Mucin biosynthesis: characterization of rabbit small intestinal UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:galactose beta-3-N-acetylgalactosaminide (N-acetylglucosamine----N-acetylgalactosamine) beta-6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase

We have characterized a UDP-GlcNAc:Gal beta-3-GalNAc (GlcNAc----GalNAc) beta-6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase from rabbit small intestinal epithelium by using freezing point depression glycoprotein as the acceptor. Optimal enzyme activity was obtained at pH 7.0-7.5, at 3 mM MnCl2, and at 0.08% Triton X-100. Ca2+, Mg2+, and Ba2+ also enhanced enzyme activity. The apparent Michaelis constant was 4.80 mM for freezing point depression glycoprotein, 0.59 mM for periodate-treated porcine submaxillary mucin, 0.49 mM for Gal beta 1----3 GalNAc alpha Ph, and 1.03 mM for UDP-GlcNAc. No enzyme activity was observed when asialo ovine submaxillary mucin was used as the acceptor. The 14C-labeled oligosaccharide obtained by alkaline borohydride treatment of the product was shown to be a homogeneous trisaccharide by compositional analysis, Bio-Gel P-4 gel filtration, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the trisaccharide was identified as Gal beta 1----3-(GlcNAc beta 1----6)GalNAc-H2 by (a) identification of 2,3,4,6-tetramethyl-1,5-diacetylgalactitol and 1,4,5-trimethyl-3,6-diacetyl-2-N-methylacetamidogalactitol by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and (b) the complete cleavage of the newly formed glycosidic bond by jack bean beta-hexosaminidase. The structure of the trisaccharide was confirmed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (270 MHz) and also by periodate oxidation of the trisaccharide followed by NaBH4 reduction, 4 N HCl hydrolysis, a second NaBH4 reduction, and the identification of threosaminitol on an amino acid analyzer. By acceptor competition studies, the enzyme activity was shown to be a much N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase. We postulate that this glycosyltransferase may play a key role in the regulation of mucin oligosaccharide synthesis.     

Two distinct UDP-galactose: 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose 4 beta-galactosyltransferases in porcine trachea

In previous studies on glycosyltransferase activities in porcine trachea, we demonstrated the presence of two galactosyltransferases which transfer galactose from UDP-galactose to N-acetylglucosamine (Sheares, B.T. and Carlson, D.M. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 9893-9898). One enzyme, UDP-galactose:N-acetylglucosamine 3 beta-galactosyltransferase, synthesized galactosyl-beta 1,3-N-acetylglucosamine while the other, UDP-galactose:N-acetylglucosamine 4 beta-galactosyltransferase, synthesized galactosyl-beta 1,4-N-acetylglucosamine. A third galactosyltransferase has now been demonstrated utilizing a solubilized membrane preparation from pig trachea, which also synthesizes galactosyl-beta 1,4-N-acetylglucosamine as determined by gas-liquid chromatography and Diplococcus pneumoniae beta-galactosidase treatment. This new UDP-galactose:N-acetylglucosamine 4 beta-galactosyltransferase is distinct from the lactose synthetase A protein in that it does not bind to alpha-lactalbumin-agarose or to N-acetylglucosamine-agarose. The enzyme is separable from the UDP-galactose:N-acetylgalactosaminyl-mucin 3 beta-galactosyltransferase by affinity chromatography on asialo ovine submaxillary mucin adsorbed to DEAE-Sephacel. This newly discovered 4 beta-galactosyltransferase binds to UDP-hexanolamine-Sepharose and is partially separated from UDP-galactose:N-acetylglucosamine 3 beta-galactosyltransferase by Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography. Neither high concentrations of N-acetylglucosamine (200 mM) nor alpha-lactalbumin inhibits the incorporation of galactose into galactosyl-beta 1,4-N-acetylglucosamine by this enzyme.     

Structure of the disaccharide chain of galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-protein synthesized in vitro.

