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Phosphorylation of Asn-linked oligosaccharides located at novel sites on the lysosomal enzyme cathepsin D.

We have examined the phosphorylation of Asn-linked oligosaccharides introduced at seven novel sites on human cathepsin D to determine whether the location of an oligosaccharide on a lysosomal enzyme affects its ability to serve as a substrate for UDP-GlcNAc:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase (phosphotransferase), the enzyme that catalyzes the initial step in the biosynthesis of mannose 6-phosphate residues. The glycosylation sites were introduced into the cathepsin D cDNA by site-directed mutagenesis and were selected to be widely distributed over the surface of the molecule. When the constructs were expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the oligosaccharides at each glycosylation site were phosphorylated at levels considerably above background (19-70% phosphorylation versus < 0.4% for the secretory protein glycopepsinogen). However, oligosaccharides located closer to the essential components of the phosphotransferase recognition domain (lysine 203 and amino acids 265-292) were phosphorylated better than oligosaccharides located further away. Similar results were obtained for oligosaccharides at homologous sites on a pepsinogen/cathepsin D chimera containing only lysine 203 and residues 265-319 of cathepsin D, although the absolute levels of phosphorylation were lower. These results demonstrate that there is considerable flexibility in the placement of glycosylation sites on cathepsin D in terms of the ability of the oligosaccharides to serve as substrates for phosphotransferase, although oligosaccharides located closer to the phosphotransferase recognition determinant are preferentially phosphorylated.

Animals↗

Primary structures of N-linked oligosaccharides of momordin-a, a ribosome-inactivating protein from Momordica charantia seeds.

The structures of the N-linked oligosaccharides of momordin-a, which is a ribosome-inactivating protein from the seeds of Momordica charantia, were analyzed. First, the N-linked oligosaccharides of this glycoprotein were liberated by hydrazinolysis. After N-acetylation, the reducing ends of the oligosaccharides were coupled with 2-aminopyridine and the pyridylamino (PA-) derivatives were purified by gel filtration and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an ODS-silica column. Three kinds of oligosaccharide fractions were separated by HPLC. The structure of each oligosaccharide isolated was analyzed by a combination of sugar component analysis, exoglycosidase digestion, another kind of HPLC using an amide-silica column, and 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy. The structures of two main oligosaccharides were established to be: [Formula; see text] and [Formula; see text]. These two oligosaccharides were the first examples having xylose (or fucose) but no alpha-mannosyl linkage among the N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins from both animal and plant origins.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

1-Deoxymannojirimycin inhibits capillary tube formation in vitro. Analysis of N-linked oligosaccharides in bovine capillary endothelial cells.

Capillary endothelial cells can be induced to form capillary-like structures in vitro by plating on fibronectin-coated dishes (Ingber, D. E., and Folkman, J. (1989) J. Cell Biol. 109, 317-330), thereby mimicking angiogenesis. To assess the role of glycoproteins bearing asparagine-linked oligosaccharides in this process, we tested the effect of oligosaccharide processing inhibitors on the formation of capillary tubes. Deoxymannojirimycin, a compound that prevents synthesis of hybrid and complex-type oligosaccharides, inhibited the formation of capillary tubes. In contrast, swainsonine, an inhibitor that blocks synthesis of complex- but not hybrid-type oligosaccharides, did not inhibit tube formation. Lectin affinity chromatography of 2-[3H] mannose-labeled glycopeptides from endothelial cells induced to form tubes did not reveal a striking difference in the spectrum of oligosaccharides compared to uninduced cells. Since endothelial cells formed tubes normally in the presence of swainsonine, we analyzed glycopeptides from swainsonine-treated induced and uninduced cells. Cells induced to form tubes were enriched in monosialylated hybrid-type oligosaccharides sensitive to alpha-fucosidase, beta-galactosidase, and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase, suggestive of sialyl Lewis-X determinants. We used an enzyme-linked immunoassay to measure sialyl Lewis-X epitopes on capillary endothelial cells and found that both induced and uninduced cells expressed sialyl Lewis-X epitopes. Deoxymannojirimycin and, to a lesser extent, swainsonine reduced the level of sialyl Lewis-X epitopes in cells induced to form capillary tubes, but neither compound affected the level of epitopes in cell monolayers. We conclude that synthesis of at least hybrid-type oligosaccharides is required for capillary tube formation in vitro and that an increase in monosialylated, fucosylated glycans on asparagine-linked oligosaccharides occurs during this process.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗

The spectrum of incomplete N-linked oligosaccharides synthesized by endothelial cells in the presence of brefeldin A.

Previous studies in many cell lines have shown that Brefeldin A (BFA) inhibits the forward movement of newly synthesized glycoconjugates by fusing the cis-, medial-, and trans-Golgi compartments with the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Studies on the oligosaccharide processing of individual glycoproteins have yielded confusing and incomplete results regarding the location of the block. Assuming that all glycoproteins with N-linked oligosaccharides follow the same endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi pathway, a more complete picture on the location and nature of the block can be determined by analyzing N-linked oligosaccharides synthesized in the presence of BFA. In bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells, BFA (0.1 microgram/ml) reversibly inhibits the secretion of greater than 95% of Tran35S and [3H]Man-labeled glycoproteins without affecting protein synthesis or N-linked glycosylation. In addition, BFA inhibits the synthesis and secretion of 35SO4-labeled oligosaccharides. Initial oligosaccharide trimming is uninhibited, but further processing is affected since the majority (65%) of the chains terminate only in beta-GlcNAc residues. Concomitantly, the proportion of [3H]Man-labeled N-linked anionic oligosaccharides is reduced from 60 to 20%, and the great majority of the charge is due to one sialic acid. The rate-limiting step for sialylation appears to be the branch selective addition of beta-Gal residues. The remaining charge is due to sulfate esters (0.6%) which normally account for greater than 10% of the anionic substituents. BFA also reduces the amount of phosphorylated chains by 80% and greatly diminishes further phosphodiester processing since the majority of these oligosaccharides (60%) contain a Man-6-PO4 residue in an acid-sensitive diester linkage. The addition of all polylactosamine chains, outer-branch fucose and terminal alpha-Gal residues are completely inhibited by BFA. Secretion, fucosylation, and sialylation are completely restored when BFA is removed, but the other modification steps are only partially restored. Our results indicate that addition of sulfate esters, terminal alpha-Gal residues, polylactosamine chains, outer-branch fucose residues, some initial phosphorylation, and most phosphodiester processing may occur beyond a compartment where some beta-Gal and sialic acid residues can be added. Essentially, all of the effects on oligosaccharide processing are partially or completely reversible.

Amidohydrolases↗

Structures of the asparagine-linked oligosaccharide chains of human von Willebrand factor. Occurrence of blood group A, B, and H(O) structures.

The asparagine-linked oligosaccharide chains of human von Willebrand factor (vWF) purified from pooled plasma were quantitatively liberated from the polypeptide moiety by hydrazinolysis. After N-acetylation, these were fractionated by paper electrophoresis and sequential chromatography on lectin-affinity columns of concanavalin A, Phaseolus vulgaris erythrophytohemagglutinin, Datura stramonium agglutinin, Ricinus communis agglutinin 120, and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I and on a Bio-Gel P-4 column. Their structures were investigated by sequential exoglycosidase digestion in conjunction with methylation analysis. The glycoprotein was shown to be unique in its great diversity of oligosaccharide structures. Another noteworthy finding which had not been reported previously was the occurrence of asparagine-linked oligosaccharide chains with blood group A, B, and H(O) structures. In the present study, this glycoprotein was shown to contain mono- (0.4% of the total oligosaccharides), bi-(78.2%), tri- (12.3%), and tetraantennary (2.3%) complex type oligosaccharides in addition to a series of high mannose type oligosaccharides, Man6-9GlcNAc2 (0.8%). Biantennary complex type oligosaccharide chains were those with (8.2%) and without (70.0%) a bisecting GlcNAc residue and approximately 13.2%, 2.2%, and 0.4% of these contained blood group H(O), A, and B structures, respectively. The tri- and tetraantennary complex type chains were those with and without N-acetyllactosamine repeats, and about 13.0% of the triantennary chains without the N-acetyllactosamine repeat contained the blood group H(O) structure. Occurrence of these asparagine-linked oligosaccharides with blood group A and B structures suggest that the repeated use of factor VIII/vWF pooled concentrate for the treatment of hemophiliacs could result in the production of antibodies against vWF with a different blood group from that of the patient, and this development may be pathogenic.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Potential regulation of N-glycosylation precursor through oligosaccharide-lipid hydrolase action and glucosyltransferase-glucosidase shuttle.

