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Preparative synthesis of GDP-beta-L-fucose by recombinant enzymes from enterobacterial sources.

The 6-deoxyhexose L-fucose is an important and characteristic element in glycoconjugates of bacteria (e.g., lipopolysaccharides), plants (e.g., xyloglucans) and animals (e.g., glycolipids, glycoproteins, and oligosaccharides). The biosynthetic pathway of GDP-L-fucose starts with a dehydration of GDP-D-mannose catalyzed by GDP-D-mannose 4,6-dehydratase (Gmd) creating GDP-4-keto-6-deoxymannose which is subsequently converted by the GDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-mannose 3,5-epimerase-4-reductase (WcaG; GDP-beta-L-fucose synthetase) to GDP-beta-L-fucose. Both biosynthetic genes gmd and wcaG were cloned from Escherichia coli K12 and the enzymes overexpressed under control of the T7 promoter in the expression vectors pET11a and pET16b, yielding both native and N-terminal His-tag fusion proteins, respectively. The activities of the Gmd and WcaG were analyzed. The enzymatic conversion from GDP-D-mannose to GDP-beta-L-fucose was optimized and the final product was purified. The formation of GDP-beta-L-fucose by the recombinant enzymes was verified by HPLC and NMR analyses. The His-tag fusion variants of the Gmd and WcaG proteins were purified to near homogeneity. The His-tag Gmd recombinant enzyme was inactive, whereas His-tag WcaG showed very similar enzymatic properties relative to the native GDP-beta-L-fucose synthetase. With the purified His-tag WcaG Km and Vmax values, respectively, of 40 microM and 23 nkat/mg protein for the substrate GDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-mannose and of 21 microM and 10 nkat/mg protein for the cosubstrate NADPH were obtained; a pH optimum of 7.5 was determined and the enzyme was stimulated to equal extend by the divalent cations Mg2+ and Ca2+. The Gmd enzyme showed a strong feedback inhibition by GDP-beta-L-fucose.

Carbohydrate Epimerases↗

Interactions between a decapacitation factor and mouse spermatozoa appear to involve fucose residues and a GPI-anchored receptor.

Epididymal mouse spermatozoa have a surface-associated decapacitation factor (DF) that can be removed precociously by centrifugation, resulting in acceleration of capacitation and increased fertilizing ability. Addition of exogenous DF to capacitated suspensions inhibits fertilizing ability and reverses capacitation in acrosome-intact cells. DF appears to regulate a Ca2+-ATPase, located primarily in the post-acrosomal region. The present investigations of DF<-->spermatozoon interaction indicate that DF can be removed from uncapacitated cells by treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIC), suggesting the involvement of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) moiety. However, exogenous DF cannot reassociate with PIC-treated spermatozoa, suggesting that DF may bind to spermatozoa via a GPI-anchored receptor. DF binding appears to involve fucose residues, since depletion of endogenous DF followed by brief exposure to fucose (0.1-10 mM) prevented DF reassociation with cells. Furthermore, 5 mM fucose could displace DF from uncapacitated cells, accelerating capacitation and resulting in a higher proportion of fertilized oocytes, with increased polyspermy, than obtained with untreated controls. FITC-labelled fucosylated BSA bound specifically to the postacrosomal region, binding being inhibited by both excess fucose and crude DF. UEA I, a lectin with specificity for fucose residues, bound to the postacrosomal region of cells preincubated in fucose but not crude DF, and blocked DF binding to DF-depleted cells. These results are consistent with the DF binding, via fucose residues, to a GPI-anchored receptor. Fucose binding sites are in the same region where Ca2+-ATPase, the enzyme regulated by DF, has been localized; these results support the hypothesis that DF modulates capacitation by regulating enzyme activity and hence the intracellular Ca2+ concentration.

Acrosome↗

Effect of L-fucose on proliferation and myo-inositol metabolism in cultured cerebral microvessel and aortic endothelial cells.

