Properties of human liver lysosomal sialidase

Sialidase in human liver was localized predominantly in the lysosomal fraction. Microsomal and nuclear fractions contained some activity but no cytosolic enzyme could be detected. The lysosomal enzyme fraction is active with gangliosides, fetuin, mucus glycoprotein, sialyllactose and other sialyloligosaccharides. The preferred rate of enzymic hydrolysis of sialyl linkages is alpha(2-3) greater than alpha(2-6) greater than alpha(2-8) and this is governed by the Vmax values, as Km values were similar for all substrates tested. N-Acetyl-neuraminic acid is released faster than N-glycoloylneuraminic acid. Using the inhibitors N-acetyl-2-deoxy-2,3-didehydroneuraminic acid and N-(4-nitrophenyl)oxamic acid with selected substrates the existence of at least two types of sialidase activity could be demonstrated. One is active preferentially with gangliosides and sialyllactose and the other with fetuin and sialyhexasaccharides. Strong inhibition by Cu2+ and Hg2+ was found with ganglioside and sialyllactose as substrates. The presence of a sialate O-acetylesterase acting on hematoside containing N-glycoloyl-4-O-acetylneuraminic acid was established.     

Human placental sialidase: partial purification and characterization

A sialidase [EC 3.2.1.18] has been partially purified from human placenta by means of procedures comprising Con A-Sepharose adsorption, ammonium sulfate precipitation, sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and high-pressure liquid chromatography on a Shim pack Diol 300 column. On high-pressure liquid chromatography, most of the beta-galactosidase that comigrated with the sialidase on sucrose density gradient centrifugation was removed. The sialidase was purified 3,600-fold from the preparation obtained by Con A-Sepharose adsorption. The enzyme liberated the sialic acid residues from (alpha 2-3) and (alpha 2-6) sialyllactose, colomic acid, fetuin, and transferrin, but not from bovine submaxillary mucin. The enzyme also hydrolyzed gangliosides GM3, GD1a, and GD1b in the presence of sodium cholate as a detergent, but GM1 and GM2 were less susceptible to the enzyme. The optimum pHs for 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetylneuraminate, sialyllactose, fetuin, and GM3 lay between 4.0 and 5.0.     

Properties of recombinant human cytosolic sialidase HsNEU2. The enzyme hydrolyzes monomerically dispersed GM1 ganglioside molecules

Recombinant human cytosolic sialidase (HsNEU2), expressed in Escherichia coli, was purified to homogeneity, and its substrate specificity was studied. HsNEU2 hydrolyzed 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-NeuAc, alpha 2-->3 sialyllactose, glycoproteins (fetuin, alpha-acid glycoprotein, transferrin, and bovine submaxillary gland mucin), micellar gangliosides GD1a, GD1b, GT1b, and alpha 2-->3 paragloboside, and vesicular GM3. alpha 2-->6 sialyllactose, colominic acid, GM1 oligosaccharide, whereas micellar GM2 and GM1 were resistant. The optimal pH was 5.6, kinetics Michaelis-Menten type, V(max) varying from 250 IU/mg protein (GD1a) to 0.7 IU/mg protein (alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein), and K(m) in the millimolar range. HsNEU2 was activated by detergents (Triton X-100) only with gangliosidic substrates; the change of GM3 from vesicular to mixed micellar aggregation led to a 8.5-fold V(max) increase. HsNEU2 acted on gangliosides (GD1a, GM1, and GM2) at nanomolar concentrations. With these dispersions (studied in detailed on GM1), where monomers are bound to the tube wall or dilutedly associated (1:2000, mol/mol) to Triton X-100 micelles, the V(max) values were 25 and 72 microIU/mg protein, and K(m) was 10 and 15 x 10(-9) m, respectively. Remarkably, GM1 and GM2 were recognized only as monomers. HsNEU2 worked at pH 7.0 with an efficiency (compared with that at pH 5.6) ranging from 4% (on GD1a) to 64% (on alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein), from 7% (on GD1a) to 45% (on GM3) in the presence of Triton X-100, and from 30 to 40% on GM1 monomeric dispersion. These results show that HsNEU2 differentially recognizes the type of sialosyl linkage, the aglycone part of the substrate, and the supramolecular organization (monomer/micelle/vesicle) of gangliosides. The last ability might be relevant in sialidase interactions with gangliosides under physiological conditions.     