In order to obtain a [14C]galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-protein which would be useful as an acceptor in studies on the specificity of glycosyltransferases, a porcine submaxillary gland microsomal galactosyltransferase preparation was used for the galactosylation in vitro of N-acetylgalactosaminyl-protein (desialylated ovine submaxillary mucin). The newly formed oligosaccharide unit was obtained as a reduced disaccharide after alkaline borohydride treatment of the [14C]galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-protein product and as glycopeptides by proteolytic digestion of the glycoprotein. The reduced disaccharide consisted of equimolar amounts of galactose and N-acetylgalactosaminitol and was characterized by thin-layer chromatography, high-voltage electrophoresis and gas-liquid chromatography. Periodate oxidation studies on the reduced disaccharide revealed that [14C]galactose was linked to position C-3 on the N-acetylgalactosaminyl residue. Digestion of the reduced disaccharide and the glycopeptides with galactosidases gave equivocal results as to the anomeric configuration of the [14C]galactose residue. Nuclear magnetic resonance of the reduced disaccharide, however, definitely indicated that the configuration was beta. The specificity of the porcine submaxillary gland galactosyltransferase thus can be defined as a uridine diphosphogalactose: alpha-D-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-protein beta 1 leads to 3 transferase activity.     

Rat liver Golgi galactosyltransferases. Distinct enzymes for glycolipid and glycoprotein acceptor substrates.

Two enzymes that catalyse the transfer of galactose from UDP-galactose to GM2 ganglioside were partially purified from rat liver Golgi membranes. These preparations, designated enzyme I (basic) and enzyme II (acidic), utilized as acceptors GM2 ganglioside and asialo GM2 ganglioside as well as ovalbumin, desialodegalactofetuin, desialodegalacto-orosomucoid, desialo bovine submaxillary mucin and GM2 oligosaccharide. Enzyme II catalysed disaccharide synthesis in the presence of the monosaccharide acceptors N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine. The affinity adsorbent alpha-lactalbumin-agarose, which did not retard GM2 ganglioside galactosyltransferase, was used to remove most or all of galactosyltransferase activity towards glycoprotein and monosaccharide acceptors from the extracted Golgi preparation. After treatment of the extracted Golgi preparation with alpha-lactalbumin-agarose, enzyme I and enzyme II GM2 ganglioside galactosyltransferase activities, prepared by using DEAE-Sepharose chromatography, were distinguishable from transferase activity towards GM2 oligosaccharide and glycoproteins by the criterion of thermolability. This residual galactosyltransferase activity towards glycoprotein substrates was also shown to be distinct from GM2 ganglioside galactosyltransferase in both enzyme preparations I and II by the absence of competition between the two acceptor substrates. The two types of transferase activities could be further distinguished by their response to the presence of the protein effector alpha-lactalbumin. GM2 ganglioside galactosyltransferase was stimulated in the presence of alpha-lactalbumin, whereas the transferase activity towards desialodegalactofetuin was inhibited in the presence of this protein. The results of purification studies, comparison of thermolability properties and competition analysis suggested the presence of a minimum of five galactosyltransferase species in the Golgi extract. Five peaks of galactosyltransferase activity were resolved by isoelectric focusing. Two of these peaks (pI 8.6 and 6.3) catalysed transfer of galactose to GM2 ganglioside, and three peaks (pI 8.1, 6.8 and 6.3) catalysed transfer to glycoprotein acceptors.     

Specific detection of N-acetylglucosamine-containing oligosaccharide chains on ovine submaxillary asialomucin

Human milk beta-N-acetylglucosaminide beta 1 leads to 4-galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.38) was used to galactosylate ovine submaxillary asialomucin to saturation. The major [14C]galactosylated product chain was obtained as a reduced oligosaccharide by beta-elimination under reducing conditions. Analysis by Bio-Gel filtration and gas-liquid chromatography indicated that this compound was a tetrasaccharide composed of galactose, N-acetylglucosamine and reduced N-acetylgalactosamine in a molar ratio of 2:0.9:0.8. Periodate oxidation studies before and after mild acid hydrolysis in addition to thin-layer chromatography revealed that the most probable structure of the tetrasaccharide is Gal beta 1 leads to 3([14C]Gal beta 1 leads to 4GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 6)GalNAcol. Thus it appears that Gal beta 1 leads to 3(GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 6)GalNAc units occur as minor chains on the asialomucin. The potential interference of these chains in the assay of alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminylprotein beta 1 leads to 3-galactosyltransferase activity using ovine submaxillary asialomucin as an acceptor can be counteracted by the addition of N-acetylglucosamine.     

