Synthesis Of N-linked Oligosaccharides Research Articles

One-Pot Glycosylation Strategy Assisted by Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Analysis toward the Synthesis of N-Linked Oligosaccharides.

N-Glycans are major constituents of several cellular glycoproteins. One-pot strategies for the synthesis of N-glycans are crucial for the rapid generation of pure samples to determine their biological functions. Herein, we describe a double one-pot strategy for the synthesis of N-glycans assisted by an IM-MS analysis approach for rapid screening of optimized glycosylation reaction conditions. This research includes triflate-mediated direct β-mannosylation and tandem glycosylation in a one-pot strategy for the synthesis of the challenging N-linked trisaccharide core β-5. Furthermore, a one-pot sequential glycosylation of the N-linked trisaccharide core 7 furnishes diverse high-mannose type N-glycans with excellent stereo- and regioselectivities. In particular, ion mobility-mass spectrometry-based quantitative analysis is applied to identify the stereo- and regioselective outcomes of the crude reaction mixtures to develop a highly efficient one-pot protocol.

N-glycosylation deficiency enhanced heterologous production of a Bacillus licheniformis thermostable α-amylase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Expression of foreign enzymes in yeast is a traditional genetic engineering approach; however, useful secretory enzymes are not produced in every case. The hyperthermostable α-amylase encoded by the AmyL gene of Bacillus licheniformis was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; however, it was only weakly produced and was degraded by the proteasome. To determine the cause of low α-amylase production, AmyL was expressed in a panel of yeast mutants harboring knockouts in non-essential genes. Elevated AmyL production was observed in 44 mutants. The knockout genes were classified into six functional categories. Remarkably, all non-essential genes required for N-linked oligosaccharide synthesis and a gene encoding an oligosaccharyl transferase subunit were identified. Immunoblotting demonstrated that differently underglycosylated forms of AmyL were secreted from oligosaccharide synthesis-deficient mutants, while a fully glycosylated form was produced by wild-type yeast, suggesting that N-linked glycosylation of AmyL inhibited its secretion in yeast. Mutational analysis of six potential N-glycosylation sites in AmyL revealed that the N33Q and N309Q mutations remarkably affected AmyL production. To achieve higher AmyL production in yeast, all six N-glycosylation sites of AmyL were mutated. In wild-type yeast, production of the resulting non-glycosylated form of AmyL was threefold higher than that of the glycosylated form.

Clinical features in adults with congenital disorders of glycosylation type Ia (CDG‐Ia)

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a group of metabolic disorders resulting from defective synthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides. CDG-Ia is the most common of the 21 known types defined by defects in different steps of the synthetic pathway. An increasing number of American adults with CDG-Ia are being recognized but little is documented on the morbidity and mortality in this population. These adults have moderate mental retardation, ataxia, retinitis pigmentosa, peripheral neuropathy, kyphoscoliosis, and endocrinopathies. Four adults with CDG-Ia, ages 19-36 years old are presented. All are active, dysarthric conversant adults with moderate cognitive impairment. They are ataxic and wheelchair dependent, however, only the oldest man shows significant muscle atrophy. All have diagnosed peripheral neuropathy. Three of four remain on anticonvulsants with only occasional seizures, none have had stroke-like episodes since their teen years. Their skeletal issues include significant kyphoscoliosis, joint contractures, and osteopenia. Retinitis pigmentosa and myopia complicate their functional vision. The women do not menstruate and the men have small testes resulting from hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Documentation of clinical complications and successful management strategies in adults with CDG will improve their quality of life and allow more informed prognostic discussions with families of younger affected individuals.

Complete Removal of N-Linked Glycans from Platelet GPIbα Impairs Platelet Agglutination and von Willebrand Factor Binding In Vitro.

