosaccharides from NCA-2 contain the Gal beta 1----4 or 3GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----group in their outer chains.     

Chemical structure of neutral sugar chains isolated from human mature milk kappa-casein

The carbohydrate chains linked to human kappa-casein from mature milk were released by alkaline borohydride treatment as reduced oligosaccharides. The neutral oligosaccharides of lower molecular weight were fractionated and purified by gel filtration and preparative thin layer chromatographies. Seven neutral oligosaccharides (a di- (0.5%), two tetra- (30.5%), two penta- (5.4%) and two hexasaccharide alditols (10.9%] were obtained in homogeneity, and followed by methylation analysis with gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and by anomer analysis with 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. Their chemical structures were identified to be Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-ol (I), Gal beta 1----3[Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (II), Gal beta 1----3[Fuc alpha 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (III), GlcNAc beta 1----3/6Gal beta 1----3[Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (IV), GlcNAc beta 1----3/6Gal beta 1----3[Fuc alpha 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (V), Fuc alpha 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3/6Gal beta 1----3[Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (VI) and Fuc alpha 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3/6Gal beta 1----3[Fuc alpha 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (VII). Five oligosaccharide alditols (III-VII) were the novel carbohydrate chains of kappa-casein from mammalian milk.     

New evidence of the substrate specificity of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase D

The susceptibility of a variety of oligosaccharides to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase D was investigated. The oligosaccharides having the structures of Man alpha 1----6 (GlcNAc beta 1----4Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4(+/- Fuc alpha 1----6)GlcNAcOT, derived from complex type triantennary sugar chains, released +/- Fuc alpha 1----6GlcNAcOT upon incubation with the enzyme at almost the same rate as Man alpha 1----6(Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4GlcNAcOT. When the reaction products were reduced with NaB3H4 and analyzed by Bio-Gel P-4 column chromatography, a new radioactive peak was detected in both cases. This new radioactive oligosaccharide was confirmed to be Man alpha 1----6(GlcNAc beta 1----4Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAcOT in the former case and Man alpha 1----6(Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAcOT in the latter. These results indicated that endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase D does not require the presence of a free hydroxyl group at the C-4 position of the alpha-mannosyl residue of the trisaccharide glycon: Man alpha 1----3Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----.     

Structures of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of human placental fibronectin

The asparagine-linked sugar chains of fibronectin purified from human placenta were quantitatively released as oligosaccharides by hydrazinolysis. After N-acetylation, they were converted to radioactive oligosaccharides by NaB3H4 reduction. The radioactive oligosaccharides were fractionated by their charge on an anion-exchange column chromatography. All of the acidic oligosaccharides could be converted to neutral oligosaccharides by sialidase digestion. These oligosaccharides were then fractionated by serial affinity chromatography using immobilized lectin columns. Study of each oligosaccharide by sequential exoglycosidase digestion and methylation analysis revealed the following information as to the structures of the sugar chains of human placental fibronectin: 1) nine sugar chains are included in one molecule; 2) all sialic acid residues are exclusively linked at the C-3 position of the galactose residues; 3) bi-, tri-, and tetraantennary complex-type oligosaccharides with the Man alpha 1----6(Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4 (+/- Fuc alpha 1----6)-GlcNac as their cores were found; 4) the bisecting N-acetylglucosamine residue and the Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----repeating groups are included in some of the sugar chains.     

Structures of the sugar chains of rabbit immunoglobulin G: occurrence of asparagine-linked sugar chains in Fab fragment

The asparagine-linked sugar chains of rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) and its Fc and Fab fragments were quantitatively liberated from the polypeptide portions by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation and NaB3H4 reduction. After fractionation by paper electrophoresis, lectin chromatography, and gel filtration, their structures were studied by sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis. Rabbit IgG was shown to contain 2.3 mol of asparagine-linked sugar chains per molecule distributed in both the Fc and Fab fragments. The sugar chains were of the biantennary complex type containing four cores: Man alpha 1----6(Man alpha 1----3)(+/- GlcNAc beta 1----4)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4(+/- Fuc alpha 1----6)-GlcNAc. A total of 16 distinct neutral oligosaccharide structures was found after sialidase treatment. The galactose residue in the monogalactosylated oligosaccharides was present on either the alpha 1----3 or alpha 1----6 side of the trimannosyl core. The Fab fragments contained neutral, monosialylated, and disialylated oligosaccharides, whereas the Fc fragment contained only neutral and monosialylated structures. The oligosaccharides isolated from the Fab fragments also contained more galactose and bisecting N-acetylglucosamine residues than those from the Fc fragments.     

