Characterization of plasma-membrane glycoproteins from functional domains of the rat hepatocyte.

Plasma-membrane glycoproteins from the three different functional domains of the rat hepatocyte were radioactively labelled by oxidation with NaIO4, followed by reduction with NaB3H4. Analysis of the radioactively labelled glycoproteins by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of at least 12 major sialoglycoproteins in each different region of the hepatocyte surface. The Mr-110 000 component was homogeneously distributed over the plasma membrane, whereas the Mr-90 000 polypeptide was only located at the sinusoidal face. These radiolabelled glycoproteins were solubilized in 1% Triton X-100, and the soluble fraction was subjected to affinity chromatography on Sepharose-conjugated wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA). The labelled glycoproteins were poorly bound to WGA. Membrane glycoproteins were also labelled by the galactose oxidase/NaB3H4 method. The results show that the polypeptides with apparent Mr 170 000 from the sinusoidal, 230 000 from the canalicular and 170 000 from the lateral membranes were specifically labelled. When the membranes were treated with neuraminidase and galactose oxidase/NaB3H4, the electrophoretic patterns showed changes in the apparent Mr values of the glycoproteins, owing to loss of sialic acid, and a clear increase in labelling in the sinusoidal and canalicular membranes compared with the lateral membranes. When these labelled membranes were solubilized in 1% Triton X-100 and subjected to affinity chromatography on Sepharose-conjugated Ricinus communis agglutinin and/or Lens culinaris agglutinin, the results showed that the former columns efficiently bound the radiolabelled glycoproteins, whereas the latter columns bound poorly. The results show that there is a differential distribution of glycoproteins along the hepatocyte's surface.     

A survey of surface glycoproteins of four human squamous cell carcinoma lines

The major cell surface glycoprotein components of four new cell lines derived from human squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (TR126, TR131, TR138, TR146, Rupniak, H. T. et al., JNCI 75, 621-635, 1985) were identified by three complementary labelling methods. The profile of labelled glycoprotein components was very similar in the four cell lines, although quite large quantitative differences in individual bands were seen. Two galactoproteins, designated GPC-130 and GPC-80 (apparent molecular weight X 10(-3)) were labelled by galactose oxidase/NaB [3H]4 but in all four lines only GPC-130 was prominent. The cell surface galactose and N-Acetylgalactosaminyl residues of glycoproteins were quite highly sialylated, as the galactose oxidase/NaB [3H]4 reaction was increased by between 3- and 6-fold after neuraminidase treatment. The neuraminidase-galactose oxidase/NaB [3H]4 and NaIO4/NaB [3H]4 methods identified a complex profile of glycoprotein components, with very high molecular weight sialogalactoconjugates being prominent. The major sialoglycoproteins were GPC-205, GPC-175, GPC-155, GPC-90 and GPC-70 and in addition, GPC-130 and GPC-80 showed enhanced labelling. Lactoperoxidase catalyzed the iodination of a similar profile of high molecular weight glycoprotein components, with GPC-205 and GPC-175 being prominent in TR126, TR131 and TR146 but less evident in TR138. Overall, the profile of labelled glycoprotein components was similar to the pattern seen in the well differentiated transitional carcinoma lines RT112 and RT4 (Steele, J. G. et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 732, 219-228, 1983).     

Differences between the carbohydrate units of cell-surface glycoproteins of moust B- and T-lymphocytes.

Carbohydrate units of cell-surface glycoproteins of mouse B- and T-lymphocytes, labelled in their sialic acid residues by the periodate/NaB3H4 method and in their galactose residues by the galactose oxidase/NaB3H4 method after neuraminidase treatment, have been studied. Glycopeptides were prepared from the labelled cells by Pronase digestion and fractionated by concanavalin A affinity chromatography into two fractions (A and B). Alkali-labile oligosaccharides were isolated after mild NaOH/NaBH4 treatment by gel filtration. The alkali-labile oligosaccharides were further analysed by t.l.c. To study the relative proportion of neutral mannose-rich carbohydrate units (fraction C) in lymphocyte glycoproteins, glycopeptides were also prepared from unlabelled cells and subjected to concanavalin A affinity chromatography after N-[3H]acetylation of their peptide moiety. The major alkali-labile oligosaccharide component of both cell types was identified as galactosyl-(beta 1 leads to 3)-N-acetylgalactosaminitol. T-Lymphocytes were characterized by a high proportion of this oligosaccharide and a lower proportion of alkali-stable fraction A glycopeptides, whereas the opposite was observed for B-lymphocytes. The relative proportions of the concanavalin A-binding fractions B and C were similar in both cell types. The differences observed may correlate with the different surface properties of B- and T-lymphocytes.     

