Structural analysis of the N-linked oligosaccharides from murine glycophorin

Glycophorins, isolated from BALB/c mouse erythrocytes, were degraded under mild and strong reductive alkaline conditions and the N-linked oligosaccharides were isolated as alditols. The oligosaccharide alditols were fractionated and purified using gel filtration, concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography, and high-performance ion-exchange chromatography. Structural analysis was carried out by chemical analyses, periodate oxidation in combination with fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy. The results revealed the presence of sialylated biantennary, triantennary, and tetraantennary complex type oligosaccharides, all fucosylated at the innermost N-acetylglucosamine residue. The tri- and tetraantennary oligosaccharide-containing fractions also contained species elongated by one and/or two N-acetyllactosamine (-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-) sequences. The N-linked oligosaccharides were shown to be combined only with one (the low molecular weight) of the two mouse glycophorins.     

Detailed structural analysis of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica.

The structures of the major oligosaccharide moieties of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AcChoR) protein from Torpedo californica have been reported [Nomoto, H., Takahashi, N., Nagaki, Y., Endo, S., Arata, Y. and Hayashi, K. (1986) Eur. J. Biochem. 157, 233-242] to be high-mannose types. Here we report detailed analyses of the structures of the remaining oligosaccharides in this receptor. The sialylated oligosaccharides released by glycopeptidase (almond) digestion were separated according to the number of sialic acid residues using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. After removal of sialic acid from each fraction, the resulting neutral oligosaccharides were separately pyridylaminated and were analyzed by a combination of sequential exoglycosidase digestion and HPLC, then identified on a two-dimensional sugar map. The structures of two desialylated pyridylamino-oligosaccharides were further analyzed by high-resolution proton NMR. Each oligosaccharide was composed of species containing varying numbers of sialic acids. The desialylated complex-type oligosaccharides of AcChoR consisted of ten, eight and one different biantennary, triantennary and tetraantennary oligosaccharide, respectively. The biantennary oligosaccharides were divided into two groups; oligosaccharides with fucose at the proximal N-acetylglucosamine (six varieties) and oligosaccharides without fucose (four varieties). Each group consisted of species differing in the number of terminal galactose residues. The major component of the biantennary oligosaccharides had two galactose residues at the non-reducing termini. The terminal alpha-galactose residue(s) linked to C3 of beta-galactose were found in the fucose-containing biantennary oligosaccharides (two varieties). The triantennary oligosaccharides were also divided into two groups; oligosaccharides with (four varieties) and without (four varieties) besecting N-acetylglucosamine. These groups were composed of species differing in the number of terminal galactose residues. The major component of the triantennary oligosaccharides was fully galactosylated with three galactose residues. An unusual group, Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc, was present in low levels in the triantennary oligosaccharides. In contrast, the tetraantennary oligosaccharide was composed of only one species, which is fully galactosylated with four galactose residues.     

Comparison and partial characterization of guinea pig Ia alpha- and beta-chain oligosaccharides

The structures of the N-linked oligosaccharides of mature guinea pig Ia molecules were partially characterized by serial lectin affinity analysis. Those Ia antigens that are thought to be allelic products (Ia.3,5 and Ia.4,5) were found to bear identical oligosaccharides, whereas differences in glycopeptide distribution were found for Ia antigens known to be products of separate I subregions (Ia.2 and Ia.4,5). The two predominant oligosaccharides present on alpha-chains from all three Ia molecules were of the high mannnose type and the triantennary or tetraantennary complex type. Two structurally distinct beta-chains were isolated from Ia.3,5 and Ia.4,5 molecules; beta 1 bore primarily triantennary or tetraantennary complex oligosaccharides, and beta 2 had predominantly biantennary complex-type carbohydrate chains. The composition and distribution of the oligosaccharide moieties of guinea pig Ia molecules indicate that there are structural features shared among guinea pig, murine, and human Ia antigens.     