Studies on glycosyltransferases in fusion-defective conA-resistant L6 rat myoblast cell lines

1. Sialyl- and galactosyl-transferase activities were determined in wild type and conA-resistant L6 rat myoblasts with substrates derived from fetuin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and bovine submaxillary mucin; fetuin was the best acceptor for both enzyme activities, whereas the mucin did not act as an acceptor. 2. The optimum pH for sialyltransferase was 6.6 in both cell lines. 3. The optimum pH for galactosyltransferase in the wild type cell line was 6.2 which was slightly higher than the value of 5.8 found for the conA-resistant cells. 4. Values for Km for both enzyme activities increased five to ten-fold in the variant cell line with both acceptors. 5. The main sialyltransferase activity was the Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc alpha 2----3sialyltransferase for N-linked chains. The galactosyltransferase was most likely the enzyme that is responsible for the synthesis of the Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc structure.     

The wbbD gene of E. coli strain VW187 (O7:K1) encodes a UDP-Gal: GlcNAc{alpha}-pyrophosphate-R {beta}1,3-galactosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of O7-specific lipopolysaccharide

In this work, we demonstrate that the wbbD gene of the O7 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis cluster in Escherichia coli strain VW187 (O7:K1) encodes a galactosyltransferase involved in the synthesis of the O7-polysaccharide repeating unit. The galactosyltransferase catalyzed the transfer of Gal from UDP-Gal to the GlcNAc residue of a GlcNAc-pyrophosphate-lipid acceptor. A mutant strain with a defective wbbD gene was unable to form O7 LPS and lacked this specific galactosyltransferase activity. The normal phenotype was restored by complementing the mutant with the cloned wbbD gene. To characterize the WbbD galactosyltransferase, we used a novel acceptor substrate containing GlcNAcalpha-pyrophosphate covalently bound to a hydrophobic phenoxyundecyl moiety (GlcNAc alpha-O-PO(3)-PO(3)-(CH(2))(11)-O-phenyl). The WbbD galactosyltransferase had optimal activity at pH 7 in the presence of 2.5 mM MnCl(2). Detergents in the assay did not increase glycosyl transfer. Digestion of enzyme product by highly purified bovine testicular beta-galactosidase demonstrated a beta-linkage. Cleavage of product by pyrophosphatase and phosphatase, followed by HPLC and NMR analyses, revealed a disaccharide with the structure Gal beta1-3GlcNAc. Our results conclusively demonstrate that WbbD is a UDP-Gal: GlcNAcalpha-pyrophosphate-R beta1,3-galactosyltransferase and suggest that the novel synthetic glycolipid acceptor may be generally applicable to characterize other bacterial glycosyltransferases.     

Mucin biosynthesis. Properties of a bovine tracheal mucin beta-6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase.

We have characterized a bovine tracheal mucin beta-6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase that catalyses the transfer of N-acetylglucosamine from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine to the C-6 of the N-acetylgalactosamine residue of galactosyl-beta 1----3-N-acetylgalactosamine. Optimal enzyme activity was obtained between pH 7.5-8.5, at 5mM-MnCl2, and at 0.06-0.08% (v/v) Triton X-100 (or Nonidet P-40), or 0.5-5.0% (v/v) Tween 20. Ba2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ could partially replace Mn2+, but Co2+, Fe2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ could not. Sodium dodecyl sulphate, cetylpyridinium chloride, sodium deoxycholate, octyl beta-D-glucoside, digitonin and alkyl alcohols were less effective in enhancing enzyme activity, and dimethyl sulphoxide was ineffective. The apparent Michaelis constants were 1.25 mM for UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, 0.94-3.34 mM for freezing-point-depressing glycoprotein and 0.19 mM for periodate-treated blood-group-A porcine submaxillary mucin. Asialo ovine submaxillary mucin could not serve as the glycosyl acceptor. The structure of the 14C-labelled oligosaccharide obtained by alkaline-borohydride treatment of the product was identified as Gal beta 1----3(Glc-NAc beta 1----6)N-acetylgalactosaminitol by beta-hexosaminidase treatment, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and 1H-n.m.r. (270 MHz) analysis. The enzyme is important in the regulation of mucin oligosaccharide biosynthesis.     