Isolation and partial characterization of the major sialoglycoprotein of human T-lymphoblastoid cells of a MOLT-4B cell line.

A sialoglycoprotein with an approx. mol.wt. of 95000 was isolated from human lymphoblastoid cells of a MOLT-4B cell line, which was of human T-lymphocyte origin, by ion-exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography on a column of wheat-germ agglutinin-Sepharose and preparative slab-gel electrophoresis. The localization of this glycoprotein on the cell surface was indicated by surface labelling by the periodate/NaB3H4 and lactoperoxidase-catalysed iodination methods. Carbohydrate analyses of this glycoprotein revealed that its total carbohydrate content is 28% (w/w), and it contains fucose, galactose, mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine and sialic acid in molar proportions 1.0:4.0:3.7:3.5:1.2:2.5, suggesting that it has two types of sugar chain, i.e. sugar chains like those of serum glycoproteins and sugar chains of the type found in mucins. Actually, alkaline borohydride treatment of this glycoprotein yielded tri- and tetra-saccharide, the latter containing 1 molecule of fucose in addition to each molecule of galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine and sialic acid. This glycoprotein bound to Ricinus communis agglutinin and concanavalin A as well as to wheat-germ agglutinin.     

External labelling of glycoproteins from first-trimester human placental microvilli.

The brush-border glycoproteins of first-trimester human placentas were investigated by using two external labelling techniques: (1) sequential digestion with neuraminidase and galactose oxidase, followed by reduction with NaB3H4, which 3H-labels terminal galactose and galactosamine residues; and (2) sequential treatment with periodate and NaB3H4, which 3H-labels terminal sialic acid residues. The labelling procedures were performed on intact tissue so that the results would more closely approximate the topography of the brush border in vivo. The microvilli were isolated, subjected to sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, and the [3H]glycoproteins detected by fluorography. Densitometer scans of the fluorograms of the [3H]galactoproteins showed that, under reducing conditions, 90% of the protein-associated radioactivity was incorporated into two glycoproteins. The major [3H]galactoprotein of early placental microvilli had an estimated molecular mass of 92 kDa (desialylated) and migrated as a diffuse band. A minor 180 kDa glycoprotein was less consistently labelled. No change in the apparent molecular mass of either component was detected in the absence of beta-mercaptoethanol, suggesting that the 180 kDa component was not a dimer of the 92 kDa glycoprotein. The remaining 10% the radioactivity was equally distributed among several minor membrane components. Densitometer scans of the fluorograms of the [3H]sialoproteins showed that, under either reducing or non-reducing conditions, 90% of the 3H was preferentially incorporated into the 92-110 kDa region of the gel. Although no distinct bands were visible, the higher-molecular-mass region of this area was always most heavily labelled. A minor 180 kDa glycoprotein was also 3H-labelled. The pattern of brushborder [3H]glycoproteins from first-trimester placentas differed markedly from that of term placental microvilli and from placental fibroblast plasma membranes that were 3H-labelled by identical external labelling techniques. These results indicate that: (1) the glycoprotein determinants of brush-border topography change during pregnancy; (2) within the placenta, the major 92 kDa (desialylated) determinant, which has not been previously described, is unique to the trophoblastic cells.     

Identification of exposed surface glycoproteins of four human bladder carcinoma cell lines

Three cell surface protein-specific methods were used to radiolabel the major glycoproteins of four human bladder carcinoma cell lines: The well-differentiated lines RT112 and TR4 and more anaplastic lines T24 and EJ. Five acidic glycoproteins iodinated in all lines by the lactoperoxidase/125I method were designated CP-175/5.8-6.0 (apparent molecular weight X 10(-3)/pl of iodoprotein), GP-155/5.0-5.3, GP-145/4.9-5.2, GP-130/4.8-5.5 and GP-110/4.9-5.3. Another iodinated glycoprotein, GP-200/5.5-6.0, was prominently labelled in RT112 and RT4 but was not detected in T24 or EJ. GP-200 as well as GP-175, GP-155 and GP-145 were not detected by the galactose oxidase/NaB(3H)4 method and were poorly labelled by the neuraminidase-galactose oxidase/NaB(3H)4 and NaIO4/NaB(3H)4 labelling methods. The major sialogalactoproteins identified in the four lines by the neuraminidase-galactose oxidase/NaB(3H)4 and NaIO4/NaB(3H)4 methods were GP-130, and a duplet of GP-90 and GP-80 which were poorly iodinated by lactoperoxidase/125I. The galactose oxidase/NaB(3H)4 reaction was increased by between 4- and 10-fold and many additional glycoproteins were labelled after neuraminidase treatment, indicating that the cell surface galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine residues of glycoproteins are highly sialylated. In cell lines RT112 and RT4 there was prominent labelling of very high molecular weight sialogalactoconjugates that was not present in extracts of T24 and EJ.     

