LC-MS analysis of pig intestine sulfatides: Interaction with Escherichia coli STb enterotoxin and characterization of molecular species present

Abstract

STb, a 48-amino acid thermostable enterotoxin is produced by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains and is responsible for diarrheal diseases in many animals, including man. Our laboratory recently identified a family of molecules, from a lipid extract of porcine intestinal epithelial cells, that could bind to STb. These molecules were identified as sulfatides as they reacted with a monoclonal antibody raised against this family of molecules. However, as the epitope recognized by this monoclonal antibody was the galactose 3-sulfate, a doubt could remain as to the exact nature of the identified receptors. The goal of this study was thus to confirm the chemical nature of the STb-binding molecule as sulfatides or as distinctive molecules comprising a sulfated galactosyl residue. Using a thin-layer chromatography-overlay method we confirmed using antibodies to STb that STb recognizes the commercial sulfatides and a band migrating at the same level from the intestinal tissue lipid extract obtained from an 8-week-old piglet. The compounds recovered from the silica gel plates were analyzed by mass spectrometry in electrospray negative-ionization mode. The most abundant ions observed had m/ z values of 779, 795, 879 and 907. For commercial bovine brain sulfatides the ions 795, 879 and 907 have been attributed to hydroxylated sulfatides with a saturated fatty acid chain containing 16, 22 and 24 carbons, while the 779 ion contained a saturated fatty acid chain of 16 carbons. The general profile of the ions observed was similar to the already described commercial bovine brain sulfatides.