多聚唾液酸转移酶研究进展

多聚唾液酸(polysialic acid,PSA)是一类线性、均一多聚α2,8连接唾液酸的独特碳水化合物,它主要通过典型的N-连接糖苷键附着在脊椎动物神经系统神经黏附分子(neural cell adhesion molecule,NCAM)上。PSA通过改变NCAM的黏附性调节神经细胞发育、神经导向以及突触形成,从而在神经发育中起关键作用。PSA表达的调节具有时间和结构依赖性,NCAM的唾液酸化是由两种多聚唾液酸转移酶(polysialyltrans ferases)-ST8Sia II(STX)和ST8Sia IV(PST)所催化,它们都属于6个基因编码的α2,8唾液酸转移酶家族。STX和PST都可将多个唾液酸残基转移到含有NeuNAcα2-3(或6)Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-R结构的N糖链受体上;两种酶共同作用时远远大于一种酶形成的PSA量。总之,多聚唾液酸转移酶可调节PSA的合成并参与了脊椎动物的神经发育。     

聚唾液酸的发酵动力学研究

对以大肠杆菌K235发酵法生产聚唾液酸的动力学特性进行了研究,提出了细胞生长动力学,基质消耗动力学,聚唾液酸生成动力学模型,通过对实验数据的计算,模型的模拟结果较好地和实验值吻合,正确地分析 聚唾液酸的发酵过程及其动力学机制。     

唾液酸糖肽的研究进展

唾液酸糖肽(SGP)是一种含有唾液酸寡糖链的N-糖肽,是蛋黄中的主要组成部分。由于其分支型糖链的结构和唾液酸化糖链的存在,SGP及其相关物质有较好的抗细菌和抗病毒作用。以SGP为基础合成SGP的衍生物,有望成为新的预防性抗细菌和抗病毒药物。我们简要综述了SGP的抗菌、抗病毒研究,SGP相关衍生物的合成及其抗菌、抗病毒的机制。     

端基法测定聚唾液酸平均聚合度

建立了端基法测定聚唾液酸平均聚合度的方法.采用间苯二酚比色法和丙二腈荧光法分别测定聚唾液酸中唾液酸总量和还原端唾液酸残基含量,两者之比即为平均聚合度.研究表明,在pH 9.5的硼酸缓冲液中,80℃水浴下聚唾液酸还原端唾液酸残基与丙二腈反应25 min后生成荧光物质,其荧光强度与还原端唾液酸残基含量呈线性正相关关系,线性范围在1～ 20 mg/L之间,变异系数和检出限分别为3.7％和0.36 mg/L.端基法测定大肠杆菌发酵液中聚唾液酸的平均聚合度为45.76,与高效液相凝胶色谱法比较,误差为3.2％.该法可以简便快速地测定发酵液中聚唾液酸的平均聚合度,有利于聚唾液酸生产过程分析及产品性能评估.     

聚乙二醇-聚唾液酸嵌段聚合修饰尿酸酶

探索一种综合聚唾液酸(PSA)和聚乙二醇(PEG)优势的蛋白修饰方法。对纯化的聚唾液酸进行两步活化,先在非还原端氧化产生活性醛基,再加入胱胺形成活性巯基;活化的聚唾液酸(相对分子质量为3.4×104)和异基双功能的PEG(相对分子质量为3.5×103)形成嵌段聚合物,然后于4℃修饰尿酸酶。利用凝胶层析(Toyopearl HW-55F)对修饰后的尿酸酶进行纯化,收集相应峰进行化学法和SDS-PAGE电泳鉴定,经多角度激光光散射凝胶系统测定缀合物相对分子质量为5.214×105;相对于原始酶,修饰酶酶活保留率72.4%,体外热失活半衰期由115.5 h提高到231 h,对高温、酸碱、胰蛋白酶的耐受稳定性显著提高。     

聚唾液酸,一种非GAGs、非免疫原性生物材料的应用研究进展

聚唾液酸是一种由N-乙酰神经氨酸连接、电负性的线性同聚物,存在于人体、动物细胞和少数致病菌中,主要以糖蛋白(神经细胞粘附分子)和糖脂形式存在,是一种非糖胺聚糖(GAGs)、非免疫原性、生物可降解的优良生物材料。聚唾液酸可用作组织工程和药物缓释材料,也可以与其它大分子复合形成功能材料。对聚唾液酸生物学功能、发酵生产及应用进行概述,以期为聚唾液酸的进一步应用研究提供参考。     

两阶段搅拌转速控制策略发酵生产聚唾液酸

目的:优化聚唾液酸发酵过程的搅拌转速.方法:比较不同搅拌转速对大肠杆菌Escherichia coli K235分批发酵生产聚唾液酸过程的影响.结果:根据发酵前、后期菌体细胞比生长速率和聚唾液酸比合成速率达到最大值所需搅拌转速的不同,提出了两阶段搅拌转速控制策略:发酵前期(0～15h)控制搅拌转速500r/min,发酵中后期控制搅拌转速700r/min.结论:两阶段搅拌转速控制策略使聚唾液酸产量达到3 966mg/L,比恒定搅拌转速500r/min和700r/min分别提高了31.8%和49.3%.将两阶段搅拌转速控制策略与分批补料发酵技术结合,聚唾液酸产量提高到5 108mg/L,山梨醇的转化率达到0.12g/g.     

多聚唾液酸与多聚唾液酸转移酶

多聚唾液酸（PSA）是一种在神经细胞黏附分子（neural cell adhesion molecule,NCAM）上表达的唾液酸聚合物,在神经发育过程中起重要作用.PSA的聚合程度会影响PSA-NCAM的功能.多聚唾液酸酶主要用于合成PSA-NCAM,两种高度同源的多聚唾液酸转移酶ST8SiaⅡ和ST8SiaⅣ都属于唾液酸转移酶家族.多聚唾液酸转移酶中NCAM的识别域和多聚唾液酸化域是截然不同的,且一些异构酶在NCAM多聚唾液酸化中起明显的负作用.多聚唾液酸酶与很多疾病都有关系,以多聚唾液酸转移酶为标靶设计的药物也将成为神经系统及肿瘤治疗的新型药物.     

丙酮酸钠对E．coli CCTCCM208088发酵生产聚唾液酸的影响

研究了丙酮酸钠对E．coliCCTCCM208088发酵生产聚唾液酸的影响。首先在摇瓶水平上优化了丙酮酸钠的添加策略：发酵初始培养基中添加6g／L丙酮酸钠,聚唾液酸的产量达到最高水平3．47g／L,相比空白相比提高了73％,聚唾液酸产率（YP／（x．s））提高了125％。在30L发酵罐中,添加丙酮酸钠使聚唾液酸产量达到了6．6g／L,相对照提高了53．5％。通过有机酸分析,添加丙酮酸钠增强了菌体内三羧酸循环．可能导致胞内能荷水平的提高．从而促进了聚唾液酸的合成。     

聚唾液酸高产菌株的高通量诱变选育及发酵工艺优化

从自然水体中筛选得到1株产聚唾液酸的微生物菌株SA-1,经Biolog生化和分子生物学分析,鉴定其为大肠杆菌。以大肠杆菌SA-1为出发菌株,通过常压室温等离子体(ARTP)诱变育种,借助酸碱透明圈和高通量自动挑选仪筛选获得高产聚唾液酸的突变菌株SA-18。摇瓶发酵结果显示,大肠杆菌突变株SA-18的聚唾液酸产量可达0.95 g/L,是出发菌株产量(0.20 g/L)的4.75倍;进一步,通过调控优化K₂HPO₄浓度实现了突变大肠杆菌SA-18的高密度发酵：当K₂HPO₄质量浓度为5.0 g/L时,在10 L发酵罐中,36 h时聚唾液酸产量达到12.20 g/L,继续补料发酵,至60 h时,聚唾液酸产量最高可达16.10 g/L。     

Nonyloxytryptamine mimics polysialic acid and modulates neuronal and glial functions in cell culture

