Structural determination of the N-glycans of a lepidopteran arylphorin reveals the presence of a monoglucosylated oligosaccharide in the storage protein

The structures of the oligosaccharides attached to arylphorin from Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi, have been determined. Arylphorin, a storage protein present in fifth larval hemolymph, contained 4.8% (w/w) of carbohydrate that was composed of Fuc:GlcNAc:Glc:Man=0.2:4.0:1.4:13.6 moles per mole protein. Four moles of GlcNAc in oligomannose-type oligosaccharides strongly suggest that the protein contains two N-glycosylation sites. Normal-phase HPLC and mass spectrometry oligosaccharide profiles confirmed that arylphorin contained mainly oligomannose-type glycans as well as truncated mannose-type structures with or without fucosylation. Interestingly, the most abundant oligosaccharide was monoglucosylated Man9-GlcNAc2, which was characterized by normal-phase HPLC, mass spectrometry, Aspergillus saitoi alpha-mannosidase digestion, and 1H 600 MHz NMR spectrometry. This glycan structure is not normally present in secreted mammalian glycoproteins; however, it has been identified in avian species. The Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 structure was present only in arylphorin, whereas other hemolymph proteins contained only oligomannose and truncated oligosaccharides. The oligosaccharide was also detected in the arylphorin of another silkworm, Bombyx mori, suggesting a specific function for the Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 glycan. There were no processed glucosylated oligosaccharides such as Glc1Man5-8GlcNAc2. Furthermore, Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 was not released from arylophorin by PNGase F under nondenaturing conditions, suggesting that the N-glycosidic linkage to Asn is protected by the protein. Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 may play a role in the folding of arylphorin or in the assembly of hexamers.     

Unique Asn-linked oligosaccharides of the human pathogen Entamoeba histolytica

N-Glycans of Entamoeba histolytica, the protist that causes amebic dysentery and liver abscess, are of great interest for multiple reasons. E. histolytica makes an unusual truncated N-glycan precursor (Man(5)GlcNAc(2)), has few nucleotide sugar transporters, and has a surface that is capped by the lectin concanavalin A. Here, biochemical and mass spectrometric methods were used to examine N-glycan biosynthesis and the final N-glycans of E. histolytica with the following conclusions. Unprocessed Man(5)GlcNAc(2), which is the most abundant E. histolytica N-glycan, is aggregated into caps on the surface of E. histolytica by the N-glycan-specific, anti-retroviral lectin cyanovirin-N. Glc(1)Man(5)GlcNAc(2), which is made by a UDP-Glc: glycoprotein glucosyltransferase that is part of a conserved N-glycan-dependent endoplasmic reticulum quality control system for protein folding, is also present in mature N-glycans. A swainsonine-sensitive alpha-mannosidase trims some N-glycans to biantennary Man(3)GlcNAc(2). Complex N-glycans of E. histolytica are made by the addition of alpha1,2-linked Gal to both arms of small oligomannose glycans, and Gal residues are capped by one or more Glc. In summary, E. histolytica N-glycans include unprocessed Man(5)GlcNAc(2), which is a target for cyanovirin-N, as well as unique, complex N-glycans containing Gal and Glc.     

Deletion of the glucosidase II gene in Trypanosoma brucei reveals novel N-glycosylation mechanisms in the biosynthesis of variant surface glycoprotein

