Metabolism of Vertebrate Amino Sugars with N-Glycolyl Groups: INTRACELLULAR β-O-LINKED N-GLYCOLYLGLUCOSAMINE (GlcNGc), UDP-GlcNGc, AND THE BIOCHEMICAL AND STRUCTURAL RATIONALE FOR THE SUBSTRATE TOLERANCE OF β-O-LINKED β-N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINIDASE

The O-GlcNAc modification involves the attachment of single β-O-linked N-acetylglucosamine residues to serine and threonine residues of nucleocytoplasmic proteins. Interestingly, previous biochemical and structural studies have shown that O-GlcNAcase (OGA), the enzyme that removes O-GlcNAc from proteins, has an active site pocket that tolerates various N-acyl groups in addition to the N-acetyl group of GlcNAc. The remarkable sequence and structural conservation of residues comprising this pocket suggest functional importance. We hypothesized this pocket enables processing of metabolic variants of O-GlcNAc that could be formed due to inaccuracy within the metabolic machinery of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. In the accompanying paper (Bergfeld, A. K., Pearce, O. M., Diaz, S. L., Pham, T., and Varki, A. (2012) J. Biol. Chem. 287, 28865-28881), N-glycolylglucosamine (GlcNGc) was shown to be a catabolite of NeuNGc. Here, we show that the hexosamine salvage pathway can convert GlcNGc to UDP-GlcNGc, which is then used to modify proteins with O-GlcNGc. The kinetics of incorporation and removal of O-GlcNGc in cells occur in a dynamic manner on a time frame similar to that of O-GlcNAc. Enzymatic activity of O-GlcNAcase (OGA) toward a GlcNGc glycoside reveals OGA can process glycolyl-containing substrates fairly efficiently. A bacterial homolog (BtGH84) of OGA, from a human gut symbiont, also processes O-GlcNGc substrates, and the structure of this enzyme bound to a GlcNGc-derived species reveals the molecular basis for tolerance and binding of GlcNGc. Together, these results demonstrate that analogs of GlcNAc, such as GlcNGc, are metabolically viable species and that the conserved active site pocket of OGA likely evolved to enable processing of mis-incorporated analogs of O-GlcNAc and thereby prevent their accumulation. Such plasticity in carbohydrate processing enzymes may be a general feature arising from inaccuracy in hexosamine metabolic pathways.     

Extracellular amino acids and lipid peroxidation products in periventricular white matter during and after cerebral ischemia in preterm fetal sheep

It is widely hypothesized that accumulation of excitatory amino acids, and oxygen free radicals during or after exposure to hypoxia–ischemia play a pivotal role in preterm periventricular white matter injury; however, there is limited evidence in the intact brain. In preterm fetal sheep (0.65 gestation; term 147 days) we found no significant increase in extracellular levels of excitatory amino acids measured by microdialysis in the periventricular white matter during cerebral ischemia induced by bilateral carotid occlusion. There was no significant change in 8-isoprostane or malondialdehyde levels in the early phase of recovery after occlusion. In contrast, there was a significant delayed increase in most amino acids and in malondialdehyde (but not 8-isoprostane) that was maximal approximately 2–3 days after occlusion. The increase in glutamate was significantly correlated with a secondary increase in cortical impedance, an index of cytotoxic edema, and with white matter damage 3 days post-insult. In conclusion, no significant accumulation of cytotoxins was found within immature white matter during cerebral ischemia. Although a minority of fetuses showed a delayed increase in some cytotoxins, this occurred many days after ischemia, in association with secondary cytotoxic edema, strongly suggesting that these changes are mainly a consequence of evolving cell death.     

Low natural antibody and low in vivo tumor resistance, in xid-bearing B-cell deficient mice

Evidence from correlative studies and Winn-type assays in syngeneic murine models has suggested that natural antibodies contribute to resistance against tumors in vivo. The B cell deficit associated with the X-linked immunodeficiency of CBA/N strain mice provided a genetic model in which to further test this question. RI-28, a radiation-induced T cell leukemia of the CBA/H strain acquired reduced levels of fluorescence-detected natural antibodies from the serum of X-linked immunodeficiency-bearing CBA/N and male (CBA/N x CBA/J) F1 mice compared with the serum from normals. Threshold s.c. inocula of the RI-28 appeared sooner and produced higher tumor frequencies in the X-linked immunodeficiency-bearing animals. This data coupled with the lack of correlating deficiencies in natural killer cell or activated macrophage activity provide the first genetic evidence for the hypothesis.     

Use of conformationally restricted pyridinium alpha-D-N-acetylneuraminides to probe specificity in bacterial and viral sialidases.

Investigations into subtle changes in the catalytic activity of sialidases have been performed using enzymes from several different origins, and their results have been compared. This work highlights the potential pitfalls encountered when extending conclusions derived from mechanistic studies on a single enzyme even to those with high-sequence homology. Specifically, a panel of 5 pyridinium N-acetylneuraminides were used as substrates in a study that revealed subtle differences in the catalytic mechanisms used by 4 different sialidase enzymes. The lowest reactivity towards the artificial (pyridinium) substrates was displayed by the Newcastle disease virus hemagglutinin-neuraminidase. Moreover, in reactions involving aryl N-acetylneuraminides, the activity of the Newcastle enzyme was competitively inhibited by the 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrano[3,2-c]pyridinium compound with a Ki = 58 micromol/L. Alternatively, the 3 bacterial enzymes tested, from Salmonella typhimurium, Clostridium perfringens, and Vibrio cholerae, were catalytically active against all members of the panel of substrates. Based on the observed effect of leaving-group ability, it is proposed that the rate-determining step for kcat (and likely for kcat/Km as well) with each bacterial enzyme is as follows: sialylation, which is concerted with conformational change for V. cholerae; and conformational change for S. typhimurium and C. perfringens.     

In vivo antitumor activity demonstrated with squamous carcinoma reactive monoclonal antibody-Vinca immunoconjugates

Summary An immunoconjugate (PF1/D-DAVLBHYD), made with the squamous carcinoma reactive monoclonal antibody PF1/D and a derivative of vinblastine, DAVLBHYD, was shown to suppress established T222 human tumor nude mouse xenografts using a multidose protocol. Treatments of xenograft-bearing mice with free drug, free antibody, or a mixture of the two, were unsuccessful at achieving suppression without associated toxicity, using otherwise identical protocols. A Vinca conjugate with a related squamous carcinoma reactive monoclonal antibody, PF1/B, was shown to have similar tumor suppressive activity. In a dual immunoconjugate therapy protocol, PF1/D-DAVLBHYD and PF1/B-DAVLBHYD had additive antitumor effects which were consistent with their complementary tumor reactivity.Abbreviations PBS 0.01 M sodium phosphate, pH 7.4 plus 0.15 M NaCl - DAVLBHYD 4-desacetylvinblastine-3-carboxhydrazide - DMEM Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium - FCS fetal calf serum