Galactosyl transferases of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. Characterization of two oligosaccharide products synthesised using bovine asialo submaxillary-gland mucin as acceptor

Extracts of BHK (baby hamster kidney) cells catalyse incorporation of galactose from UDP-galactose into asialo bovine submaxillary gland mucin. The galactosylated oligosaccharide products were released by alkaline-borohydride treatment and purified by Bio-Gel P2 chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures of the oligosaccharide sequences synthesised have been identified unequivocally by high resolution 500 MHz 1H-NMR as galactosyl-(beta 1----3) N-acetylgalactosamine and galactosyl (beta 1----4) N-acetylglucosaminyl (beta 1----3)-N-acetylgalactosamine. Characterization of the latter sequence shows the presence in bovine mucin of the type III core sequence N-acetylglucosamine-(beta 1----3) N-acetylgalactosamine. Fractionation of BHK cell extracts on alpha-lactalbumin-Agarose has shown that the (beta 1----4)-galactosyl transferase responsible for synthesis of the trisaccharide binds to alpha-lactalbumin, a modulator of the (beta 1----4)-galactosyl transferase involved in N-glycan assembly. The evidence that the same transferase activity may be responsible for galactose transfer to both O-glycans and N-glycans is discussed.     

The charge heterogeneity of soluble human galactosyltransferases isolated from milk, amniotic fluid and malignant ascites.

UDP-galactose: N-acetylglucosamine galactosyltransferase was isolated from pooled human milk, pooled amniotic fluid and from two different individual samples of malignant ascites. The purification procedure involving two successive affinity chromatography steps on N-acetylglucosamine--agarose and alpha-lactalbumin--agarose yielded an enzyme preparation homogeneous by size. Under non-denaturing conditions the ascites and amniotic fluid enzymes had identical electrophoretic mobility, but they moved faster than the milk enzyme. Isoelectric analysis in the presence and absence of urea resolved the milk enzyme into at least 13 different forms, nine of which had the same isoelectric points after refocusing. All enzyme forms showed similar activity when free N-acetylglucosamine, ovalbumin, sialic-acid-free ovine submaxillary mucin and glucose, in the presence of alpha-lactalbumin, were used as acceptor substrates. Comparative isoelectric focusing of the three galactosyltransferases revealed identical patterns of the amniotic and ascites enzymes, but only partial overlap with the milk enzyme, which was less negatively charged. Neuraminidase treatment of ascites and milk galactosyltransferases produced very similar focusing patterns. The possible structural basis for this charge heterogeneity is briefly discussed.     

Specificity of ovine submaxillary-gland sialyltransferases. Application of high-pressure liquid chromatography in the identification of sialo-oligosaccharide products.

High-pressure liquid chromatography was used to identify the sialo-oligosaccharide products obtained after sialylation of [14C]Gal-GalNAc-protein in vitro by an ovine submaxillary-gland microsomal fraction. Among other products, two isomeric trisaccharides could be identified. NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 3GalNAcol and Gal beta 1 leads to 3-(NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 6)GalNAcol respectively, indicating that ovine submaxillary gland contains two sialyltransferases acting on mucin-type acceptors, a beta-galactoside alpha 2 leads to 3 sialyltransferase and a N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha 2 leads to 6 sialyltransferase. This conclusion was fully supported by methylation analysis of the two trisaccharide products.     

Human plasma uridine diphosphate galactose-glycoprotein galactosyltransfertase. Purification, properties and kinetics of the enzyme-catalysed reaction.

The soluble galactosyltransferase of human plasma catalysed the transfer of galactose from UDP-galactose to high- and low-molecular-weight derivatives of N-acetylglucosamine, forming a beta-1-4 linkage. The enzyme was purified by using (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and affinity chromatography on an alpha-lactalbumin-Sepharose column. The galactosyltransferase was maximally bound to this column in the presence of N-acetylglucosamine, and the enzyme was eluted by omitting the amino sugar from the developing buffer. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 85000 by gel filtration. The assay conditions for optimum enzymic activity was 30 degrees C and pH7.5. Mn2+ ion was found to be an absolute requirement for transferase activity. The Km for Mn2+ was 0.4 mM and that for the substrate, UDP-galactose, was 0.024 mM. The Km for the acceptors was 0.21 mM for alpha1-acid glycoprotein and 3.9 mM for N-acetylglucosamine. In the presence of alpha-lactalbumin, glucose became a good acceptor for the enzyme and had a Km value of 2.9 mM. Results of the kinetic study indicated that the free enzyme reacts with Mn2+ under conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium, and the other substrates are added sequentially.     