视黄酸对人肝癌细胞表面N糖链类型及天线数的影响

本文采用系列凝集素柱层析法,并配合外切糖苷酶处理研究了在视黄酸(RA)作用1—5天过程中人肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721细胞表面N糖链结构的变化。结果表明,RA促进3~H-甘露糖(Man)参入细胞表面N糖链,使高甘露糖型N糖链的百分比下降,复杂型百分比上升,并促进二天线N糖链的生物合成,使多天线特别是四天线和C_2,C_(21)b三天线N糖链的合成减少。结果提示,N糖链结构的这些变化可能是RA诱导SMMC-7721细胞向正常方向分化的结果。     

Site-specific N-glycosylation analysis of human plasma ceruloplasmin using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Ceruloplasmin has ferroxidase activity and plays an essential role in iron metabolism. In this study, a site-specific glycosylation analysis of human ceruloplasmin (CP) was carried out using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). A tryptic digest of carboxymethylated CP was subjected to LC-ESI-MS/MS. Product ion spectra acquired data-dependently were used for both distinction of the glycopeptides from the peptides using the carbohydrate B-ions, such as m/z 204 (HexNAc) and m/z 366 (HexHexNAc), and identification of the peptide moiety of the glycopeptide based on the presence of the b- and y-series ions derived from the peptide. Oligosaccharide composition was deduced from the molecular weight calculated from the observed mass of the glycopeptide and theoretical mass of the peptide. Of the seven potential N-glycosylation sites, four (Asn119, Asn339, Asn378, and Asn743) were occupied by a sialylated biantennary or triantennary oligosaccharide with fucose residues (0, 1, or 2). A small amount of sialylated tetraantennary oligosaccharide was detected. Exoglycosidase digestion suggested that fucose residues were linked to reducing end GlcNAc in biantennary oligosaccharides and to reducing end and/or alpha1-3 to outer arms GlcNAc in triantennary oligosaccharides and that roughly one of the antennas in triantennary oligosaccharides was alpha2-3 sialylated and occasionally alpha1-3 fucosylated at GlcNAc.     

Structural analysis of the carbohydrate chains of a mouse monoclonal IgM antibody

A mouse monoclonal IgM antibody, directed against human blood group B determinant, was isolated from hybridoma culture growth medium. Chemical analysis indicated presence of N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. The N- and O-linked carbohydrate chains were liberated using two different conditions of reductive alkaline degradation. Structural analysis was carried out on the isolated chains using chemical analysis, 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy and fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry. The following composite structures of the N-linked chains were found: (formula; see text) where R = OH for biantennary structures and R = Neu5Ac alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4 GlcNAc beta 1- or Neu5Ac alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3[Neu5Ac alpha 2-6]GlcNAc beta 1- for triantennary structures. The O-linked oligosaccharides, found in the light chains, were shown to have the structure Neu5Ac alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GalNAc. The native IgM antibody could be separated on a concanavalin-A-Sepharose column into two subfractions, differing in the presence of a high-mannose-type oligosaccharide.     

ATP-Evoked Arachidonic Acid Mobilization in Astrocytes Is via a P2Y-Purinergic Receptor

The mouse monoclonal antibody HNK-1 and the human monoclonal IgM antibody present in patients with polyneuropathy both recognize carbohydrate epitope(s) on human myelin-associated glycoprotein and P0. In the present study, the oligosaccharide structures that bear the antibody epitope(s) were investigated. The extracellular derivative of myelin-associated glycoprotein (dMAG) was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. P0 was electroeluted from gel slices. Western blot analysis of whole glycoproteins demonstrated that the epitopes for HNK-1 and the human monoclonal IgM antibody were different. The glycopeptides obtained by proteolysis of purified dMAG and P0 were separated and characterized by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose. Both dMAG and P0 displayed heterogeneity in their oligosaccharide structures, i.e., they both contained mainly tri- and tetraantennary oligosaccharides (approximately 80%), although biantennary (10%) and high-mannose and/or hybrid (10%) oligosaccharides were present. The human monoclonal IgM antibody epitope was present on all types of isolated oligosaccharide structures from either dMAG and P0. The HNK-1 epitope was present on all types of oligosaccharide structures of dMAG, whereas it was present only on tri- and tetraantennary structures of P0.     

