Sequential Lectin Research Articles

Relations of the type and branch of surface N-glycans to cell adhesion, migration and integrin expressions.

The relations between the structure of cell surface N-glycans to cell behaviors were studied in H7721 human hepatocarcinoma cell line, which predominantly expressed complex-type N-glycans on the surface. 1-Deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ) and swaisonine (SW), the specific inhibitor of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II or I, were selected to block the processing of N-glycans at the steps of high mannose and hybrid type respectively. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and antisense cDNA of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-V (GnT-V) were used to suppress the expression of GnT-V and decreased the GlcNAc beta1,6-branching or tri-/tetra-antennary structure of surface N-glycans. The structural alterations of N-glycans were verified by sequential lectin affinity chromatography of [3H] mannose-labeled glycans isolated from the cell surface. The cell adhesions to fibronectin (Fn) and human umbilical vein epithelial cell (HUVEC), as well as cell migration (including chemotaxis and invasion) were selected as the parameters of cell behaviors. It was found that cell adhesion and migration were significantly decreased in SW and DMJ treated cells, suggesting that complex type N-glycan is critical for the above cell behaviors. ATRA and antisense GnTV enhanced cell adhesion to Fn but reduce cell adhesion to HUVEC and cell migration. These results reveal that cell surface complex-type N-glycans with GlcNAc beta1,6 branch are more effective than those without this branch in the cell adhesion to HUVEC and cell migration, but N-glycan without GlcNAc beta1,6-branch is the better one in mediating the cell adhesion to Fn. The integrin alpha5beta1 (receptor of Fn) on cell surface was unchanged by DMJ and SW. In contrast, ATRA up regulated alpha5, but not beta1, and antisense GnT-V decreased both alpha5 and beta1. This findings suggest that both the structure of N-glycan and the expression of integrin on cell surface are two of the important factors in the determination of cell adhesion to Fn, a complex biological process.

Hypochlorous acid oxygenates the cysteine switch domain of pro-matrilysin (MMP-7). A mechanism for matrix metalloproteinase activation and atherosclerotic plaque rupture by myeloperoxidase.

Myeloperoxidase uses hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to generate hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent cytotoxic oxidant. We demonstrate that HOCl regulates the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7, matrilysin) in vitro, suggesting that this oxidant activates MMPs in the artery wall. Indeed, both MMP-7 and myeloperoxidase were colocalized to lipid-laden macrophages in human atherosclerotic lesions. A highly conserved domain called the cysteine switch has been proposed to regulate MMP activity. When we exposed a synthetic peptide that mimicked the cysteine switch to HOCl, HPLC analysis showed that the thiol residue reacted rapidly, generating a near-quantitative yield of products. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis identified the products as sulfinic acid, sulfonic acid, and a dimer containing a disulfide bridge. In contrast, the peptide reacted slowly with H2O2, and the only product was the disulfide. Moreover, HOCl markedly activated pro-MMP-7, an MMP expressed at high levels in lipid-laden macrophages in vivo. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of trypsin digests revealed that the thiol residue of the enzyme's cysteine switch domain had been converted to sulfinic acid. Thiol oxidation was associated with autolytic cleavage of pro-MMP-7, strongly suggesting that oxygenation activates the latent enzyme. In contrast, H2O2 failed to oxidize the thiol residue of the protein or activate the enzyme. Thus, HOCl activates pro-MMP-7 by converting the thiol residue of the cysteine switch to sulfinic acid. This activation mechanism is distinct from the well-studied proteolytic cleavage of MMP pro-enzymes. Our observations raise the possibility that HOCl generated by myeloperoxidase contributes to MMP activation, and therefore to plaque rupture, in the artery wall. HOCl and other oxidants might regulate MMP activity by the same mechanism in a variety of inflammatory conditions.

Characterization and distribution of an oncofetal antigen (M2A antigen) expressed on testicular germ cell tumours.

M2A antigen is an oncofetal antigen associated with germ cell neoplasia, present in testis on fetal gonocytes and re-expressed on carcinoma in situ (CIS) and germ cell tumours. We developed a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb), M2A (IgG2a), D1-26 (IgG2b) and D2-40 (IgG1), to this antigen in order to characterize its structure and study its distribution among germ cell tumours. M2A antigen was purified by sequential lectin and antibody affinity chromatography and characterized as a monomeric Mr 40 000 surface sialoglycoprotein, extensively glycosylated with O-linked carbohydrate structures, but devoid of N-linked sugars. Terminal sialic acid residues were required for reactivity with mAb M2A and D1-26, but not D2-40. Sections of 69 testicular germ cell tumours, fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin, were stained with mAb D2-40 to examine the distribution of M2A antigen. Uniform membrane staining was observed in seminomas, and focal staining in 69% of embryonal carcinomas, 29% of teratomas and 25% of yolk sac tumours. CIS in the vicinity of all germ cell tumours also displayed uniform membrane staining. The characterization of M2A antigen, and the development of mAb which react with it in conventionally preserved archival specimens, provide important initiatives to study the origin and progression of germ cell neoplasia. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign

Engineering the human thyrotropin receptor ectodomain from a non-secreted form to a secreted, highly immunoreactive glycoprotein that neutralizes autoantibodies in Graves' patients' sera.

Previous attempts to generate autoantibody-reactive, secreted thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) ectodomain in mammalian cells have failed because of retention within the cell of material with immature carbohydrate. We have overcome this difficulty by performing progressive carboxyl-terminal truncations of the human TSHR ectodomain (418 amino acid residues including signal peptide). Three ectodomain variants (TSHR-261, TSHR-289, and TSHR-309) were truncated at residues 261, 289, and 309, respectively. Unlike the full ectodomain, ectodomain variants were secreted with an efficiency inversely proportional to their size. Secreted ectodomain variants contained approximately 20 kDa of complex carbohydrate. TSHR-261 was chosen for further study because it was secreted very efficiently and neutralized autoantibodies in Graves' patients' sera. This ectodomain variant was partially purified using sequential lectin and nickel-chelate chromatography, permitting the first direct visualization and quantitation of the mammalian TSHR. Most important, very small (nanogram) quantities of this material neutralized 70-100% of TSHR autoantibody activity in all 18 Graves' sera studied. In summary, carboxyl-terminal truncation of the human TSHR ectodomain generates a secreted protein with complex carbohydrate that neutralizes autoantibodies in Graves' patients' sera. Antigenically active TSHR will be valuable for future studies on the diagnosis, pathogenesis, and immunotherapy of Graves' disease.

Arylsulfatase A from human placenta possesses only high mannose-type glycans

It has been shown that the concentration of arylsulfatase A increases in the body fluids of patients with some forms of cancer and the carbohydrate component of arylsulfatase A synthesized in tumor tissues and transformed cells undergoes increased sialylation, phosphorylation and sulfation. The specificity of changes in the glycosylation of glycoproteins in cancer is still unknown. To understand the significance of any changes in glycosylation of arylsulfatase A in cancer, it is important to know the structure of its carbohydrate component in normal tissue. Here, carbohydrate moieties of human placental arylsulfatase A were studied by sequential lectin affinity chromatography after enzymatic cleavage and labelling with tritiated sodium borohydride. Labelled oligosaccharides were subjected to ion exchange chromatography. The uncharged fraction and the neuraminidase treated charged fraction were further analysed using the lectins: Concanavalin A (Con A), Ricinus communis (RCA I), Triticum vulgaris (L-PHA) and Aleuria aurantia (AAL). The results indicated that 97% of the arylsulfatase A oligosaccharides were low molecular weight high mannose type glycans possessing up to 5 mannose residues. This was supported by the ∼ 2.4 kDa decrease in the molecular weight of arylsulfatase A subunits upon complete peptide N-glycosidase F deglycosylation, as shown using SDS-PAGE. The remaining 3% of the arylsulfatase A oligosaccharides were of the high mannose type, possessing more than 5 mannose residues. Most (97.5%) of the glycans were uncharged, while 2.5% were charged. Neuraminidase treatment of the latter did not remove the charge, suggesting the presence of phosphate or sulfate residues. This study, of arylsulfatase A oligosaccharides separated from the protein part, shows that all glycans of the enzyme from human placenta are of the high mannose type.

DIFFERENTIAL NEURAL CREST CELL ATTACHMENT AND MIGRATION ON AVIAN LAMININ ISOFORMS

A number of laminin isoforms have recently been identified and proposed to exert different functions during embryonic development. In the present study, we describe the purification and partial characterization of several isoforms isolated from chick heart and gizzard, and provide data on the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction of avian neural crest cells with these molecules in vitro. Laminins extracted from heart and gizzard tissues were separated by gel filtration and purified to homogeneity by sequential lectin and immunoaffinity chromatography by utilizing monoclonal antibodies directed against the avian α2, β2 and γ1 laminin chains. The sodium dodecyl sulfate—polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS—PAGE) banding pattern of the polypeptide complexes obtained and immunoblotting with polyclonal antisera allowed the identification of Laminin-2 (α2β1γ1), Laminin-4 (α2β2γ1), and laminins comprising the β1, β2 and γ1 chains associated with a shorter α chain which, in SDS—PAGE, co-migrate with the β/γ complex in the 200 kDa region. These latter laminins, which are here arbitrarily denoted Laminin-αχ (heart tissue) and Laminin-G (gizzard tissue), are somewhat distinct in their apparent molecular weight, are differentially associated with nidogen, and appear as “T”-shaped particles similar to Laminin-6 and Laminin-7 when analyzed by transmission electron microscopy following rotary shadowing. In contrast, the avian Laminin-2 and Laminin-4 isoforms exhibit the characteristic cruciform shape described previously for their mammalian counterparts. Isolated neural crest cells differentially attached and migrated on these laminin isoforms, showing a clear preference for Laminin-G. Similarly to the EHS Laminin-1, neural crest cells recognized all avian isoforms through their α1β1 integrin, shown previously to be the primary laminin-binding receptor on these cells. Neural crest cell interaction with the avian laminins was dependent upon maintenance of the secondary and tertiary structure of the molecules, as shown by the marked reduction in cell attachment and migration upon disruption of the α-helical coiled-coil structure of their constituent chains. The results demonstrate that different laminin isoforms may be differentially involved in the regulation of neural crest cell migration and suggest that this regulation operates through interaction of the cells with a structurally conserved cell binding site recognized by the α1β1 integrin. Copyright © 1996. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Analysis of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides by sequential lectin affinity chromatography.

Lectins are proteins that specifically bind to a particular carbohydrate structure. Affinity chromatography with immobilized lectins is a quite effective technique not only for the fractionation of glycoproteins or oligosaccharides but also their structural assessment. In this article, we focus on the separation of glycopeptides and oligosaccharides derived from glycoproteins by affinity chromatography on immobilized lectin columns.

Carbohydrate structures of recombmant soluble lamp-1 and leukosialin containing sialyl Le x terminus

Recombinant soluble lamp-1 and soluble leukosialin can be produced from CHO cells which express sialyl Le x structures after stable transfection of fucosyltransferase-III. It was shown previously that those soluble lamp-1 and leukosialin are potent inhibitors for E-selectin-mediated adhesion of human colonic tumor cells (Sawada, R.; Tsuboi, S.; Fukuda, M. J. Biol. Chem., 1994, 269, 1425). In the present study, we have determined the amount of the sialyl Le x structure present in recombinant, soluble lamp-1 and soluble leukosialin. CHO cells were metabolically labeled with [ 3HJ-galactose and recombinant soluble lamp-1 and leukosialin were purified from the spent medium. Glycopeptides containing N-glycans derived from lamp-1 were fractionated by sequential lectin affinity chromatography. Similarly, O-glycans released from leukosialin were fractionated by Bio-Gel P-4 gel filtration. The terminal structures of carbohydrate chains were determined by sequential digestion with specific glycosidases. The results clearly indicate that soluble lamp-1 contains much more sialyl Le x structure than soluble leukosialin. Considering that soluble leukosialin and lamp-1 are almost equally effective as inhibitors for E-selectin-mediated adhesion, the results strongly suggest that densely clustered O-glycans are better presenters for E-selectin ligands than N-glycans.

Structural assessment of β-glucuronidase carbohydrate chains by lectin affinity chromatography

Rat liver beta-glucuronidase was studied by sequential lectin affinity chromatography. beta-Glucuronidase glycopeptides were obtained by extensive Pronase digestion followed by N-[14C]acetylation and desialylation by neuraminidase treatment. According to the distribution of the radioactivity in the various fractions obtained by chromatography on different lectins, and on the assumption that all glycopeptides were acetylated to the same specific radioactivity, a relative distribution of glycan structure types is proposed. The presence of complex biantennary and oligomannose type glycans (56.8% and 42.7%, respectively) was indicated by Concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography. Ulex europaeus agglutinin-agarose chromatography revealed the presence of alpha(1-3)linked fucose in some of the complex biantennary type glycans (16.6% of the total glycopeptides). Wheat germ agglutinin chromatography indicated that the minority (0.5%) were hybrid or poly (N-acetyllactosamine) type glycans. Furthermore, the absence of O-glycans, tri-, tetra- and bisected biantennary type glycans was demonstrated by analysis of Concanavalin A-Sepharose unbound fraction by chromatography on immobilized soybean agglutinin, Ricinus communis agglutinin and Phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinin.

Expression, glycosylation and secretion of yeast acid phosphatase in hamster BHK cells.

The gene PHO5 coding for one of the repressible acid phosphatases of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been expressed at high efficiency in the baby hamster kidney (BHK) cell line. The expression vector was constructed from PHO5 driven by the human beta-actin promoter and was transfected into BHK cells by the calcium phosphate method. The recombinant APase (r-APase) which was secreted in active form from the cells was estimated by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to have molecular mass M(r) = 62,000, indicating substitution of the polypeptide moiety by 2-3 asparagine-linked glycans. Analysis by sequential lectin affinity chromatography of glycopeptides obtained from r-APase with Pronase showed that the glycans are predominantly of the 2.2.4 triantennary and tetraantennary complex-type. These data suggest that the extensive glycosylation of yeast APase, which contains eight polymannose substituents, is not essential for secretion and expression of enzymatic activity of the transfected gene product.

Strategies for the purification of P-glycoprotein from multidrug-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cells

P-glycoprotein, a hydrophobic 170-kDa integral protein overexpressed in the plasma membrane of multidrug-resistant cells, is proposed to function as an ATP-dependent drug efflux pump. Plasma membrane preparations highly enriched in P-glycoprotein were isolated from multidrug-resistant cells by discontinuous sucrose gradient and Ca 2+ precipitation methods. Several strategies were used for P-glycoprotein purification, with the goal being to achieve both good yields and purity, while keeping experimental manipulation to a minimum. P-glycoprotein was solubilized from the plasma membrane using 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate. Immunoaffinity chromatography using C219 monoclonal antibody produced low yields of moderately pure protein. Sequential lectin affinity chromatography on RCA-120 followed by lentil lectin resulted in a P-glycoprotein preparation that showed a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A fraction of P-glycoprotein did not bind to RCA-120, most likely as a result of heterogeneous glycosylation. A combination of chromatography on RCA-120 followed by immunoaffinity chromatography on C219 resulted in low yields of very pure P-glycoprotein.

Reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography of nerve growth factor receptor‐like proteins identified with monoclonal antibodies

Human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH-SY5Y (SY5Y) and rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells are model cell lines used in the study of nerve growth factor (NGF) effect. The effects of NGF are initiated by binding to cell surface receptors (NGFR). The amino acid sequence for NGFR has been deduced based on the identification of a single gene for NGFR. However, there are two kinds of NGF binding activities and several reported molecular weights of NGFR. We report here on the demonstration of NGFR-like proteins from PC12 and SY5Y cells by sequential lectin chromatography, reverse-phase HPLC, and SDS-PAGE analysis of immunoprecipitates obtained with NGFR-specific monoclonal antibodies. For both human and rodent NGFR, there was a tendency for the higher molecular-weight species of NGFR-like proteins to be eluted in more hydrophobic fractions. Also, the expression of different species of NGFR could be modified by treatment with retinoic acid (RA). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the different molecular species of NGFR may result from the generation of a truncated form of NGFR, the presence of sugar residues on the NGFR protein, dimer formation between NGFR, or the association of NGFR with a receptor-associated protein.

Purification and characterization of a peanut-agglutinin-binding pancreatic-cancer-related serum mucus glycoprotein

A high-molecular-weight (approximately 3.5 x 10(3) kDa) peanut agglutinin (PNA)-binding glycoprotein was previously identified as a tumour marker in pancreatic cancer sera. In the present study the density of this glycoprotein has been estimated and further analysis performed using sequential lectin blotting combined with serial mild acid hydrolysis followed by repeated Smith degradation. This has allowed partial in-situ characterization of the carbohydrate side-chains. The PNA-binding glycoprotein variably expresses the blood group H and sialylated Lewis a antigens. H and sialyl Lea expression disappeared after mild acid hydrolysis and T (PNA acceptor) disappeared after the first Smith degradation step. T (beta gal(1-3)alpha galNAc) expression reappeared after a second Smith degradation, suggesting that the backbone regions of the mucin side-chains with this core sequence are built up by the further addition of at least 2 monosaccharides. A model has been constructed showing the minimum variations in side chain structure that would explain the results of the serial degradation and lectin blotting. Purification and caesium chloride density gradient centrifugation show that the intact PNA-binding glycoprotein has a density of greater than 1.48 g/ml, characteristic of a mucin. The development of assays using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) or lectins directed against the different carbohydrate epitopes expressed on this mucin may provide better diagnostic accuracy for pancreatic cancer than current marker assays which rely on detection of a single epitope.

Oligosaccharide composition, localization, and developmental changes of a CNS-specific (F3-87-8) glycoprotein.

The F3-87-8 glycoprotein was isolated from rat brain by immunoaffinity chromatography after biosynthetic labeling by intracerebral administration of [3H]glucosamine, and the oligosaccharide composition of pronase-derived glycopeptides was determined by sequential lectin affinity chromatography and alkali treatment. Triantennary complex oligosaccharides (65%) and O-glycosidic oligosaccharides (18%) were the predominant types present, accompanied by 7-10% each of biantennary and high-mannose oligosaccharides. Twenty-two percent of the complex oligosaccharides had a fucose residue linked to the proximal N-acetylglucosamine of the chitobiose units. No poly(N-acetyllactosaminyl) or hybrid oligosaccharides were detected. Immunocytochemical studies on the localization of this glycoprotein in developing rat brain demonstrated that in 1-week postnatal cerebellum, there is light staining of the internal granule cell layer and surrounding the Purkinje cells. By 2 weeks, an intense staining of myelinating fiber tracts appears, accompanied by much lighter staining in the granule cell layer and at the base of the molecular layer. Staining of the white matter remains strong at 3 weeks postnatal, together with significant staining throughout the molecular layer, and then decreases in both areas by 1 month. In adult brain there is relatively uniform staining of approximately equal intensity in the white matter, granule cell layer, and molecular layer, whereas the Purkinje cell bodies appear unstained throughout development. In agreement with a previously reported immunochemical analysis, no staining was seen in other tissues, confirming the CNS-specific localization of this glycoprotein.

Evidence for exogenous substrate phosphorylation and dimer formation by the activated 190 kDa insulin proreceptor in vitro

The insulin receptor is synthesized as a single chain, 190 kDa glycoprotein precursor, which undergoes proteolytic cleavage, carbohydrate processing, and fatty acylation to generate the mature receptor on the plasma membrane. The relationship of these post-translational modifications to the acquisition of receptor function, i.e. ligand binding and phosphokinase activity, is not fully understood. Therefore, the 190 kDa proreceptor and mature receptor kinase activities were separately examined in vitro, and their phosphorylation properties compared. The solubilized receptor precursor from IM-9 lymphocytes was purified by sequential lectin chromatography and, following site specific anti-receptor antibody immunoprecipitation, phosphokinase studies performed. The isolated proreceptor was activated by insulin and phosphorylated exogenous substrate α-casein, as similarly observed for the mature receptor. Structurally, the phosphorylated proreceptor was identified as a 360 kDa homodimer under non-reducing condition.

The chromatographic heterogeneity of rat transferrin on immobilized concanavalin A and lentil lectin.

A procedure was developed for the isolation of the microheterogeneous forms of rat transferrin consisting of anion-exchange and serial lectin affinity chromatographies. By deploying this technique, four to five different anionic species of the protein were detected in plasma. The two major components obtained, which encompassed 92-94% of the plasma transferrin, were further studied by sequential lectin chromatography. The larger of the two, representing 60-63% of plasma transferrin, was bound by concanavalin A - Sepharose, while the smaller one (30-32% of plasma transferrin) resolved into an unbound (25-27% of plasma transferrin) and a retarded (4-5% of plasma transferrin) fraction. The latter eluted from the column in a volume which was 1.9 times larger than that required for the passage of nonretarded transferrin. In accordance with their fucose contents, each of these three concanavalin A fractions resolved into a bound (20-29%) and an unbound (71-80%) subfraction by chromatography on lentil-Sepharose. It is concluded that there exist two kinds of glycan microheterogeneity in rat transferrin and that they are unrelated to each other. Consequently, at least six different forms of rat transferrin are available with respect to glycosylation. Epididymal fucosidase cleaved fucose from apotransferrin slowly and from the tryptic glycopeptide rapidly. Exploratory studies performed in vivo failed thus far to identify the significance of fucose in rat transferrin.