Structures of sugar chains of human kidney gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase

gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase purified from human kidneys contains 4-5 asparagine-linked sugar chains in each molecule. The sugar chains were released from the polypeptide portion of the enzyme by hydrazinolysis as oligosaccharides and separated by paper electrophoresis into one neutral and two acidic fractions. By sequential exoglycosidase digestion and methylation analysis, the neutral fraction, which comprised 69% of total oligosaccharides, was shown to be a mixture of bisected bi- and triantennary complex-type sugar chains with and without a fucose on the proximal N-acetylglucosamine residue and with Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc and/or Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc groups in their outer chain moieties. The acidic oligosaccharide fractions were mixtures of mono- and disialyl derivatives of bisected triantennary complex-type oligosaccharides with Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc and/or Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc group in their outer chain moieties. Some of the outer chains of the acidic oligosaccharides were considered to be sialylated X-antigenic structures.     

Comparative study of the oligosaccharides released from baby hamster kidney cells and their polyoma transformant by hydrazinolysis

The asparagine-linked sugar chains of the membrane of baby hamster kidney cells and their polyoma transformant were quantitatively released as oligosaccharides by hydrazinolysis and labeled by NaB3H4 reduction. The radioactive oligosaccharides thus obtained were fractionated by paper electrophoresis. The neutral oligosaccharides of both cells were exclusively of high mannose type. The acidic oligosaccharides were bi-, tri-, and tetraantennary complex-type sugar chains with Man alpha 1----6 (Man alpha 1----3) Man beta 1----4 GlcNAc beta 1----4 (+/- Fuc alpha 1----6) GlcNAc as their cores and Gal beta 1----4 GlcNAc and various lengths of Gal beta 1----4 GlcNAc repeating chains in their outer-chain moieties. Prominent features of these acidic oligosaccharides are that all sialic acid residues were N-acetylneuraminic acid and were linked exclusively at C-3 of the nonreducing terminal galactose residues of the outer chains. Comparative study of oligosaccharides of the two cells by Bio-Gel P-4 column chromatography revealed that transformation of baby hamster kidney cells leads to a reduction in high mannose-type oligosaccharides and an increase in tetraantennary oligosaccharides. Increase of the outer chains linked at C-6 of the Man alpha 1----6 residue of the core is the cause of increase in the relative amount of highly branched oligosaccharides in the polyoma transformant.     

Structures of the asparagine-linked sugar chain of glucose transporter from human erythrocytes

The asparagine-linked sugar chain of glucose transporter from human erythrocytes was quantitatively released as oligosaccharides from the polypeptide backbone by hydrazinolysis. They were converted to radioactive oligosaccharides by NaB3H4 reduction after N-acetylation and fractionated by anion-exchange column chromatography and Bio-Gel P-4 column chromatography after sialidase treatment. Structural study of each oligosaccharide by exo- and endoglycosidase digestion and methylation analysis indicated that the glycoprotein contains a high-mannose-type oligosaccharide, Man9.GlcNAc.GlcNAc, and biantennary complex-type oligosaccharides with Man alpha 1----6(+/- GlcNAc beta 1----4)(Man alpha 1----3) Man beta beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4(+/- Fuc alpha 1----6)GlcNAc as their cores and the poly-N-acetyllactosamine composed of about 16 N-acetyllactosaminyl units as their outer chains. These structural features of the sugar moiety of glucose transporter are quite different from those of two major intrinsic glycoproteins of human erythrocytes, glycophorin A and band 3.     