Comparison of the N-Linked Oligosaccharide Structures of the Two Major Human Myelin Glycoproteins MAG and P0: Assessment and Relative Occurrence of Oligosaccharide Structures by Serial Lectin Affinity Chromatography of 14C-Glycopeptides

The N-linked oligosaccharide structures of human myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and P0 have been characterized by serial lectin affinity chromatography (SLAC) of 14C-glycopeptides. 14C-Glycopeptides were prepared from purified MAG derivative and P0 by extensive proteolytic digestion and N-14C-acetylation. Assuming that all the 14C-glycopeptides were radiolabelled to the same specific radioactivity, the relative occurrence of the oligosaccharide structures was correlated to the amount of incorporated radioactivity. Sixteen and 15 fractions were generated by SLAC of MAG and P0 14C-glycopeptides, respectively. Despite this tremendous structural heterogeneity, the oligosaccharide "fingerprints" of MAG and P0 obtained by SLAC displayed similarities: (a) of the three types of N-linked oligosaccharides, the complex type accounted for 80.4% and 94.9% of MAG and P0 radioactivity, respectively; (b) biantennary complex oligosaccharides were the major structures present on MAG and P0; (c) approximately 60% of MAG and P0 oligosaccharides possessed a bisecting N-acetylglucosamine residue; and (d) large amounts of oligosaccharides with an alpha(1-6)fucose residue were found in both MAG and P0 and, noticeably, approximately 25% of the tri- and/or tetraantennary and approximately 90% of the bisected biantennary oligosaccharides of both glycoproteins contained alpha(1-6)fucose residues in the core. This study demonstrates that MAG and P0, both belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily, display structural similarities in their N-linked oligosaccharide contents.     

The distribution of repeating [Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc beta 1,3] sequences in asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of the mouse lymphoma cell lines BW5147 and PHAR 2.1

The occurrence and distribution of the repeating disaccharide [Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc beta 1,3] in the different types of Asn-linked oligosaccharides in mouse lymphoma BW5147 cells have been studied. Glycopeptides were prepared from cells grown in medium containing [6-3H]galactose, and the bi-, tri-, and tetraantennary Asn-linked oligosaccharides were fractionated by serial lectin affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose, pea lectin -Sepharose, leukoagglutinating phytohemagglutinin-agarose, and Datura stramonium agglutinin-agarose. As described in this report, the latter lectin binds glycopeptides that contain either the repeating N-acetyllactosamine sequence or an outer mannose residue substituted at C-2 and C-6 by N-acetyllactosamine. The isolated glycopeptides were subjected to methylation analysis, specific exoglycosidase treatments, and digestion with Escherichia freundii endo-beta-galactosidase. Our data indicate that approximately two-thirds of the tetraantennary and one-half of the triantennary Asn-linked oligosaccharides contain repeating N-acetyllactosamine sequences in at least one branch. Many of the repeating sequences contain an additional galactose residue linked alpha 1,3 to a penultimate galactose residue. By contrast, less than 10% of the biantennary oligosaccharides contain the repeating disaccharide. The distribution of the repeating N-acetyllactosamine unit was also examined in a cell line ( PHAR 2.1) that is deficient in UDP-GlcNAc:alpha-mannoside beta 1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase. These cells are unable to synthesize tetraantennary and certain triantennary species and instead accumulate biantennary oligosaccharides. The total content of repeating N-acetyllactosamine units is greatly decreased in this line, and those that are present are found predominantly in triantennary Asn-linked oligosaccharides. These results demonstrate that the repeating N-acetyllactosamine sequence occurs commonly in complex-type Asn-linked oligosaccharides in BW5147 cells but is confined primarily to tri- and teraantennary species.     

