Sialidase Inhibitor Research Articles

Effect of sialylation on EGFR phosphorylation and resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibition

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a heavily glycosylated transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase. Upon EGF-binding, EGFR undergoes conformational changes to dimerize, resulting in kinase activation and autophosphorylation and downstream signaling. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been used to treat lung cancer by inhibiting EGFR phosphorylation. Previously, we demonstrated that EGFR sialylation suppresses its dimerization and phosphorylation. In this report, we further investigated the effect of sialylation on the phosphorylation profile of EGFR in TKI-sensitive and TKI-resistant cells. Sialylation was induced in cancer progression to inhibit the association of EGFR with EGF and the subsequent autophosphorylation. In the absence of EGF the TKI-resistant EGFR mutant (L858R/T790M) had a higher degree of sialylation and phosphorylation at Y1068, Y1086, and Y1173 than the TKI-sensitive EGFR. In addition, although sialylation in the TKI-resistant mutants suppresses EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation, with the most significant effect on the Y1173 site, the sialylation effect is not strong enough to stop cancer progression by inhibiting the phosphorylation of these three sites. These findings were supported further by the observation that the L858R/T790M EGFR mutant, when treated with sialidase or sialyltransferase inhibitor, showed an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation, and the sensitivity of the corresponding resistant lung cancer cells to gefitinib was reduced by desialylation and was enhanced by sialylation.

Recent Developments in Enzymatic Synthesis of Modified Sialic Acid Derivatives

AbstractSialic acid‐containing glycans play important roles in biology, but their synthesis by standard chemical approaches is challenging. Enzymatic assembly is generally a better approach. In the last two decades, a number of bacterial sialyltransferases (STs) and trans‐sialidases have been identified and a number of them found to exhibit broad substrate specificity. In this review, we will focus on the donor and acceptor substrate specificities of these enzymes along with the enzymatic routes employed to prepare sialosides bearing modifications at specific positions on the sialic acid carbon skeleton. Understanding the substrate tolerance of these enzymes will help researchers to choose the best biocatalyst for the assembly of specific sialosides, which can be valuable tools in the study of or inhibition of sialidases and STs and sialic acid‐binding proteins. In addition, the ability to study these processes using synthetic sialylated glycans will lead to a greater understanding of their biology and will lead to new therapeutic targets.magnified image

Abstract 342: Naturally Occurring Modified Forms of LDL

Electronegative LDL, small,dense LDL, and desialylated LDL circulating in the blood of patients were obtained by different methods. Naturally, the question arises what are the similarities and differences between these forms of LDL modification. We believe that multiple modified LDL particle (small, dense, electronegative, desialylated, etc.) occurs in blood. Ex vivo experiments have revealed mechanisms of multiple modification of LDL in the blood. Fraction of native LDL was isolated from blood plasma of healthy subjects. Blood serum of patients with assessed atherosclerosis was also obtained. LDL and serum were mixed and incubated for various periods at 37°C. After 1 hour incubation of native LDL with atherosclerotic serum desialylated LDL appears. After 3 hours, LDL becomes able to cause accumulation of cholesterol in cultured cells. After 6 hours, LDL demonstrates reduction of neutral lipids and phospholipids as well as reduction in its size. After 36 hours, an increase in the electronegativity of the lipoprotein particle is detected. After 48-72 hours, loss of α-tocopherol, increase of susceptibility to oxidation, and accumulation of lipid peroxidation products in LDL are observed. Thus, multiple modification of LDL is a cascade of sequential changes in lipoprotein particle, namely: desialylation, loss of lipids, size reduction, increase of electronegative charge, lipid peroxidation in LDL. Desialylation of LDL particle is one of the first or primary events of atherogenic modification. We have established that the reason of LDL desialylation is trans-sialidase. We found trans-sialidase activity in the blood of patients with atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. We have shown that human neuraminidases 2 and 4 possess trans-sialidase activity. On the other hand, selective inhibitors of viral sialidases suppress trans-sialidase activity in the blood of atherosclerotic patients. Thus, trans-sialidase causing atherogenic desialylation of LDL may be of both endogenous and exogenous origin. Supported by Russian Ministry of Education and Science (Project RFMEFI61614X0010).

