The distribution and partial characterization of UDPgalactose: N-acetylgalactosamine mucin galactosyltransferase activity from rat small intestine and its sensitivity to Zn2+

UDPgalactose: N-acetylgalactosamine mucin galactosyltransferase activity of the rat intestine was studied and purified using asialo-ovine submaxillary mucin as the acceptor substrate and inhibitors to suppress UDPgalactose breakdown by pyrophosphatase activities particularly prevalent in the duodenal-jejunal regions. Despite adequate suppression of UDPgalactose breakdown, significant intestinal region differences of mucin galactosyltransferase activity were observed. Elevations of activity were observed in the duodenum and distal ileum of the small intestine and the cecum and proximal colon; these elevations in activity correspond to areas of increased mucin production. Similarly, mucin galactosyltransferase activity of duodenal cells isolated along a crypt-to-villus axis showed a moderate increase (67.7%) in activity associated with cells in the crypt region. Small intestine mucin galactosyltransferase activity was purified 800-fold using a series of ion exchange (DEAE-Sepharose), gel filtration (S-200 Sephacryl) and affinity chromatographic steps to isolate the mucin galactosyltransferase activity from a Triton X-100/Nonidet P-40 extract of homogenized cells obtained by scraping everted intestines. The partially purified enzyme showed two distinct protein bands of 81.5 and 50 kDa and a faint band at 53.3 kDa. Kinetic analysis gave an apparent Km of 152 microM for UDPgalactose. The enzyme showed optimal activity with Mn2+ (20 mM) and partial activities using a number of other divalent cations. Higher concentrations of Mn2+ were slightly inhibitory. Mucin galactosyltransferase activity was inhibited by more then 90% in the presence of Zn2+ (4 mM) and this inhibition could not be reversed by additional Mn2+. Addition of Zn2+ (4 mM) to assays containing Mn2+ (20 mM) did not cause appreciable UDPgalactose breakdown, as measured by high-voltage paper electrophoresis, suggesting that Zn2+ inhibition is not a result of pyrophosphatase activation. In addition, Zn2+ does not appear to activate a protease or glycosidase activity in the partially purified enzyme preparation which could hydrolyze the galactosylated product prior to isolation.     

Mucin biosynthesis. Characterization of UDP-galactose: alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminide beta 3 galactosyltransferase from human tracheal epithelium

We have characterized the UDP-galactose: alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminide beta 3 galactosyltransferase in human tracheal epithelium using asialo ovine submaxillary mucin as the acceptor. Maximal enzyme activity was obtained at pH 6.0-7.5 and at 20-25 mM MnCl2 and at 2% Triton X-100. Cd2+ could substitute for Mn2+ as the divalent ion cofactor. Spermine, spermidine, putrecine, cadaverine, and poly-L-lysine stimulated the enzyme activity at low (2.5 mM) MnCl2 concentration. The apparent Michaelis constants for N-acetylgalactosamine, asialo ovine submaxillary mucin, and UDP-galactose were 15.5, 1.14, and 1.36 mM, respectively. The enzyme activity was not affected by alpha-lactalbumin. The alpha-N-acetygalactosaminide beta 3 galactosyltransferase was shown to be different from the N-acetylglucosamine galactosyltransferase by acceptor competition studies. The product of galactosyltransferase was identified as Gal beta 1 leads to 3GalNAc alpha Ser (Thr) by (a) isolation of [14C]Gal-GalNAc-H2 after alkaline borohydride treatment of the 14C-labeled product, (b) establishment of the beta-configuration of the newly synthesized glycosidic bond by its complete cleavage by bovine testicular beta-galactosidase, and (c) assignment of the 1 leads to 3 linkage by identification of threosaminitol obtained from the oxidation of the disaccharide with periodic acid followed by reduction with sodium borohydride, hydrolysis in 4 N HCl, and analysis on an amino acid analyzer. The 1 leads to 3 linkage was confirmed by its resistance to jack bean beta-galactosidase and by the presence of a m/e 307 ion fragment and the absence of a m/e 276 ion by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. When acid and beta-galactosidase-treated human tracheobronchial mucin was used as the acceptor, 3.3% of the product was found as [14C]Gal-GalNAc-H2. The remainder of the [14C]Gal was found in longer oligosaccharides formed by a different beta-galactosyltransferase. This galactosyltransferase is slightly inhibited by alpha-lactalbumin and stimulated by spermine.     