Evidence for an O-glycan sialylation system in brain. Characterization of a beta-galactoside alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase from rat brain regulating the expression of an alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase activity

We present evidence for the existence in rat brain of several sialyltransferases able to sialylate sequentially asialofetuin. [14C]Sialylated glycans of asialofetuin were analyzed by gel filtration. Three types of [14C]sialylated glycans were synthesized: N-glycans and monosialylated and disialylated O-glycans. The varying effects of N-ethylmaleimide, lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPtdCho) and trypsin, were helpful in the identification of these different sialyltransferases. One of them, selectively inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, was identified as the Neu5Ac alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-R:alpha 2----6 sialyltransferase previously described [Baubichon-Cortay, H., Serres-Guillaumond, M., Louisot, P. and Broquet, P. (1986) Carbohydr. Res. 149, 209-223]. This enzyme was responsible for the synthesis of disialylated O-glycans. LysoPtdCho and trypsin selectively inhibited the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of monosialylated O-glycan. N-ethylmaleimide, lysoPtdCho and trypsin did not inhibit Neu5Ac transfer onto N-glycans, giving evidence for three different molecular species. To identify the enzyme responsible for monosialylated O-glycan synthesis, we used another substrate: Gal beta 1----3GalNAc--protein obtained after galactosylation of desialylated ovine mucin by a GalNAc-R:beta 1----3 galactosyltransferase from porcine submaxillary gland. This acceptor was devoid of N-glycans and of NeuAc in alpha 2----3 linkages on the galactose residue. When using N-ethylmaleimide we obtained the synthesis of only one product, a monosialylated structure. After structural analysis by HPLC on SAX and SiNH2 columns, we identified this product as Neu5Ac alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc. The enzyme leading to synthesis of this monosialylated O-glycan was identified as a Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-R:alpha 2----3 sialyltransferase. When using lysoPtdCho and trypsin, sialylation was completely abolished, although the Neu5Ac alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-R:alpha 2----6 sialyltransferase was not inhibited. We provided thus evidence for the interpendence between the two enzymes, the alpha 2----3 sialyltransferase regulates the alpha 2----6 sialyltransferase activity since it synthesizes the alpha 2----6 sialyltransferase substrate.     

Structure and function in galactosyltransferase. Sequence locations of alpha-lactalbumin binding site, thiol groups, and disulfide bond

The region(s) of bovine galactosyltransferase that interacts with the lactose synthase regulatory protein alpha-lactalbumin was investigated using trace 3H acetylation to probe the effects of alpha-lactalbumin on the reactivities of the individual amino groups of galactosyltransferase. In the presence of Mn2+, alpha-lactalbumin was found to reduce the reactivities of lysines 93 and 181 and to increase the reactivities of one or more of lysines 230, 237, and 241. The addition of N-acetylglucosamine (20 mM), which enhances complex formation between the two proteins, did not significantly alter the pattern of perturbation. These results indicate that the NH2-terminal region of the catalytic domain of galactosyltransferase, and possibly part of the proline-rich "stem" region, is affected by the association with alpha-lactalbumin and is therefore implicated in the binding of acceptor substrates. In a separate study only cysteines 176, 266, and 342 of galactosyltransferase were found to react with [3H]iodoacetic acid under denaturing conditions. From their lack of reactivity it is deduced that the remaining two cysteines, residues 134 and 247, are joined in a disulfide linkage. From these results and those of a previous study of UDP-galactose binding (Yadav, S., and Brew, K. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 14163-14169) it appears that the soluble form of galactosyltransferase is composed of two domains, the NH2-terminal 150 residues containing the Cys134-Cys247 disulfide bond, which functions in alpha-lactalbumin and acceptor binding, and the COOH-terminal region, which is involved in UDP-galactose binding.     