The potential role of degradative mechanisms in controlling the level of the dolichyl pyrophosphate-linked Glc3Man9GlcNAc2 required for protein N-glycosylation has been explored in thyroid slices and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) vesicles, focusing on cleavage of the oligosaccharide from its lipid attachment and on the enzymatic removal of peripheral monosaccharide residues. Vesicle incubations demonstrated a substantial release of free Glc3Man9GlcNAc2 (at 30 min approximately 35% of that transferred to protein) which was inhibited in the presence of exogenous peptide acceptor and was sensitive to disruption of membrane integrity by detergent. In thyroid slices glucosylated oligosaccharides terminating in the di-N-acetylchitobiose sequence were also noted and these continued to be formed even during inhibition by puromycin of both protein synthesis and the attendant N-glycosylation. These observations indicated that the oligosaccharide originated from the lipid donor and suggested, together with previously reported similarities in substrate specificity and cofactor requirements, that the oligosaccharyltransferase can carry out in vivo both the hydrolytic and transfer functions. In addition to the release of the intact Glc3Man9GlcNAc2, we also obtained evidence that the lipid-linked oligosaccharide can be modified by the in vivo action of ER glycosidases. Since radiolabeling of the oligosaccharide-lipid in thyroid slices indicated a preferential turnover of the glucose residues, the possible existence of a glucosyltransferase-glucosidase shuttle was explored with the use of castanospermine. In the presence of this glucosidase inhibitor, the formation of under-glucosylated and nonglucosylated oligosaccharides was not observed, even under conditions of energy deprivation in which they accumulate. Glucosidase inhibition in ER vesicle incubations likewise prevented the appearance of incompletely glucosylated oligosaccharide-lipids. Studies employing the mannosidase inhibitor 1-deoxymannojirimycin in thyroid slices furthermore indicated that in vivo removal of at least one mannose residue from the dolichyl pyrophosphate-linked oligosaccharide can occur.

Animals↗

The interaction of phosphorylated oligosaccharides and lysosomal enzymes with bovine liver cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor.

We have analyzed the interaction of phosphorylated oligosaccharides and lysosomal enzymes with immobilized bovine liver cation-dependent mannose-6-P receptor. Oligosaccharides with phosphomonoesters were the only species that interacted with the receptor, and molecules with two phosphomonoesters showed the best binding. Lysosomal enzymes with several oligosaccharides containing only one phosphomonoester had a higher affinity for the receptor than did the isolated oligosaccharides, indicating the possible importance of multivalent interactions between weakly binding ligands and the receptor. The binding of a mixture of phosphorylated lysosomal enzymes to the cation-dependent Man-6-P receptor was markedly influenced by pH. At pH 6.3, almost all of the lysosomal enzymes bound to the receptor; whereas at pH 7.0-7.5, approximately one-third of the material passed through the column, one-third interacted weakly, and one-third bound tightly. The distribution of individual lysosomal enzyme activities was similar to that of the total material. The species of phosphorylated oligosaccharides present on the lysosomal enzymes which interacted poorly with the receptor were similar to those found on the tightly bound material and included species of oligosaccharides with two phosphomonoester groups. Isolated oligosaccharides of this type bound to the receptor over the entire pH range tested. These findings indicate that at neutral pH the phosphorylated oligosaccharides on some lysosomal enzyme molecules are oriented in a manner which makes them inaccessible to the binding site of the cation-dependent Man-6-P receptor. Since the same enzymes bind to the cation-independent Man-6-P receptor at neutral pH, at least a portion of the phosphomannosyl residues must be exposed. We conclude that small variations in the pH of the Golgi compartment where lysosomal enzymes bind to the receptors could potentially modulate the extent of binding to the two receptors.