Anti-Influenza Neuraminidase Inhibitor Oseltamivir Phosphate Induces Canine Mammary Cancer Cell Aggressiveness

Oseltamivir phosphate is a widely used anti-influenza sialidase inhibitor. Sialylation, governed by sialyltransferases and sialidases, is strongly implicated in the oncogenesis and progression of breast cancer. In this study we evaluated the biological behavior of canine mammary tumor cells upon oseltamivir phosphate treatment (a sialidase inhibitor) in vitro and in vivo. Our in vitro results showed that oseltamivir phosphate impairs sialidase activity leading to increased sialylation in CMA07 and CMT-U27 canine mammary cancer cells. Surprisingly, oseltamivir phosphate stimulated, CMT-U27 cell migration and invasion capacity in vitro, in a dose-dependent manner. CMT-U27 tumors xenograft of oseltamivir phosphate-treated nude mice showed increased sialylation, namely α2,6 terminal structures and SLe(x) expression. Remarkably, a trend towards increased lung metastases was observed in oseltamivir phosphate-treated nude mice. Taken together, our findings revealed that oseltamivir impairs canine mammary cancer cell sialidase activity, altering the sialylation pattern of canine mammary tumors, and leading, surprisingly, to in vitro and in vivo increased mammary tumor aggressiveness.

Desialylation Induces Apoptosis and Phagocytosis of Platelets in Patients with Prolonged Isolated Thrombocytopenia after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Introduction:Prolonged isolated thrombocytopenia (PIT) represents a significant complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and is associated with an adverse patient prognosis and higher transplant-related mortality owing to a higher risk of infection events, severe (grades 3 to 4) acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD. PIT is defined as a peripheral platelet count less than 100×109/L without sustained anemia or leukopenia for more than 3 months after allo-HSCT (Zhang X, et al. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant, 2011). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Different kinds of functional glycoproteins are expressed on the platelet surface, with sialic acid residues at the end of their glycan. Desialylation of platelet glycoproteins has been found to be associated with accelerated platelet clearance in refrigerated platelets (Gerard Jansen AJ, et al. Blood 2012). Platelet-specific glycoprotein GPIbα,the functional subunit of the von Willebrand factor receptor, was the majorly desialylated glycoprotein; NEU1, one of the four human sialidases, was the enzyme that catalyzed GPIbα desialylation. However, few studies have focused on this mechanism in patients suffering PIT after allo-HSCT. In this study, we hypothesized that desialylation on platelet surfaces is associated with PIT after allo-HSCT. The mechanisms participating in this process may include GPIbα clustering, platelet apoptosis and phagocytosis by macrophages.Patients and methods:Blood samples were collected 90 days after allo-HSCT from 70 patients with PIT. Samples from post-transplantation patients who have normal platelet counts were taken as controls. Sialylation and desialylation were measured by detecting specific lectins via flow cytometry. Human sialidase expression was determined by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and reverse transcription PCR. Platelet apoptosis markers were measured by flow cytometry, and macrophages stimulated from THP-1 cells were used in the phagocytosis assay.Results:We tested sialic acid residues and the desialylation markers, including β-galactose and β-N-Acetyl glucosamine, on the platelet surface, and found that platelets from PIT patients had significantly higher desialylation levels. Serum sialic acid levels were measured, and the results showed higher levels in PIT patients. Further, NEU1 was found to be over-expressed on the surface of platelets from PIT patients, and was found to be the enzyme that catalyzed the platelet surface desialylation. To further reveal the mechanism that lead to PIT, we proved that GPIbα was the desialylated glycoprotein on platelets from PIT patients. We found that GPIbα desialylation and clustering in PIT patients induced changes in the expression of Bcl-2 family protein, as a 2-fold increase in active Bax expression and a similar decrease in Bcl-XL expression were observed. Depolarization of the inner mitochondria membrane was augmented in desialylated platelets from PIT patients, indicating increased platelet apoptosis. Moreover, macrophages stimulated from the THP-1 cell line preferred to phagocytose desialylated platelets from PIT patients in vitro; this process could be blocked by the sialidase inhibitor, DANA. In the in vitrostudy, we found that dexamethasone led to a 32% decrease in phagocytosis, whereas oseltamivir, an antiviral medicine that can block sialidase from influenza virus, could also partially function on human sialidase and protect 43% of platelets from phagocytosis.In conclusion, our results demonstrate that desialylation played a role in the mechanism of prolonged isolated thrombocytopenia after allo-HSCT, most likely through platelet apoptosis induction and increased phagocytosis by macrophages in the peripheral circulation. Dexamethasone and oseltamivir could decrease platelet apoptosis and inhibit platelet phagocytosis in vitro, implying a novel potential method for treating PIT after allo-HSCT. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Platelet Desialylation: A Novel Mechanism of Fc-Independent Platelet Clearance and a Potential Diagnostic Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in immune Thrombocytopenia