Rat-liver lysosomal sialidase. Solubilization, substrate specificity and comparison with the cytosolic sialidase

Purified liver lysosomes, prepared from rats previously injected with Triton WR-1339, exhibited sialidase activity towards sialyllactose, fetuin, submaxillary mucin (bovine) and gangliosides, and could be disrupted hypotonically with little loss in these activities. After centrifugation, the activities with sialyllactose and fetuin were largely recovered in the supernatant, demonstrating that they were originally in the intralysosomal space. The activities towards submaxillary mucin and gangliosides, on the other hand, remained in the pellet. In the supernatant, activity with fetuin or orosomucoid was markedly reduced by protease inhibitors, suggesting that proteolysis of these glycoproteins may be prerequisite to sialidase activity. The intralysosomal sialidase was solubilized from the mitochondrial-lysosomal fraction of rat liver and partially purified by Sephadex G-200, or Sephadex G-200 followed by CM-cellulose. The enzyme was maximally active at pH 4.7 with sialyllactose as substrate and had a minimum relative molecular mass of 60 000 +/- 5000 by gel filtration; it hydrolyzed a variety of sialooligosaccharides , those containing (alpha 2----3)sialyl linkages being better substrates than those with (alpha 2----6)sialyl linkages. The enzyme failed to attack submaxillary mucin and gangliosides. It was also inactive towards fetuin, orosomucoid and transferrin but capable of hydrolyzing glycopeptides from pronase digest of fetuin. In contrast to the intralysosomal sialidase, the sialidase partially purified from rat liver cytosol by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation followed by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and CM-cellulose hydrolyzed fetuin and orosomucoid to the extent about half that for sialyllactose. The enzyme was maximally active at pH 5.8 and had a relative molecular mass of approximately 60 000. It also hydrolyzed gangliosides but not submaxillary mucin.     

Isolation and characterization of gangliosides from Trypanosoma brucei

Gangliosides were isolated from Trypanosoma brucei and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and TLC immunostaining test. Four species of gangliosides, designated as G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4, were separated by TLC. G-1 ganglioside had the same TLC migration rate as GM3. In contrast, G-2, G-3, and G-4 gangliosides migrated a little slower than GM1, GD1a, and GD1b, respectively. To characterize the molecular species of gangliosides from T. brucei, G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 gangliosides were purified and analyzed by TLC immunostaining test with monoclonal antibodies against gangliosides. G-1 ganglioside showed the reactivity to the monoclonal antibody against ganglioside GM3. G-2 was recognized by the anti-GM1 monoclonal antibody. G-3 showed reaction with the monoclonal antibody to GD1a. G-4 had the reactivity to anti-GD1b monoclonal antibody. Using 4 kinds of monoclonal antibodies, we also studied the expression of GM3, GM1, GD1a, and GD1b in T. brucei parasites. GM3, GM1, GD1a, and GD1b were detected on the cell surface of T. brucei. These results suggest that G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 gangliosides are GM3 (NeuAc alpha2-3Gal beta1-4Glc beta1-1Cer), GM1 (Gal beta1-3GalNAc beta1-4[NeuAc alpha2-3]Gal beta1-4Glc beta1-1Cer), GD1a (NeuAc alpha2-3Gal beta1-3GalNAc beta1-4[NeuAc alpha2-3]Gal beta1-4Glc beta1-1Cer), and GD1b (Gal beta1-3GalNAc beta1-4[NeuAc alpha2-8NeuAc alpha2-3]Gal beta1-4Glc beta1-1Cer), respectively, and also that they are expressed on the cell surface of T. brucei.     