Animals↗

Effects of inhibitors of N-linked oligosaccharide processing on the biosynthesis and function of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I receptors.

We have used specific inhibitors of oligosaccharide processing enzymes as probes to determine the involvement of oligosaccharide residues in the biosynthesis and function of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I receptors. In a previous study (Duronio, V., Jacobs, S., and Cuatrecasas, P. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 970-975) swainsonine was used to inhibit mannosidase II, resulting in the production of receptors containing only hybrid-type oligosaccharides. These receptors had a slightly lower molecular weight and were much more sensitive to endoglycosidase H, but otherwise behaved identically to normal receptors. In this study, we used two compounds that inhibit oligosaccharide processing at earlier steps: (i) N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin (MedJN), which inhibits glucosidases I and II and yields glucosylated, high mannose oligosaccharides, and (ii) manno-1-deoxynojirimycin (MandJN), which inhibits mannosidase I and yields high mannose oligosaccharides. In the presence of MandJN, HepG2 cells synthesized receptors of lower molecular weight, which were cleaved into alpha and beta subunits and were able to bind hormone and autophosphorylate. These receptors were as sensitive to endoglycosidase H as receptors made in the presence of swainsonine. In the presence of MedJN, receptors of only slightly lower molecular weight than normal were synthesized and were shown to contain some glucosylated high mannose oligosaccharides. These receptors were able to bind hormone and retained hormone-sensitive autophosphorylation activity. In both cases, the incompletely processed receptors could be detected at the cell surface by cross-linking of iodinated hormone and susceptibility to trypsin digestion, although less receptor was present in cells treated with MedJN. Studies of receptor synthesis using pulse-chase labeling showed that the receptor precursors synthesized in the presence of MedJN were cleaved into alpha and beta subunits at a slower rate than normal receptors or those made in the presence of MandJN. Inhibition of oligosaccharide processing had no effect on the association of the receptor subunits into disulfide-linked oligomeric complexes.

Animals↗

Interaction of Dictyostelium discoideum lysosomal enzymes with the mammalian phosphomannosyl receptor. The importance of oligosaccharides which contain phosphodiesters.

Mammalian cell lysosomal enzymes or phosphorylated oligosaccharides derived from them are endocytosed by a phosphomannosyl receptor (PMR) found on the surface of fibroblasts. Various studies suggest that 2 residues of Man-6-P in phosphomonoester linkage but not diester linkage (PDE) are essential for a high rate of uptake. The lysosomal enzymes of the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum are also recognized by the PMR on these cells; however, none of the oligosaccharides from these enzymes contain 2 phosphomonoesters. Instead, most contain multiple sulfate esters and 2 residues of Man-6-P in an unusual PDE linkage. In this study I have tried to account for the unexpected highly efficient uptake of the slime mold enzymes. The results show that nearly all of the alpha-mannosidase molecules contain the oligosaccharides required for uptake, and that each tetrameric, holoenzyme molecule has sufficient carbohydrate for an average of 10 Man8GlcNAc2 oligosaccharides. None of the oligosaccharides or glycopeptides from the lysosomal enzymes bind to an immobilized PMR, but those with 2 PDE show slight interaction. Competition of 125I-beta-glucosidase uptake by various carbohydrate-containing fractions indicates that the best inhibitors are those with 2 PDE, either with or without sulfate esters. Furthermore, the uptake of a lysosomal enzyme isolated from a mutant strain (modA), which produces oligosaccharides with only 1 but not 2 PDE, is about 10-fold less than the uptake of wild-type enzyme which has predominantly 2 PDE. Complete denaturation of 125I-labeled wild-type beta-glucosidase in sodium dodecyl sulfate/dithiothreitol also reduces its uptake by about 10-fold. Taken together, these results suggest that the interactions of multiple, weakly binding oligosaccharides, especially those with 2 PDE, are important for the high rate of uptake of the slime mold enzymes. The conformation of the protein may be important in orienting the oligosaccharides in a favorable position for binding to the PMR.