Polysialic acid (PSA) is a major regulator of cell–cell interactions in the developing nervous system and in neural plasticity in the adult. As a polyanionic molecule with high water‐binding capacity, PSA increases the intercellular space generating permissive conditions for cell motility. PSA enhances stem cell migration and axon path finding and promotes repair in the lesioned peripheral and central nervous systems, thus contributing to regeneration. As a next step in developing an improved PSA‐based approach to treat nervous system injuries, we searched for small organic compounds that mimic PSA and identified as a PSA mimetic 5‐nonyloxytryptamine oxalate, described as a selective 5‐hydroxytryptamine receptor 1B (5‐HT_1B) agonist. Similar to PSA, 5‐nonyloxytryptamine binds to the PSA‐specific monoclonal antibody 735, enhances neurite outgrowth of cultured primary neurons and process formation of Schwann cells, protects neurons from oxidative stress, reduces migration of astrocytes and enhances myelination in vitro. Furthermore, nonyloxytryptamine treatment enhances expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and its polysialylated form PSA‐NCAM and reduces expression of the microtubule‐associated protein MAP2 in cultured neuroblastoma cells. These results demonstrate that 5‐nonyloxytryptamine mimics PSA and triggers PSA‐mediated functions, thus contributing to the repertoire of molecules with the potential to improve recovery in acute and chronic injuries of the mammalian peripheral and central nervous systems.

     

Achievements and challenges of sialic acid research

Sialic acids are one of the most important molecules of life, since they occupy the terminal position on macromolecules and cell membranes and are involved in many biological and pathological phenomena. The structures of sialic acids, comprising a family of over 40 neuraminic acid derivatives, have been elucidated. However, many aspects of the regulation of their metabolism at the enzyme and gene levels, as well as of their functions remain mysterious. Sialic acids play a dual role, not only are they indispensable for the protection to and adaptation of life, but are also utilised by life-threatening infectious microorganisms. In this article the present state of knowledge in sialobiology, with an emphasis on my personal experience in this research area, is outlined including a discussion of necessary future work in this fascinating field of cell biology.     

A major flagellum sialoglycoprotein in sea urchin sperm contains a novel polysialic acid, an alpha2,9-linked poly-N-acetylneuraminic acid chain, capped by an 8-O-sulfated sialic acid residue

A new type of polysialic acid (polySia) structure was demonstrated to occur in a major unknown sialoglycoprotein with a diverse molecular mass of 40-80 kDa in sea urchin sperm. The polySia-containing glycan structure was determined to be HSO(3)-->8Neu5Acalpha2-->9(Neu5Acalpha2-->9)(n-2) Neu5Acalpha2-->6GalNAcalpha1-->Ser/Thr (n, on average 15), based on carbohydrate analysis of the sialoglycopeptide obtained by an exhaustive protease digestion of whole sperm, fluorometric anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, and methylation analysis. The sulfate group was predominantly localized to the nonreducing terminus of the polySia chain. This is the first example of an alpha2,9-linked polySia structure in animal sperm. The polySia-containing sialoglycoprotein was present in sperm flagellum but not in the head. Furthermore, this sialoglycoprotein localized in the sperm lipid raft, which contains an enriched ganglioside (Neu5Acalpha2-->8Neu5Acalpha2-->6GlcCer), a receptor for sperm-activating peptide (speract), and its associated guanylate cyclase.     

Polysialic acid: Biosynthesis,novel functions and applications

Abstract

As an anti-adhesive, a reservoir for key biological molecules, and a modulator of signaling, polysialic acid (polySia) is critical for nervous system development and maintenance, promotes cancer metastasis, tissue regeneration and repair, and is implicated in psychiatric diseases. In this review, we focus on the biosynthesis and functions of mammalian polySia, and the use of polySia in therapeutic applications. PolySia modifies a small subset of mammalian glycoproteins, with the neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM, serving as its major carrier. Studies show that mammalian polysialyltransferases employ a unique recognition mechanism to limit the addition of polySia to a select group of proteins. PolySia has long been considered an anti-adhesive molecule, and its impact on cell adhesion and signaling attributed directly to this property. However, recent studies have shown that polySia specifically binds neurotrophins, growth factors, and neurotransmitters and that this binding depends on chain length. This work highlights the importance of considering polySia quality and quantity, and not simply its presence or absence, as its various roles are explored. The capsular polySia of neuroinvasive bacteria allows these organisms to evade the host immune response. While this “stealth” characteristic has made meningitis vaccine development difficult, it has also made polySia a worthy replacement for polyetheylene glycol in the generation of therapeutic proteins with low immunogenicity and improved circulating half-lives. Bacterial polysialyltransferases are more promiscuous than the protein-specific mammalian enzymes, and new studies suggest that these enzymes have tremendous therapeutic potential, especially for strategies aimed at neural regeneration and tissue repair.     