Different fine binding specificities of monoclonal antibodies to disialosylganglioside GD2

The fine structural specificities of six monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to ganglioside GD2, GalNAc beta 1----4(NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3)Gal beta 1----4Glc-Cer, were studied. The binding specificities of these MAbs were found to differ from each other by virtue of their binding to structurally related authentic standard glycolipids as revealed by three different assay systems, including enzyme immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immune adherence inhibition assay. The MAbs examined could be divided into three binding types. MAbs A1-201, A1-410, and A1-425 bound specifically to ganglioside GD2 and none of the other gangliosides tested. Two other MAbs (A1-245 and A1-267) reacted not only with GD2, but also with several other gangliosides having the sequence NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal (GD3, GD1b, GT1a, GT1b, and GQ1b). The reactivities with these gangliosides varied to some degree. In addition, these MAbs were found to react with both GD3(NeuAc-NeuAc) and GD3(NeuGc-NeuAc), but not with GD3(NeuAc-NeuGc) or GD3(NeuGc-NeuGc). The last MAb (A1-287) also reacted with several other gangliosides but with lower avidity than A1-245 and A1-267. These findings suggest that each MAb to ganglioside GD2 may have an individual binding specificity and avidity. These MAbs represent potentially useful reagents for analyzing the function of GD2 on cell surface membranes, and provide a system for precisely studying the interactions between an anti-ganglioside antibody and the binding epitope of the antigenic determinant.     

Human placental sialidase: further purification and characterization

An acid sialidase [EC 3.2.1.18] has been purified from human placenta by means of successive procedures including extraction, Con A-Sepharose adsorption, ammonium sulfate precipitation, activation, p-aminophenyl thio-beta-D-galactoside-CH-Sepharose (PATG-Sepharose) affinity chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography on a Shim pack Diol 300 column. The purified enzyme liberated sialic acid residues from sialooligosaccharides, sialoglycoproteins, and gangliosides. In particular, gangliosides GM3, GD1a, and GD1b were hydrolyzed much faster than alpha (2-3) and alpha (2-6)sialyllactoses, and sialoglycoproteins by the enzyme. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the purified enzyme gave five protein bands with molecular weight of 78,000 (78K), 64,000 (64K), 46,000 (46K), 30,000 (30K), and 20,000 (20K). Rabbit antisera were raised against 78K and 46K proteins, and the two antibodies were specifically reactive with the respective component on immunoblot analysis. Both anti-78K protein and anti-46K protein antisera could precipitate sialidase activity. It is likely that the 78K protein and 46K protein are sub-components which are essential for sialidase activity.     

Enhanced binding of the neural siglecs, myelin-associated glycoprotein and Schwann cell myelin protein, to Chol-1 (alpha-series) gangliosides and novel sulfated Chol-1 analogs

Extended glycoconjugate binding specificities of three sialic acid-dependent immunoglobulin-like family member lectins (siglecs), myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), Schwann cell myelin protein (SMP), and sialoadhesin, were compared by measuring siglec-mediated cell adhesion to immobilized gangliosides. Synthetic gangliosides bearing the alpha-series determinant (NeuAc alpha2,6-linked to GalNAc on a gangliotetraose core) were tested, including GD1alpha (IV(3)NeuAc, III(6)NeuAc-Gg(4)OseCer), GD1alpha with modified sialic acid residues at the III(6)-position, and the "Chol-1" gangliosides GT1aalpha (IV(3)NeuAc, III(6)NeuAc, II(3)NeuAc-Gg(4)OseCer) and GQ1balpha (IV(3)NeuAc, III(6)NeuAc, II(3)(NeuAc)(2)-Gg(4)OseCer). The alpha-series gangliosides displayed enhanced potency for MAG- and SMP-mediated cell adhesion (GQ1balpha > GT1aalpha, GD1alpha > GT1b, GD1a > GM1 (nonbinding)), whereas sialoadhesin-mediated adhesion was comparable with alpha-series and non-alpha-series gangliosides. GD1alpha derivatives with modified sialic acids (7-, 8-, or 9-deoxy) or sulfate (instead of sialic acid) at the III(6)-position supported adhesion comparable with that of GD1alpha. Notably, a novel GT1aalpha analog with sulfates at two internal sites of sialylation (NeuAcalpha2,3Galbeta1,4GalNAc-6-sulfatebeta1, 4Gal3-sulfatebeta1,4Glcbeta1,1'ceramide) was the most potent siglec-binding structure tested to date (10-fold more potent than GT1aalpha in supporting MAG and SMP binding). Together with prior studies, these data indicate that MAG and SMP display an extended structural specificity with a requirement for a terminal alpha2, 3-linked NeuAc and great enhancement by nearby precisely spaced anionic charges.     