Animals↗

Sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides in mammalian cells. I. Complex-type chains with sialic acids and O-sulfate esters.

The structures of sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides have been reported for a few specific proteins. We recently demonstrated that such oligosaccharides occur in many different types of tissue culture cell lines (Freeze, H. H., and Varki, A. (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 140, 967-973). Here we report improved methods to metabolically label cell lines with 35SO4 and to release sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides with peptide:N-glycosidase F as well as the partial structure of some of these novel oligosaccharides. The released 35SO4-labeled chains from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (CPAE) were characterized by gel filtration, anion exchange and lectin affinity chromatography, and various enzymatic and chemical treatments. Each cell line contains a class of sulfated oligosaccharide chains bearing from two to six negative charges in varying combinations of O-sulfate esters and sialic acids. These molecules represent a significant proportion of both the total 35SO4 label and the total anionic N-linked oligosaccharides. They are also relatively enriched in a CHO mutant that is deficient in glycosaminoglycan chain synthesis. Lectin affinity chromatography of such molecules from CPAE cells indicates that the majority are sialylated multiantennary complex-type chains. The sulfate esters are exclusively of the primary type. Sequential exoglycosidase digestions, including beta-hexosaminidase A treatment at low pH, demonstrate that at least one-third of these sulfate esters are found in the following structure, (formula; see text) where R is the remainder of the underlying oligosaccharide, and SA is sialic acid. In addition to these molecules, a more highly charged group of sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides sharing structural features with glycosaminoglycans was found in CPAE cells, but not in CHO cells. These are described in the following paper (Sundblad, G., Holojda, S., Roux, L., Varki, A., and Freeze, H. H. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 8890-8896).

Animals↗

A new yeast mutation in the glucosylation steps of the asparagine-linked glycosylation pathway. Formation of a novel asparagine-linked oligosaccharide containing two glucose residues.

We have isolated and characterized a new yeast mutation in the glucosylation steps of lipid-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis, alg8-1. Cells carrying the alg8-1 mutation accumulate Glc1Man9GlcNAc2-lipid both in vivo and in vitro. We present evidence showing that the alg8-1 mutation blocks addition of the second alpha 1,3-linked glucose. alg8-1 cells transfer Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 to protein instead of the wild type oligosaccharide, Glc3Man9GlcNAc2. Pulse-chase studies indicate that the Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 transferred is processed more slowly than the wild type oligosaccharide. The yeast mutation gls1-1 lacks glucosidase I activity (Esmon, B., Esmon, P.C., and Schekman, R. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 10322-10327), the enzyme responsible for removing the alpha 1,2-linked glucose residues from protein-linked oligosaccharides. We demonstrate that gls1-1 cells contain glucosidase II activity (which removes alpha 1,3-linked glucose residues) and have constructed the alg8-1 gls1-1 haploid double mutant. The Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 oligosaccharide was trimmed normally in these cells, demonstrating that the alg8-1 oligosaccharide contained an alpha 1,3-linked glucose residue. A novel Glc2 compound was probably produced by the action of the biosynthetic enzyme that normally adds the alpha 1,2-linked glucose to lipid-linked Glc2Man9GlcNAc2. This enzyme may be able to slowly add alpha 1,2-linked glucose residue to protein-bound Glc1Man9GlcNAc2. The relevance of these findings to similar observations in other systems where glucose residues are added to asparagine-linked oligosaccharides and the possible significance of the reduced rate of oligosaccharide trimming in the alg mutants are discussed.

