Anomer specificity of the 14 kDa galactose-binding lectin: A reappraisal

A β-anomer preference among galactosides has been attributed to the S-type 14 kDa galactose binding lectin. Here the anomeric preference of this lectin from bovine brain (BBL) is reexamined using inhibition of lectin-mediated haemagglutination, binding of the lectin to dot-blotted glycoproteins and affinity electrophoresis of the lectin through polysaccharide-containing gels. 1.0-methyl α-D-galactoside was 8 times better inhibitor of BBL than the corresponding ß-anomer. The terminal galactose in bovine thyroglobulin (exclusively. α-linked) were also nearly 8 times more inhibitory than those in asialofetuin (exclusively ß-linked). The terminal α-galactose-containing endogenous glycoproteins of bovine brain were nearly 4 times better inhibitors of BBL than laminin. Removal of terminal α-galactose units by α-galactosidase fully abolished the BBL binding of thyroglobulin and endogenous glycoproteins. BBL was also sugar-specifically retarded by polyacrylamide gel containing guar galactommannan which bears only α-linked galactose. Data indicated that α-galactosides were sometimes better than their β-anomers in binding to BBL. The significance of this observation to the physiological role of galactose-binding lectins is discussed.     

The interaction between wheat germ agglutinin and membrane incorporated glycophorin A. An optical binding study

A novel integrated optical technique is used to monitor the kinetics of incorporation of glycophorin A (GPA) from solution into a planar dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine-cholesterol bilayer membrane, and the subsequent binding of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to the membrane-incorporated GPA. The technique significantly improves the attainable accuracy of kinetic measurements. The number of bound molecules can be determined to a precision of ca ± 80 mol µm^–2. Our results show that GPA incorporates spontaneously into the bilayer. Binding of WGA to GPA is optimal in the presence of human serum albumin, and can be reversed byN-acetyl-d-glucosamine. The kinetics of the binding are consistent with the presence of two classes of kinetically distinguishable binding sites with association rates of 2.0×10⁴ and 9.6×10² M^–1 s^–1, and dissociation rates of 2.7×10^–3 s^–1 and <10^–5 s^–1, respectively. A stoichiometry of 4 WGA monomers per GPA monomer was determined as characteristic of the overall binding interaction.Abbreviations DMPC dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine - GlcNAc N-acetyl-d-glucosamine - GPA glycophorin A - HSA human serum albumin - NeuNAc N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid - TE transverse electric - TM transverse magnetic - WGA wheat germ agglutinin     

Structural features of nucleosomes in interphase and metaphase chromosomes

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Different forms of 130 kD connective tissue protein are specific for boundaries in the nervous system and basement membrane of muscle cells in leech

The nervous system and muscle tissue of the leech express two different organ-specific forms of connective tissue protein. The nervous system-specific form appears in regional boundaries separating cell bodies, axonal tracts and areas of the neuropile during late embryogenesis. In contrast, the muscle-specific form appears earlier during development in the basement membrane of muscle cells. In extraction experiments both forms behave like extracellular matrix proteins and because of their molecular weight, are considered members of a group of cell type-specific 130 kD proteins (leech gp130s). How ever, the two forms differ in their posttranslational modification. As determined by Con A and lentil lectin affinity chromatography, only the nervous system-specific, but not the muscle-specific form, has fucosylated and high mannose N-linked carbohydrates. These differences in the developmental onset and glycosylation suggest that nervous system-specific and muscle-specific connective tissue proteins are regulated differently and participate in different molecular interactions. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A Lectin from Chinese Mistletoe Increases γδ T Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity through Induction of Caspase-dependent Apoptosis

In this study, a mistletoe lectin (ML) was purified from Chinese mistletoe and the effect of this 60 kDa Chinese ML on human γδ T cell cytotoxicity, apoptosis and modulation of the cytokine network was studied. The cytotoxic properties of δ T cells was evaluated by using a ~(51)Cr release test and employed fluorescence-activated cell sorting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis to quantify translocation of the cell membrane phospholipid, phosphatidylserine and nuclear DNA fragmentation during apoptosis. It was found that: (ⅰ) ML effectively stimulated γδ T cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner; (ⅱ) ML increased γδ T cell cytotoxicity; (ⅲ) ML could modulate lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine release in a pro-inflammatory manner by increasing tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α release and inhibiting the release of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10; (ⅳ) ML induced apoptosis in caspase-dependent and CD95-independent manner. The results indicated that ML is a potent immunomodulator to human γδ T cell cytotoxicity, apoptosis and cytokine production.     

Binding of different monosaccharides by lectin PA-IIL from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: thermodynamics data correlated with X-ray structures

The lectin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA-IIL) is involved in host recognition and biofilm formation. Lectin not only displays an unusually high affinity for fucose but also binds to L-fucose, L-galactose and D-arabinose that differ only by the group at position 5 of the sugar ring. Isothermal calorimetry experiments provided precise determination of affinity for the three methyl-glycosides and revealed a large enthalpy contribution. The crystal structures of the complexes of PA-IIL with L-galactose and Met-beta-D-arabinoside have been determined and compared with the PA-IIL/fucose complex described previously. A combination of the structures and thermodynamics provided clues for the role of the hydrophobic group in affinity.     

Interactions of the fucose-specific Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin, PA-IIL, with mammalian glycoconjugates bearing polyvalent Lewis(a) and ABH blood group glycotopes

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Fuc > Man specific lectin, PA-IIL, is an important microbial agglutinin that might be involved in P. aeruginosa infections in humans. In order to delineate the structures of these lectin receptors, its detailed carbohydrate recognition profile was studied both by microtiter plate biotin/avidin-mediated enzyme-lectin-glycan binding assay (ELLSA) and by inhibition of the lectin-glycan interaction. Among 40 glycans tested for binding, PA-IIL reacted well with all human blood group ABH and Le(a)/Le(b) active glycoproteins (gps), but weakly or not at all with their precursor gps and N-linked gps. Among the sugar ligands tested by the inhibition assay, the Le(a) pentasaccharide lacto-N-fucopentaose II (LNFP II, Galbeta1-3[Fucalpha1-4]GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Glc) was the most potent one, being 10 and 38 times more active than the Le(x) pentasaccharide (LNFP III, Galbeta1-4 [Fucalpha1-3]GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Glc) and sialyl Le(x) (Neu5Acalpha2-3Galbeta1-4[Fucalpha1-3] GlcNAc), respectively. It was 120 times more active than Man, while Gal and GalNAc were inactive. The decreasing order of PA-IIL affinity for the oligosaccharides tested was: Le(a) pentaose > or = sialyl Le(a) tetraose > methyl alphaFuc > Fuc and Fucalpha1-2Gal (H disaccharide)>2'-fucosyllactose (H trisaccharide), Le(x) pentaose, Le(b) hexaose (LNDFH I) and gluco-analogue of Le(y) tetraose (LDFT)>H type I determinant (LNFP I)>Le(x) trisaccharide (Galbeta1-4[Fucalpha1-3]GlcNAc) > sialyl Le(x) trisaccharide > Man > Gal, GalNAc, and Glc (inactive). The results presented here, in accordance with the crystal 3D structural data, imply that the combining site of PA-IIL is a small cavity-type best fitting Fucalpha1- with a specific shallow groove subsite for the remainder part of the Le(a) saccharides, and that polyvalent glycotopes enhance the reactivity. The Fuc > Man Ralstonia solanacearum lectin RSL, which resembles PA-IIL in sugar specificity, differs from it in it's better fit to the B and A followed by H oligosaccharides vs. Fuc, whereas, the second R. solanacearum lectin RS-IIL (the structural homologue of PA-IIL) binds Man > Fuc. These results provide a valuable information on PA-IIL interactions with mammalian glycoforms and the possible spectrum of attachment sites for the homing of this aggressive bacterium onto the target molecules. Such information might be useful for the antiadhesive therapy of P. aeruginosa infections.