The trypanosomatids are generally aberrant in their protein N-glycosylation pathways. However, protein N-glycosylation in the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei, etiological agent of human African sleeping sickness, is not well understood. Here, we describe the creation of a bloodstream-form T. brucei mutant that is deficient in the endoplasmic reticulum enzyme glucosidase II. Characterization of the variant surface glycoprotein, the main glycoprotein synthesized by the parasite with two N-glycosylation sites, revealed unexpected changes in the N-glycosylation of this molecule. Structural characterization by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and chemical and enzymatic treatments revealed that one of the two glycosylation sites was occupied by conventional oligomannose structures, whereas the other accumulated unusual structures in the form of Glcalpha1-3Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-3(Manalpha1-6)Manbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-4GlcNAc, Glcalpha1-3Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-3(GlcNAcbeta1-2Manalpha1-6)Manbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-4GlcNAc, and Glcalpha1-3Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-3(Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-2Manalpha1-6)Manbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-4GlcNAc. The possibility that these structures might arise from Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 by unusually rapid alpha-mannosidase processing was ruled out using a mixture of alpha-mannosidase inhibitors. The results suggest that bloodstream-form T. brucei can transfer both Man9GlcNAc2 and Man5GlcNAc2 to the variant surface glycoprotein in a site-specific manner and that, unlike organisms that transfer exclusively Glc3Man9GlcNAc2, the T. brucei UDP-Glc: glycoprotein glucosyltransferase and glucosidase II enzymes can use Man5GlcNAc2 and Glc1Man5GlcNAc2, respectively, as their substrates. The ability to transfer Man5GlcNAc2 structures to N-glycosylation sites destined to become Man(4-3)GlcNAc2 or complex structures may have evolved as a mechanism to conserve dolichol-phosphate-mannose donors for glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor biosynthesis and points to fundamental differences in the specificities of host and parasite glycosyltransferases that initiate the synthesis of complex N-glycans.     

The solution NMR structure of glucosylated N-glycans involved in the early stages of glycoprotein biosynthesis and folding.

Glucosylated oligomannose N-linked oligosaccharides (Glc(x)Man9GlcNAc2 where x = 1-3) are not normally found on mature glycoproteins but are involved in the early stages of glycoprotein biosynthesis and folding as (i) recognition elements during protein N-glycosylation and chaperone recognition and (ii) substrates in the initial steps of N-glycan processing. By inhibiting the first steps of glycan processing in CHO cells using the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor N-butyl-deoxynojirimycin, we have produced sufficient Glc3Man7GlcNAc2 for structural analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Our results show the glucosyl cap to have a single, well-defined conformation independent of the rest of the saccharide. Comparison with the conformation of Man9GlcNAc2, previously determined by NMR and molecular dynamics, shows the mannose residues to be largely unaffected by the presence of the glucosyl cap. Sequential enzymatic cleavage of the glucose residues does not affect the conformation of the remaining saccharide. Modelling of the Glc3Man9GlcNAc2, Glc2Man9GlcNAc2 and Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 conformations shows the glucose residues to be fully accessible for recognition. A more detailed analysis of the conformations allows potential recognition epitopes on the glycans to be identified and can form the basis for understanding the specificity of the glucosidases and chaperones (such as calnexin) that recognize these glycans, with implications for their mechanisms of action.     

Transmembrane movement of oligosaccharide-lipids during glycoprotein synthesis

The transport of sugar residues into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during glycoprotein synthesis was studied by examining the transmembrane orientations of the oligosaccharide-lipid precursors of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides. Using the lectin concanavalin A, the lipid-linked oligosaccharides Man3-5GlcNAc2 were found on the cytoplasmic side of ER-derived vesicles in vitro while lipid-linked Man6-9GlcNAc2 and Glc1-3Man9GlcNAc2 were found facing the lumen. These results suggest that Man5GlcNAc2-lipid is synthesized on the cytoplasmic side of the ER membrane and then translocated to the luminal side. Glc3Man9GlcNAc2-lipid is then completed on the luminal side where it serves as the donor in peptide glycosylation. Translocation of Man5GlcNAc2-lipid offers a mechanism for the export of sugar residues from the cytoplasm during glycoprotein synthesis. This translocation may be the reason for the participation of lipid-linked mono- and oligosaccharides in glycoprotein synthesis.     

The effect of castanospermine on the oligosaccharide structures of glycoproteins from lymphoma cell lines.

The effect of castanospermine on the processing of N-linked oligosaccharides was examined in the parent mouse lymphoma cell line and in a mutant cell line that lacks glucosidase II. When the parent cell line was grown in the presence of castanospermine at 100 micrograms/ml, glucose-containing high-mannose oligosaccharides were obtained that were not found in the absence of inhibitor. These oligosaccharides bound tightly to concanavalin A-Sepharose and were eluted in the same position as oligosaccharides from the mutant cells grown in the absence or presence of the alkaloid. The castanospermine-induced oligosaccharides were characterized by gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-4, by h.p.l.c. analysis, by enzymic digestions and by methylation analysis of [3H]mannose-labelled and [3H]galactose-labelled oligosaccharides. The major oligosaccharide released by endoglucosaminidase H in either parent or mutant cells grown in castanospermine was a Glc3Man7GlcNAc, with smaller amounts of Glc3Man8GlcNAc and Glc3Man9GlcNAc. On the other hand, in the absence of castanospermine the mutant produces mostly Glc2Man7GlcNAc. In addition to the above oligosaccharides, castanospermine stimulated the formation of an endoglucosaminidase H-resistant oligosaccharide in both cell lines. This oligosaccharide was characterized as a Glc2Man5GlcNAc2 (i.e., Glc(1,2)Glc(1,3)Man(1,2)Man(1,2)Man(1,3)[Man(1,6)]Man-GlcNAc-GlcNAc). Castanospermine was tested directly on glucosidase I and glucosidase II in lymphoma cell extracts by using [Glc-3H]Glc3Man9GlcNAc and [Glc-3H]Glc2Man9GlcNAc as substrates. Castanospermine was a potent inhibitor of both activities, but glucosidase I appeared to be more sensitive to inhibition.     

Deletion of the TbALG3 gene demonstrates site-specific N-glycosylation and N-glycan processing in Trypanosoma brucei

We recently suggested a novel site-specific N-glycosylation mechanism in Trypanosoma brucei whereby some protein N-glycosylation sites selectively receive Man9GlcNAc2 from Man9GlcNAc2-PP-Dol while others receive Man5GlcNA(2 from Man5GlcNAc2-PP-Dol. In this paper, we test this model by creating procyclic and bloodstream form null mutants of TbALG3, the gene that encodes the alpha-mannosyltransferase that converts Man5GlcNAc2-PP-Dol to Man6GlcNAc2-PP-Dol. The procyclic and bloodstream form TbALG3 null mutants grow with normal kinetics, remain infectious to mice and tsetse flies, respectively, and have normal morphology. However, both forms display aberrant N-glycosylation of their major surface glycoproteins, procylcin, and variant surface glycoprotein, respectively. Specifically, procyclin and variant surface glycoprotein N-glycosylation sites that are modified with Man9GlcNAc2 and processed no further than Man5GlcNAc2 in the wild type are glycosylated less efficiently but processed to complex structures in the mutant. These data confirm our model and refine it by demonstrating that the biantennary glycan transferred from Man5GlcNAc2-PP-Dol is the only route to complex N-glycans in T. brucei and that Man9GlcNAc2-PP-Dol is strictly a precursor for oligomannose structures. The origins of site-specific Man5GlcNAc2 or Man9GlcNAc2 transfer are discussed and an updated model of N-glycosylation in T. brucei is presented.     

Structural characterization of the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides from Trypanosoma brucei type II and type III variant surface glycoproteins

The complete primary structures of the major Asn-linked oligosaccharides from the type II variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs), MITat 1.2 and MITat 1.7, and the type III VSG, MITat 1.5, were determined using a combination of exo- and endoglycosidase digestions, methylation analysis, acetolysis, and 500 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy. Each variant contained classical branched oligomannose-type and biantennary complex oligosaccharides, a proportion of the latter substituted with terminal alpha(1-3)-linked galactose residues, the first report of the presence of this epitope in Trypanosoma brucei. In addition both the type II variants contained relatively large amounts of the unusual small oligomannose-type oligosaccharides, Man4GlcNAc2 and Man3GlcNAc2, and a diverse array of novel branched poly-N-acetyllactosamine oligosaccharides, similar but not identical to those from mammalian glycoproteins. These latter structures were also partially substituted with terminal alpha(1-3)-linked galactose residues. Glycosylation in the type II variants showed site specificity in that the poly-N-acetyllactosamine and Man(9-5)GlcNAc2 oligosaccharides were located exclusively at Asn-glycosylation site 1 very close to the C terminus, whereas the Man(4-3)GlcNAc2 and biantennary complex oligosaccharides were located exclusively at site 2. This is the first report of the presence of poly-N-acetyllactosamine oligosaccharides in protozoa.     

Structural basis of the heterogeneity of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of a Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia immunoglobulin M

The extent of glycans heterogeneity in a pathological human immunoglobulin M ZAJ has been studied on oligosaccharides released by hydrazinolysis from the purified glycoprotein. After reduction with NaB3H4, asparagine-linked carbohydrate chains were separated by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose into oligomannosidic and N-acetyllactosaminic types. Glycans of the oligomannosidic type were further fractionated by HPLC and those of the N-acetyllactosamine type by preparative high-voltage electrophoresis. The primary structure of the main oligosaccharides was investigated on the basis of micro-methylation analysis, mass spectrometry and sequential exo-glycosidase digestion. Glycans of the oligomannosidic type varied in size from Man5GlcNAc2 to Man9GlcNAc2. N-Acetyllactosaminic glycans were found of the biantennary, bisected-biantennary and triantennary types. They presented a higher degree of heterogeneity due to the presence of a variable number of NeuAc and fucose residues. The new structures we report here were in addition to the major biantennary one we previously described on the basis of methylation analysis and 500 MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy (Cahour, A., Debeire, P., Hartmann, L., Montreuil, J., Van Halbeek, H. and Vliegenthart, J.F.G. (1984) FEBS Lett. 170, 343-349): NeuAc(alpha 2-6)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(beta 1-2)Man(alpha 1-3)[Gal(beta 1-4)Glc-NAc(beta 1-2)Man(alpha 1-6)]Man(beta 1-4)]Glc-NAc(beta 1-4) [Fuc(alpha 1-6)]GlcNAc.     

Complete structure of the carbohydrate moiety of stem bromelain. An application of the almond glycopeptidase for structural studies of glycopeptides.

Asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of stem bromelain glycopeptides were quantitatively released by digestion with the almond glycopeptidase which cleaves beta-aspartylglycosylamine linkage in glycopeptides with oligopeptide moieties. The primary structures of the two oligosaccharide components, (Man)3(Xyl)1(Fuc)1(GlcNAc)2 and (Man)2-(Xyl)1(Fuc)1(GlcNAc)2 were elucidated as Man alpha 1 leads to 6Man alpha 1 leads to 6[Xyl beta 1 leads to 2]Man beta 1 leads to 4GlcNAc beta 1 leads 4[Fuc alpha 1 leads to 3]GlcNAc and Man alpha 1 leads to 6[Xyl beta 1 leads to 2]Man beta 1 leads to 4 GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 4[Fuc alpha 1 leads to 3] GlcNAc, respectively.     

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

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

Structural studies of the carbohydrate moiety of human antithrombin III

Human antithrombin III contains four asparagine-linked sugar chains in one molecule. The sugar chains were quantitatively released as radioactive oligosaccharides from the polypeptide portion by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation and NaB³H₄ reduction. All of the oligosaccharides, thus obtained, contain N-acetylneuraminic acid. A same neutral nonaitol was released from all acidic oligosaccharides by sialidase treatment. By combination of the sequential exoglycosidase digestion and methylation analysis, their structures were elucidated as NeuAcα2 → 6Galβ1 → 4GlcNAcβ1 → 2Manα1 → 6-(NeuAcα2 → 6Galβ1 → 4GlcNAcβ1 → 2Manα1 → 3)Manβ1 → 4GlcNAcβ1 → 4GlcNAc, Galβ1 → 4GlcNAcβ1 → 2Manα1 → 6(NeuAcα2 → 6Galβ1 → 4GlcNAcβ1 → 2Manαl → 3)Manβ1 → 4GlcNAcβ1 → 4GlcNAc, and NeuAcα2 → 6Galβ1 → 4GlcNAcβ1 → 2Manα1 → 6(Galβ1 → 4GlcNAcβ1 → 2Manα1 → 3)Manβ1 → 4GlcNAcβ1 → 4GlcNAc.     

Assembly of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides in baby hamster kidney cells treated with castanospermine, an inhibitor of processing glucosidases

We have shown previously that the processing of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells is blocked only partially by the glucosidase inhibitors, 1-deoxynojirimycin and N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin [Hughes, R. C., Foddy, L. & Bause, E. (1987) Biochem. J. 247, 537-544]. Similar results are now reported for castanospermine, another inhibitor of processing glucosidases, and a detailed study of oligosaccharide processing in the inhibited cells is reported. In steady-state conditions the major endo-H-released oligosaccharides contained glucose residues but non-glycosylated oligosaccharides, including Man9GlcNAc to Man5GlcNAc, were also present. To determine the processing sequences occurring in the presence of castanospermine, BHK cells were pulse-labelled for various times with [3H]mannose and the oligosaccharide intermediates, isolated by gel filtration and paper chromatography, characterized by acetolysis and sensitivity to jack bean alpha-mannosidase. The data show that Glc3Man9GlcNAc2 is transferred to protein and undergoes processing to produce Glc3Man8GlcNAc2 and Glc3Man7GlcNAc2 as major species as well as a smaller amount of Man9GlcNAc2. Glucosidase-processed intermediates, Glc1Man8GlcNAc2 and Glc1Man7GlcNAc2, were also obtained as well as a Man7GlcNAc2 species derived from Glc1Man7GlcNAc2 and different from the Man7GlcNAc2 isomer formed in the usual processing pathway. No evidence for the direct transfer of non-glucosylated oligosaccharides to proteins was obtained and we conclude that the continued assembly of complex-type glycans in castanospermine-inhibited BHK cells results from residual activity of processing glucosidases.     

Structural basis for the presence of a monoglucosylated oligosaccharide in mature glycoproteins

Arylphorin is an insect hexameric storage protein. The structures of the oligosaccharides attached to this protein have recently been determined. However, their precise functions remain to be established. Proteolysis and MALDI MS studies disclose that the amino acid residues Asn196 and Asn344 are N-glycosylated with Glc(1)Man(9)GlcNAc(2) and Man(5-6)GlcNAc(2) oligosaccharides, respectively. Interestingly, significant variations in the amounts of glycans involving Glc(1)Man(9)GlcNAc(2) are evident in arylphorins purified from larvae reared at different seasons. The data suggest that the metabolism of larvae and local protein structure contribute to glycan development. Three-dimensional model of the protein speculated that N-glycosidic linkage to Asn196 in the Glc(1)Man(9)GlcNAc(2) structure was buried inside the twofold axis of the hexamer, whereas oligosaccharide linkages to Asn344 were completely exposed to solvent. This finding is in agreement with previous biochemical data showing that limited Glc(1)Man(9)GlcNAc(2) was released by protein-N-glycosidase F under non-denaturing conditions, in contrast to Man(5-6)GlcNAc(2) oligosaccharides.     

Evaluation of the role of rat liver Golgi endo-alpha-D-mannosidase in processing N-linked oligosaccharides

Golgi membranes from rat liver have been shown to contain an endo-alpha-D-mannosidase which can convert Glc1Man9GlcNAc to Man8GlcNAc with the release of Glc alpha 1----3Man (Lubas, W. A., and Spiro, R. G. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 3775-3781). We now report that this enzyme has the capacity to cleave the alpha 1----2 linkage between the glucose-substituted mannose residue and the remainder of the polymannose branch in a wide range of oligosaccharides (Glc3Man9GlcNAc to Glc1Man4GlcNAc) as well as glycopeptides and oligosaccharide-lipids. Whereas the tri- and diglucosylated species (Glc3Man9GlcNAc and Glc2Man9GlcNAc), which yielded Glc3Man and Glc2Man, respectively, were processed more slowly than Glc1Man9GlcNAc, the monoglucosylated components with truncated mannose chains (Glc1Man8GlcNAc to Glc1Man4GlcNAc) were trimmed at an increased rate which was inversely related to the number of mannose residues present. The endomannosidase was not inhibited by a number of agents which are known to interfere with N-linked oligosaccharide processing by exoglycosidases, including 1-deoxynojirimycin, castanospermine, bromoconduritol, 1-deoxymannojirimycin, swainsonine, and EDTA. However, Tris and other buffers containing primary hydroxyl groups substantially decreased its activity. After Triton solubilization, the endomannosidase was observed to be bound to immobilized wheat germ agglutinin, indicating the presence of a type of carbohydrate unit consistent with Golgi localization of the enzyme. The Man8GlcNAc isomer produced by endomannosidase action was found to be processed by Golgi enzymes through a different sequence of intermediates than the rough endoplasmic reticulum-generated Man8GlcNAc variant, in which the terminal mannose of the middle branch is absent. Whereas the latter oligosaccharide is converted to Man5GlcNAc via Man7GlcNAc and Man6GlcNAc at an even rate, the processing of the endomannosidase-derived Man8GlcNAc stalls at the Man6GlcNAc stage due to the apparent resistance to Golgi mannosidase I of the alpha 1,2-linked mannose of the middle branch. The results of our study suggest that the Golgi endomannosidase takes part in a processing route for N-linked oligosaccharides which have retained glucose beyond the rough endoplasmic reticulum; the distinctive nature of this pathway may influence the ultimate structure of the resulting carbohydrate units.     