Enzymatic Sialylation of N-Linked Oligosaccharides Using an α-(2,3)-Specific trans-Sialidase from Trypanosoma cruzi: Structural Identification Using a Three-Dimensional Elution Mapping Technique

α-(2,3)-Sialylated biantennary and triantennary oligosaccharides were enzymatically prepared from pyridyl-2-amino-oligosaccharides with terminal Gal residues, using an α-(2,3)-specific trans-sialidase from Trypanosoma cruzi (Lee, K. B., and Lee, Y. C. (1994) Anal. Biochem. 216, 358-364). From the pyridyl-2-amino-derivatives of neutral and α-(2,6)-monosialylated biantennary oligosaccharides from human fibrinogen, 5 different sialyl biantennary oligosaccharides were obtained. From two different asialo-triantennary oligosaccharides from fetuin, 35 sialyl oligosaccharides were obtained. The trans-sialidase transferred sialic acids effectively and indiscriminately to different galactosyl residues in the different positions on the substrates. Since the starting materials are neutral oligosaccharide of established structure, and the only α-(2,3)-sialyl residues are added to the nonreducing Gal terminal residues, the structures of these oligosaccharides could be identified unambiguously by using the three-dimensional mapping technique (Takahashi, N., Nakagawa, H., Fujikawa, K., Kawamura, Y., and Tomiya, N. (1995) Anal. Biochem. 226, 139-146.) in combinations with strategic digestion with β-galactosidase, β-N-hexosaminidase, and sialidase L.     

Asparagine-linked oligosaccharide processing in lepidopteran insect cells. Temporal dependence of the nature of the oligosaccharides assembled on asparagine-289 of recombinant human plasminogen produced in baculovirus vector infected Spodoptera frugiperda (IPLB-SF-21AE) cells

Previous studies from this laboratory have established that lepidopteran insect cells possess the glycosylation machinery needed to assemble N-linked complex-type oligosaccharides on Asn289 of recombinant human plasminogen (r-HPg). In the present paper, we show that the nature of N289-linked glycosylation of [R561E]r-HPg expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (IPLB-SF-21AE) cells is dependent upon the length of time of infection of the cells with the recombinant baculovirus/HPg-cDNA construct. At the earliest postinfection (p.i.) time period studied, i.e., 0-20 h, virtually all (96%) of the oligosaccharides released with glycopeptidase F from N289 of the expressed r-HPg were of the high-mannose type and comprised nearly the full range of such structures, containing 3-9 mannose units. At a time window of 60-96 h, p.i., essentially all of the oligosaccharides (92% of the total) assembled on N289 of rHPg were of the biantennary, triantennary, and tetraantennary complex classes, with varying extents of outer arm completion. At an intermediate time period window, of 20-60 h, p.i., a mixture of complex-type oligosaccharides, totaling approximately 77% of the glycans, with various levels of branching and outer arm completion, and high-mannose type of oligosaccharides, totaling approximately 23% of the glycans, was assembled on N289 of the r-HPg produced. These studies demonstrate that lepidopteran insect cells contain the glycosyltransferase genes required for assembly of N-linked complex oligosaccharide and that these transferases are utilized under proper conditions. The time dependency of the assembly of complex-type oligosaccharides on r-HPg indicates that an activation of the appropriate glycosyl transferases and/or transferase genes can take place. Thus, one consequence of the infective process with the recombinant baculovirus/HPg-cDNA construct is to alter the normal glycosylation characteristics of insect cells and to allow complex-type oligosaccharide processing to occur.     

Differential effects of oncogenic transformation on N-linked oligosaccharide processing at individual glycosylation sites of viral glycoproteins

