Enzymatic in vitro synthesis of radiolabeled pentasaccharides GlcNAc beta 1-3(Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6)Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc/Glc and the isomeric Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3(GlcNAc beta 1-6)Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc/Glc.

Four radiolabeled pentasaccharides, GlcNAc beta 1-3(Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6)Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3(GlcNAc beta 1-6)Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc, GlcNAc beta 1-3(Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6)Gal beta 1-4Glc, and Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3(GlcNAc beta 1-6)Gal beta 1-4Glc, were prepared in virtually pure form. They were obtained by partial enzymic beta 1,4-galactosylations of the appropriate tetrasaccharide acceptors or by partial enzymic degalactosylations of the appropriate hexasaccharides, followed by paper chromatographic separations. All four pentasaccharides contain two nonidentical distal branches, making them valuable primers for enzymatic in vitro synthesis of larger oligo(N-acetyllactosaminoglycans).     

Defining the carbohydrate specificities of Abrus precatorius agglutinin as T (Gal beta 1----3GalNAc) greater than I/II (Gal beta 1----3/4GlcNAc).

The combining site of the nontoxic carbohydrate binding protein (Abrus precatorius agglutinin, APA) purified from the needs of Abrus precatorius (Jequirity bean), was studied by quantitative precipitin and precipitin-inhibition assays. Of 26 glycoproteins and polysaccharides tested, all, except sialic acid-containing glycoproteins and desialized ovine salivary glycoproteins, reacted strongly with the lectin, and precipitated over 70% of the lectin added, indicating that APA has a broad range of affinity and recognizes (internal) Gal beta 1----sequences of carbohydrate chains. The strong reaction with desialized porcine and rat salivary glycoproteins as well as pneumococcus type XIV polysaccharide suggests that APA has affinity for one or more of the following carbohydrate sequences: Thomsen-Friedenreich (T, Gal beta 1----3GalNAc), blood group precursor type I and/or type II (Gal beta 1----3/4GlcNAc) disaccharide determinants of complex carbohydrates. Among the oligosaccharides tested, the T structure was the best inhibitor; it was 2.4 and 3.2 times more active than type II and type I sequences, respectively. The blood group I Ma-active trisaccharide, Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6Gal, was about as active as the corresponding disaccharide (II). From the above results, we conclude that the size of the combining site of the A. precatorius agglutinin is probably as large as a disaccharide and most strongly complementary to the Gal beta 1----3GalNAc (T determinant) sequence. The carbohydrate specificities of this lectin will be further investigated once the related oligosaccharide structures become available.     

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.     

Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase unexpectedly cleaves the hexasaccharide Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3(Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6)Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc without branch specificity

The branch specificity of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) was studied by analyzing the cleavage of the branched hexasaccharide Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3(Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6)[14C(U)]Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc (1). This hexasaccharide was cleaved to pentasaccharides Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3(GlcNAc beta 1-6) [14C(U)]Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc (3) and GlcNAc beta 1-3(Gal-beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6) [14C(U)]Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc (4) without any appreciable branch specificity. Even the further conversions of the pentasaccharides 3 and 4 into the tetrasaccharide GlcNAc beta 1-3(GlcNAc beta 1-6)[14C(U)]Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc seemed to proceed at similar rates, without any appreciable branch specificity. In marked contrast to the hexasaccharide 1, the pentasaccharide Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3(Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6)[14C(U)]Gal (2), missing the reducing end GlcNAc, is known to be cleaved selectively at the 6-branch; this finding was confirmed in the present study. The different behaviour of hexasaccharide 1 and pentasaccharide 2 reflects differences in the reactivity of their 6-branches; the preferred conformations of these closely related molecules may be quite different.     