We previously reported that the lectin domain of the αMβ2 receptor on macrophages mediates the rapid clearance of transfused washed murine platelets which have been refrigerated for 2 hrs in the absence of plasma. The clearance is mediated by the recognition of exposed βN-acetylglucosamine (β-GlcNAc) residues on N-linked glycans of clustered platelet GPIbα molecules. Covering the exposed β-GlcNAc residues on GPIbα N-linked glycans via galactosylation prevents the clearance of chilled murine platelets from the circulation.The role of N-linked glycans in platelet function and survival is unclear. To dissect the role of N-linked glycosylation of GPIbα on the binding of von Willebrand factor (vWf), we use human platelets and Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, stably expressing human GPIbα/βand GPIX. Deglycosylation of platelet GPIbα N-liked glycans was achieved using the enzyme peptide-N-glycosidase F (PGNaseF), specific for complex N-linked glycans. In agglutination assays using platelets incubated with and without PNGaseF for 16hrs at 37°C, we observed 30-40 % less agglutination in response to ristocetin for platelets depleted of N-linked glycans with PNGaseF. Additionally, a 30 % reduction in vWf binding to PNGaseF-treated platelets compared with control platelets was measured by flow cytometry, using a FITC-conjugated mAb that detects surface-bound vWf. In CHO cells, GPIbα N-linked oligosaccharides were manipulated by adding swainsonine or tunicamycin, two inhibitors of N-linked oligosaccharide synthesis in the Golgi. vWf binding to platelets or to CHO cells was studied by aggregometry or by light microscopy to establish the fraction of CHO-cell aggregates. As was the case with platelets, vWf-dependent aggregation of CHO cells expressing GPIb-IX decreased three fold in response to botrocetin, but only following complete N-linked glycans depletion with tunicamycin. In contrast, partial N-linked carbohydrate modification with swainsonine did not significantly alter aggregate formation in CHO- cells expressing GPIb-IX. Complete inhibition of N-linked glycosylation decreased botrocetin-induced vWf binding to CHO- cells expressing GPIb-IX by ~50%, as determined by flow cytometry. No change was observed following swainsonine treatment. Surface expression of GP1bα remained unchanged after both tunicamycin and swainsonine treatment, and with PGNaseF treatment of platelets. These results confirm that 1) N-linked glycans are not required for GPIbα surface expression, and 2) indicate that N-linked glycans likely play a role in vWf binding to platelet GPIbα.

Synthesis of Diverse Asparagine Linked Oligosaccharides

Oligosaccharides are linked to the protein surface and play roles in a number of biological events. Therefore, much attention is being paid to research to investigate the function of the oligosaccharides. In order to investigate the function of oligosaccharides, many synthetic approaches have been examined by synthesizing N-linked oligosaccharides. In this paper, we introduce recent synthetic developments focusing on the synthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides.

Transposon Mutagenesis of Trypanosoma brucei Identifies Glycosylation Mutants Resistant to Concanavalin A

We have engineered Trypanosoma brucei with a novel mariner transposition system that allows large populations of mutant cells to be generated and screened. As a proof of principle, we isolated and characterized two independent clones that were resistant to the cytotoxic action of concanavalin A. In both clones, the transposon had integrated into the locus encoding a homologue of human ALG12, which encodes a dolichyl-P-Man: Man(7)GlcNAc(2)-PP-dolichyl-alpha6-mannosyltransferase. Conventional knock-out of ALG12 in a wild-type background gave an identical phenotype to the mariner mutants, and biochemical analysis confirmed that they have the same defect in the N-linked oligosaccharide synthesis pathway. To our surprise, both mariner mutants were homozygous; the second allele appeared to have undergone gene conversion by the mariner-targeted allele. Subsequent experiments showed that the frequency of gene conversion at the ALG12 locus, in the absence of selection, was 0.25%. As we approach the completion of the trypanosome genome project, transposon mutagenesis provides an important addition to the repertoire of genetic tools for T. brucei.