Hamster sarcoma virus (HSV) transformation of Nil-8 fibroblasts is associated with an increase in the average size of N-acetyllactosamine (complex) type N-linked glycans due to an increase in both the average number of branches/chain and in the fraction of N-linked glycans containing poly(GlcNAc(beta 1,3) Gal-(beta 1,4)) (polylactosaminylglycan) chains. Analysis of glycopeptides from the envelope glycoproteins of Sindbis virus and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) grown in Nil-8 and Nil/HSV cells indicated that the transformation-associated shift to larger N-linked oligosaccharides selectively affects some glycosylation sites far more than others. Glycosylation of the Sindbis virus glycoproteins and of Asn-179 of VSV G was similar in Nil-8 and Nil/HSV cells; oligosaccharide processing generally did not proceed beyond the biantennary complex stage. In contrast, Asn-336 of VSV G carried primarily biantennary complex glycans in Nil-8-grown virus (ratio, triantennary, and larger to biantennary complex glycans (tri+/bi) = 0.5) but more highly branched structures in Nil/HSV-grown virus (tri+/bi = 8.1). All of the triantennary or larger oligosaccharides from Asn-336 of Nil/HSV-grown VSV G bound to leukoagglutinating phytohemagglutinin-agarose, indicating the presence of a branch attached to the Man3GlcNAc2 core via a beta 1,6-linked GlcNAc residue and suggesting that increased UDP-GlcNAc:alpha-D-mannoside beta 1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase V (GlcNAc transferase V) activity accompanied transformation. At least 20% of these leukoagglutinating phytohemagglutinin-binding oligosaccharides were sensitive to an enzyme specific for polylactosaminylglycan chains, Escherichia freundii endo-beta-galactosidase.     

Effect of ammonia on the glycosylation of human recombinant erythropoietin in culture

Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) was produced by a stable transfected CHO-K1 cell clone (EPO-81) grown in serum-free medium. Our previous work showed that there was a significant increase in the heterogeneity of the glycoforms of EPO and a reduction of the sialylation at 20 mM NH(4)Cl. In the work presented here, the effects of ammonia on EPO N-linked oligosaccharides were analyzed. EPO was purified from culture supernatants by immunoaffinity chromatography. The N-linked oligosaccharides were released enzymatically and analyzed by fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE) and HPLC. The FACE N-linked oligosaccharide profile showed that the sialylated glycans contain one prominent band at a position corresponding to eight glucose units. The density of the major band was greatly diminished and the width was significantly increased in cultures containing added ammonia. The proportion of tetraantennary structures was reduced by 60%, while the tri- and biantennary structures were increased proportionally in the presence of ammonia. Glycan analysis by HPLC using a weak anion exchange column showed that the most significant characteristic effect of ammonia was a reduction of the proportion of glycans with four sialic acids from 46% in control cultures to 29% in ammonia-treated cultures. Analysis of the desialylated glycans by normal phase chromatography indicated a distribution of tetra-, tri-, and biantennary structures similar to that shown by FACE. The N-linked glycan sequence was determined by sequential exoglycosidase digestion followed by FACE. The results indicated a typical N-linked complex oligosaccharide structure. Glycans from ammonia-containing cultures showed the same sequence pattern. In conclusion, we showed that ammonia in the culture medium affected EPO glycosylation, which was observed as a reduction of the tetraantennary and tetrasialylated oligosaccharide structures. However, the presence of ammonia in the cultures did not change the oligosaccharide sequence.     

Quantitative mapping of the N-linked sialyloligosaccharides of recombinant erythropoietin: combination of direct high-performance anion-exchange chromatography and 2-aminopyridine derivatization.

A rapid quantitative analysis of the sialylated N-linked oligosaccharides of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells has been developed. The procedure utilizes a glycoamidase (glycopeptidase F) to release all of the N-linked oligosaccharides from the native glycoprotein, followed by direct chromatographic analysis using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) with pulsed amperometric detection. The eight sialyloligosaccharides isolated from HPAEC were characterized by derivatizing with 2-aminopyridine followed by two-dimensional HPLC mapping of the pyridylaminated asialooligosaccharides (Tomiya et al., 1988, Anal. Biochem. 171, 73-90). Seven kinds of complex-type asialooligosaccharides were identified ranging from a biantennary structure to N-acetyllactosamine-extended tetraantennary structure. Approximately 3% of the terminal galactose residues of the oligosaccharides released from EPO were not sialylated whereas 97% contained an alpha(2-->3)-linked sialic acid. Quantitative oligosaccharide mapping of four different lots of EPO from CHO cells was performed to quantify the molar balance and distribution of the N-linked oligosaccharides. The sialyloligosaccharides were distributed with approximately 5% disialylated (single type), 20% trisialylated (six types), and 75% tetrasialylated (four types) oligosaccharides with an average molar recovery of 85% starting from 750 pmol of EPO.     