Decreased ganglioside neuraminidase activity in fibroblasts from mucopolysaccharidosis patients. Inhibition of the activity in vitro by sulfated glycosaminoglycans and other compounds

The neuraminidase activities towards the ganglioside substrates GD1a, GD3 and GM3 were found to be markedly diminished in homogenates of fibroblasts cultured from patients with various genetic mucopolysaccharidoses. Mixing normal and patients' fibroblast homogenates revealed this effect to be due to the presence of diffusible inhibitors. The neuraminidase acting on the trisaccharide sialyllactose, on the other hand, showed normal activity in all the cell lines tested. Experiments in vitro revealed the sulfated glycosaminoglycans chondroitin 4-sulfate and heparin, the polysaccharide dextran sulfate, and the trypanocidal drug suramin to be strongly inhibitory on the ganglioside GD1a neuraminidase activity of normal fibroblast homogenates. Regarding chondroitin 4-sulfate, this inhibition was of the non-competitive type. A disulfated tetrasaccharide prepared from chondroitin 4-sulfate, on the other hand, was not at all inhibitory. These and additional findings led us to propose a model for the interaction between enzyme and inhibitor, involving a 'clamping' mechanism by the polysulfated compounds. We conclude that the decreased ganglioside neuraminidase activities of mucopolysaccharidosis fibroblasts are due to an inhibition by the accumulated sulfated glycosaminoglycans and that such inhibition is responsible for the storage of certain gangliosides in the tissues of the patients.     

Alteration of ganglioside synthesis by GM3 synthase knockout in murine embryonic fibroblasts

To probe the functions of membrane gangliosides, the availability of ganglioside-depleted cells would be a valuable resource. To attempt to identify a useful genetic model of ganglioside depletion, we assessed ganglioside metabolism in murine GM3 synthase (GM3S)-/- knockout primary embryonic fibroblasts (MEF), because normal fibroblast gangliosides (GM3, GM2, GM1, and GD1a), all downstream products of GM3S, should be absent. We found that heterozygote MEF (GM3S+/-) did have a 36% reduced content of qualitatively normal gangliosides (7.0+/-0.8 nmol LBSA/mg cell protein; control: 11+/-1.6 nmol). However, two unexpected findings characterized the homozygous (GM3-/-) MEF. Despite complete knockout of GM3S, (i) GM3-/- MEF retained substantial ganglioside content (21% of normal or 2.3+/-1.1 nmol) and (ii) these gangliosides were entirely different from those of wild type MEF by HPTLC. Mass spectrometry identified them as GM1b, GalNAc-GM1b, and GD1alpha, containing both N-acetyl and N-glycolylneuraminic acid and diverse ceramide structures. All are products of the 0 pathway of ganglioside synthesis, not normally expressed in fibroblasts. The results suggest that complete, but not partial, inhibition of GM3 synthesis results in robust activation of an alternate pathway that may compensate for the complete absence of the products of GM3S.     

Inhibition of influenza-virus-induced cytopathy by sialylglycoconjugates

The anti-viral activity of gangliosides such as SPG (sialylparagloboside), GD1a, GM3, and GM4 was assessed by inhibition of the cytopathy of MDCK cells due to infection with the influenza virus A/PR/8/34. The inhibitory effect was in the following sequence: SPG>GD1a>GM3>GM4. The IC50 of SPG and GD1a was 7 and 70 microM, respectively, indicating that they are more effective than the representative inhibitor amantadine. Although 3'-sialyllactose (3'-SL) and 3'-sialyllactosamine (3'-SLN), which are identical to the terminal trisaccharides of GM3 and SPG, respectively, did not show any inhibitory effect, introduction of an amino group to the reducing end of 3'-SL following amidation with lauroyl chloride gave the inhibitory potency, which was comparable to that of GM3. These results suggest that the viral hemagglutinin recognizes exogenous sialyloligosaccharides rather than inherent sialyloligosaccharides expressed on MDCK cells, since introduction of the hydrophobic moiety to oligosaccharides might cause micelle formation.     