Neurologic Course of Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation

Congenital disorders of glycosylation, formerly called carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome, may present in infancy with slowly progressive neurologic deficits including cognitive impairment, ataxia, pigmentary retinal degeneration, and neuropathy. The metabolic defect is in N-linked oligosaccharide synthesis, and diagnosis is made by a serum transferrin isoelectric focusing. We reviewed the neurologic course of 10 children with congenital disorders of glycosylation (ages 13 months to 7 years). All had severe developmental delay and ataxia; none walked unassisted, and the highest level of communication was simple sign language in one patient. Five of 10 children had seizures (absence, complex partial, tonic clonic). Only one patient has had strokelike episodes, despite reports that they are common in this population. The underlying basis of these episodes has been hypothesized to be coagulopathy due to dysfunctional, incorrectly glycosylated coagulation factors. This 5-year-old patient with congenital disorders of glycosylation type Ia had two strokelike episodes, with evolving hemiparesis over 5 to 6 days' duration, followed by focal tonic-clonic seizures. Coagulation studies were normal. Electroencephalography showed transient hemispheric polymorphous delta-range slowing and suppression. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed corresponding cortical swelling. Magnetic resonance angiography was normal. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed a decrease in the N-acetylaspartate peak, suggesting neuronal loss, with normal lactate peak. The neuroradiologic data do not support a thrombotic, embolic, or hemorrhagic basis for strokelike episodes in carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome; other mechanisms must be considered.

Human N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I. Expression in Escherichia coli as a soluble enzyme, and application as an immobilized enzyme for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides

N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GnT-I), which catalyzes the transfer of an N-acetylglucosamine residue from UDP- N-acetylglucosamine to the α1,3-linked mannose on Man 5GlcNAc 2 (M5), is a critical enzyme for the synthesis of high-mannose-type to complex-type glycan structures in N-linked glycan processing. We developed a large-scale preparation system for recombinant human GnT-I (hGnT-I) using the maltose binding protein (MBP) fusion system to facilitate the chemoenzymatic route for complex-type N-linked glycan synthesis. MBP-fused GnT-I was purified by affinity chromatography on an amylose resin column. The relative activity of MBP-fused GnT-I toward high-mannose-type N-linked oligosaccharides was 100% for Man 5GlcNAc 2, 52% for Man 3GlcNAc 2, 17% for Man 6GlcNAc 2. MBP-fused GnT-I exhibited optimal activity at pH 6.5–9.5 and was more active between pH 6.5–9.0. The optimum temperature for MBP-fused GnT-I activity was 40°C, but the enzyme was active between 0–70°C. Mn 2+ and Co 2+ were critical for the enzyme activity, while Zn 2+ and Ca 2+ inhibited the activity. Kinetic analysis of the purified enzyme showed an apparent K m value of 0.483 mM and a V max of 101 nmol/mg/min for M5. Immobilization of MBP-fused GnT-I on the amylose resin led to an 80% yield of the high mannose-type-of oligosaccharide.

Human N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase I. Expression in Escherichia coli as a Soluble Enzyme, and Application as an Immobilized Enzyme for the Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of N-Linked Oligosaccharides

N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GnT-I), which catalyzes the transfer of an N-acetylglucosamine residue from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine to the alpha1,3-linked mannose on Man5GlcNAc2 (M5), is a critical enzyme for the synthesis of high-mannose-type to complex-type glycan structures in N-linked glycan processing. We developed a large-scale preparation system for recombinant human GnT-I (hGnT-I) using the maltose binding protein (MBP) fusion system to facilitate the chemoenzymatic route for complex-type N-linked glycan synthesis. MBP-fused GnT-I was purified by affinity chromatography on an amylose resin column. The relative activity of MBP-fused GnT-I toward high-mannose-type N-linked oligosaccharides was 100% for Man5GlcNAc2, 52% for Man3GlcNAc2, 17% for Man6GlcNAc2. MBP-fused GnT-I exhibited optimal activity at pH 6.5-9.5 and was more active between pH 6.5-9.0. The optimum temperature for MBP-fused GnT-I activity was 40 degrees C, but the enzyme was active between 0-70 degrees C. Mn2+ and Co2+ were critical for the enzyme activity, while Zn2+ and Ca2+ inhibited the activity. Kinetic analysis of the purified enzyme showed an apparent K(m) value of 0.483 mM and a V(max) of 101 nmol/mg/min for M5. Immobilization of MBP-fused GnT-I on the amylose resin led to an 80% yield of the high mannose-type-of oligosaccharide.