Analysis of asparagine-linked oligosaccharide structures of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

The asparagine-linked oligosaccharide structures of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells (CLL) were studied by sequential lectin affinity chromatography. Glycopeptides were isolated from a Concanavalin A (ConA)-binding glycoprotein fraction prepared from a soluble CLL extract. This fraction, which contained 1.8% of the proteins present in the soluble extract, > 30 polypeptides revealed by SDS-PAGE analysis, and known cell surface antigens such as HLA-DR and p85 glycoprotein, must include a major proportion of the glycoproteins of the CLL cells. Glycopeptides were prepared by digestion with pronase, were separated into four pools (A-D) by Bio-Gel P-6 filtration and were radiolabeled by N- 14C-acetylation. Glycopeptide pools C and D (0.45 < K d < 0.77) were 95–100% bound to ConA-Sepharose and 7–12% bound to Lens culinaris (Lens)-Sepharose, but did not interact with any of the other lectins tested, suggesting major amounts of high mannose structures and minor amounts of fucosylated biantennary complex structures with terminal GlcNAc on the Man α 1–6 arm. Structures with > 3 branches were suggested for pools A and B (0 < K d < 0.44) which were 34–65% unbound to ConA-Sepharose and 37–40% bound to Lens-Sepharose. Analysis of the ConA-unbound glycopeptides on RCA-Agarose before and after acid hydrolysis indicated variable amounts of terminal galactose and sialic acid residues. Major components of pool A were structures with terminal GlcNAc on all branches (22%) and fully sialylated structures (20%). In pool B, 20% of the radioactivity interacted with l-Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin (PHA)-Agarose and with Ricinus communis (RCA)-Agarose, indicative of a fully galactosylated triantennary structure with branches at C-2 and C-6 of the Man α 1–6 arm. Half of the l-PHA-interacting material also bound to Lens-Sepharose, indicative of a core fucose residue. A fully galactosylated biantennary complex structure in pool A (13%) was identified by weak binding to ConA-Sepharose and strong interaction with RCA-Agarose. The presence of the polylactosamine sequence (Gal β1–4GlcNAcβ1–3) n on this structure was suggested by a sialic acid independent interaction with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-Agarose. A sialic acid dependent WGA-interaction was observed in the ConA-unbound glycopeptides of pool A (5%). Some of the structures identified in this study may be associated with the malignant CLL phenotype and/or with a distinct stage of B cell differentiation.

Comparison of the N-linked glycopeptides of DQw1 and DR1 molecules.

HLA class II molecules have been isolated from a [3H]mannose-labeled GM3104 B lymphoblastoid cell line with the phenotype DQw1, DR1. The DQw1 molecules were purified by affinity to 77-34 IgG specifically reactive with the DQw1 specificity. The DR1 molecules were separated into two subsets, DR1a (70 to 80%) and DR1b (20 to 30%), by sequential affinity to 21r5-IgG and 21w4-IgG Sepharose. The alpha- and beta-chains of [3H]mannose-labeled DQw1, DR1a, and DR1b molecules were separated by SDS-PAGE and were recovered by electrophoretic elution. The isolated chains were digested with pronase and the glycopeptides were fractionated by sequential lectin chromatography on immobilized concanavalin A (Con A), Lens culinaris (Lens), and Ricinus communis agglutinin type I (RCA). The N-linked glycopeptides derived from the alpha-chains of DQw1, DR1a, or DR1b showed similar profiles on Con A Sepharose: 45% unbound (ConA I), 25% weakly bound (ConA II), and 30% tightly bound (ConA III). The glycopeptides derived from the beta-chains of DQw1 or DR1 molecules were found almost exclusively (80%) in the fraction unbound to Con A Sepharose, with only 11% and 9% in ConA II and ConA III fractions, respectively. The observation that most of the binding to Con A is associated with the alpha-chain glycopeptides suggests that binding of membrane-associated class II molecules to that lectin must be mediated by the alpha-chains. Binding to Lens Sepharose was higher for beta-(50%) than for alpha-(15%) chain glycopeptides, suggesting that within the intact glycoproteins, the beta-chains are responsible for the interaction with Lens. The ConA I fractions derived from the alpha-chain glycopeptides of either DQw1 or DR1 molecules were separated on RCA-agarose as follows: 60% unbound, 17% retarded, and 20% bound and eluted with 0.1 M galactose. The ConA I fractions derived from the beta-chain glycopeptides of either subset of class II molecules also had a similar profile on RCA-agarose: 70% unbound, 16% retarded, and 10% bound and eluted specifically. After removal of sialic acid residues, all of the ConA I fractions of alpha- and beta-chains bound to RCA-agarose. A high degree of similarity was observed between the corresponding glycopeptides of the three subsets of class II molecules and between the complex N-linked structures of alpha- and beta-chains. Minor variations were observed between DR1a and DR1b glycopeptides which appear greater than those observed between DR1 and DQw1 glycopeptides.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Complex carbohydrates of cultured PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Effects of nerve growth factor and comparison with neonatal and mature rat brain.