The carbohydrate moieties of human urinary ribonuclease UL

Ribonuclease UL purified from pooled human urine contains approximately 20.7% of neutral sugar and 7.8% of aminosugar. All sugars were quantitatively released as oligosaccharides on hydrazinolysis. The oligosaccharides were converted to tritium-labeled oligosaccharides on reduction with NaB3H4. The radioactive oligosaccharide fraction was separated into a neutral and an acidic fraction on paper electrophoresis. All oligosaccharides in the acidic fraction could be converted to neutral oligosaccharides with the release of one sialic acid residue by sialidase digestion. Both fractions were shown to be mixtures of more than fourteen oligosaccharides by gel permeation chromatography. Structural studies on these oligosaccharides involving sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis revealed that ribonuclease UL contains sialylated and non-sialylated mono, bi-, tri-, and tetraantennary complex type sugar chains with N-acetyllactosamine outer chains, and tri- and tetraantennary complex type sugar chains with various numbers of Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----outer chains. An important finding was that all sialic acid residues in the acidic oligosaccharides only occur as the Sia alpha 2----6Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----3 group. Both fucosylated and non-fucosylated trimannosyl cores were found among the asparagine-linked sugar chains of ribonuclease UL.     

Structures of the asparagine-linked sugar chains of human chorionic gonadotropin.

The asparagine-linked sugar chains of human chorionic gonadotropin were released from the polypeptide moiety by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation and NaB3H4 reduction. More than 90% of the released radioactive oligosaccharides contained N-acetylneuraminic acid residues. After removal of N-acetylneuraminic acid residues by sialidase treatment, two neutral oligosaccharide fractions were obtained by paper chromatography. Sequential exoglycosidase digestion revealed that one of them was a mixture of two neutral oligosaccharides. The complete structures of the three oligosaccharides were elucidated by methylation analysis. It was confirmed that all the N-acetylneuraminic acid residues of the asparagine-linked sugar chains of human chorionic gonadotropin occur as NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal groupings by comparing the methylation analysis data for the acidic oligosaccharide mixture before and after sialidase treatment. Based on these results, the structures of the asparagine-linked sugar chains of human chorionic gonadotropin were confirmed to be +/- NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 4GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 2Man alpha 1 leads to 6(NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 4GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 2Man alpha 1 leads to 3)Man beta 1 leads to 4GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 4(+/- Fuc alpha 1 leads to 6)GlcNAc and Man alpha 1 leads to 6(NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3 Gal beta 1 leads to 4 GlcNAc beta 1 leads to Man alpha 1 leads to 3)Man beta 1 leads to 4 GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 4GlcNAc.     

Comparative study of the sugar chains of factor VIII purified from human plasma and from the culture media of recombinant baby hamster kidney cells.

The asparagine-linked sugar chains of blood coagulation factor VIII preparations purified from human plasma of blood group A donors and from the culture media of recombinant BHK cells were released as oligosaccharides by hydrazinolysis. These sugar chains were converted to radioactive oligosaccharides by reduction with sodium borotritide and separated into neutral and acidic fractions by paper electrophoresis. Most of the acidic oligosaccharides were converted to neutral ones by sialidase digestion, indicating that they are sialyl derivatives. The neutral and sialidase-treated acidic oligosaccharides were fractionated by serial chromatography on immobilized lectin columns and Bio-Gel P-4 column. Structural study of each oligosaccharide by sequential exo- and endoglycosidase digestion and by methylation analysis revealed that both factor VIII preparations contain mainly high mannose-type and bi-, tri-, and tetra-antennary complex-type sugar chains. Some of the biantennary complex-type sugar chains from human plasma factor VIII contain blood group A and/or H determinant, while those from recombinant product do not. Some of the bi-, tri- and tetra-antennary complex-type sugar chains of the recombinant factor VIII contain the Gal alpha 1----3Gal group. A small number of the triantennary complex-type sugar chains from both preparations was found to contain the Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc beta 1----4 (Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2)Man group. Studies of pharmacokinetic parameters of the recombinant factor VIII infused into baboons revealed that its half-life in blood circulation is similar to that of plasma derived factor VIII, suggesting that the oligosaccharide structural differences between them do not affect the fate of factor VIII in vivo.