Specificity of submaxillary gland sialyltransferases

A method has been developed to determine the activities of specific sialyltransferases by analysis of the products of the reaction. This method, which utilizes high performance liquid chromatography, distinguishes addition of sialic acid to the N-acetylgalactosamine vs. galactose residues of the mucin disaccharide Galβ(1→3)GalNac, and can be used to distinguish formation of the 3′- and 6′-isomers of sialyllactose. For the bovine, ovine, and porcine submaxillary extracts, more than 95% of the activity with asialo ovine submaxillary mucin is due to formation of NeuAc α(2→6)GalNAc. With lactose as the acceptor, more than 95% of the α(2→3) isomer is produced. Activity with asialofetuin is due solely to the O-linked chain, with relative activity toward the galactose vs. GalNAc residues of 0.32, 1.5, and 0.10 for bovine, ovine, and porcine, respectively. The rat submaxillary gland extract showed equal formation of 3′- and 6′-sialyllactose, and very low activity with asialo ovine submaxillary mucin. However, at least 40% of the activity toward the Galβ(1→3)GalNAc disaccharide of asialofetuin was directed toward the GalNAc residue. The relative preference of the N-acetylgalactosaminide α(2→6) sialyltransferase for a monosaccharide vs. a substituted GalNAc may play a role in regulation of chain length during mucin synthesis.     

Biosynthesis of the O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharide chains of fetuin. Indications for an alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha 2 leads to 6 sialyltransferase with a narrow acceptor specificity in fetal calf liver

Fetal calf liver microsomes were found to be capable of sialylating 14C-galactosylated ovine submaxillary asialomucin. The main oligosaccharide product chain could be obtained by beta-elimination under reductive conditions and was identified as NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 3GalNAcol (where GalNAcol represents N-acetylgalactosaminitol) by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis and methylation. The branched trisaccharide Gal beta 1 leads to 3(NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 6)-GalNAcol and the disaccharide NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 6GalNAcol were not formed. Very similar results were obtained when asialofetuin and antifreeze glycoprotein were used as an acceptor. When 3H-sialylated antifreeze glycoprotein ([3H]NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 3GalNAc-protein) was incubated with fetal calf liver microsomes and CMP-[14C]NeuAc, a reduced tetrasaccharide could be isolated. The structure of this product chain appeared to be [3H]NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 3([14C]NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 6)GalNAcol, as established by means of HPLC analysis, specific enzymatic degradation with Newcastle disease virus neuraminidase, and periodate oxidation. These data indicate that fetal calf liver contains two sialyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of the O-linked bisialotetrasaccharide chain. The first enzyme is a beta-galactoside alpha 2 leads to 3 sialyltransferase which converts Gal beta 1 leads to 3 GalNAc chains to the substrate for the second enzyme, a (NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 3)GalNAc-protein alpha 2 leads to 6 sialyltransferase. The latter enzyme does not sialylate GalNAc or Gal beta 1 leads to 3GalNAc units but is capable of transferring sialic acid to C-6 of GalNAc in NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 3GalNAc trisaccharide side chains, thereby dictating a strictly ordered sequence of sialylation of the Gal beta 1 leads to 3 GalNAc units in fetal calf liver.     

Isolation and characterisation of a Salvia bogotensis seed lectin specific for the Tn antigen

A lectin was isolated and characterised from Salvia bogotensis seeds. Removal of the abundant pigments and polysaccharides, which are present in seeds, was an essential step in its purification. Several procedures were assayed and the best suited, including Pectinex treatment, DEAE-cellulose and affinity chromatography, led to a protein being obtained amounting to 18-20mg/100g seeds having high specific agglutination activity (SAA). The lectin specifically agglutinated human Tn erythrocytes and was inhibited by 37mM GalNAc, 0.019mM ovine submaxillary mucin (OSM) or 0.008mM asialo bovine submaxillary mucin (aBSM). Enzyme-linked lectinosorbent assay (ELLSA) revealed strong binding to aOSM and aBSM, corroborating Tn specificity, whereas no binding to fetuin or asialo fetuin was observed. The lectin's monomer MW (38,702Da), amino acid composition, pI, carbohydrate content, deglycosylated form MW, thermal stability and Ca(2+) and Mn(2+) requirements were determined. Evidence of the existence of two glycoforms was obtained. The lectin's specificity and high affinity for the Tn antigen, commonly found in tumour cells, makes this protein a useful tool for immunohistochemical and cellular studies.     