Development of recombinant, immobilised β-1,4-mannosyltransferase for use as an efficient tool in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides

The preparation of the conserved core structure of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides found in eukaryotic glycoproteins is an important step towards the synthesis of homogeneous neoglycoproteins. So far, however, the convenient generation of the Manβ4GlcNAcβ4GlcNAc (Gn2M) core trisaccharide has proved to be a major obstacle because of the inherent difficulties associated with the synthesis of β-mannosides. Here we report the overproduction in Escherichia coli of full-length and transmembrane-deleted yeast β-1,4-mannosyltransferases as novel N-terminal fusions bearing a decahistidinyl sequence and the minimal human Myc epitope. The recombinant enzymes were highly active and were amenable to immobilisation by nickel(II) chelation and to immunodetection with an anti-Myc monoclonal antibody. The immobilised, transmembrane-deleted enzyme exhibited an apparent K m of 14 μM for the synthetic acceptor substrate analogue, phytanyl-pyrophosphoryl-α- N, N′-diacetylchitobioside (PPGn2), under saturating donor conditions. This figure is comparable to those previously reported for native and recombinant yeast β-1,4-mannosyltransferases with, respectively, the natural dolichyl-linked acceptor and PPGn2. The validity of the reaction product was confirmed by chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis.

Quantitative immunoelectron microscopy reveals α2,6 sialyltransferase is concentrated in the central cisternae of rat hepatocyte Golgi apparatus

The Golgi apparatus is a membrane bound organelle involved in syn thesis of N-linked oligosaccharides which are trimmed and then lengthened by a series of sugar transferases adding N-acetyl glucosamine, galactose and sialic acid in sequence. We previously published qualitative work which localized Galβ1,4GlcNAc α2,6 sialyltransferase of rat hepatocytes to the trans cisternae and the trans Golgi network. We now report the use of combined stereological and immunoelectron microscopical techniques for mapping the Golgi stack composition and distribution of sialyltransferase protein in rat hepato cytes. The Golgi stack showed substantial variation in composition consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cisternae with an average of 2.5 cisternae. Sialyltransferase labeling was mainly located in the central cisternae of the Golgi stacks irrespective of whether the stacks were oriented in a cis/trans direction using morphological criteria. Only 20% of the total sialyltransferase labeling was present in the transmost cisterna and 2% in the trans Golgi Network. The low labeling in the transmost cisterna was essentially due to the presence of a sialyltransferase negative cisterna. These data emphasize the importance of quantitation in obtain ing a representative picture of Golgi enzyme distribution in three dimensions. They indicate that central cisternae, rather than the trans most cisterna and TGN, function in sialylation along the secretory pathway of rat hepatocytes.

Enzymatic synthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides terminating in multiple sialyl-Lewis x and GalNAc-Lewis x determinants: clustered glycosides for studying selectin interactions

