Protein Core Fucosylation Regulates Planarian Head Regeneration via Neoblast Proliferation

Wenjun Wang,Yang Yang,Hanxue Zheng,Liyuan Jia,Jing Zhang,Yuan Yu,Xue Wang,Fulin Chen,Hongbo Liu

doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.625823

Abstract

Protein glycosylation is an important posttranslational modification that plays a crucial role in cellular function. However, its biological roles in tissue regeneration remain interesting and primarily ambiguous. In this study, we profiled protein glycosylation during head regeneration in planarian Dugesia japonica using a lectin microarray. We found that 6 kinds of lectins showed increased signals and 16 kinds showed decreased signals. Interestingly, we found that protein core fucosylation, manifested by Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) staining, was significantly upregulated during planarian head regeneration. Lectin histochemistry indicated that the LCA signal was intensified within the wound and blastemal areas. Furthermore, we found that treatment with a fucosylation inhibitor, 2F-peracetyl-fucose, significantly retarded planarian head regeneration, while supplement with L-fucose could improve DjFut8 expression and stimulate planarian head regeneration. In addition, 53 glycoproteins that bound to LCA were selectively isolated by LCA-magnetic particle conjugates and identified by LC-MS/MS, including the neoblast markers DjpiwiA, DjpiwiB, DjvlgA, and DjvlgB. Overall, our study provides direct evidence for the involvement of protein core fucosylation in planarian regeneration.

Highlights

Planarians are flatworms that have drawn increasing interest in the scientific community due to their remarkable regenerative ability
We isolated and identified the potential core fucose-bearing protein using Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA)-magnetic particle conjugates (LMPCs) and the mass spectrum database. These results demonstrated that protein core fucosylation was upregulated during planarian head regeneration and regulated the regenerative process via modulating neoblast proliferation
The layout of the lectin microarray and glycopatterns of glycoproteins during planarian head regeneration are shown in Supplementary Figures 1B,C

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Planarians are flatworms that have drawn increasing interest in the scientific community due to their remarkable regenerative ability. Lack of core fucosylation inhibited the EGFR- and hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR)-mediated signaling cascades both in vitro and in vivo, and it led to retarded liver regeneration in a mouse partial hepatectomy model (Wang et al, 2015). These studies suggest the potential role of protein core glycosylation in tumorigenesis and tissue regeneration. We isolated and identified the potential core fucose-bearing protein using LCA-magnetic particle conjugates (LMPCs) and the mass spectrum database These results demonstrated that protein core fucosylation was upregulated during planarian head regeneration and regulated the regenerative process via modulating neoblast proliferation

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT