Fluorophore-assisted Carbohydrate Electrophoresis Analysis Research Articles

Suppression of Rft1 Expression Does Not Impair the Transbilayer Movement of Man5GlcNAc2-P-P-Dolichol in Sealed Microsomes from Yeast

To further evaluate the role of Rft1 in the transbilayer movement of Man(5)GlcNAc(2)-P-P-dolichol (M5-DLO), a series of experiments was conducted with intact cells and sealed microsomal vesicles. First, an unexpectedly large accumulation (37-fold) of M5-DLO was observed in Rft1-depleted cells (YG1137) relative to Glc(3)Man(9)GlcNAc(2)-P-P-Dol in wild type (SS328) cells when glycolipid levels were compared by fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis analysis. When sealed microsomes from wild type cells and cells depleted of Rft1 were incubated with GDP-[(3)H]mannose or UDP-[(3)H]GlcNAc in the presence of unlabeled GDP-Man, no difference was observed in the rate of synthesis of [(3)H]Man(9)GlcNAc(2)-P-P-dolichol or Man(9)[(3)H]GlcNAc(2)-P-P-dolichol, respectively. In addition, no difference was seen in the level of M5-DLO flippase activity in sealed wild type and Rft1-depleted microsomal vesicles when the activity was assessed by the transport of GlcNAc(2)-P-P-Dol(15), a water-soluble analogue. The entry of the analogue into the lumenal compartment was confirmed by demonstrating that [(3)H]chitobiosyl units were transferred to endogenous peptide acceptors via the yeast oligosaccharyltransferase when sealed vesicles were incubated with [(3)H]GlcNAc(2)-P-P-Dol(15) in the presence of an exogenously supplied acceptor peptide. In addition, several enzymes involved in Dol-P and lipid intermediate biosynthesis were found to be up-regulated in Rft1-depleted cells. All of these results indicate that although Rft1 may play a critical role in vivo, depletion of this protein does not impair the transbilayer movement of M5-DLO in sealed microsomal fractions prepared from disrupted cells.

Homocysteine Inhibits Proteoglycan Synthesis in Cultured Bovine Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

Homocysteine is a risk factor for vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, and proteoglycans (PGs) derived from arterial smooth muscle cells are the key molecules in atherosclerosis progression. We investigated the effect of homocysteine on the synthesis of PGs in vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. Homocysteine significantly decreased the accumulation of PGs, particularly in the conditioned medium, independent of cell density without nonspecific cell damage. DEAE-Sephacel ion exchange chromatography of PGs showed that homocysteine selectively decreases chondroitin/dermatan sulfate PG s( CS/DSPGs) with low charge density,i.e. ,t he small CS/DSPG biglycan and decorin, in the conditioned medium. Fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis analysis demonstrated that homocysteine selectively increases the disaccharide unit of iduronic acid-4-O-sulfated N-acetylgalactosamine in chondroitin/dermatan sulfate chains. However, no change was observed in heparan sulfate chains. Therefore, it is suggested that homocysteine inhibits the synthesis of small CS/DSPGs with low charge density in vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, homocysteine affects the microstructure of the chondroitin/dermatan sulfate chains. These alterations may influence the progression of atherosclerosis.

Stimulation of proteoglycan synthesis by glucuronosyltransferase-I gene delivery: A strategy to promote cartilage repair