Background:Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common bleeding disorder caused primarily by autoantibodies against platelet GPIIbIIIa (70-80%) and/or GPIb-complex (20-40%). Current theory suggests antibody-mediated platelet destruction occurs in the spleen, via macrophages through Fc-FcγR interactions. However, evidence from us and others demonstrated that anti-GPIbα, but not anti-GPIIbIIIa, can induce thrombocytopenia via an Fc-independent pathway, which is resistant to intravenous IgG (IVIG) therapy in murine ITP models (Blood 2006) and subsequent IVIG studies in human ITP patients, including our recent large patient cohort study (JTH 2014). This suggests that binding of anti-GPIbα antibodies may induce platelet clearance through a presently unidentified mechanism different than that of anti-GPIIbIIIa.Methods: We developed unique mouse anti-mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in GPIIIa-/- or GPIba-/- mice, which also recognize GPIbα and GPIIbIIIa of different species including human. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were used to evaluate whether these mAbs induced platelet activation, neuraminidase-1 translocation and desialylation of the heavily glycosylated GPIbα in the presence of sialidase inhibitor N-acetyl-2,3-dehydro-2-deoxy neuraminic acid (DANA). These experiments were repeated with human platelets and human ITP patient plasma.We further investigated the effects of anti-GPIbα antibodies on platelet activation, desialylation and clearance in vivo; BALB/c mice were injected with anti-GPIbα or anti-GPIIbIIIa mAbs and following, platelet activation and desialylation were measured by flow cytometry. Hepatocytic Ashwell-Morell receptor (AMR) mediated anti-GPIbα platelet clearance in the liver was examined using immunohistochemistry or blocking the AMR with asialofetuin in both wild-type and macrophage depleted mice. Therapeutic administration of DANA in a murine ITP model assessed the significance of Fc-independent anti-GPIbα mediated platelet clearance in ITP.Results and Discussion: We found that anti-GPIbα, but not anti-GPIIbIIIa antibodies, induced significant P-selectin expression, JON/A binding, neuraminidase-1 translocation and desialylation in murine platelets. Interestingly, certain human platelets were activated (P-selectin expression) and desialylated in the presence of both anti-GPIbα and anti-GPIIbIIIa mAbs or ITP patient plasma. However, we demonstrate that the anti-GPIIbIIIa antibody mediated platelet effects are dependent on the FcγRIIa present exclusively on human platelets as FcγRII blocker IV.3 completely attenuated the response. In contrast, IV.3 had little effect on anti-GPIbα mediated platelet activation or desialylation. Anti-GPIbα Fab fragments and platelet signal pathway inhibitors demonstrate that anti-GPIbα mediated platelet activation and desialylation are consequences of GPIbα cross linking and are reinforced by a positive feedback loop. In vivo, we found significant increases in P-selectin and desialylation in anti-GPIbα injected mice, independent of IgG subclass. A significant role for the hepatic AMR in the clearance of deglycosylated platelets was observed; particularly in macrophage depleted mice whereby, although anti-GPIIbIIIa mediated platelet clearance was completely attenuated, anti-GPIbα mediated platelets clearance still occurred, but was completely rescued with asialofetuin. Immunohistochemistry revealed significant co-localization of anti-GPIbα opsonized platelets with AMR. These suggest the AMR is the dominant Fc-independent anti-GPIbα mediated platelet clearance pathway in the absence of macrophages. Remarkably, sialidase inhibitor DANA ameliorated anti-GPIbα mediated thrombocytopenia in mice. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time that anti-GPIbα antibodies induce platelet activation leading to GPIbα desialyation and platelet clearance via a novel Fc-independent pathway: the hepatic AMR. Our data also suggested that some anti-GPIIbIIIa autoantibodies in human patients may also induce platelet activation and desialylation via the platelet FcR signaling pathway. These findings may lead to novel therapeutic regimens including designating desialylation as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target in the treatment of both anti-GPIIbIIIa and anti-GPIbα mediated and/or refractory ITP. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Klotho Up-regulates Renal Calcium Channel Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 5 (TRPV5) by Intra- and Extracellular N-glycosylation-dependent Mechanisms

The anti-aging protein Klotho is a type 1 membrane protein produced predominantly in the distal convoluted tubule. The ectodomain of Klotho is cleaved and secreted into the urine to regulate several ion channels and transporters. Secreted Klotho (sKL) up-regulates the TRPV5 calcium channel from the cell exterior by removing sialic acids from N-glycan of the channel and inhibiting its endocytosis. Because TRPV5 and Klotho coexpress in the distal convoluted tubule, we investigated whether Klotho regulates TRPV5 action from inside the cell. Whole-cell TRPV5-mediated channel activity was recorded in HEK cells coexpressing TRPV5 and sKL or membranous Klotho (mKL). Transfection of sKL, but not mKL, produced detectable Klotho protein in cell culture media. As for sKL, mKL increased TRPV5 current density. The role of sialidase activity of mKL acting inside is supported by findings that mutations of putative sialidase activity sites in sKL and mKL abrogated the regulation of TRPV5 but that the extracellular application of a sialidase inhibitor prevented the regulation of TRPV5 by sKL only. Mechanistically, coexpression with a dominant-negative dynamin II prevented the regulation of TRPV5 by sKL but not by mKL. In contrast, blocking forward trafficking by brefeldin A prevented the effect with mKL but not with sKL. Therefore, Klotho up-regulates TRPV5 from both the inside and outside of cells. The intracellular action of Klotho is likely due to enhanced forward trafficking of channel proteins, whereas the extracellular action is due to inhibition of endocytosis. Both effects involve putative Klotho sialidase activity. These effects of Klotho may play important roles regarding calcium reabsorption in the kidney.

Biological and protective properties of immune sera directed to the influenza virus neuraminidase.

The envelope of influenza A viruses contains two large antigens, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Conventional influenza virus vaccines induce neutralizing antibodies that are predominantly directed to the HA globular head, a domain that is subject to extensive antigenic drift. Antibodies directed to NA are induced at much lower levels, probably as a consequence of the immunodominance of the HA antigen. Although antibodies to NA may affect virus release by inhibiting the sialidase function of the glycoprotein, the antigen has been largely neglected in past vaccine design. In this study, we characterized the protective properties of monospecific immune sera that were generated by vaccination with recombinant RNA replicon particles encoding NA. These immune sera inhibited hemagglutination in an NA subtype-specific and HA subtype-independent manner and interfered with infection of MDCK cells. In addition, they inhibited the sialidase activities of various influenza viruses of the same and even different NA subtypes. With this, the anti-NA immune sera inhibited the spread of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus and HA/NA-pseudotyped viruses in MDCK cells in a concentration-dependent manner. When chickens were immunized with NA recombinant replicon particles and subsequently infected with low-pathogenic avian influenza virus, inflammatory serum markers were significantly reduced and virus shedding was limited or eliminated. These findings suggest that NA antibodies can inhibit virus dissemination by interfering with both virus attachment and egress. Our results underline the potential of high-quality NA antibodies for controlling influenza virus replication and place emphasis on NA as a vaccine antigen. The neuraminidase of influenza A viruses is a sialidase that acts as a receptor-destroying enzyme facilitating the release of progeny virus from infected cells. Here, we demonstrate that monospecific anti-NA immune sera inhibited not only sialidase activity, but also influenza virus hemagglutination and infection of MDCK cells, suggesting that NA antibodies can interfere with virus attachment. Inhibition of both processes, virus release and virus binding, may explain why NA antibodies efficiently blocked virus dissemination in vitro and in vivo. Anti-NA immune sera showed broader reactivity than anti-HA sera in hemagglutination inhibition tests and demonstrated cross-subtype activity in sialidase inhibition tests. These remarkable features of NA antibodies highlight the importance of the NA antigen for the development of next-generation influenza virus vaccines.