Galactosyltransferase, sialyltransferase, and fucosyltransferase were used to create a panel of complex oligosaccharides that possess multiple terminal sialyl-Le x (NeuAc α2–3Gal[Fuc α1–3] β1–4GlcNAc) and GalNAc-Le x (GalNAc[Fuc α1–3] β1–4GlcNAc). The enzymatic synthesis of tyrosinamide biantennary, triantennary, and tetraantennary N-linked oligosaccharides bearing multiple terminal sialyl-Le x was accomplished on the 0.5 μmol scale and the purified products were characterized by electrospray MS and 1H NMR. Likewise, biantennary and triantennary tyrosinamide oligosaccharides bearing multiple terminal GalNAc-Le x determinants were synthesized and similarly characterized. The transfer kinetics of human milk α3/4-fucosyltransferase were compared for biantennary oligosaccharide acceptor substrates possessing Gal β1–4GlcNAc, GalNAc β1–4GlcNAc, and NeuAc α2–3Gal β1–4GlcNAc which established NeuAc α2–3Gal β1–4GlcNAc as the most efficient acceptor substrate. The resulting complex oligosaccharides were chemically tethered through the tyrosinamide aglycone to the surface of liposomes containing phosphatidylthioethanol, resulting in the generation of glycoliposomes probe which will be useful to study relationships between binding affinity and the micro- and macro-clustering of selectin ligand.

Dolichol and N-linked oligosaccharide synthesis in the rat testis: interaction between Sertoli and spermatogenic cells, evidence for paracrine effects

The relative contribution of the Sertoli cell and the pachytene spermatocyte to dolichol and N-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis within the seminiferous tubule was investigated. Evidence is presented to show that the interaction between these two cell types affects dolichol and N-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis. Analysis of the dolichol content of Sertoli cultures confirms earlier data suggesting that the Sertoli cell constitutes the major pool of dolichols within the seminiferous tubule. [14C]Acetate incorporation studies suggest that the Sertoli cell in culture synthesizes dolichol much more rapidly than does the isolated pachytene spermatocyte. This information, in addition to previous data in the literature, infers an interactive effect whereby the presence of the spermatogenic cell in the tubule stimulates dolichol synthesis in the Sertoli cell. The absence of normal Sertoli-spermatocyte interactions in in vitro incubations may also limit dolichol synthesis in the pachytene spermatocyte. The distribution of dolichol kinase between the Sertoli and the pachytene spermatocyte was also examined. The concentration of this enzyme in the Sertoli cell suggests the presence of an active salvage pathway within that cell. The correlation between the appearance of the pachytene spermatocyte and the previously described peak of dolichol kinase activity in the seminiferous tubules of the prepubertal animal implies cell-cell interactions. Radiolabelling studies of N-linked oligosaccharides were conducted using [3H]mannose and concanavalin A affinity chromatography to identify multiantennary, biantennary, and high-mannose oligosaccharide pools. An in vitro bicameral coculture system was used to demonstrate that pachytene spermatocytes stimulate incorporation of [3H]mannose into Sertoli cell oligosaccharides.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

N-glycosylation of membrane glycoproteins in retinol-deficient rat liver.

The effect of vitamin A deficiency on N-linked oligosaccharides of membrane glycoproteins was studied in rat liver in order to evaluate the suggested role of retinol in protein N-glycosylation. First, oligosaccharides of newly synthesized glycoproteins from rough endoplasmic reticulum of vitamin A deficient liver were compared with that of pair-fed controls. Oligosaccharides were metabolically labelled with D-[2-3H]mannose, released from the glycoproteins with endoglycosidase H, purified by reversed phase HPLC and ion exchange chromatography, and were reduced with sodium borohydride. HPLC fractionation of the oligosaccharide alditols showed that the glycoproteins carried mainly four oligosaccharide species, Glc1Man9GlcNAc2, Man9GlcNAc2, Man8GlcNAc2 and Man7GlcNAc2, in identical relative amounts in the vitamin A deficient and the control tissue. In particular, no increase in the proportion of short chain oligosaccharides was noted in vitamin A deficient liver. Second, the number of N-linked oligosaccharides was estimated in dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV), a major glycoprotein constituent of the hepatic plasma membrane, comparing the newly synthesized glycoprotein from rough endoplasmic reticulum and the mature form of DPP IV from the plasma membrane. No evidence was obtained that retinol deficiency caused incomplete glycosylation of this membrane glycoprotein. From these data, the suggested role of retinol as a cofactor involved in the synthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins must be questioned.