Primary structure determination of five sialylated oligosaccharides derived from bronchial mucus glycoproteins of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. The occurrence of the NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)] GlcNAc beta(1----.) structural element revealed by 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy

The structure of sialylated carbohydrate units of bronchial mucins obtained from cystic fibrosis patients was investigated by 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with sugar analysis. After subjecting the mucins to alkaline borohydride degradation, sialylated oligosaccharide-alditols were isolated by anion-exchange chromatography and fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography. Five compounds could be obtained in a rather pure state; their structures were established as the following: A-1, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4) [Fuc alpha(1----3)]GlcNAc beta(1----3)Gal-NAc-ol; A-2, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)-[GlcNAc beta (1----3)]GalNAc-o1; A-3, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta-(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)]GlcNAc beta(1----3)Gal beta(1----3) GalNAc-o1; A-4, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)]Glc-NAc NAc beta(1----6)[GlcNAc beta(1----3)]GalNAc-o1; A-6,NeuAc alpha-(2----3) Gal beta(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)]GlcNAc beta(1----6)[Gal beta-(1----4) GlcNAc beta(1----3)]GalNAc-o1. The simultaneous presence of sialic acid in alpha(2----3)-linkage to Gal and fucose in alpha(1----3)-linkage to GlcNAc of the same N-acetyllactosamine unit could be adequately proved by high resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy. This sequence constitutes a novel structural element for mucins.     

Wheat germ agglutinin chromatography of GlcNac beta 1-3(GlcNAc beta 1-6)Gal and GlcNAc beta 1-3(GlcNAc beta 1-6)Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc, obtained by in vitro synthesis and by partial cleavage of teratocarcinoma poly-N-acetyllactosaminoglycans

GlcNAc beta 1-3(GlcNAc beta 1-6) [14C(U)]Gal and GlcNAc beta 1-3(GlcNAc beta 1-6)[14C(U)]Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc were prepared by in vitro synthesis. They were characterized by enzymatic sequencing, by partial acid hydrolysis, and by periodate oxidation experiments. The two saccharides were isolated also from partial acid hydrolysates of metabolically labeled poly-N-acetyllactosaminoglycans of murine embryonal carcinoma cells (line PC 13). The tetrasaccharide was retarded in a column of agarose-linked wheat germ agglutinin; the trisaccharide was strongly bound. Chromatography in this column separated the trisaccharide into two distinct peaks, which represented interconvertible molecules. Together with our previous data on linear teratocarcinoma saccharides, these findings show that affinity chromatography with immobilized wheat germ agglutinin can be advantageously used in fractionating radiolabeled oligo-N-acetyllactosaminoglycans and saccharides related to them.     

Distribution of Gal alpha 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc residues on secreted mammalian glycoproteins (thyroglobulin, fibrinogen, and immunoglobulin G) as measured by a sensitive solid-phase radioimmunoassay

The study of the expression of Gal alpha 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc residues on mammalian glycoconjugates is of particular interest since as many as 1% of circulating IgG antibodies in man (the natural anti-Gal antibody) interact specifically with this carbohydrate residue. In recent studies, we have found that Gal alpha 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc residues are abundant on red cells and nucleated cells of nonprimate mammals, prosimians, and New World monkeys, but their expression is diminished in Old World monkeys, apes, and humans. In the present work, we have analyzed the expression of these residues on secreted mammalian glycoproteins. For this purpose, we have developed a radioimmunoassay (RIA) which enables the quantification of Gal alpha 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc residues on the secreted glycoproteins. Purified biotinylated anti-Gal was used as the antibody in the RIA, and bovine thyroglobulin enriched for Gal alpha 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc residues served as a solid-phase antigen. In this study, it is reported for the first time that the evolutionary pattern of Gal alpha 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc residue distribution in in vivo secreted glycoproteins is similar to that observed in membranes of cell lines and of red cells. Thyroglobulin, fibrinogen, or IgG molecules from nonprimate mammals and from New World monkeys express varying amounts of Gal alpha 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc residues ranging between 0.01 and 11 residues per molecule, whereas no such residues are present on any of these glycoproteins of human or Old World monkey origin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Synthesis of four novel trisaccharides by induction of loose acceptor specificity in Gal beta 1----4 transferase (EC 2.4.1.22): Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(X)Glc where X = beta 1----3: beta 1----4: beta 1----6: alpha 1----4.

