The use of galactosyltransferase to probe nitrocellulose-immobilized glycoproteins for nonreducing terminal N-acetylglucosamine residues

Abstract

We report the use of UDPgalactose: N-acetyl- d-glucosaminyl-glycopeptide 4-β- d-galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.38), purified from bovine milk, to detect nonreducing terminal N-acetylglucosamine residues on glycoproteins immobilized on nitrocellulose by electrophoretic transfer from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Soluble galactosyltransferase incorporates radiolabeled galactose from the substrate UDP-[6- 3H]galactose into the appropriate immobilized acceptor with high specificity. Incorporation is proportional to substrate amount and is saturable with time. The kinetics of labeling are independent of substrate amount. Half-maximal incorporation occurs by 4 h and saturation occurs by 16 h. We have used galactosyltransferase as a probe (i) to verify the presence of nonreducing terminal N-acetylglucosamine residues in bovine rod outer segment membrane rhodopsin and in several glycoproteins in F9 murine teratocarcinoma cells and (ii) to detect previously reported endo-β- N-acetylglucosaminidase activity in a commercial preparation of endoglycosidase F.