Retinoic acid induction of sialyltransferase activity in neuroblastoma cells of differing sialylation potentials

In order to determine how glycosylation changes associated with cellular differentiation may be influenced by the basal cellular sialylation potential, the effect of retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation was investigated in neuroblastoma cells expressing differing levels (and activities) of the 2,6(N) sialyltransferase (ST6N) enzyme. The increase in ST activity was proportional to the basal cellular sialylation potentials with the high activity clones showing the greatest increase. This was paralleled by an up-regulation of the level of overall sialoglycoprotein glycosylation level. An increase in the levels of the polysialic acid (PSA) epitope was associated with a parallel increase in the levels of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) protein backbone although there was no overall change in the PSA:NCAM ratio following RA treatment.     

Influence of sialic acid on cell surface properties in I-cell disease fibroblasts

Summary Fibroblasts derived from patients with I-cell disease have been shown to accumulate many natural substrates including a three to fourfold increase in sialic acid content compared to that found in normal fibroblasts. This diverse accumulation of storage material is due to a massive deficiency of multiple lysosomal hydrolases as they are preferentially excreted into the culture fluid. There is evidence that the I-cell plasma membrane itself is abnormal with respect to certain transferase activities and in its sensitivity to freezing and Triton X-100. In this study, we have shown that a neuraminidase-sensitive substrate, and perhaps others in I-cell fibroblasts, contribute to an increased electronegativity of the I-cell fibroblast surface and to the cells' sensitivity to freezing. We also found that neuraminidase treatment of I-cell fibroblasts before preservative freezing in liquid nitrogen enables the cells to adapt more easily to subculture upon thawing. This project was supported in part by National Institutes of Health (NIH) BRSG Grant RR-05493, NIH Grant 1-R01-HD-11453-01-A1, National Science Foundation Grant PCM 77-05733, and Maternal and Child Health Service Project 417. Georgirene D. Vladutiu is the recipient of Research Career Development Award 1K04 HD 00312-01A1 from the National Institutes of Health.     

Biosynthesis of the polysialic acid capsule inEscherichia coli K1

The extracellular polysaccharides elaborated by most or all bacterial species function in cell-to-cell and cell-substratum adhesion, cell signaling, and avoidance or inhibition of noxious agents in animal hosts or free-living environments. Recent advances in our understanding of exopolysaccharide synthesis have been facilitated by comparative approaches in both plant and animal pathogens, as well as in microorganisms of industrial importance. One of the best understood of these systems is thekps locus for polysialic acid synthesis inEscherichia coli K1. The genes for sialic acid synthesis, activation, polymerization and translocation have been identified and assigned at least tentative functions in the synthetic and export pathways. Initial studies ofkps thermoregulation suggest that genetic control mechanisms will be involved which are distinct from those already described for several other exopolysaccharides. Information about the common as well as unique features of polysialic acid biosynthesis will increase our knowledge of microbial cell surfaces which in turn may suggest novel targets for therapeutic or industrial interventions.     

The structure of the complex between influenza virus neuraminidase and sialic acid, the viral receptor.

Crystallographic studies of neuraminidase-sialic acid complexes indicate that sialic acid is distorted on binding the enzyme. Three arginine residues on the enzyme interact with the carboxylate group of the sugar which is observed to be equatorial to the saccharide ring as a consequence of its distorted geometry. The glycosidic oxygen is positioned within hydrogen-bonding distance of Asp-151, implicating this residue in catalysis.