Studies on glycosyltransferases in fusion-defective conA-resistant L6 rat myoblast cell lines

1. Sialyl- and galactosyl-transferase activities were determined in wild type and conA-resistant L6 rat myoblasts with substrates derived from fetuin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and bovine submaxillary mucin; fetuin was the best acceptor for both enzyme activities, whereas the mucin did not act as an acceptor. 2. The optimum pH for sialyltransferase was 6.6 in both cell lines. 3. The optimum pH for galactosyltransferase in the wild type cell line was 6.2 which was slightly higher than the value of 5.8 found for the conA-resistant cells. 4. Values for Km for both enzyme activities increased five to ten-fold in the variant cell line with both acceptors. 5. The main sialyltransferase activity was the Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc alpha 2----3sialyltransferase for N-linked chains. The galactosyltransferase was most likely the enzyme that is responsible for the synthesis of the Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc structure.     

Cancer-associated serum galactosyltransferase activity. Demonstration in an animal model system.

Two different lines of solid tumors were produced in outbred hamsters by subcutaneous injection of polyoma transformed BHK cells. Growth of the tumors correlated with the appearance in serum of an electrophoretically distinct peak of galactosyltransferase: NeuAc-, Gal-free fetuin acceptor activity on polyacrylamide gels. This slow moving peak of enzyme activity (GT-HH) was detected before solid tumors could be grossly observed and the amount of activity in this peak was also found to be linearly related with growth of the tumor. GT-IIH was not detectable in control animals and separated from a faster migrating major area of serum galactosyltransferase activity (GT-IH) found in sera of both control and tumor-bearing hamsters. These two activities were shown to maintain their respective mobilities on re-electrophoresis. Solubilized enzyme derived from excised tumors demonstrated an electrophoretic mobility on polyacrylamide gels identical to that for GT-IIH present in serum from tumor-bearing animals. In contrast, enzyme activity solubilized from livers of both control or tumor-bearing hamsters showed a mobility similar to that of the faster moving serum galactosyltransferase enzyme activity, i.e. GT-IH. In addition, medium derived from nonconfluent BHKpy cells in tissue culture contained galactosyltransferase activity which co-electrophoresed with the slower migrating characteristics of galactosyltransferase activities derived from serum (control and tumor-bearing), solid tumors, liver and BHKpy cells in tissue culture were compared. All kinetic properties were similar with the exception that the Km UDP-galactose of GT-IIH (1.0 X 10(-5) M) was half that of GT-IH (2.0 X 10(-5) M).     

The molecular and catalytic properties of galactosyltransferase from fetal calf serum

A soluble galactosyltransferase (UDP-galactose:N-acetylglucosamine galactosyl-transferase) was purified to apparent homogeneity from fetal calf serum with an overall increase in specific activity of 19,600-fold. The enzyme exhibited the following properties: specific activity, 8.5 units/mg of protein; acceptor specificity, N-acetylglucosamine/ ovalbumin = 3.3; diffusion coefficient, 5.56; sedimentation coefficient, 3.2; and molecular weight, 47,800. Comparison of the structural and catalytic properties of the fetal calf serum enzyme with purified galactosyltransferase from bovine milk indicated that the enzymes from the two bovine sources are very similar and possibly identical.     

Detection, purification and characterization of a human cancer-associated galactosyltransferase acceptor.

A low-molecular-weight acceptor of galactosyltransferase activity was detected in sera and effusions of patients with extensive maligant disease. This substance was purified to homogeneity from both human serum and effusion by using sequential charcoal/Celite and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The purified acceptor was shown to act as substrate for both purified normal and cancer-associated human galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.22) isoenzymes, but had a higher affinity for the cancer-associated isoenzyme (Km = 20 microM) than for the normal isoenzyme (Km = 500 microM). The substrate was found to be a glycopeptide with mol.wt. approx. 3600 determined by polyacrylamide-gel chromatography. Carbohyydate analysis demonstrated only the presence of glucosamine and mannose. Amino acid analysis revealed that the peptide moiety consisted of eight different amino acids, including two residues of asparagine and one residue of serine, but no threonine. These structural data suggest that the acceptor is a fraction of an asparagine-glucosamine type of glycoprotein.     

Characterization of UDP-galactosyl:asialo-mucin transferase activity in the Golgi system of rat liver.