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by a progressive loss of articular cartilage components, mainly proteoglycans (PGs), leading to destruction of the tissue. We investigate a therapeutic strategy based on stimulation of PG synthesis by gene transfer of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-synthesizing enzyme, beta1,3-glucuronosyltransferase-I (GlcAT-I) to promote cartilage repair. We previously reported that IL-1beta down-regulated the expression and activity of GlcAT-I in primary rat chondrocytes. Here, by using antisense oligonucleotides, we demonstrate that GlcAT-I inhibition impaired PG synthesis and deposition in articular cartilage explants, emphasizing the crucial role of this enzyme in PG anabolism. Thus, primary chondrocytes and cartilage explants were engineered by lipid-mediated gene delivery to efficiently overexpress a human GlcAT-I cDNA. Interestingly, GlcAT-I overexpression significantly enhanced GAG synthesis and deposition as evidenced by (35)S-sulfate incorporation, histology, estimation of GAG content, and fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis analysis. Metabolic labeling and Western blot analyses further suggested that GlcAT-I expression led to an increase in the abundance rather than in the length of GAG chains. Importantly, GlcAT-I delivery was able to overcome IL-1beta-induced PG depletion and maintain the anabolic activity of chondrocytes. Moreover, GlcAT-I also restored PG synthesis to a normal level in cartilage explants previously depleted from endogenous PGs by IL-1beta-treatment. In concert, our investigations strongly indicated that GlcAT-I was able to control and reverse articular cartilage defects in terms of PG anabolism and GAG content associated with IL-1beta. This study provides a basis for a gene therapy approach to promote cartilage repair in degenerative joint diseases.

Keratocyte Phenotype Mediates Proteoglycan Structure: A ROLE FOR FIBROBLASTS IN CORNEAL FIBROSIS

In pathological corneas, accumulation of fibrotic extracellular matrix is characterized by proteoglycans with altered glycosaminoglycans that contribute to the reduced transparency of scarred tissue. During wound healing, keratocytes in the corneal stroma transdifferentiate into fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. In this study, molecular markers were developed to identify keratocyte, fibroblast, and myofibroblast phenotypes in primary cultures of corneal stromal cells and the structure of glycosaminoglycans secreted by these cells was characterized. Quiescent primary keratocytes expressed abundant protein and mRNA for keratocan and aldehyde dehydrogenase class 3 and secreted proteoglycans containing macromolecular keratan sulfate. Expression of these marker compounds was reduced in fibroblasts and also in transforming growth factor-beta-induced myofibroblasts, which expressed high levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin, biglycan, and the extra domain A (EDA or EIIIA) form of cellular fibronectin. Collagen types I and III mRNAs were elevated in both fibroblasts and in myofibroblasts. Expression of these molecular markers clearly distinguishes the phenotypic states of stromal cells in vitro. Glycosaminoglycans secreted by fibroblasts and myofibroblasts were qualitatively similar to and differed from those of keratocytes. Chondroitin/dermatan sulfate abundance, chain length, and sulfation were increased as keratocytes became fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis analysis demonstrated increased N-acetylgalactosamine sulfation at both 4- and 6-carbons. Hyaluronan, absent in keratocytes, was secreted by fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Keratan sulfate biosynthesis, chain length, and sulfation were significantly reduced in both fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. The qualitatively similar expression of glycosaminoglycans shared by fibroblasts and myofibroblasts suggests a role for fibroblasts in deposition of non-transparent fibrotic tissue in pathological corneas.

Xenopus kidney hyaluronidase-1 (XKH1), a novel type of membrane-bound hyaluronidase solely degrades hyaluronan at neutral pH

In search for Xenopus laevis hyaluronidase genes, a cDNA encoding a putative PH-20-like enzyme was isolated. In the adult frog, this mRNA was only found to be expressed in the kidney and therefore named XKH1. When expressed by means of cRNA injection into frog oocytes, XKH1 solely exhibited at physiologic ionic strength hyaluronidase activity at neutral pH and in weakly acidic solutions. The enzyme was inactive below pH 5.4. In addition to hyaluronic acid hydrolysis, chondroitin sulfate also was degraded at low yield as assessed by fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis analysis of the degradation products. The enzyme is sorted to the outer surface of the cell membrane of XKH1 expressing oocytes. From there, it could not be removed by phospholipase C nor was secreted hyaluronidase activity detectable. We conclude that XKH1 represents a membrane-bound hyaluronan-degrading enzyme exclusively expressed in cells of the adult frog kidney where it either may be involved in the reorganization of the extracellular architecture or in supporting physiological demands for proper renal functions.