The distribution and partial characterization of UDPgalactose: N-acetylgalactosamine mucin galactosyltransferase activity from rat small intestine and its sensitivity to Zn2+

UDPgalactose: N-acetylgalactosamine mucin galactosyltransferase activity of the rat intestine was studied and purified using asialo-ovine submaxillary mucin as the acceptor substrate and inhibitors to suppress UDPgalactose breakdown by pyrophosphatase activities particularly prevalent in the duodenal-jejunal regions. Despite adequate suppression of UDPgalactose breakdown, significant intestinal region differences of mucin galactosyltransferase activity were observed. Elevations of activity were observed in the duodenum and distal ileum of the small intestine and the cecum and proximal colon; these elevations in activity correspond to areas of increased mucin production. Similarly, mucin galactosyltransferase activity of duodenal cells isolated along a crypt-to-villus axis showed a moderate increase (67.7%) in activity associated with cells in the crypt region. Small intestine mucin galactosyltransferase activity was purified 800-fold using a series of ion exchange (DEAE-Sepharose), gel filtration (S-200 Sephacryl) and affinity chromatographic steps to isolate the mucin galactosyltransferase activity from a Triton X-100/Nonidet P-40 extract of homogenized cells obtained by scraping everted intestines. The partially purified enzyme showed two distinct protein bands of 81.5 and 50 kDa and a faint band at 53.3 kDa. Kinetic analysis gave an apparent Km of 152 microM for UDPgalactose. The enzyme showed optimal activity with Mn2+ (20 mM) and partial activities using a number of other divalent cations. Higher concentrations of Mn2+ were slightly inhibitory. Mucin galactosyltransferase activity was inhibited by more then 90% in the presence of Zn2+ (4 mM) and this inhibition could not be reversed by additional Mn2+. Addition of Zn2+ (4 mM) to assays containing Mn2+ (20 mM) did not cause appreciable UDPgalactose breakdown, as measured by high-voltage paper electrophoresis, suggesting that Zn2+ inhibition is not a result of pyrophosphatase activation. In addition, Zn2+ does not appear to activate a protease or glycosidase activity in the partially purified enzyme preparation which could hydrolyze the galactosylated product prior to isolation.     

alpha-D-galactosyltransferase activity in calf thymus. A high-resolution 1H-NMR study

In calf thymus an alpha-D-galactosyltransferase activity has been detected that transfers galactosyl residues from UDP-galactose to suitable acceptors having galactose at the non-reducing terminus. For example, incubation of UDP-[14C]galactose and Gal beta(1 leads to 4) GlcNAc (N-acetyllactosamine) in the presence of a calf thymus cell-free suspension containing this galactosyltransferase activity resulted in the enzymic synthesis of a 14C-labelled trisaccharide. 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopic analysis revealed the structure of the trisaccharide to be: Gal alpha (1 leads to 3) Gal beta (1 leads to 4) GlcNAc. This study illustrates the suitability of the 1H-NMR method for the analysis of enzymic conversions of carbohydrate chains.     

A kinetic comparison of partially purified rat liver Golgi and rat serum galactosyltransferases.

UDP-galactose: N-acetylglucosamine beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase was partially purified from rat liver Golgi membranes and rat serum. The kinetic parameters of the two enzymes isolated by affinity chromatography were compared with each other and with those for commercial bovine milk galactosyltransferase. When N-acetyl-glucosamine was the acceptor the Km values for UDP-galactose were 65,52 and 43 microM for the rat liver Golgi, rat serum and bovine milk enzymes respectively. The Km values for N-acetylglucosamine were 0.33, 1.49 and 0.5 mM for the three enzymes respectively. The Km values for UDP-galactose, with glucose as acceptor in the presence of 1 mg of alpha-lactalbumin, were 23, 9.0 and 60 microM for the three enzymes respectively, and the Km values for glucose were 2.3, 1.8 and 2.0 mM respectively. The effects of alpha-lactalbumin in both the lactosamine synthetase and lactose synthetase reactions were similar. The activation energies were 94.0 kJ/mol (22.5 kcal/mol) and 96.0 kJ/mol (22.9 kcal/mol) for the Golgi and serum enzymes respectively. Although some differences in Km values were observed between the rat liver Golgi and serum enzymes, the values obtained suggest a high degree of similarity between the kinetic properties of the three galactosyltransferases.