UDPgalactosyltransferase activity (UDPgalactose:mucopolysaccharide galactosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.74) was measured in a well-characterized fraction of Golgi membranes in the presence of UDPgalactose and exogenous acceptor sites. Substrate saturation for 0.05 mg Golgi protein was achieved at a concentration of 4.6 mM UDPgalactose. Desialylated mucin proved to be the most suitable acceptor protein. Access to galactose acceptor sites was not rate limiting for the reaction when 20 mg of asialo-mucin/ml of incubation mixture was used. With these concentrations of substrates the use of nucleotides to inhibit pyrophosphatases and of detergents to perturb the membrane structure was not necessary and proved, in fact, to be inhibitory to galactose transfer. UDPgalactosyl:asialo-mucin transferase activity in Golgi membranes was 230 nmol galactose transferred/mg Golgi protein per 30 min.     

Rat liver Golgi galactosyltransferases. Distinct enzymes for glycolipid and glycoprotein acceptor substrates.

Two enzymes that catalyse the transfer of galactose from UDP-galactose to GM2 ganglioside were partially purified from rat liver Golgi membranes. These preparations, designated enzyme I (basic) and enzyme II (acidic), utilized as acceptors GM2 ganglioside and asialo GM2 ganglioside as well as ovalbumin, desialodegalactofetuin, desialodegalacto-orosomucoid, desialo bovine submaxillary mucin and GM2 oligosaccharide. Enzyme II catalysed disaccharide synthesis in the presence of the monosaccharide acceptors N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine. The affinity adsorbent alpha-lactalbumin-agarose, which did not retard GM2 ganglioside galactosyltransferase, was used to remove most or all of galactosyltransferase activity towards glycoprotein and monosaccharide acceptors from the extracted Golgi preparation. After treatment of the extracted Golgi preparation with alpha-lactalbumin-agarose, enzyme I and enzyme II GM2 ganglioside galactosyltransferase activities, prepared by using DEAE-Sepharose chromatography, were distinguishable from transferase activity towards GM2 oligosaccharide and glycoproteins by the criterion of thermolability. This residual galactosyltransferase activity towards glycoprotein substrates was also shown to be distinct from GM2 ganglioside galactosyltransferase in both enzyme preparations I and II by the absence of competition between the two acceptor substrates. The two types of transferase activities could be further distinguished by their response to the presence of the protein effector alpha-lactalbumin. GM2 ganglioside galactosyltransferase was stimulated in the presence of alpha-lactalbumin, whereas the transferase activity towards desialodegalactofetuin was inhibited in the presence of this protein. The results of purification studies, comparison of thermolability properties and competition analysis suggested the presence of a minimum of five galactosyltransferase species in the Golgi extract. Five peaks of galactosyltransferase activity were resolved by isoelectric focusing. Two of these peaks (pI 8.6 and 6.3) catalysed transfer of galactose to GM2 ganglioside, and three peaks (pI 8.1, 6.8 and 6.3) catalysed transfer to glycoprotein acceptors.     

The charge heterogeneity of soluble human galactosyltransferases isolated from milk, amniotic fluid and malignant ascites.

UDP-galactose: N-acetylglucosamine galactosyltransferase was isolated from pooled human milk, pooled amniotic fluid and from two different individual samples of malignant ascites. The purification procedure involving two successive affinity chromatography steps on N-acetylglucosamine--agarose and alpha-lactalbumin--agarose yielded an enzyme preparation homogeneous by size. Under non-denaturing conditions the ascites and amniotic fluid enzymes had identical electrophoretic mobility, but they moved faster than the milk enzyme. Isoelectric analysis in the presence and absence of urea resolved the milk enzyme into at least 13 different forms, nine of which had the same isoelectric points after refocusing. All enzyme forms showed similar activity when free N-acetylglucosamine, ovalbumin, sialic-acid-free ovine submaxillary mucin and glucose, in the presence of alpha-lactalbumin, were used as acceptor substrates. Comparative isoelectric focusing of the three galactosyltransferases revealed identical patterns of the amniotic and ascites enzymes, but only partial overlap with the milk enzyme, which was less negatively charged. Neuraminidase treatment of ascites and milk galactosyltransferases produced very similar focusing patterns. The possible structural basis for this charge heterogeneity is briefly discussed.     