Identification of an epidermal cell-adhesion glycoprotein.

Glycoproteins which mediate intercellular adhesion were studied by comparing the effects of trypsin and the neutral proteinase, Dispase, on human keratinocytes metabolically labelled with D-[1-14C]glucosamine or L-[1-3H]fucose. Whereas digestion of keratinocytes with trypsin/EDTA resulted in loss of both cell-substratum and intercellular adhesion, only cell-substratum adhesion was disrupted by incubation with Dispase. Analysis of the radiolabelled glycoproteins by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis revealed that a glycoprotein of Mr 126 000 was cleaved by trypsin/EDTA, but not by Dispase. Surface labelling of keratinocytes with galactose oxidase/NaB3H4 confirmed that this glycoprotein was exposed on the cell surface. Addition of lmM-Ca2+ prevented dispersion of keratinocytes by trypsin and concomitantly protected the glycoprotein of Mr 126 000 from digestion. These results indicate that this glycoprotein has an important role in mediating intercellular adhesion of keratinocytes.     

Isolation and characterization of the CNBr peptides from the proteolytically derived N-terminal fragment of ovine opsin.

A panel of lectins was used to analyse glycoproteins of normal granulocytes and leukaemic myeloid cells. The glycoproteins of detergent-solubilized whole cells were separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and their lectin-binding properties determined by incubation of the fixed gels with radioiodinated lectins. Normal granulocytes and leukaemic myeloid cells in different stages of maturation possess a cell-surface sialic acid-rich glycoprotein of apparent mol.wt. 115 000 (GP115), that can be labelled by both the lactoperoxidase and periodate/NaB3H4 cell-surface labelling techniques. The sialoglycoprotein of leukaemic myeloblasts has a slightly lower apparent mol.wt., 112000 (GP112). After neuraminidase treatment before cell solubilization, both GP115 and GP112 bind the lectins from Arachis hypogaea (peanut) and Helix pomatia (snail) and have an increased apparent molecular weight of 125000. Two concanavalin A-binding glycoproteins of apparent mol.wts. 98000 and 90000 are present in leukaemic myeloblasts. Concanavalin A binding to these glycoproteins is decreased in more mature leukaemic cells and absent in granulocytes. As concanavalin A binding decreases in the maturer forms, there is a concomitant increase in the binding of Ricinus communis (castor bean) and Maclura aurantiaca (osage orange) lectins to these glycoproteins. Whole granulocytes, but not leukaemic myeloblasts, contain a major cell-surface concanavalin A binding glycoprotein of apparent mol.wt. 130000, which is labelled by the periodate/NaB3H4 technique. Concanavalin A binding to this glycoprotein increases as the morphology of leukaemic cells approaches that of mature granulocytes.     

Specificity of sialytransferase: structure of alpha1-acid glycoprotein sialylated in vitro. A new methodology for the determination of the structure of the linkage formed by glycosyltransferase action on galactosyl-oligosaccharide-protein acceptors.

The terminal galactosyl units of desialylated alpha1-acid glycoprotein were selectively labeled with tritium by a galactose oxidase/NaB3H4 procedure. The 3H-labeled glycoprotein was effective as an acceptor in sialytransferase reactions catalyzed by rat liver microsomes in vitro with unlabeled CMP-N-acetyl-neuramininic acid as sialic acid donor. Permethylation/hydrolysis of glycopeptides derived from the resialylated 3H-labeled glycoprotein yielded radioactive 2,3,4-trimethylgalactose indicating that rat liver microsomes are capable of transferring sialic acid to position C-6 of the terminal galactosyl units of desialylated alpha1-acid glycoprotein. No indication was obtained for transfer of sialic acid to other positions. This result is discussed in view of the multiplicity of positions of attachment of sialic acid to galactosyl residues in native alpha1-acid glycoprotein.     