Characterisation of the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides from Trypanosoma brucei type-I variant surface glycoproteins

The complete primary structures of the Asn-linked oligosaccharides from the conserved glycosylation site of the type-I variant surface glycoproteins of Trypanosoma brucei MITat 1.4 and MITat 1.6 were determined using a combination of exoglycosidase digestions, permethylation analysis, acetolysis and 1H NMR. Both variants contained almost exclusively oligomannose-type oligosaccharides, identical in structure to those of mammalian glycoproteins. The oligosaccharides ranged in size from (Man)9(GlcNAc)2 to (Man)5(GlcNAc)2. The relative abundance of each component was similar in both variants. The major components were (Man)8(GlcNAc)2 and (Man)7(GlcNAc)2 with slightly less (Man)9(GlcNAc)2 and (Man)6(GlcNAc)2 and much less (Man)5(GlcNAc)2. Both variants also contained the same structural isomers. The close similarity of the oligomannose series indicates identical processing at the conserved site in both variants.     

Protein glycosylation in Trypanosoma cruzi. The mechanism of glycosylation and structure of protein-bound oligosaccharides

As reported previously (Parodi, A.J., and Cazzulo, J.J. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 7641-7645), label was incorporated first to the glucose residues of protein-bound Glc1Man9GlcNAc2, Glc1Man8GlcNAc2, and Glc1Man7GlcNAc2 when Trypanosoma cruzi cells, the causative agent of Chagas disease, were incubated with [U-14C]glucose. It is now reported that the glucose residues are removed from the oligosaccharides after a chase period. The relative proportion of Man9GlcNAc2, Man8GlcNAc2, Man7GlcNAc2, and Man6GlcNAc2 appeared to be the same after 120 and 180 min of chase, thus indicating that these compounds were the fully processed protein-bound oligosaccharides. No complex type protein-bound oligosaccharides were detected. Evidence is presented indicating that Glc1Man7GlcNAc2 was formed mainly by glucosylation of Man7GlcNAc2 and not by demannosylation of Glc1Man9GlcNAc2. Man9GlcNAc2 was the first oligosaccharide to be labeled when cells were incubated with [2-3H]mannose. Based on these and previous results, the overall mechanism of protein N-glycosylation appeared to be: (formula; see text) The structure of the oligosaccharides appeared to be similar to some of those present in human glycoproteins. T. cruzi cells isolated from distant locations in South America were found to share a common mechanism of protein glycosylation.     

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

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

Inhibition of hybrid- and complex-type glycosylation reveals the presence of the GlcNAc transferase I-independent fucosylation pathway

A mammalian N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) transferase I (GnT I)-independent fucosylation pathway is revealed by the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and negative-ion nano-electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry of N-linked glycans from natively folded recombinant glycoproteins, expressed in both human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293S and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) Lec3.2.8.1 cells deficient in GnT I activity. The biosynthesis of core fucosylated Man5GlcNAc2 glycans was enhanced in CHO Lec3.2.8.1 cells by the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ), leading to the increase in core fucosylated Man5GlcNAc2 glycans and the biosynthesis of a novel core fucosylated monoglucosylated oligomannose glycan, Glc1Man7GlcNAc2Fuc. Furthermore, no fucosylated Man9GlcNAc2 glycans were detected following inhibition of alpha-mannosidase I with kifunensine. Thus, core fucosylation is prevented by the presence of terminal alpha1-2 mannoses on the 6-antennae but not the 3-antennae of the trimannosyl core. Fucosylated Man5GlcNAc2 glycans were also detected on recombinant glycoprotein from HEK 293T cells following inhibition of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II with swainsonine. The paucity of fucosylated oligomannose glycans in wild-type mammalian cells is suggested to be due to kinetic properties of the pathway rather than the absence of the appropriate catalytic activity. The presence of the GnT I-independent fucosylation pathway is an important consideration when engineering mammalian glycosylation.