Incorporation of galactose into galactosyltransferase

Bovine skim milk galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.22) retained its catalytic activity after partial enzymatic removal of sialic acid and galactose. Desialylated and degalactosylated galactosyltransferase was a galactosyl acceptor in the galactosyltransferase reaction. [14C]Galactose from UDP-[14C]galactose was incorporated into the carbohydrate-depleted galactosyltransferase by native galactosyltransferase. The results suggest that galactosyltransferase participates in the biosynthesis of its glycopeptides of the sialic acid-galactose-N-acetylglucosamine type.     

Electrophoretic comparison of cellular and soluble galactosyltransferase (lactose synthetase A protein) using specific antibodies

Rabbit antisera against soluble human milk galactosyltransferase (GT) having anti-GT activity, as demonstrated by inhibition of enzyme activity were used for a comparative study of the molecular sizes of galactosyltransferase. For this purpose, affinity-purified antibodies were used for the identification of milk, serum and effusion galactosyltransferase from native or partially purified preparations resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) by the immune replica technique. Milk galactosyltransferase migrated as a 55-kilodalton (kD) protein, serum and effusion GT slightly faster. Cross-reactive enzyme forms of 110 kD and 20 kD were detected in milk only. In order to establish a relationship between intracellular and soluble galactosyltransferase, HeLa cells were metabolically labeled by [35S]-methionine, cells lysed, subjected to immunoprecipitation and the precipitate analyzed by SDS-PAGE/fluorography: a single band corresponding to the intracellular form of GT have similar mobility as the milk enzyme was detected. These results indicate a close structural similarity between soluble and cellular galactosyltransferase as judged by immunological cross-reactivity and electrophoretic mobility.     

Preparation and galactosyltransferase acceptor activity of derivatives of antifreeze glycoproteins of an Antarctic fish.

A series of 12 closely related glycoproteins containing alpha-linked N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc) as the sole carbohydrate moiety have been prepared by degradation of the antifreeze glycoproteins from the serum of the Antarctic fish Trematomus borchgrevinki. The polypeptide moieties of these glycoproteins contain substitutions in the normal -Ala-Ala-Thr- repeating tripeptide sequence which introduce alterations in the amount of alpha-helical structure and the density of acceptor sites, and theoretically also in the amount of rigidity, polarity, and hydrophobicity of the polypeptide. Of these alterations only density of acceptor sites has a statistically significant effect on the ability of the GalNAc alpha leads to Thr moiety to act as a substrate for galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.22) activity solubilized from rat liver microsomes. This result suggests that in the biosynthesis of rat liver glycoproteins these structural features of the polypeptide moiety of glycoproteins are not part of the substrate specificity of the galactosyltransferase activity that transfers the second monosaccharide. Hence, these structural features do not play a major role in determining the structure of the threonine-linked oligosaccharide after its synthesis has been initiated.     

The effect of cycloheximide on galactosyltransferase of rat liver Golgi membranes.

An inhibitory effect of cycloheximide on the initial rate of galactosyltransferase of rat liver Golgi membranes has been demonstrated. Cycloheximide was effective in inhibiting the activity of the enzyme when added directly to the assay medium or after pre-incubation of the membranes with the drug. The inhibition observed with different concentrations of nucleotide sugar was shown to be competitive at higher concentrations of the nucleotide sugar (0.10-1.0 mumol). The inhibition observed with different concentrations of acceptor, N-acetylglucosamine was complex and could not be analysed further with the present data. Washing the Golgi membranes previously incubated with cycloheximide with water failed to reverse the inhibition. Washing with UDPgalactose partially reversed the inhibition only. These results, together with the observation that serum galactosyltransferase was not inhibited by cycloheximide supported the view that the cycloheximide effect may be primarily on the membrane system.     

Detection of UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine-oligosaccharide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase activity in rat stomach and human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography

The enzymatic transfer of the sugar portion from UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine to pyridylamino (PA) lacto-N-fucopentaose I (Fuc alpha 1-2Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc beta 1-4Glc-PA) was detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. Separation of the fluorescent product from the fluorescence-labeled acceptor was achieved within 10 min by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Rat stomach enzyme activity was detected in the microsomal fraction from antrum but not corpus. Ohara et al. (1986, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 83B, 273-275) reported that the N-acetylgalactosamine content in antrum mucin was greater than that in corpus mucin and antrum mucin had strong blood group A activity. The prominent asymmetrical distribution of the enzyme detected here well supports these findings. The elution position of the fluorescent product was the same as that of the product formed by the action of type A human serum toward the acceptor. Its hydrolysis by alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase yielded the acceptor. It is thus evident that the detected enzyme is the same as that producing the blood group A structure.     