The isolation and partial characterization of the major glycoprotein (LGP-I) from the articular lubricating fraction from bovine synovial fluid.

The articular lubricating fraction from bovine synovial fluid was prepared by repeated fractionation in three consecutive CsCl density gradients to remove completely traces of hyaluronic acid. The major glycoprotein consituent (LGP-I) was then isolated by repeated gel-permeation chromatography. The yield of the LGP-I component was about 20 mg/litre of synovial fluid. Sedimentation-equilibrium measurements showed that this glycoprotein was homogeneous and the mol.wt. was calculated to be 227500. Amino acids represented 43% (w/w) and carbohydrate constituents 44% (w/w) of the molecule. Threonine, glutamic acid, proline and lysine (224, 127, 242 and 128 residues/1000 residues respectively) were the major amino acids. Galactosamine, galactose and N-acetylneuraminic acid (202, 162 and 114 residues/molecule of LGP-I component respectively) accounted for 98% of the total carbohydrate residues present. Small amounts of mannose and glucosamine (1 and 9mol respectively/mol of LGP-I component) were also present. After treatment of LGP-I component with alkali and NaB3H4 radioactivity was incorporated into alpha-aminobutyric acid and alanine in a molar ratio of 4:1, and radioactive galactosaminitol was isolated by ion-exchange chromatography from a cleaved oligosaccharide fraction. These data demonstrate the presence of threonine and serine -O-GalNAc linkages, but only 25% of the theoretical likages involving threonine were cleaved by a beta-elimination reaction. Digestion of LGP-I component with Pronase followed by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose yielded glycopeptide fractions with a similar amino acid and carbohydrate composition to the intact molecule. Treatment of desialylated and intact LGP-I component with galactose oxidase followed by reduction with NaB3H4 revealed the presence of 52mol of terminal galactose in the intact molecule and 153mol of galactose/mol of LGP-I component after treatment with neuraminidase. The data indicate the LGP-I component is composed of a single polypeptide chain containg more than 150 oligaosaccharide side chains composed of O-GaINAc-Gal distributed over the length of the peptide chain and that terminal sialic acid residues are linked to galactose in two-thirds of these side chains.     

Galactose-rich glycoproteins are on the cell surface of herpes virus-infected cells. 1. Surface labeling and serial lectin binding studies of Asn-linked oligosaccharides of glycoprotein gC

Cell-surface glycoproteins of mock-infected and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-infected BHK-21 and HEp-2 cells were radiolabeled by incubation with galactose oxidase followed by reduction with NaB3H4. The incorporation of radiolabel into glycoconjugates in both BHK-21 and HEp-2 cells was increased several fold following infection with HSV, showing an increase in surface-exposed Gal residues in the infected cells. This was further confirmed by an increase in binding of cell-surface-labeled glycoproteins gC and gB from HSV-infected BHK-21 cells to Ricinus communis agglutinin I, which is specific for beta-D-Gal residues. Prior treatment of cells with Clostridium perfringens neuraminidase enhanced the surface radiolabeling by the galactose oxidase/NaB3H4 method: HEp-2 cells exhibited over sixfold enhancement in labeling, while BHK-21 cells showed only a slight increase. HSV glycoprotein gC was the predominant cell-surface glycoprotein radiolabeled by the galactose oxidase/NaB3H4 method in virus-infected BHK-21 cells. The glycoprotein gC was purified by immunoaffinity column chromatography on monoclonal anti-gC-antibody-Sepharose. The radiolabel in the glycopeptides of gC was resistant to beta elimination, showing that it was associated only with Asn-linked oligosaccharides. A serial lectin affinity chromatography of glycopeptides on columns of concanavalin A-Sepharose, lentil (Lens culinaris) lectin-Sepharose, and Ricin I-agarose allowed the assignment of minimal oligosaccharide structures bearing terminal Gal residues in gC.     

Biosynthesis of the epidermal growth factor receptor in A431 cells.