Purification and characterization of cytosolic sialidase from rat liver

Sialidase has been purified from rat liver cytosol 83,000-fold by sequential chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, CM-cellulose, Blue-Sepharose, Sephadex G-200, and heparin-Sepharose. When subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis, the purified cytosolic sialidase moved as a single protein band with Mr = 43,000, a value similar to that obtained by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The purified enzyme was active toward all of the sialooligosaccharides, sialoglycoproteins, and gangliosides tested except for submaxillary mucins and GM1 and GM2 gangliosides. Those substrates possessing alpha 2----3 sialyl linkage were hydrolyzed much faster than those with alpha 2----6 or alpha 2----8 linkage. The optimum pH was 6.5 for sialyllactose and 6.0 for orosomucoid and mixed brain gangliosides. The activity toward sialyllactose was lost progressively with the progress of purification but restored by addition of proteins such as bovine serum albumin. In contrast, neither reduction by purification nor restoration by albumin was observed for the activity toward orosomucoid. When mixed gangliosides were the substrate, bile acids were required for activity and this requirement became almost absolute after the enzyme had been purified extensively. Intracellular distribution study showed that about 15% of the neutral sialidase activity was in the microsomes. The enzyme could be released by 0.5 M NaCl; the released enzyme was indistinguishable from the cytosolic sialidase in properties.     

Production of monoclonal antibodies specific for ganglioside GD3.

Four kinds of anti-GD3 monoclonal antibodies, DSG-1, -2, -3, and -4, of the IgM class were obtained by the immunization of BALB/c mice with enzootic bovine leukosis tumor tissue-derived ganglioside GD3 inserted into liposomes with Salmonella minnesota R595 lipopolysaccharides. The specificities of the monoclonal antibodies obtained were defined by complement-dependent liposome immune lysis assay and by enzyme immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography. The reactivities of the monoclonal antibodies obtained to four ganglioside GD3 variants [GD3(NeuAc-NeuAc), GD3(NeuAc-NeuGc), GD3(NeuGc-NeuAc), and GD3(NeuGc-NeuGc)] were tested. All of the monoclonal antibodies were found to react with GD3(NeuAc-NeuAc) and GD3(NeuAc-NeuGc) but not with GD3(NeuGc-NeuAc) or GD3(NeuGc-NeuGc). Furthermore, various purified glycosphingolipids were used to determine the specificity of these monoclonal antibodies. All 4 antibodies reacted only with ganglioside GD3 [GD3(NeuAc-NeuAc) and GD3(NeuAc-NeuGc)], but not with several gangliosides linking the GalNAc, Gal beta 1-3GalNAc, NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GalNAc, or NeuAc alpha 2-8NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GalNAc residue to the Gal moiety of ganglioside GD3 (GD2, GD1b, GT1b, or GQ1b, respectively), ganglioside GT1a having the same terminal NeuAc alpha 2-8NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal residue as ganglioside GD3, other gangliosides, and neutral glycosphingolipids. These findings suggest that the 4 monoclonal antibodies obtained may be specific for the epitope of NeuAc-alpha 2-8Sia alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4Glc residue of ganglioside GD3.     

Monoclonal antibody R24 distinguishes between different N-acetyl- and N-glycolylneuraminic acid derivatives of ganglioside GD3

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) R24 was previously shown to be directed toward ganglioside GD3 [Pukel, C. S., Lloyd, K. O., Travassos, L. R., Dippold, W. G., Oettgen, H. F., and Old, L. J. (1982) J. Exp. Med. 155, 1133-1147]. The structural specificity of the MAb has now been further characterized based on binding to structurally related glycolipids, including four GD3 derivatives with different N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) substituents. Three assay systems (enzyme immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immune adherence inhibition assay) were used. MAb R24 was found to react with (NeuAc-NeuAc-)GD3 and (NeuAc-NeuGc-)GD3 but not with (NeuGc-NeuAc-)GD3 or (NeuGc-NeuGc-)GD3. These results clearly indicate that the outer sialic acid (Sia) moiety of GD3 is crucial and must be a NeuAc residue, while the inner sialic acid is less involved in binding to the MAb and can be either NeuAc or NeuGc. The MAb was also found to cross-react weakly with two gangliosides, GT1a and GQ1b, but none of other gangliosides nor neutral glycolipids tested reacted. These findings suggest that the epitope detected by MAb R24 is the trisaccharide structure NeuAc alpha 2----8Sia alpha 2----3Gal-, which must be in a terminal position.     