Asparagine↗

Cell-free sulfation of human and bovine pituitary hormones. Comparison of the sulfated oligosaccharides of lutropin, follitropin, and thyrotropin.

Lutropin (LH), follitropin (FSH), and thyrotropin (TSH) from pituitary and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) from placenta are a family of glycoprotein hormones, each with an alpha and beta subunit. The alpha subunits of all four hormones have the same amino acid sequence, whereas biological specificity is determined by their unique beta subunits. The carbohydrate compositions of these hormones indicate the structures of their Asn-linked oligosaccharides are not identical. Sulfate is present on most, but not all, of these hormones, and for bovine LH is attached to GalNAc (Green, E.D., van Halbeek, H., Boime, I., and Baenziger, J.U. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 15623-15630). We used a reconstituted cell-free system to study sulfation of bovine (b) and human (h) glycoprotein hormones and its relationship to glycosylation. Exogenously added bLH, bTSH, bFSH, hLH, and hTSH are sulfated exclusively on the oligosaccharides of both alpha and beta subunits. The distribution of sulfated oligosaccharide structures varies among the hormones and appears to result from differences in the extent and/or pathway of oligosaccharide processing. Significant amounts of disulfated, dibranched complex oligosaccharides are present on all the sulfated hormones. Human FSH is not susceptible to sulfation unless first treated with neuraminidase. The sulfated oligosaccharides obtained from bovine FSH and desialylated human FSH are unlike those of the other hormones. Therefore, there is differential processing of the oligosaccharides on pituitary hormones. For FSH and LH, which are believed to be synthesized in the same cell, we would suggest that the unique beta subunits may regulate processing of all oligosaccharides present on the alpha-beta dimers.

Animals↗

The spectrum of anionic oligosaccharides released by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H from glycoproteins. Structural studies and interactions with the phosphomannosyl receptor.

We have performed a detailed analysis of all the anionic oligosaccharides released by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H from the whole cell glycoproteins of P388D1 mouse macrophage-like cells labeled for 14 h with [2-3H]mannose. The major anionic species consisted of phosphorylated high mannose-type oligosaccharides containing one or two phosphomonoesters or phosphodiesters in several different positions. In addition we identified hybrid-type molecules containing one, two, or three sialic acid residues. A subset of the latter molecules also contained phosphodiesters or phosphomonoesters on another branch of the same oligosaccharide. Unlike previously reported hybrid-type molecules, these do not have a "bisecting" N-acetylglucosamine residue on the beta-linked mannose. Some of these oligosaccharides contained an unidentified acid-labile group on the core N-acetylglucosamine or the beta-linked mannose. The glycoproteins secreted by these cells were greatly enriched in hybrid oligosaccharides containing one sialic acid and one phosphomonoester. The interaction of the isolated oligosaccharides with bovine liver phosphomannosyl receptor immobilized on Affigel was analyzed. Oligosaccharides with phosphomonoesters were the only species that interacted with high affinity with the receptor, and molecules with two phosphomonoesters showed the best binding. The location of the phosphomonoester on the oligosaccharide influenced the degree of interaction with the receptor. Removal of accessible nonphosphorylated mannose residues improved the binding in some cases. These findings indicate that the generation of the physiological phosphomannosyl ligand on lysosomal enzymes involves removal of the blocking N-acetylglucosamine residues, trimming of certain mannose residues, and correct positioning of the phosphate esters.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

3-O-methylation of mannose residues. A novel reaction in the processing of N-linked oligosaccharides occurring in Mucor rouxii.