A monoclonal antibody R1 against the human epidermal growth factor receptor has been used to study biosynthesis in the carcinoma cell line A431. Two glycoproteins of apparent mol. wts. 95 000 and 160 000 were immunoprecipitated from cells labelled for short times with [35S]methionine or [3H]mannose. Pulse-chase studies show the 160 000 mol. wt. glycoprotein to be a precursor of the 175 000 mol. wt. receptor, but do not establish a precursor role for the 95 000 mol. wt. glycoprotein. Limited proteolysis, peptide mapping, endoglycosidase digestion and the use of monensin and tunicamycin show that the 95 000 mol. wt. glycoprotein is structurally related to the 160 000 mol. wt. glycoprotein and that both glycoproteins have approximately 22 000 - 28 000 mol. wt. of oligosaccharide side chains. Monensin blocks conversion of the 160 000 to the 175 000 mol. wt. mature receptor, a process which involves complexing several of its N-linked oligosaccharide chains. Pulse-chase studies showed that an immunoprecipitable polypeptide of 115 000 mol. wt., or 95 000 mol. wt., in the presence of monensin, was secreted into the medium at late chase times. The possible mechanisms for the origins of all the receptor-related polypeptides are discussed.     

Cell-free biosynthesis of erythroglycan in a microsomal fraction from K-562 cells.

Particulate membrane preparations from K-562 [human CML (chronic-myelogenous-leukaemia)-derived] cells catalyse the transfer of [3H]galactose from UDP-[3H]-galactose and [3H]N-acetylglucosamine from UDP-[3H]N-acetylglucosamine into an endogenous product that on digestion with Pronase yields long-chain glycopeptides (mol.wt. 7000--10 000) called 'erythroglycan'. Incorporation of either labelled sugar increased up to 60 min of incubation time. The labelled erythroglycan was isolated by chromatography on Sephadex G-50 and characterized by digestion with endo-beta-galactosidase from Escherichia freundii, followed by analysis on Bio-Gel P-2 and paper chromatography. This digestion gave the following four products: (1) a disaccharide with the sequence beta GlcNAc-beta Gal; (2) a trisaccharide with the sequence betaGal-betaGlcNAc-beta Gal; (3) a larger oligosaccharide containing galactose and N-acetylglucosamine; and (4) a putative protein-linkage region.     

Orientation of the beta subunit polypeptide of (Na+ + K+)ATPase in the cell membrane

Although the animal cell (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is composed of two polypeptide subunits, alpha and beta, very little is known about the beta subunit. In order to obtain information about the structure of this polypeptide, the beta subunit has been investigated using proteolytic fragmentation, chemical modification of carbohydrate residues, and immunoblot analysis. The sialic acid moieties on the oligosaccharide groups on the beta subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase were labeled with NaB3H4 after oxidation by sodium periodate, or the penultimate galactose residues on the oligosaccharides were similarly labeled after removal of sialic acid with neuraminidase and oxidation by galactose oxidase. All of the carbohydrate residues of the protein are located on regions of the beta subunit that are found on the non-cytoplasmic surface of the membrane. Cleavage of the galactose oxidase-treated, NaB3H4-labeled beta subunit by chymotrypsin at an extracellular site produced labeled fragments of 40 and 18 kDa, indicating multiple glycosylation sites along the polypeptide. Neither the 40 kDa fragment nor the 18 kDa fragment was released from the membrane by chymotrypsin digestion alone, but after cleavage the 40 kDa fragment could be removed from the membrane by treatment with 0.1 M NaOH. This indicates that the 40 kDa fragment does not span the lipid bilayer. The 40 kDa fragment and the 18 kDa fragment are also linked by at least one disulfide bond. The 18 kDa fragment also contains all of the binding sites found on the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase for anti-beta subunit antibodies. Both the 40 kDa fragment and the 18 kDa fragment were also generated using papain or trypsin to cleave the beta subunit. These data indicate that the beta subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase contains multiple sites of glycosylation, that it inserts into the cell membrane near only one end of the polypeptide, and that one region of the polypeptide is particularly sensitive to proteolytic cleavage relative to the rest of the polypeptide.     

The carbohydrate moiety of band-3 glycoprotein of human erythrocyte membranes.