A novel method for detection of Newcastle disease virus with a fluorescent sialidase substrate

Newcastle disease virus (NDV), belonging to the family Paramixoviridae, causes respiratory and neuronal symptoms in almost all birds. NDV has haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein possessing sialidase activity. HN glycoprotein is highly expressed on the surface of NDV-infected cells, resulting in much higher sialidase activity in NDV-infected cells than in non-infected cells. It was reported that mouse and human cancer cells up-regulating sialidase expression were histochemically stained with a fluorescent sialidase substrate, 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-4-bromophenyl 5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-α-d-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosidonic acid (BTP3-Neu5Ac), which deposits water-insoluble fluorescent compound BTP3 on locations of sialidase activity. By using the BTP3-Neu5Ac assay, we showed that NDV-infected cells and HN gene-expressing cells could be simply detected at room temperature after only 5min. Infection of the cells with the virus resulted in apparent green fluorescence, which disappeared with addition of a sialidase inhibitor. Cells that were stained in the BTP3-Neu5Ac assay were immunostained with an anti-NDV antibody. Moreover, BTP3-Neu5Ac staining was applied to a virus overlay binding assay with NDV particles. NDV-bound protein bands on guinea pig red blood cells were easily and rapidly detected by the BTP3-Neu5Ac assay after Western blotting. BTP3-Neu5Ac offers an easy and rapid protocol for fluorescent staining of NDV and virus-infected cells without antibodies.

Broad and direct interaction between TLR and Siglec families of pattern recognition receptors and its regulation by Neu1.

Both pathogen- and tissue damage-associated molecular patterns induce inflammation through toll-like receptors (TLRs), while sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin superfamily lectin receptors (Siglecs) provide negative regulation. Here we report extensive and direct interactions between these pattern recognition receptors. The promiscuous TLR binders were human SIGLEC-5/9 and mouse Siglec-3/E/F. Mouse Siglec-G did not show appreciable binding to any TLRs tested. Correspondingly, Siglece deletion enhanced dendritic cell responses to all microbial TLR ligands tested, while Siglecg deletion did not affect the responses to these ligands. TLR4 activation triggers Neu1 translocation to cell surface to disrupt TLR4:Siglec-E interaction. Conversely, sialidase inhibitor Neu5Gc2en prevented TLR4 ligand-induced disruption of TLR4:Siglec E/F interactions. Absence of Neu1 in hematopoietic cells or systematic treatment with sialidase inhibitor Neu5Gc2en protected mice against endotoxemia. Our data raised an intriguing possibility of a broad repression of TLR function by Siglecs and a sialidase-mediated de-repression that allows positive feedback of TLR activation during infection.

Contributions of NanI sialidase to Caco-2 cell adherence by Clostridium perfringens type A and C strains causing human intestinal disease.

Previous studies showed that Clostridium perfringens type D animal disease strain CN3718 uses NanI sialidase for adhering to enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells. The current study analyzed whether NanI is similarly important when type A and C human intestinal disease strains attach to Caco-2 cells. A PCR survey determined that the nanI gene was absent from typical type A food poisoning (FP) strains carrying a chromosomal enterotoxin (CPE) gene or the genetically related type C Darmbrand (Db) strains. However, the nanI gene was present in type A strains from healthy humans, type A strains causing CPE-associated antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) or sporadic diarrhea (SD), and type C Pig-Bel strains. Consistent with NanI sialidase being the major C. perfringens sialidase when produced, FP and Db strains had little supernatant sialidase activity compared to other type A or C human intestinal strains. All type A and C human intestinal strains bound to Caco-2 cells, but NanI-producing strains had higher attachment levels. When produced, NanI can contribute to host cell attachment of human intestinal disease strains, since a nanI null mutant constructed in type A SD strain F4969 had lower Caco-2 cell adhesion than wild-type F4969 or a complemented strain. Further supporting a role for NanI in host cell attachment, sialidase inhibitors reduced F4969 adhesion to Caco-2 cells. Collectively, these results suggest that NanI may contribute to the intestinal attachment and colonization needed for the chronic diarrhea of CPE-associated AAD and SD, but this sialidase appears to be dispensable for the acute pathogenesis of type A FP or type C enteritis necroticans.

Addition of sialidase or p38 MAPK inhibitors does not ameliorate decrements in platelet in vitro storage properties caused by 4°C storage.