Structure of the disaccharide chain of galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-protein synthesized in vitro.

In order to obtain a [14C]galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-protein which would be useful as an acceptor in studies on the specificity of glycosyltransferases, a porcine submaxillary gland microsomal galactosyltransferase preparation was used for the galactosylation in vitro of N-acetylgalactosaminyl-protein (desialylated ovine submaxillary mucin). The newly formed oligosaccharide unit was obtained as a reduced disaccharide after alkaline borohydride treatment of the [14C]galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-protein product and as glycopeptides by proteolytic digestion of the glycoprotein. The reduced disaccharide consisted of equimolar amounts of galactose and N-acetylgalactosaminitol and was characterized by thin-layer chromatography, high-voltage electrophoresis and gas-liquid chromatography. Periodate oxidation studies on the reduced disaccharide revealed that [14C]galactose was linked to position C-3 on the N-acetylgalactosaminyl residue. Digestion of the reduced disaccharide and the glycopeptides with galactosidases gave equivocal results as to the anomeric configuration of the [14C]galactose residue. Nuclear magnetic resonance of the reduced disaccharide, however, definitely indicated that the configuration was beta. The specificity of the porcine submaxillary gland galactosyltransferase thus can be defined as a uridine diphosphogalactose: alpha-D-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-protein beta 1 leads to 3 transferase activity.     

The wbbD gene of E. coli strain VW187 (O7:K1) encodes a UDP-Gal: GlcNAc{alpha}-pyrophosphate-R {beta}1,3-galactosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of O7-specific lipopolysaccharide

In this work, we demonstrate that the wbbD gene of the O7 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis cluster in Escherichia coli strain VW187 (O7:K1) encodes a galactosyltransferase involved in the synthesis of the O7-polysaccharide repeating unit. The galactosyltransferase catalyzed the transfer of Gal from UDP-Gal to the GlcNAc residue of a GlcNAc-pyrophosphate-lipid acceptor. A mutant strain with a defective wbbD gene was unable to form O7 LPS and lacked this specific galactosyltransferase activity. The normal phenotype was restored by complementing the mutant with the cloned wbbD gene. To characterize the WbbD galactosyltransferase, we used a novel acceptor substrate containing GlcNAcalpha-pyrophosphate covalently bound to a hydrophobic phenoxyundecyl moiety (GlcNAc alpha-O-PO(3)-PO(3)-(CH(2))(11)-O-phenyl). The WbbD galactosyltransferase had optimal activity at pH 7 in the presence of 2.5 mM MnCl(2). Detergents in the assay did not increase glycosyl transfer. Digestion of enzyme product by highly purified bovine testicular beta-galactosidase demonstrated a beta-linkage. Cleavage of product by pyrophosphatase and phosphatase, followed by HPLC and NMR analyses, revealed a disaccharide with the structure Gal beta1-3GlcNAc. Our results conclusively demonstrate that WbbD is a UDP-Gal: GlcNAcalpha-pyrophosphate-R beta1,3-galactosyltransferase and suggest that the novel synthetic glycolipid acceptor may be generally applicable to characterize other bacterial glycosyltransferases.     

Co2+ is able to substitute for Mn2+ in some exogenous and endogenous galactosyltransferase reactions

The ability of Co2+ to substitute for Mn2+ in exogenous and endogenous galactosyltransferase reactions was tested. Exogenous transfer was measured towards different high and low molecular weight galactose acceptors using galactosyltransferase from the following sources: crude serum, the serum enzyme partially purified by affinity chromatography and a pure enzyme preparation from milk. Endogenous transfer was estimated in preparations from human urinary bladder tumor cells and from rat liver microsomal fractions. The results show that Co2+ is able to substitute for Mn2+ in some exogenous and endogenous galactosyltransferase reactions. This ability seems to depend on the molecular structure of the galactose acceptor as well as on the nature of the enzyme.     

Galactosyltransferase, pyrophosphatase and phosphatase activities in luminal plasma of the cauda epididymidis and in the rete testis fluid of some mammals

Galactosyltransferase activity was measured in the luminal plasma of the cauda epididymidis of mice, rats, rabbits, rams and boars, and in the rete testis fluid of rams and boars. The activities of nucleotide pyrophosphatase and alkaline phosphatase, which compete with galactosyltransferase for substrate, were also determined. In these species, galactosyltransferase activity in the luminal plasma of the cauda epididymidis was similar when the inhibitory effect of pyrophosphatase and phosphatase was minimized by assay conditions. However, under assay conditions that did not minimize the effect of these enzymes, the galactosyltransferase activities of these species were very different and were inversely correlated with the activities of pyrophosphatase and phosphatase. The ratio of galactosyltransferase activity to pyrophosphatase and phosphatase activity was much higher in the rete testis fluid than in the luminal plasma of the cauda epididymidis in both rams and boars. In rams, galactosyltransferase in the luminal plasma of the cauda epididymidis was more heat resistant than that in serum. These results suggest that there is a species difference in the availability of galactosyltransferase activity in the luminal plasma of the cauda epididymidis and that in some species, galactosyltransferase in the luminal fluid is unlikely to have any function. The results are also discussed with respect to the possible function of galactosyltransferase, pyrophosphatase and phosphatase in epididymal luminal plasma and rete testis fluid.     

Roles of active site tryptophans in substrate binding and catalysis by alpha-1,3 galactosyltransferase

Aromatic amino acids are frequent components of the carbohydrate binding sites of lectins and enzymes. Previous structural studies have shown that in alpha-1,3 galactosyltransferase, the binding site for disaccharide acceptor substrates is encircled by four tryptophans, residues 249, 250, 314, and 356. To investigate their roles in enzyme specificity and catalysis, we expressed and characterized variants of the catalytic domain of alpha-1,3 galactosyltransferase with substitutions for each tryptophan. Substitution of glycine for tryptophan 249, whose indole ring interacts with the nonpolar B face of glucose or GlcNAc, greatly increases the K(m) for the acceptor substrate. In contrast, the substitution of tyrosine for tryptophan 314, which interacts with the beta-galactosyl moiety of the acceptor and UDP-galactose, decreases k(cat) for the galactosyltransferase reaction but does not affect the low UDP-galactose hydrolase activity. Thus, this highly conserved residue stabilizes the transition state for the galactose transfer to disaccharide but not to water. High-resolution crystallographic structures of the Trp(249)Gly mutant and the Trp(314)Tyr mutant indicate that the mutations do not affect the overall structure of the enzyme or its interactions with ligands. Substitutions for tryptophan 250 have only small effects on catalytic activity, but mutation of tryptophan 356 to threonine reduces catalytic activity for both transferase and hydrolase activities and reduces affinity for the acceptor substrate. This residue is adjacent to the flexible C-terminus that becomes ordered on binding UDP to assemble the acceptor binding site and influence catalysis. The results highlight the diverse roles of these tryptophans in enzyme action and the importance of k(cat) changes in modulating glycosyltransferase specificity.     

Distribution, purification and characterization of rat intestinal UDPgalactose: N-acetylglucosaminyl(beta 1----4)galactosyltransferase

Rat intestinal UDPgalactose: N-acetylglucosaminyl(beta 1----4)galactosyltransferase activity was studied as to its intestinal and villus-to-crypt distribution, and then purified and characterized. Rapid UDPgalactose hydrolysis was noted in the duodenum and jejunum; little to no breakdown was detected in the distal ileum, cecum and proximal colon. Product analysis suggested that UDPgalactose hydrolysis was due to nucleotide-sugar pyrophosphatase and galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase activities; ileum appeared to have little of the first activity and none of the latter. An aboral gradient of galactosyltransferase activity was noted, activity being 3-4-fold higher in the ileum, cecum and proximal colon. Total homogenate exogenous acceptor galactosyltransferase activities showed no villus-crypt differences but activity measured with intact isolated cells demonstrated higher activity with crypt cells; this was particularly evident in the ileum. Galactosyltransferase activity was purified from ileal-colonic mucosa. An over 4000-fold purification with 75 percent yield was achieved. Only one band of approx. 70-75 kDa was noted on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoresis. As with other eukaryotic galactosyltransferase activities, there was an absolute requirement for Mn2+; the concentration required for half maximal activity was only 2.5 microM and higher concentrations did not inhibit. The Km for UDPgalactose was 30 microM.