Band-3 glycoprotein was purified from human blood-group-A erythrocyte membranes by selective solubilization and gel chromatography on Sepharose 6B in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. The purified glycoprotein was subjected to hydrazinolysis in order to release the carbohydrate moiety. The released oligosaccharides were N-acetylated and applied to a column of DEAE-cellulose. Most of the band-3 oligosaccharides obtained were found to be free of sialic acids. When this neutral fraction was subjected to gel chromatography on a column of Sephadex G-50, two broad peaks were observed indicating that the band-3 glycoprotein was heterogeneous in the size of the oligosaccharide moieties. All fractions from gel chromatography were found to contain galactose, mannose, N-acetylglucosamine and fucose. The higher-molecular-weight (mol.wt. 3000-8000) peak consisted of fucose, mannose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine in a molar proportion of 1.6:3.0:8.4:10.5:0.2. Most of these oligosaccharides were digested with a mixture of beta-galactosidase and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase after alpha-L-fucosidase treatment to give a small oligosaccharide with the structure alpha Man2-beta Man-beta GlcNAc-GlcNAc. Methylation studies and limited degradation by nitrous acid deamination showed that the oligosaccharides contained the repeating disaccharide Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3, with branching points at C-6 of some of the galactose residues. These results indicate that a major portion of the band-3 oligosaccharide has a common core structure, with heterogeneity in the numbers of the repeating disaccharides, and contains fucose residues both in the peripheral portion and in the core portion. Haemagglutination tests were also carried out to determine the blood-group specificities of the glycoprotein and the results demonstrated the presence of both blood-group-H and I antigenic activities.     

Glycoprotein synthesis in the adult rat pancreas. IV. Subcellular distribution of membrane glycoproteins

Zymogen granule membranes from the rat exocrine pancreas displays distinctive, simple protein and glycoprotein compositions when compared to other intracellular membranes. The carbohydrate content of zymogen granule membrane protein was 5-10-fold greater than that of membrane fractions isolated from smooth and rough microsomes, mitochondria and a preparation containing plasma membranes, and 50-100-fold greater than the zymogen granule content and the postmicrosomal supernate. The granule membrane glycoprotein contained primarily sialic acid, fucose, mannose, galactose and N-acetylglucosamine. The levels of galactose, fucose and sialic acid increased in membranes in the following order: rough microsomes less than smooth microsomes less than zymogen granules. Membrane polypeptides were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. The profile of zymogen granule membrane polypeptides was characterized by GP-2, a species with an apparent molecular weight of 74 000. Radioactivity profiles of membranes labeled with [3H]glucosamine or [3H]leucine, as well as periodic acid-Schiff stain profiles, indicated that GP-2 accounted for approx. 40% of the firmly bound granule membrane protein. Low levels of a species similar to GP-2 were detected in membranes of smooth microsomes and the preparation enriched in plasma membranes but not in other subcellular fractions. These results suggest that GP-2 is a biochemical marker for zymogen granules. Membrane glycoproteins of intact zymogen granules were resistant to neuraminidase treatment, while those in isolated granule membranes were readily degraded by neuraminidase. GP-2 of intact granules was not labeled by exposure to galactose oxidase followed by reduction with NaB3H4. In contrast, GP-2 in purified granule membranes was readily labeled by this procedure. Therefore GP-2 appears to be located on the zymogen granule interior.     

Castanospermine inhibits glucosidase I and glycoprotein secretion in human hepatoma cells.

We studied the effect of the plant alkaloid castanospermine on the biosynthesis and secretion of human hepatoma glycoproteins. The HepG-2 cells, grown in the presence or absence of the alkaloid, were labelled with [2-3H]mannose and then the labelled glycopeptides were prepared by Pronase digestion. This material was analysed by gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-4 before and after treatment with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. Castanospermine caused an accumulation of high-mannose oligosaccharides, by 70-75% over control. The major accumulated product, which could also be labelled with [3H]galactose and was only partially susceptible to alpha-mannosidase digestion, was identified by h.p.l.c. as a Glc3Man9GlcNAc. Thus the alkaloid inhibits glucosidase I in the human hepatoma cells. Analysis of total glycoproteins secreted by the cells into the medium revealed the presence of only complex oligosaccharides in both control and treated cultures, and the amount of the oligosaccharides labelled with radioactive mannose, galactose or N-acetylmannosamine, secreted by treated cells, was decreased by about 60%. The rate of secretion of total protein labelled with [35S]methionine and precipitated from the medium with trichloroacetic acid was inhibited by up to 40% in the presence of castanospermine. Pulse-chase studies utilizing [35S]methionine labelling were performed to study the effect of the alkaloid on secretion of individual plasma proteins. Immunoprecipitation at different chase times with monospecific antisera showed that castanospermine markedly decreased the secretion rates of alpha 1-antitrypsin, caeruloplasmin and, to a lesser extent, that of antithrombin-III. Secretions of apolipoprotein E, a glycoprotein containing only O-linked oligosaccharide(s), and albumin, a non-glycosylated protein, were not affected by the drug. It is suggested that castanospermine inhibits secretion of at least some glycoproteins containing N-linked oligosaccharides, owing to the inhibition of oligosaccharide processing.     