Molecular characterization of membrane type and ganglioside-specific sialidase (Neu3) expressed in E. coli

Endogenous expression of human membrane type ganglioside sialidase (Neu3) was examined in various cell lines including NB-1, U87MG, SK-MEL-2, SK-N-MC, HepG2, Hep3B, Jurkat, HL-60, K562, ECV304, Hela and MCF-7. Expression was detected in the neuroblastoma cell lines NB-1 and SK-N-MC, and also in erythroleukemia K562 cells, but not in any other cells. We isolated a Neu3 cDNA from K562 cells and expressed a His-tagged derivative in a bacterial expression system. The purified recombinant product of approximately 48 kDa had sialidase activity toward 4-methyl-umbelliferyl-alpha-D-N-acetylneuraminic acid (4MU-NeuAc). The optimal pH of the purified Neu3 protein for GD3 ganglioside was 4.5. The enzyme also efficiently hydrolyzed GD3, GD1a, GD1b and GM3 whereas sialyllactose, 4MU-NeuAc, GM1 and GM2 were poor substrates, and it had no activity against sialylated glycoproteins such as fetuin, transferrin and orosomucoid. We conclude that the sialidase activity of Neu3 is specific for gangliosides.     

Monoclonal antibody detects monosialogangliosides having a sialic acid alpha 2----3-galactosyl residue

A murine monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated mAb 202, was generated using a human melanoma cell line, UCLASO-M14 as the immunogen. mAb 202 reacted with two (GM2 and GM3) of the four (GM2, GM3, GD2, and GD3) gangliosides expressed by M14. Several authentic monosialogangliosides, including GM4, GM3, GM2, GM1, GM1b, and sialylparagloboside were then tested for their binding to 202 mAb by the immune adherence inhibition assay, TLC-enzyme immunostaining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All showed positive binding but in varying degrees. GM4 showed the strongest affinity. No significant differences of reactivity were observed between the sialic acid derivatives, N-acetyl and N-glycolyl, in these gangliosides. Disialogangliosides such as GD3, GD2, GD1a, and GD1b, trisialoganglioside GT1b, and neutral glycolipids including GlcCer, GalCer, LacCer, GbOs3Cer, GbOs4Cer, GgOs3Cer, GgOs4Cer, and nLcOs4Cer were all negative. These results indicate that the 202 mAb detects sialyl alpha 2----3Gal residue in the monosialoganglioside, irrespective of the internal structure. Since GM4 is not expressed by M14 cells, the terminal disaccharide (sialyl alpha 2----3Gal) in GM3 and/or GM2 must have been the epitope responsible for the generation of the antibody.     

Monoclonal antibody Leo Mel 3, which inhibits killing of human melanoma cells by anomalous killer cells, binds to a sugar sequence in GD2 (II3(NeuAc)2-GgOse3Cer) and several other gangliosides

Human anomalous killer (AK) cells lyse freshly isolated human melanoma cells which are insensitive to human natural killer cell-mediated lysis. Monoclonal antibody Leo Mel 3, an IgM (k), produced by a hybridoma obtained from a mouse immunized with human melanoma cells, binds to melanoma cells and inhibits their conjugate formation with AK cells as well as their AK cell-mediated lysis. Other IgM antibodies from the same fusion that bind melanoma cells do not inhibit (Werkmeister, J. A., Triglia, T., Andrews, P., and Burns, G. F. (1985) J. Immunol. 135, 689-695). Leo Mel 3 binds several different gangliosides from melanoma cells, as determined by immunostaining thin layer chromatograms. Binding is abolished by treatment of the gangliosides with neuraminidase. In solid-phase radioimmunoassay, Leo Mel 3 binds strongly to ganglioside GD2 and less strongly to gangliosides GT3, GD3, and GQ1b. It does not bind to other gangliosides including GM1, GM2, GM3, GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b. Thus, the epitope recognized by antibody Leo Mel 3 is found in the sugar sequence of ganglioside GD2, GalNAc beta 1-4[NeuAc alpha 2-8NeuAc alpha 2-3]Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1 .... This sequence may contain a target in melanoma cells recognized by AK cells.     

Generation of murine monoclonal antibodies specific for N-glycolylneuraminic acid-containing gangliosides.