Tissue targeting of multivalent GalNAc Le(x) terminated N-glycans in mice

N-Linked biantennary and triantennary oligosaccharides containing multiple terminal GalNAc Le(x) (GalNAcss1-4[Fuc-alpha1-3]GlcNAc) determinants were radioiodinated and their pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and hepatic cellular localization were determined in mice. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed GalNAc Le(x) biantennary and triantennary oligosaccharides had a similar mean residence time and steady-state volume of distribution but differed in their total body clearance rate due a shorter alpha half-life for GalNAc Le(x) triantennary. Biodistribution and whole-body-autoradiography studies revealed that both GalNAc Le(x) terminated biantennary and triantennary oligosaccharides predominately targeted to the liver, which accumulated 72% and 79% of the dose 30 min after administration, respectively. Separation of mouse liver parenchymal from non-parenchymal cells demonstrated both N-glycans were almost exclusively (94%) taken up by the parenchymal cells. By comparison, GalNAc terminated biantennary and triantennary N-glycans accumulated in the liver with a targeting efficiency of 73% and 81%, respectively. It is concluded that GalNAc and GalNAc Le(x) terminated N-glycans are recognized in vivo with equivalent affinity by the murine hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor.     

Structural basis for the substrate specificity of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F(3)

Endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F(3) cleaves the beta(1-4) link between the core GlcNAc's of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides, with specificity for biantennary and triantennary complex glycans. The crystal structures of Endo F(3) and the complex with its reaction product, the biantennary octasaccharide, Gal-beta(1-4)-GlcNAc-beta(1-2)-Man-alpha(1-3)[Gal-beta(1-4)-GlcNAc-be ta(1-2)-Man-alpha(1-6)]-Man-beta(1-4)-GlcNAc, have been determined to 1.8 and 2.1 A resolution, respectively. Comparison of the structure of Endo F(3) with that of Endo F(1), which is specific for high-mannose oligosaccharides, reveals highly distinct folds and amino acid compositions at the oligosaccharide recognition sites. Binding of the oligosaccharide to the protein does not affect the protein conformation. The conformation of the oligosaccharide is similar to that seen for other biantennary oligosaccharides, with the exception of two links: the Gal-beta(1-4)-GlcNAc link of the alpha(1-3) branch and the GlcNAc-beta(1-2)-Man link of the alpha(1-6) branch. Especially the latter link is highly distorted and energetically unfavorable. Only the reducing-end GlcNAc and two Man's of the trimannose core are in direct contact with the protein. This is in contrast with biochemical data for Endo F(1) that shows that activity depends on the presence and identity of sugar residues beyond the trimannose core. The substrate specificity of Endo F(3) is based on steric exclusion of incompatible oligosaccharides rather than on protein-carbohydrate interactions that are unique to complexes with biantennary or triantennary complex glycans.     

Structural analysis of sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides in erythropoietin.

We previously demonstrated that high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/MS) equipped with a graphitized carbon column (GCC) is useful for the structural analysis of carbohydrates in glycoproteins. Using LC/MS with GCC, sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides were found in erythropoietin (EPO) expressed in baby hamster kidney cells. Sulfation occurs in a part of the N-linked oligosaccharides in the EPO. Sulfated monosaccharide residue in the sulfated N-linked oligosaccharide was determined by exoglycosidase digestion followed by sugar mapping by LC/MS. The linkage position and branch-location of the sulfate group in the tetraantennary oligosaccharide were analyzed by (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance. It was suggested that sulfation occurs on the C-6 position of GlcNAc located in the GlcNAcbeta1-4Manalpha1-3 branch.     