Characterization of the oligosaccharide units of the bovine erythrocyte membrane glycoprotein.

The major glycoprotein of the bovine erythrocyte membrane was purified by extraction of the ghosts with lithium 3,5-diiodosalicylate followed by phenol-water extraction and acidification. The glycoprotein contains 20% protein and 80% carbohydrate by weight and gives a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels with an estimated molecular weight of 230000 daltons. The carbohydrate composition of the glycoprotein was determined to be (in residues relative to sialic acid): sialic acid, 1.0; fucose, less than 0.01; mannose, 0.1; galactose, 3.3; N-acetylgalactosamine, 0.9; and N-acetylglucosamine, 2.4. Pronase digestion of the isolated glycoprotein followed by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration resulted in the separation of a small pool of glycopeptides (pool III), which included all of the mannose-containing glycopeptides, from the bulk of the glycopeptide material which was in the void fractions of the column (pool I). Alkaline borohydride treatment released over 95% of the oligosaccharide units in pool I and approximately 30% of the oligosaccharide units in pool III. These oligosaccharides were isolated by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The oligosaccharides released from pool I had molecular weights of 1100-1400 daltons and contained sialic acid, galactose, and N-acetylglucosamine in molar ratios of 0.5-1:3:2 as well as a partial residue of N-acetylgalactosaminitol. The oligosaccharides released from pool III by alkali had molecular weights of 1300-1600 daltons and contained sialic acid, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine and N-ACETYLgalactosaminitol in molar ratios of 1-2:2:1:1:1. These data indicate that the majority of the oligosaccharide units of the bovine erythrocyte glycoprotein are linked O-glycosidically to the peptide backbone of the molecule.     

Some studies on the composition of bovine cortical-bone sialoprotein

1. An analysis of bovine bone sialoprotein, a homogeneous glycoprotein isolated from cortical bone, is presented. 2. Analytical results agree with earlier physical measurements indicating a molecular weight of about 23000. 3. Mild acid hydrolysis and treatment with neuraminidase showed that fucose and sialic acid occupy terminal positions on oligosaccharide chains. 4. Treatment of the sialic acid-free glycoprotein with beta-galactosidase showed that much of the galactose occupies a sub-terminal location in the intact glycoprotein. 5. The polypeptide chain is rich in aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, threonine and glycine, and has no detectable free terminal amino group. 6. Glycopeptides were studied after proteolytic digestion. 7. It is considered that the carbohydrate moiety is highly branched and is probably linked by an acid- and alkali-stable glycosylamine bond involving aspartic acid.     

Human serotonectin: a blood glycoprotein that binds serotonin. Chemical and physiological characterization

A glycoprotein that circulates in human blood, binds to the surface of platelets and white cells and also binds serotonin with high affinity and specificity has previously been purified and partially characterized. This glycoprotein has been called serotonectin. Antibodies raised against serotonectin inhibited the uptake of [3H]serotonin by platelets. We now report on the amino acid and carbohydrate composition of this protein as well as on some of the properties of the protein from which the carbohydrate moiety was removed. Serotonectin (apparent molecular weight 200 000; as judged by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) is an acidic protein that contains about 13% carbohydrate (w/w) consisting of mannose, galactose, glucosamine and sialic acid in a molar ratio of 2:1:4:0.8. Initial characterization suggests that serotonectin is a sialoglycoprotein of complex-type oligosaccharide N-linked to asparagine through N-acetylglucosamine. Treatment of serotonectin with neuraminidase resulted in a quantitative release of sialic acid without loss of antigenicity or binding capacity for [3H]serotonin. Treatment of desialylated serotonectin under non-denaturing conditions with almond glycopeptidase A resulted in 60-80% release of sugar. The protein moiety of the glycopeptidase-digested material showed no change in the capacity to bind [3H]serotonin and exhibited the same antigenic properties as untreated serotonectin. These data show the non-involvement of the carbohydrate moiety of human serotonectin in the mechanism of binding serotonin but the possible contribution of this moiety to a tighter interaction with the serotonectin receptor.