Bacterial proliferation is inhibited in platelets (PLTs) stored at refrigerated temperatures, but also dramatically decreases PLT in vivo survival. Recent studies have demonstrated that cold temperature (CT) stored PLTs secrete sialidases upon re-warming, removing sialic acid from the PLT surface, which may be responsible for clustering of GPIbα and PLT clearance from circulation. In this study, the influence of a sialidase inhibitor or a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor was evaluated in units stored at 4°C. After collection of a single Trima apheresis unit (n=12), PLTs were aliquoted into four 60-ml CLX storage bags. One bag was stored at 20-24°C (RT) with continuous agitation; a second bag was stored at 4°C without agitation; a third bag was held at 4°C without agitation with sialidase inhibitor, a fourth bag was incubated at 4°C with a p38 MAPK inhibitor without agitation. Beginning from Day 1, all in vitro PLT parameters were adversely affected by CT compared to those of RT. Similar in vitro storage properties were observed in CT PLT in the presence or absence of sialidase or p38 MAPK inhibitors. P38 MAPK phosphorylation inhibition was not observed at CT. Decrease of sialidase activity was observed for 2days in PLTs stored in additive solution but not in plasma. Addition of either sialidase or p38 MAPK inhibitors do not improve any in vitro parameters of PLTs stored at 4°C in 100% plasma.

Structural basis of sialidase in complex with geranylated flavonoids as potent natural inhibitors.

Sialidase catalyzes the removal of a terminal sialic acid from glycoconjugates and plays a pivotal role in nutrition, cellular interactions and pathogenesis mediating various infectious diseases including cholera, influenza and sepsis. An array of antiviral sialidase agents have been developed and are commercially available, such as zanamivir and oseltamivir for treating influenza. However, the development of bacterial sialidase inhibitors has been much less successful. Here, natural polyphenolic geranylated flavonoids which show significant inhibitory effects against Cp-NanI, a sialidase from Clostridium perfringens, are reported. This bacterium causes various gastrointestinal diseases. The crystal structure of the Cp-NanI catalytic domain in complex with the best inhibitor, diplacone, is also presented. This structure explains how diplacone generates a stable enzyme-inhibitor complex. These results provide a structural framework for understanding the interaction between sialidase and natural flavonoids, which are promising scaffolds on which to discover new anti-sialidase agents.

Tuning Mechanism-Based Inactivators of Neuraminidases: Mechanistic and Structural Insights

3-Fluorosialosyl fluorides are inhibitors of sialidases that function by the formation of a long-lived covalent active-site adduct and have potential as therapeutics if made specific for the pathogen sialidase. Surprisingly, human Neu2 and the Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase are inactivated more rapidly by the reagent with an equatorial fluorine at C3 than by its axial epimer, with reactivation following the same pattern. To explore a possible stereoelectronic basis for this, rate constants for spontaneous hydrolysis of the full series of four 3-fluorosialosyl fluorides were measured, and ground-state energies for each computed. The alpha (equatorial) anomeric fluorides hydrolyze more rapidly than their beta anomers, consistent with their higher ground-state energies. However ground-state energies do not explain the relative spontaneous reactivities of the 3-fluoro-epimers. The three-dimensional structures of the two 3-fluoro-sialosyl enzyme intermediates of human Neu2 were solved, revealing key stabilizing interactions between Arg21 and the equatorial, but not the axial, fluorine. Because of changes in geometry these interactions will increase at the transition state, likely explaining the difference in reaction rates.

Tuning Mechanism‐Based Inactivators of Neuraminidases: Mechanistic and Structural Insights

3-Fluorosialosyl fluorides are inhibitors of sialidases that function by the formation of a long-lived covalent active-site adduct and have potential as therapeutics if made specific for the pathogen sialidase. Surprisingly, human Neu2 and the Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase are inactivated more rapidly by the reagent with an equatorial fluorine at C3 than by its axial epimer, with reactivation following the same pattern. To explore a possible stereoelectronic basis for this, rate constants for spontaneous hydrolysis of the full series of four 3-fluorosialosyl fluorides were measured, and ground-state energies for each computed. The alpha (equatorial) anomeric fluorides hydrolyze more rapidly than their beta anomers, consistent with their higher ground-state energies. However ground-state energies do not explain the relative spontaneous reactivities of the 3-fluoro-epimers. The three-dimensional structures of the two 3-fluoro-sialosyl enzyme intermediates of human Neu2 were solved, revealing key stabilizing interactions between Arg21 and the equatorial, but not the axial, fluorine. Because of changes in geometry these interactions will increase at the transition state, likely explaining the difference in reaction rates.