Control of N-linked oligosaccharide synthesis: cellular levels of dolichyl phosphate are not the only regulatory factor [Erratum to document cited in CA113(13):112839p

Control of N-linked oligosaccharide synthesis: cellular levels of dolichyl phosphate are not the only regulatory factor [Erratum to document cited in CA113(13):112839p

Identification of the keratan sulfate attachment sites on bovine fibromodulin

The small keratan sulfate-substituted proteoglycan (fibromodulin) from articular cartilage was shown to contain keratan sulfate linked to the core protein through N-glycosidic linkages to residues Asn-109, Asn-147, Asn-182, and Asn-272. Biosynthetic experiments with articular chondrocytes in the presence of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked oligosaccharide synthesis, demonstrated a specific inhibition of [35S]SO4 incorporation into fibromodulin. Under the same conditions no effect on the addition of keratan sulfate to the large aggregating proteoglycan was detected. Fibromodulin substituted with keratan sulfate was purified from bovine articular cartilage extracts by density gradient centrifugation, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel-permeation chromatography. Isolation of glycosylated peptides from tryptic digests of fibromodulin by ion-exchange chromatography and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography revealed four separate hexosamine-rich species, that were also immunoreactive with monoclonal antibody 5D4. Sequence analysis of these glycopeptides gave blank cycles at positions which corresponded to Asn followed by X-Ser/Thr in the sequence derived from cDNA (Oldberg, A., Antonsson, P., Lindblom, K., and Heinegard, D. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 2601-2604). Hence, all four Asn residues in the leucine-rich region of the fibromodulin core protein can serve as acceptor sites for keratan sulfate addition.

Control of N-linked oligosaccharide synthesis: cellular levels of dolichyl phosphate are not the only regulatory factor

When MDCK cells were incubated in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor puromycin or cycloheximide, there was a rapid and concentration-dependent inhibition in the incorporation of [2-3H]mannose into lipid-linked oligosaccharide and into protein. However, mannose incorporation into dolichyl-P-mannose was not affected. Interestingly, these inhibitors did block [6-3H]glucosamine incorporation into dolichyl-PP-GlcNAc as well as into lipid-linked oligosaccharides. Similar results were obtained when other cell lines were used and also when inhibitors of protein glycosylation such as beta-hydroxynorvaline and beta-fluoroasparagine were used. Cells incubated in puromycin did not show any changes in the levels of sugar nucleotides, GDP-mannose or UDP-GlcNAc, or in the in vitro activities of the glycosyltransferases that add mannose to the lipid-linked oligosaccharides. The inhibition of mannose incorporation into lipid-linked oligosaccharides could not be overcome by addition of dolichyl-P to the inhibited cells, even though the addition of dolichyl-P to control cells stimulated mannose incorporation into dolichyl-P-mannose, lipid-linked oligosaccharides, and protein from 3- to 5-fold. Thus, limitations in the levels of dolichyl-P do not appear to be a major factor in this inhibition. On the other hand, addition of the tripeptide acceptor N-acyl-Asn-Try-Thr did overcome the puromycin inhibition to some extent, suggesting that accumulation of some intermediate such as lipid-linked oligosaccharides might be involved in the inhibition.

Studies on the effect of ketoconazole on the fusion of L6 myoblasts

The effect of ketoconazole on the fusion of L6 myoblasts was studied. Ketoconazole was a potent inhibitor of myoblast fusion at concentrations as low as 0.1 microM, but fusion was restored when the inhibitor was removed. The inhibitor resulted in decreased binding of conA and WGA to cell surface oligosaccharides showing that it was inhibiting N-linked cell surface glycoproteins. Inhibition of fusion by ketoconazole was accompanied by reduced creatine phosphokinase activities showing that it is affecting biochemical differentiation. Incorporation of labelled mannose from GDP-mannose into lipid-sugar and lipid-oligosaccharide complexes involved in the synthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides was also inhibited by ketoconazole, but the inhibition was reversed by addition of exogenous dolichol phosphate to the incorporation mixture. The main conclusion from these studies was that ketoconazole inhibited fusion of L6 myoblasts by affecting the synthesis of dolichol-phosphate required for the synthesis of lipid-oligosaccharides needed for the synthesis of fusogenic cell surface N-linked glycoproteins.