Yeast- and mycelial-form cells of the dimorphic fungus Mucor rouxii incubated with [U-14C]glucose were found to synthesize Man-P-dolichol, Glc-P-dolichol, and Glc3Man9GlcNAc2-P-P-dolichol. The structure of the oligosaccharide moiety of the latter was similar to that of the same compound isolated from other eucaryotic cells. Oligosaccharides that migrated on paper chromatography as Man6-30GlcNAc standards were obtained upon treatment of delipidated proteins with a protease and endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. The oligosaccharides that migrated apparently as single substances on paper chromatography could be separated into three different populations by paper electrophoresis in sodium borate buffer. The fastest migrating substances contained only mannose and N-acetylglucosamine residues, whereas the other two contained, in addition, different proportions of 3-O-methylmannose units. The oligosaccharides with the highest content of 3-O-methylmannose residues appeared to be completely resistant to alpha-mannosidase degradation; they were, however, cleaved by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. Mycelial cells synthesized a much higher proportion of 3-O-methylmannose-containing oligosaccharides than yeast cells. Cells incubated with [methyl-14C]methionine were found to label only the N-linked oligosaccharides containing 3-O-methylmannose residues. It is concluded that transfer of Glc3Man9GlcNAc2 to protein is followed by excision of glucose and probably one or two mannose residues, followed by further mannosylation and in some cases also methylation of oligosaccharides. This represents a novel reaction in the processing of N-linked oligosaccharides.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗

Enzymatic synthesis of a glucose-containing oligosaccharide-lipid involved in glycosylation of proteins.

Earlier studies on the biosynthesis of an oligosaccharide-lipid with the structure (alpha-Man)4-6-beta-Man-(1 leads to 4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1 leads to 4)-GlcNAc-P-P-dolichol have been extended to show that enzymes in membrane preparations of hen oviduct catalyze synthesis of a Glc-containing oligosaccharide-lipid that is similar in properties to the Glc-free oligosaccharide-lipid. Conditions that enable enzymatic preparation of Man-, GlcNAc-, or Glc-labeled oligosaccharide-lipid have been established. Experiments with isolated [Glc-14C]oligosaccharide-lipid as substrate demonstrated that the oligosaccharide chain was transferred en bloc from the lipid to an endogenous membrane protein of apparent Mr = 25,000. In addition, an exogenous soluble protein, S-carboxymethylated alpha-lactalbumin, was shown to serve as acceptor of the oligosaccharide chain from the Glc-containing oligosaccharide-lipid. Studies on the metabolic fate of the Glc residues in these proteins are reported in the accompanying paper (Chen, W. W., and Lennarz, W. J. (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 5780-5785).

Animals↗

Enzymatic excision of glucosyl units linked to the oligosaccharide chains of glycoproteins.

Studies in the accompanying paper (Chen, W. W., and Lennarz, W. J. (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 5774-5779) showed that hen oviduct membranes catalyze synthesis of a Glc-containing oligosaccharide-lipid and that the oligosaccharide moiety of this compound is transferred en bloc to an endogenous protein as well as to an exogenous, soluble protein. In this study we have established that the endogeneous proteins in oviduct membranes are devoid of Glc. In view of these findings, the possibility that Glc was excised from the oligosaccharide chain after it had been transferred to protein was examined. Kinetic studies involving the use of endogenous membrane proteins as acceptors of the oligosaccharide chain suggested that the Glc residues were released without significant degradation of the core oligosaccharide. Direct evidence for the presence of a membrane-bound glucosidase was obtained using either free, Glc-containing oligosaccharide or Glc-containing oligosaccharide linked to S-carboxymethylated alpha-lactalbumin as substrates. Experiments utilizing [3H]Glc- and [14C]GlcNAc-labeled, glycosylated S-carboxymethylated alpha-lactalbumin established that, under conditions leading to extensive removal of [3H]Glc, there was essentially no degradation of the [14C]GlcNAc-labeled oligosaccharide core.

Animals↗

Structures of the oligosaccharide chains of two forms of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein purified from liver metastases of lung, colon, and breast tumors.