Structural analysis of the oligosaccharides of DR1 and DQw1 molecules

The major glycopeptide fractions of the alpha- and beta-chains of HLA-DR1 and DQw1 molecules were isolated on columns of immobilized concanavalin A (Con A), Lens culinaris (Lens), Ricinus communis agglutinin Type I (RCA), and leuko-phytohemagglutinin. Oligosaccharides were prepared from these fractions by enzymatic digestion with Endoglycosidases H or F and were analyzed on Bio-Gel P-6. The glycopeptides tightly bound to Con A (ConA III) were mostly associated with alpha-chains and were resolved as a single oligosaccharide peak (Kd = 0.72) on Bio-Gel P-6 after Endo H digestion. Man-5 is the minimal polymannosyl structure which can be deduced for the ConA III fractions of either DQw1 or DR1 oligosaccharides. The major component of the glycopeptides of the alpha-chains of either DR1 or DQw1 molecules which were weakly bound to Con A (ConA II fraction) did not interact with RCA before or after mild acid hydrolysis or neuraminidase treatment. This component represents a biantennary complex with neither terminal galactose nor sialic acid residues with a minimal structure terminating in N-acetyl glucosamine on the Mannose alpha 1----6 arm, referred to as GnM. The ConA II fractions, which constitute 10% of the total glycopeptides of beta-chains, are associated primarily with fucosylated, sialylated biantennary oligosaccharides not seen on the alpha-chains. The ConA I unbound fractions of either alpha- or beta-chains were mostly bound to RCA after mild acid hydrolysis, suggesting that the minimal structure was a sialylated triantennary structure. The major component associated with the beta-chains was bound to Lens such that a more definite structural assignment can be made, i.e., a triantennary structure with the Mannose on the alpha 1----6 arm substituted at C-2 and C-6. The oligosaccharides of alpha- and beta-chains were resolved as broad peaks on Bio-Gel P-6, suggesting that a mixture of tri- and tetraantennary structures with variable degrees of sialylation and galactosylation were present. The structural differences reported here between oligosaccharides of alpha- and beta-chains of DQw1 and of the two subsets of DR1 molecules could be responsible in part for the differential recognition properties expected of human class II molecules encoded by distinct loci.     

Analysis of the microheterogeneity of the glycan chain of rat transferrin

To investigate the microheterogeneity of the glycan chain of rat transferrin, either the protein moiety was labeled with 125I or the sialyl residues with 3H. The molecule was then subjected to Con A chromatography. Three components were obtained. Each was enzymatically desialylated and sialyl/protein molar ratios were calculated. The native protein as well as the 3 components were also subjected to isoelectric focusing. The results indicated that rat transferrin may have 3 types of glycan chain: The major type (60%) corresponds to a molecular species with triantennary branching, while 30% consists of molecules with biantennary and 10% with tetraantennary branching. The last species has not been previously described.     

Characterization of the oligosaccharide structures on recombinant human prorenin expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Prorenin was isolated by immunoprecipitation from the culture medium of Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with a human prorenin cDNA. The N-linked oligosaccharide structures on the in vivo [3H]mannose-labeled, purified protein were characterized using a combination of serial lectin affinity chromatography, high-pressure liquid chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, and size-exclusion chromatography and treatment with specific glycosidases and methylation analysis. Approximately 61% of the oligosaccharides on the molecule are complex type, in the form of tetraantennary (2%), 2,6-branched triantennary (13%), 2,4-branched triantennary (3%), and biantennary (43%) structures. The majority of all complex type structures are core-fucosylated. Sialic acids are linked at the C-3 position of terminal galactose, and the degree of sialylation of the bi- and triantennary structures varies between nonsialylated and fully sialylated; no tetraatennary structure contains more than three sialic acid residues. Recombinant prorenin contains 4% hybrid-type structures, all of which carry a terminal sialic acid residue. The remaining 35% of the structures on the molecule are high mannose type, composed of 5, 6, or 7 mannose residues. Approximately 6% of the high mannose type structures and 10% of the hybrid structures are phosphorylated, as judged by their susceptibility to treatment with alkaline phosphatase. Compositional analysis of an unlabeled preparation of the protein suggested the presence of approximately 1.4 oligosaccharide units per molecule.