The effect of inhibitors of glycoprotein synthesis and processing on the phagocytosis of rod outer segments by cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells

Retinal pigment epithelial cells selectively phagocytize rod outer segments by a process that may be mediated by specific cell surface receptors. Since many receptors are glycoproteins, we have studied the effect of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked oligosaccharide synthesis, and of castanospermine and swainsonine, which are inhibitors of oligosaccharide processing, on the ability of cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells to phagocytize rod outer segment. Tunicamycin inhibits the glycosylation of newly synthesized glycoproteins by 85-90%; concomitantly, the phagocytosis of rod outer segments is inhibited by 70-80%. The effect of tunicamycin is to initially reduce rod outer segments binding, and therefore the subsequent ingestion of rod outer segments. SDS-PAGE analysis and autoradiography of [35S]methionine labelled extracts of tunicamycin-treated cells, demonstrates the disappearance of a number of glycoprotein bands, and the appearance of a number of protein bands of lower Mr. Kinetic analysis of the disappearance and reappearance of specific glycoproteins suggests that the lower Mr bands are the non-glycosylated forms of the higher Mr bands. By contrast, castanospermine and swainsonine have no effect on the ability of retinal pigment epithelial cells to phagocytize rod outer segments, or on the SDS-PAGE pattern of treated cells, although they were shown to inhibit oligosaccharide processing as expected. These results support the hypothesis that rod outer segment phagocytosis by retinal pigment epithelial cells is mediated by specific glycoprotein receptors. N-Glycosylation of these receptors is required for their function, or for their insertion into the plasma membrane, whereas processing of the N-linked oligosaccharide chains of these receptors is not crucial for rod outer segment phagocytosis by retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Structure and cell surface maturation of the attachment glycoprotein of human respiratory syncytial virus in a cell line deficient in O glycosylation.

The synthesis of the extensively O-glycosylated attachment protein, G, of human respiratory syncytial virus and its expression on the cell surface were examined in a mutant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, ldlD, which has a defect in protein O glycosylation. These cells, used in conjunction with an inhibitor of N-linked oligosaccharide synthesis, can be used to establish conditions in which no carbohydrate addition occurs or in which either N-linked or O-linked carbohydrate addition occurs exclusively. A recombinant vaccinia virus expression vector for the G protein was constructed which, as well as containing the human respiratory syncytial virus G gene, contained a portion of the cowpox virus genome that circumvents the normal host range restriction of vaccinia virus in CHO cells. The recombinant vector expressed high levels of G protein in both mutant ldlD and wild-type CHO cells. Several immature forms of the G protein were identified that contained exclusively N-linked or O-linked oligosaccharide side chains. Metabolic pulse-chase studies indicated that the pathway of maturation for the G protein proceeds from synthesis of the 32-kilodalton (kDa) polypeptide accompanied by cotranslational attachment of high-mannose N-linked sugars to form an intermediate with an apparent mass of 45 kDa. This step is followed by the Golgi-associated conversion of the N-linked sugars to the complex type and the completion of the O-linked oligosaccharides to achieve the mature 90-kDa form of G. Maturation from the 45-kDa N-linked form to the mature 90-kDa form occurred only in the presence of O-linked sugar addition, confirming that O-linked oligosaccharides constitute a significant proportion of the mass of the mature G protein. In the absence of O glycosylation, forms of G bearing galactose-deficient truncated N-linked and fully mature N-linked oligosaccharides were observed. The effects of N- and O-linked sugar addition on the transport of G to the cell surface were measured. Indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry showed that G protein could be expressed on the cell surface in the absence of either O glycosylation or N glycosylation. However, cell surface expression of G lacking both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides was severely depressed.