Two forms of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein with common immunological determinants and almost identical amino acid compositions but different amounts of carbohydrate were isolated from liver metastases of primary colon, lung, and breast tumors by extraction with perchloric acid, gel filtration on Sepharose CL-6B and Sephadex G-200, and affinity chromatography on concanavalin A:agarose and Ricinus communis agglutinin l:agarose. Both forms of the antigen yielded single bands which stained for protein and carbohydrate when examined by disc gel electrophoresis and immunodiffusion. The molecular weights of the two forms were 45,000 and 37,000 respectively. The larger form contained about five to six oligosaccharide chains, whereas the smaller form had only three to four chains. The composition and structures of the oligosaccharide chains in the two forms of this glycoprotein were very similar. Each contained di-, tri-, and tetraantennary complex-type oligosaccharide chains. The diantennary oligosaccharide chains caused both forms of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein to be retained by concanavalin A-agarose columns. The lower-molecular-weight form contained fewer chains and correspondingly fewer terminal galactosyl residues. This resulted in the separation of this species from the higher-molecular-weight form on columns containing R. communis agglutinin I. Three types of reduced oligosaccharides were released from the light and heavy forms of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein by treatment with alkaline borohydride or by hydrazinolysis. These chains were isolated by chromatography on concanavalin A:agarose and Bio-Gel P-6 columns. The arrangement and linkage of sugars in the purified oligosaccharides were determined by periodate oxidation, sequential hydrolysis with glycosidases, and methylation analysis. The major oligosaccharide chain, comprising 50 to 55% of the carbohydrate, had a triantennary structure as shown in the structure: (formula; see text) in which NeuNAc is N-acetylneuraminic acid, Gal is galactose, GlcNAc is N-acetylglucosamine, Man is mannose, GlcNAcol is N-acetylglucosaminitol, and Fuc is fucose. Tetraantennary chains comprised about 25 to 30% of the carbohydrate, and the additional outer chain was attached to the alpha 1,6-mannosyl residue through a beta 1,6-linked GlcNAc unit. The remaining 15 to 20% of the oligosaccharide chains had a diantennary structure. The extent of sialylation of these chains varied in samples isolated from tumors of the same histological type from different individuals. However, a relatively constant proportion of the three types of chains was present in different forms of the glycoprotein isolated from liver metastases.

Amino Acids↗

Identification of sn-glycero-1-phosphate and phosphoethanolamine residues linked to the membrane-derived Oligosaccharides of Escherichia coli.

A previous report from this laboratory (van Golde, L.M.G., Schulman, H., and Kennedy, E.P. (1973) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 70, 1368-1372) described the discovery in Escherichia coli of a novel class of oligosaccharides, containing glucose as the sole sugar, substituted with glycerophosphate units derived from membrane phospholipids, and with succinic acid in O-ester linkage. These membrane-derived oligosaccharides, comprising about 0.5 to 1.0% of the dry weight of E. coli, represent a family of closely related oligosaccharides that may be subfractionated on anion exchange resins. The present paper describes studies of the oligosaccharide A-1 described by van Golde et al. in the previous report. The glycerophosphate linked to the oligosaccharide in phosphodiester bond is the sn-glycero-1-P enantiomer. This finding strongly supports the previous conclusion that the oligosaccharides are the acceptors of the polar headgroups of membrane phospholipids, since the unesterified glycerophosphate of phosphatidyl glycerol is an sn-glycero-1-P residue, otherwise rare in nature. The glycerophosphate residues in the membrane-derived oligosaccharide are not substituted in the sn-2 or sn-3 positions, since they are readily oxidized by periodate under mild conditions. Alkaline hydrolysis liberates glycerophosphate, and only negligible amounts of free glycerol, consistent with the view that the glycerophosphate residues are linked to glucose units through position 6, unfavorable for the formation of glucose cyclic phosphate intermediates that would eliminate free glycerol. Oligosaccharide A-1 (but not Fraction A-2) contains phosphoethanolamine residues equivalent to 30 to 40% of the total phosphorus. The phosphoethanolamine residues are linked to position 6 of glucose units, as proved by the isolation of glucose 6-phosphate as a product of partial acid hydrolysis.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