The Sialidases of Clostridium perfringens Type D Strain CN3718 Differ in Their Properties and Sensitivities to Inhibitors

Clostridium perfringens causes histotoxic infections and diseases originating in animal or human intestines. A prolific toxin producer, this bacterium also produces numerous enzymes, including sialidases, that may facilitate infection. C. perfringens type D strain CN3718 carries genes encoding three sialidases, including two large secreted sialidases (named NanI and NanJ) and one small sialidase (named NanH) that has an intracellular location in log-phase cultures but is present in supernatants of death phase cultures. Using isogenic mutants of CN3718 that are capable of expressing only NanJ, NanI, or NanH, the current study characterized the properties and activities of each sialidase. The optimal temperature determined for NanJ or NanH enzymatic activity was 37°C or 43°C, respectively, while NanI activity increased until temperature reached 48°C. NanI activity was also the most resistant against higher temperatures. All three sialidases showed optimal activities at pH 5.5. Compared to NanJ or NanH, NanI contributed most to the sialidase activity in CN3718 culture supernatants, regardless of the substrate sialic acid linkage; NanI also released the most sialic acid from Caco-2 cells. Only NanI activity was enhanced by trypsin pretreatment and then only for substrates with an α-2,3- or α-2,6-sialic acid linkage. NanJ and NanI activities were more sensitive than NanH activity to two sialidase inhibitors (N-acetyl-2,3-dehydro-2-deoxyneuraminic acid and siastatin B). The activities of the three sialidases were affected differently by several metal ions. These results indicated that each C. perfringens sialidase has distinct properties, which may allow these enzymes to play different roles depending upon environmental conditions.

Sialic Acid Loss Regulates Platelet Survival and Integrity

It becomes increasingly apparent that, besides the intrinsic apoptotic machinery, surface glycan modifications regulate platelet survival. Platelets with reduced α2,3-linked sialic acid during sepsis due to S. pneumoniae infection, after cold storage, or in mice lacking the sialyltransferase ST3GalIV are cleared by the hepatic Ashwell-Morell receptor (AMR, ASGPR1/2). Platelet survival in Asgr2-/- mice was increased by ∼35% when compared to that of WT mice, which results in a ∼50% increase in circulating platelet counts, despite a loss of surface sialic acid. We reasoned that sialidase activity increases on the surface of circulating platelets as they age, a process that would facilitate sialic acid hydrolysis and removal from the circulation. To test this hypothesis, we directly injected the sialidase inhibitor 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid (DANA) into WT mice and determined endogenous platelet circulatory times. Platelet survival was prolonged by ∼30% (T1/2 of 62.0 ± 2.7 h) in DANA-treated mice, compared to that of mock-treated mice (T1/2 of 47.5 ± 4.3 h). DANA injections decreased terminal sialic acid loss on circulating platelets by ∼40% by day 2, compared to control platelets, as evidenced by binding of RCA-I lectin that specifically recognizes terminal β1-4 galactose moieties exposed by sialic acid removal. Freshly isolated, resting platelets from Asgr2-/- mice (AMR-platelets) were significantly smaller in size (22%) and had increased sialidase Neu1 (∼5 fold), but not Neu3 surface expression, when compared to WT platelets or St3gal4-/- platelets, as measured by flow cytometry. We next investigated if AMR-platelets age/deteriorate faster upon in vitro storage. Platelets were isolated from WT, Asgr2-/- and St3gal4-/- mice and stored for 24hrs at room temperature, and sialidase expression (Neu1 and Neu3) as well as microvesiculation were measured by flow cytometry. Although significant Neu1 and Neu3 surface expression increase was measured on platelets from all phenotype after storage, Neu1 and Neu3 surface expression was significantly higher in AMR-platelets (∼2 and 4 fold, respectively) when compared to WT and St3gal4-/- platelets. AMR-platelets, but not St3gal4-/- platelets microvesiculated upon storage, consistent with a faster deterioration of aged AMR-platelets. We next injected into WT and Asgr2-/- mice the BH3 mimetic, ABT-737, which binds and inhibits the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Bcl-w. After injection of ABT-737, platelets in the Asgr2-/- mouse were cleared more efficiently (∼20%) from the circulation when compared to those in WT mice. Collectively, our data show that blood borne sialidases contribute to loss of sialic acid during circulation to regulate platelet survival. Our data also suggest that platelet glycan degradation, i.e. sialic acid loss, may trigger the intrinsic apoptotic machinery in platelets, linking glycan degradation and intrinsic apoptotic machinery in the clearance mechanisms regulating platelet survival. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Stereoselective synthesis and sialidase inhibition properties of KDO-based glycosyloxathiins