The composition and biosynthesis of glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and gangliosides have been studied in a clonal line of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Glycoproteins account for approximately 78% of the glucosamine-labeled complex carbohydrates found in the culture medium, together with 17% chondroitin sulfate and 5% heparan sulfate. 10% of the glycoproteins but less than 1% of the proteoglycans are released by trypsin treatment of the cells, whose complex carbohydrates are composed of 93% glycoproteins, 1.3% chondroitin sulfate, 3.4% heparan sulfate, and 2.6% of mono- and disialogangliosides. Sequential lectin affinity chromatography and alkali treatment of glycopeptides prepared from the medium, trypsin-releasable, membrane, and cell-soluble glycoproteins demonstrated that in all of the subfractions large tri- and tetraantennary complex oligosaccharides account for 82 to 97% of those present in PC12 cell glycoproteins. Biantennary oligosaccharides account for approximately 2-6% of those in medium and trypsinate, as compared to 10-13% in the membrane and cell soluble glycoproteins, and there were large differences (ranging from 7 to 60%) in the proportions of biantennary oligosaccharides which are substituted by fucose on the core N-acetylglucosamine which is linked to asparagine. High mannose oligosaccharides are present predominantly in the cell membrane and soluble glycoproteins, where they account for 4 to 5% of the total glycoprotein labeling. In response to nerve growth factor (NGF), the PC12 cells extend long processes and acquire other properties similar to those of differentiated sympathetic neurons. Significant alterations were also observed in the complex carbohydrates of NGF-treated cells, the most striking of which were an almost 3-fold increase in labeled gangliosides and a 75% increase in trypsin-releasable glycoproteins. Cellular heparan sulfate decreased by 70% in response to NGF and increased by an equivalent amount in the culture medium, whereas an NGF-induced increase in chondroitin sulfate labeling occurred specifically in the cell membranes.

Membrane glycoproteins involved in cell--substratum adhesion.

A combination of immunological and biochemical methods were used to identify surface membrane components involved in cell-substratum adhesion. Broad-spectrum antiserum, prepared against surface membranes from hamster cells, induced reversible rounding and detachment of hamster fibroblasts from a substratum in vitro. This phenomenon was inhibited by Nonidet P-40 extracts of hamster cells. Therefore, an antibody neutralization assay was developed to detect the presence of antigen during the fractionation of Nonidet P-40 extracts of cells. After two differential precipitation steps, anion exchange chromatography, and sequential lectin affinity chromatography, a fraction greatly enriched in ability to block antiserum-induced changes in cell adhesion and appearance was isolated. Analysis of this fraction by NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a highly restricted group of glycoproteins with Mr approximately 140,000. A lectin-purified glycoprotein fraction was used to raise a higher titer antiserum that was able to induce reversible rounding and detachment of cells from a substratum and, when immobilized on an antibody affinity column, was able to bind and release material capable of blocking antiserum-induced cell rounding. These methods have allowed us to focus attention on a restricted group of glycoproteins that are integral constituents of the surface membrane and which play some as yet undetermined role in the process of cell--substratum adhesion.