Development of tandem mass spectral methods for direct linkage determination in oligosaccharides requires sets of trisaccharides differing only in one structural parameter. In this case, we chose the position of linkage to the reducing-end hexose. These sets of compounds would also be useful for the development of high-resolution separation techniques geared to resolve linkage types. Conventional organic synthesis of such a set could take as long as 2-5 months for each member of the set. Each trisaccharide would require 10-20 steps of synthesis. Instead, we utilized low pH to induce a loose acceptor specificity for bovine milk galactosyltransferase (lactose synthase: EC 2.4.1.22) and by this method, within 2 weeks, generated four novel oligosaccharides for NMR and mass spectral studies. The disaccharides cellobiose (beta 1----4), laminaribiose (beta 1----3), gentiobiose (beta 1----6) and maltose (alpha 1----4) acted as acceptors for EC 2.4.1.22 under these conditions. The beta 1----2-linked disaccharide, sophorose, was not commercially available and is not included in this study. The alpha-linked disaccharides were also examined, but except for the alpha 1----4 disaccharide maltose, were very poor acceptors under a variety of conditions. From these four acceptors, the following four novel trisaccharides were synthesized in micromole amounts, suitable for studies of linkage position using low-energy collision-induced-dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (FAB-MS-CID-MS), and for NMR: Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(beta 1----3)-Glc, Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(beta 1----4)Glc, Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(beta 1----6)-Glc and Galp(beta 1----4)Glcp(alpha 1----4)Glc.     

Biosynthesis of blood group I antigens. Identification of a UDP-GlcNAc:GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal(-R) beta 1-6(GlcNAc to Gal) N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase in hog gastric mucosa

A beta 1-6N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase has been identified in microsomal preparations from hog gastric mucosa which is able to synthesize branch points in branched lactosaminoglycans (blood group I antigenic structures). The enzyme can be assayed specifically using the synthetic trisaccharide GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta-OMe as acceptor. The product of the transferase reaction was isolated and identified by methylation analysis as, (Formula: see text) Into this tetrasaccharide two galactose residues were incorporated by the specific beta-N-acetylglucosaminide beta 1-4-galactosyltransferase from bovine milk. Thus a hexasaccharide was formed which was shown to inhibit strongly a murine monoclonal and a human anti-I antibody. Using a variety of oligosaccharides and glycolipids, which correspond to structures found in linear lactosaminoglycan chains, the acceptor substrate specificity of the branching enzyme was determined. From these results it is concluded that branching occurs only during the elongation process at the nonreducing end and follows a well-defined order. N-Acetylglucosamine is first transferred to position 3 of a terminal galactose followed immediately by the addition of a second N-acetylglucosamine to position 6; only then the 1-3 and the 1-6 branches are further elongated by galactose residues.     

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.     

Biosynthesis of terminal Gal alpha 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc-R oligosaccharide sequences on glycoconjugates. Purification and acceptor specificity of a UDP-Gal:N-acetyllactosaminide alpha 1----3-galactosyltransferase from calf thymus