We generated two murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for mono- and disialylgangliosides having N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) as their sialic acid moiety, respectively, by immunizing C3H/HeN mice with these purified gangliosides adsorbed to Salmonella minnesota followed by fusion with mouse myeloma cells. By use of a wide variety of glycolipids, including NeuGc-containing gangliosides, the precise structures recognized by these two antibodies were elucidated through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography. One MAb, GMR8, which was generated by immunizing the mice with purified GM3(NeuGc), reacted specifically with gangliosides having NeuGc alpha 2----3Gal- terminal structures, such as GM3(NeuGc), IV3NeuGc alpha-Gg4Cer, IV3NeuGc alpha-nLc4Cer, V3NeuGc alpha-Gb5Cer, and GD1a(NeuGc, NeuGc). None of the other gangliosides having internal NeuGc alpha2----3Gal- sequences, such as GM2(NeuGc) and GM1(NeuGc), nor corresponding gangliosides having NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal- sequences, nor neutral glycolipids were recognized. Thus, the epitope structures recognized by the MAb were found to be strictly NeuGc alpha 2----3Gal- terminal structures. In contrast, the other MAb, GMR3, which was generated by immunizing the mice with purified GD3(NeuGc-NeuGc-) adsorbed to the bacteria, reacted specifically with gangliosides having NeuGc alpha 2----8NeuGc alpha 2----3Gal- terminal sequences, such as GD3(NeuGc-NeuGc-), IV3NeuGc alpha 2-Gg4Cer, IV3NeuGc alpha 2-nLc4Cer, and V3NeuGc alpha 2-Gb5Cer, but did not react with corresponding gangliosides having NeuAc as their sialic acid moiety or with the neutral glycolipids tested. The epitope structures recognized by the MAb were suggested to be NeuGc alpha 2----8NeuGc alpha 2----3Gal- terminal structures. Using these MAbs, we determined the distribution of such gangliosides in the spleen, kidney, and liver of several mice strains. Novel gangliosides reactive with these MAbs were detected in these tissues.     

Lysosomal sialidase deficiency: increased ganglioside content in autopsy tissues of a sialidosis patient

Organs obtained at autopsy from a patient with sialidosis were analyzed for 'bound' sialic acid and their ganglioside and neutral glycolipid patterns determined. The water-soluble bound sialic acid was increased between 10- and 17-fold in visceral organs, but only about 2-fold in the brain, when compared to normal controls. Lipid-bound sialic acid was increased up to 8-fold in visceral organs due to elevated amounts of gangliosides GM3, GD3 and probably GM4 and LM1, whereas the brain showed no deviation from controls. An alteration of the neutral glycolipid pattern was also observed. The results indicate an impaired catabolism of gangliosides in sialidosis in addition to that of sialyloligosaccharides and sialoglycoproteins.     

Immunoglobulin G-class mouse monoclonal antibodies to major brain gangliosides

Mice genetically engineered to lack complex gangliosides are improved hosts for raising antibodies against those gangliosides. We report the generation and characterization of nine immunoglobulin G (IgG)-class monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised against the four major brain gangliosides in mammals. These include (designated as ganglioside specificity-IgG subclass) two anti-GM1 mAbs (GM1-1, GM1-2b), three anti-GD1a mAbs (GD1a-1, GD1a-2a, GD1a-2b), one anti-GD1b mAb (GD1b-1), and three anti-GT1b mAbs (GT1b-1, GT1b-2a, GT1b-2b). Each mAb demonstrated high specificity, with little or no cross-reactivity with other major brain gangliosides. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening against 14 closely related synthetic and purified gangliosides confirmed the high specificity, with no significant cross-reactivity except that of the anti-GD1a mAbs for the closely related minor ganglioside GT1a alpha. All of the mAbs were useful for ELISA, TLC immunooverlay, and immunocytochemistry. Neural cells from wild-type rats and mice were immunostained to differing levels with the anti-ganglioside antibodies, whereas neural cells from mice engineered to lack complex gangliosides (lacking the ganglioside-specific biosynthetic enzyme UDP-GalNAc:GM3/GD3 N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase) remained unstained, demonstrating that most of the mAbs react only with gangliosides and not with related structures on glycoproteins. These mAbs may provide useful tools for delineation of the expression and function of the major brain gangliosides and for probing the pathology of anti-ganglioside autoimmune diseases.