The stereoselective synthesis of KDO-based glyco-1,4-oxathiins is described. Relying on a totally diastereoselective inverse electron demand hetero Diels-Alder, α,α′-dioxothiones as electron-poor heterodienes, and glycals as electron-rich dienophiles, reacted to give, in high yield, the KDO-based glyco derivatives 11 and 12a-c. Taking into account their structural features, biological tests have been run to evaluate the properties of 11 and 12a as sialidase inhibitors. The synthetic and biological data reported confirmed the versatility of this powerful [4+2] cycloaddition and showed the KDO-based cycloadduct 11 as attractive scaffold for the development of new sialidase inhibitors.

The ganglioside GQ1b regulates BDNF expression via the NMDA receptor signaling pathway

Gangliosides are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids which play a role in neuronal functions. Among the gangliosides, tetrasialoganglioside GQ1b shows neurotrophic factor-like actions, such as increasing neurite outgrowth, cell proliferation, and long-term potentiation. In addition, we recently reported that GQ1b improves spatial learning and memory performance in naïve rats. However, it is still unknown how GQ1b exerts its diverse neuronal functions. Thus, we hypothesized that GQ1b might influence synaptic activity by regulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, which is an important protein for synaptic plasticity and cognition. Interestingly, GQ1b treatment increased BDNF expression in GQ1b-null SH-SY5Y cell lines and rat primary cortical neurons. Additionally, we confirmed whether the observed effects were due to GQ1b or due to a ganglioside with fewer sialic acid molecules (GT1b and GD1b) created by the sialidases present on the plasma membranes, by directly applying GT1b and GD1b or GQ1b co-treated with a sialidase inhibitor. Treatment with GT1b or GD1b had no effect on BDNF expression, whereas co-treatment with a sialidase inhibitor and GQ1b significantly increased BDNF levels. Moreover, GQ1b restored the decreased BDNF expression induced by the ganglioside synthesis inhibitor, D-PDMP, in rat primary cortical neurons. GQ1b treatment significantly increased BDNF levels, whereas pretreatment with the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist D-AP5 blocked the effects of GQ1b on BDNF expression, suggesting that GQ1b regulates BDNF expression via the NMDA receptor signaling. Finally, we performed an intracerebroventricular GQ1b injection, which resulted in increased prefrontal and hippocampal BDNF expression in vivo. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that tetrasialoganglioside GQ1b regulates BDNF expression in vitro and in vivo.

Degradation of MUC7 and MUC5B in Human Saliva

BackgroundTwo types of mucins, MUC7 and MUC5B constitute the major salivary glycoproteins, however their metabolic turnover has not been elucidated in detail to date. This study was conducted to examine turnover of MUC7 and MUC5B in saliva, by focusing on the relationship between their deglycosylation and proteolysis.Methodology/Principal FindingsWhole saliva samples were collected from healthy individuals and incubated at 37°C in the presence of various protease inhibitors, sialidase, or a sialidase inhibitor. General degradation patterns of salivary proteins and glycoproteins were examined by SDS-polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis. Furthermore, changes of molecular sizes of MUC7 and MUC5B were examined by Western blot analysis. A protein band was identified as MUC7 by Western blot analysis using an antibody recognizing an N-terminal epitope. The MUC7 signal disappeared rapidly after 20-minutes of incubation. In contrast, the band of MUC7 stained for its carbohydrate components remained visible near its original position for a longer time indicating that the rapid loss of Western blot signal was due to the specific removal of the N-termimal epitope. Pretreatment of saliva with sialidase facilitated MUC7 protein degradation when compared with samples without treatment. Furthermore, addition of sialidase inhibitor to saliva prevented proteolysis of N-terminus of MUC7, suggesting that the desialylation is a prerequisite for the degradation of the N-terminal region of MUC7. The protein band corresponding to MUC5B detected in both Western blotting and glycoprotein staining showed little sign of significant degradation upon incubation in saliva up to 9 hours.Conclusions/SignificanceMUC7 was highly susceptible to specific proteolysis in saliva, though major part of MUC5B was more resistant to degradation. The N-terminal region of MUC7, particularly sensitive to proteolytic degradation, has also been proposed to have distinct biological function such as antibacterial activities. Quick removal of this region may have biologically important implication.