A UDP-Gal:Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc-R alpha 1----3- and a UDP-Gal:GlcNAc-R beta 1----4-galactosyltransferase have been purified 44,000- and 101,000-fold, respectively, from a Triton X-100 extract of calf thymus by affinity chromatography on UDP-hexanolamine-Sepharose and alpha-lactalbumin-Sepharose in a yield of 25-40%. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions revealed a major polypeptide species with a molecular weight of 40,000 and a minor form at Mr 42,000 for the alpha 1----3-galactosyltransferase and a major polypeptide with Mr 51,000 for the beta 1----4-galactosyltransferase. Analytical gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 yielded a monomeric form for each of the galactosyltransferases with Mr 43,000 and 59,000 respectively, in addition to peaks of activity at higher molecular weights. Isoelectric focussing of the alpha 1----3-galactosyltransferase revealed a significant charge heterogeneity with forms varying in pI values between 5.0 and 6.5. Acceptor specificity studies indicated that the purified alpha 1----3-galactosyltransferase was free from contaminating galactosyltransferase activities such as those involved in the synthesis of Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc-R and Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-R sequences, the blood group B determinant, the Pk antigen, trihexosylceramide, and ganglioside GM1. The alpha 1----3-galactosyltransferase appeared to be highly active with glycoproteins, oligosaccharides, and glycolipids having a terminal Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----unit such as asialo-alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (Km = 1.25 mM), Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----3Man beta 1----4GlcNAc (Km = 0.57 mM), and paragloboside. The action of the alpha 1----3-galactosyltransferase was found to be mutually exclusive with that of the NeuAc:Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc-R alpha 2----6-sialyltransferase from bovine colostrum. In addition alpha 1----3-fucosylation of the N-acetylglucosamine residue in the preferred disaccharide acceptor structure completely blocked galactosylation of the alpha 1----3-galactosyltransferase.     

Rabbit antibodies against the human milk sialyloligosaccharide alditol of LS-tetrasaccharide a (NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcOH)

The sialyloligosaccharide, NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc (LS-tetrasaccharide a), a minor component of human milk, is obtained in relatively large quantities from autohydrolysates of the major milk disialyloligosaccharide, NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3[NeuAc alpha 2-6]GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc (disialyllacto-N-tetraose). Rabbits immunized with an oligosaccharide-protein conjugate prepared from keyhole limpet hemocyanin and LS-tetrasaccharide a produce antibodies directed against the corresponding oligosaccharide alditol. The anti-LS-tetrasaccharide a sera bind 3H-labeled LS-tetrasaccharide a in a direct-binding radioimmunoassay on nitrocellulose filters. The specificities of these antibodies are determined by comparing inhibitory activities of structurally related oligosaccharides. Strong hapten-antibody binding (Ka greater than 10(6) M-1) requires sialic acid linked alpha 2-3 to the nonreducing terminal galactose residue of reduced lacto-N-tetraose (Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcOH). Specificities of antibodies prepared against keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugates of LS-tetrasaccharide b (Gal beta 1-3[NeuAc alpha 2-6]GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc) and LS-tetrasaccharide c (NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc) differ only slightly from rabbit antibodies prepared against the corresponding bovine serum albumin conjugates described previously [D. F. Smith and V. Ginsburg (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 55-59].     

Regulation of the expression of Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc glycosphingolipids in kidney

Previous studies (Galili, U., Clark, M. R., Shohet, S. B., Buehler, J., and Macher, B. A. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 84, 1369-1373; Galili, U., Shohet, S. B., Korbrin, E., Stults, C. L. M., and Macher, B. A. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 17755-17762) have established that there is a unique evolutionary distribution of glycoconjugates carrying the Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc epitope. These glycoconjugates are expressed by cells from New World monkeys and non-primate mammals, but not by cells from humans, Old World monkeys, or apes. The lack of expression of this epitope in the latter species appears to result from the suppression of gene expression for the enzyme UDP-galactose:nLc4Cer alpha 1-3-galactosyltransferase (alpha 1-3GalT) (Joziasse, D. H., Shaper, J. H., Van den Eijnden, D. H., Van Tunen, A. J., and Shaper, N. L. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 14290-14297). Although many non-primate species are known to express this carbohydrate epitope, the nature (i.e. glycoprotein or glycosphingolipid) of the glycoconjugate carrying this epitope is only known for a few tissues in a few animal species. Furthermore, it is not known whether all animal species express this epitope in the same tissues. We have investigated these questions by analyzing the glycosphingolipids in kidney from several non-primate animal species. Immunostained thin layer chromatograms of glycosphingolipids from sheep, pig, rabbit, cow, and rat kidney with the Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc glycosphingolipid-specific monoclonal antibody, Gal-13, demonstrated that kidney from all of these species except rat contained Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc neutral glycosphingolipids. A lack of expression of Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc glycosphingolipids in rat may be due to the lack of expression of the enzyme (alpha 1-3GalT) which catalyzes the formation of the Gal alpha 1-3Gal nonreducing terminal sequence of these compounds or to the lack of expression of glycosyltransferases which are necessary for the synthesis of the neolacto core structure of these compounds. These possibilities were evaluated in two ways. First, the three enzymes (UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:LacCer beta 1-3-N-acetyl-glucosaminyltransferase, UDP-galactose:Lc3Cer beta 1-4-galactosyltransferase, and alpha 1-3GalT) involved in the synthesis of the Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc glycosphingolipids were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based assay system and carbohydrate sequence-specific monoclonal antibodies. Second, TLC immunostaining was done to determine if the glycosphingolipid precursors (i.e. Lc3Cer and nLc4Cer) are expressed in rat kidney. Interestingly, rat kidney had a relatively high level of alpha 1-3GalT activity compared with the other animals tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Homonuclear three-dimensional NMR methods for the complete assignment of proton NMR spectra of oligosaccharides--application to Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc.

Two new homonuclear three-dimensional NMR techniques are described for the simplification of proton resonance assignment in oligosaccharides, namely HOHAHA-COSY and ROESY-COSY. The former technique is of value in the resonance assignment of gluco-configuration monosaccharide residues, whereas the latter is more suited to resonance assignment of galacto-configuration monosaccharide residues. The value of these techniques is illustrated by application to the proton resonance assignment of the pentasaccharide Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc beta 1-3 Gal beta 1-4Glc, a compound which exhibits a variety of assignment problems due to severe cross-peak overlap in conventional COSY or HOHAHA spectra.     

Glycosphingolipids with Gal beta 1----6Gal sequences in metacestodes of the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis.

Neutral glycosphingolipids of the metacestodes of Echinococcus multilocularis, an animal and human parasite, were resolved by high performance thin layer chromatography into 12 fractions. Nine of these fractions were permethylated, analyzed by electron impact-mass spectrometry, and submitted to methylation analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Native fractions were analyzed by liquid secondary ion-mass spectrometry and degraded sequentially by exoglycosidases. In addition to a previously described galactosylceramide, a di-, a tri-, and a tetragalactosyl-ceramide having Gal beta 1-6Gal internal linkages were characterized. This type of carbohydrate chain has been described in glycolipids of a marine mollusk, Turbo cornutus (Matsubara, T., and Hayashi, A. (1981) J. Biochem. (Tokyo), 89, 645-650). In addition two novel fucolipids were found with the following structures: Fuc alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-6Gal-Cer and Gal beta 1-6(Fuc alpha 1-3)Gal beta 1-6Gal-Cer. Ceramides contained sphinganine and either nonhydroxy fatty acids with 16, 18, 26, and 28 carbon atoms, or hydroxy fatty acids, with 16 and 18 carbon atoms. Di-, tri-, and tetragalactosylceramides containing the Gal beta 1-6Gal disaccharide were found to be immunogenic in humans.     

Synthesis of oligosaccharide fragments of O-specific Shigella flexneri polysaccharides. II. Synthesis of trisaccharide Glc alpha1----3RHa alpha1----2Rha alpha1----OMe and tetrasaccharide GlcNAc beta1----2(Llc alpha1----3)Rha alpha1----2Rh alpha1----OMe

Methyl glycosides of the title linear trisaccharide and branched tetrasaccharide were synthesized by stepwise glycosylation. These oligosaccharides represent the fragments of O-antigenic polysaccharides of Shigella flexneri serotypes 2b, 3a, 5b, and X.     

Binding of N-linked bovine fetuin glycopeptides to isolated rabbit hepatocytes: Gal/GalNAc hepatic lectin discrimination between Gal beta(1,4)GlcNAc and Gal beta(1,3)GlcNAc in a triantennary structure

Glycopeptides were isolated from bovine fetuin after digestion with Pronase, aminopeptidase M, and carboxypeptidase Y. The glycopeptides were derivatized with tert-butyloxycarbonyltyrosine and separated on the basis of peptide by using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Using 400-MHz 1H NMR, the asialotriantennary oligosaccharides at each of the three N-linked glycosylation sites were found to be combinations of the following two structures in which the third branch is either Gal beta(1,4)GlcNAc or Gal beta(1,3)GlcNAc: (formula; see text) The asialotriantennary glycopeptides containing all beta(1,4)-lactosamine as the branches were designated Gal beta(1,4)GlcNAc-TRI while triantennary glycopeptides containing beta(1,3)-lactosamine as branch III were termed Gal beta(1,3)GlcNAc-TRI. The Gal beta(1,3)GlcNAc unit was localized predominantly to the branch III arm on the basis of a downfield shift (-0.027 ppm) in the H-1 and upfield shift (0.01 ppm) in the NAc methyl signals from the branch III GlcNAc resulting from Gal beta(1,3) instead of Gal beta(1,4) substitution. Revised assignments are proposed for the H-1's of Gal residues 6 (delta 4.464) and 8 (delta 4.471) [Vliegenthart, J. F. G., Dorland, L., & van Halbeek, H. (1983) Adv. Carbohydr. Chem. Biochem. 41, 209-373] in a Gal beta(1,4)GlcNAc-TRI. The proportion of Gal beta(1,3)GlcNAc-TRI glycopeptides from the Asn-Asp, Asn-Gly, and Asn-Cys sites was found to be 40%, 60%, and 20%, respectively. Analysis of the binding of these glycopeptides, containing from 20% to 60% Gal beta(1,3)GlcNAc as branch III, to rabbit hepatocytes revealed that the greater the proportion of Gal beta(1,3)GlcNAc, the lower the affinity of the mixture. The Kd for Gal beta(1,4)GlcNAc-TRI was found to be between 3.6 and 5.4 nM (P = 0.10) with a mean of 4.4 nM from binding data analyzed by using the LIGAND program [Munson, P. J., & Rodbard, D. (1980) Anal. Biochem. 107, 220-239] and computer simulations of the binding of two ligands as a mixture to one receptor site. The Kd of Gal beta(1,3)GlcNAc-TRI oligosaccharide, prepared by hydrazinolysis, was found to be 305 nM from inhibition studies.     

A coupled assay for UDP-GlcNAc:Gal beta 1-3GalNAc-R beta 1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GlcNAc to GalNAc).

UDP-GlcNAc:Gal beta 1-3GalNAc-R beta 1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GlcNAc to GalNAc) (i.e., core 2 GlcNAc-T) is a developmentally regulated enzyme of the O-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis pathway. We have developed a coupled-enzyme assay for core 2 GlcNAc-T that is approximately 100 times more sensitive than the standard assay using UDP-[3H]GlcNAc as a sugar donor. Core 2 GlcNAc-T reactions were performed using unlabeled UDP-GlcNAc donor and Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha-paranitrophenyl (pNp) as acceptor. The product, Gal beta 1-3(GlcNAc beta 1-6)GalNAc alpha-pNp was then further reacted with purified bovine beta 1-4Gal-T and UDP-[3H]Gal to produce Gal beta 1-3([3H]Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6) GalNAc alpha-pNp, which was separated on an Ultrahydrogel HPLC column. Approximately 10% of the available GlcNAc-terminating acceptor was substituted in the Gal-T reaction, allowing 1 pmol of product to be readily detected. The increased sensitivity of the coupled assay should facilitate studies of core 2 GlcNAc-T activity where material is limiting or specific activity is low.