Decreased myo-inositol metabolism possibly contributes to the development of diabetic complications including micro and macrovascular disease. Previous studies have shown that hyperglycemia may be partially responsible for this defect. We have found that L-fucose, a monosaccharide present in low concentrations in normal circulation and found to be elevated in diabetes, causes defects in cultured endothelial cells, including alterations in myo-inositol metabolism and proliferation. Murine cerebral microvessel and bovine aortic endothelial cells take up L-fucose from the medium in a time and concentration-dependent manner. Both acute and chronic exposure of these cultured endothelial cells to media containing L-fucose at concentrations that may exist in diabetic sera cause a significant decrease in the accumulation of myo-inositol and its incorporation into inositol phospholipids. There is a concomitant decrease in the intracellular levels of myo-inositol. Kinetic analysis of the effect of L-fucose on myo-inositol uptake suggests that L-fucose competitively inhibits the transport of myo-inositol, exhibiting a Ki in the range of 1.6-4.1 mM for both cell types. Endothelial cells exposed to L-fucose concentrations of 0.5-20 mM exhibit depressed rates of proliferation in a concentration-dependent fashion. Furthermore, L-fucose causes a concentration-dependent decrease in synthesis of proteoglycan by cultured cerebral microvessel endothelial cells as measured by incorporation of 35S; however, this effect is not observed in the aortic endothelia. These data suggest that L-fucose at concentrations that may exist in diabetic sera may impair myo-inositol metabolism and proliferation of the vascular endothelium.

Amino Acids↗

Mass spectrometry of proton adducts of fucosylated N-glycans: fucose transfer between antennae gives rise to misleading fragments.

Fragmentation behavior of fucosylated N-glycans in both protonated and sodiated form was studied by low-energy collision-induced dissociation with an ion trap mass spectrometer as well as by laser-induced dissociation with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS). Diantennary, core-(alpha1-6)-fucosylated N-glycans with Lewis X (Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAcbeta1-) and/or fucosylated LacdiNAc antennae (GalNAc(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAcbeta1-) were obtained from the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni and used as model substances, after labeling with 2-aminobenzamide, or as native reducing glycans. While fragment spectra of sodiated as well as protonated species obtained in both mass spectrometers resulted in B- and Y-type ions, fragmentation of proton adducts additionally gave rise to various fragment ions which had acquired fucose residues from other parts of the molecule. In particular, fucose was transferred efficiently to the Lewis X antennae suggesting the occurrence of difucosylated antennae, which could erroneously be interpreted as Lewis Y epitopes. By studying two additional model substances, this fucose gain was shown to occur by transfer of fucose between the antennae, but not by transfer of a core-(alpha1-6)-fucose. Despite the drastically different lifetimes of the ions, protonated species analyzed on the ion trap (millisecond range) and by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS (microsecond range) showed similar rearrangement patterns, suggesting that the fucose mobility goes hand in hand with decomposition. Notably, permethylation of the model N-glycans seemed to completely preclude fucose migration. This study indicates that caution should be applied with the interpretation of tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) data of protonated glycoconjugates, including glycopeptides, because of the potential occurrence of fucose rearrangements.

Animals↗

Decreased fucose incorporation in cell surface carbohydrates is associated with inhibition of invasion.

Invasion of malignant MO4 cells into embryonic chick heart fragments in an organ culture assay was arrested for at least 7 days when the temperature was lowered to 28 degrees C. Prolonged culturing of MO4 cells at 28 degrees C on tissue culture substrates showed no recuperation of fucose incorporation into cell surface glycopeptides. However, invasion was restored after 10 days of organ culture in confrontation with chick heart tissue at 28 degrees C. A histoautoradiographic study showed that the regained capability to invade was accompanied by an increase in fucose labeling of the MO4 cells in the invading areas. At 28 degrees C the incorporation of [3H]fucose into total cell protein was drastically reduced, whereas [3H]leucine incorporation as a measure for protein synthesis was less affected. Cell surface glycopeptides, metabolically labeled with either fucose or glucosamine at 28 degrees C, showed a time-dependent decrease in the incorporation of fucose but not of glucosamine and no changes in overall size distribution. Low temperature did not reduce fucosyltransferase activity but the relative accumulation of fucose-1-P suggested inhibited conversion towards GDP-fucose. Moreover, mouse L cells which were incapable of invading chick heart tissue appeared also deficient in fucose incorporation, owing to low levels of fucosyltransferase activity. According to the results, fucosylation of surface carbohydrates may be required for invasive capacity and restored in MO4 cells invading at 28 degrees C by metabolic cooperation with the host tissue.

Animals↗

O-fucose modifications of epidermal growth factor-like repeats and thrombospondin type 1 repeats: unusual modifications in unusual places.

Recent discoveries revealing that carbohydrate modifications play critical roles in a wide variety of biological processes have brought wide recognition to the field of glycobiology. Growing attention has focused on the function of unusual O-linked carbohydrate modifications such as O-fucose. O-fucose modifications have been described in several different protein contexts, including epidermal growth factor-like repeats and thrombospondin type 1 repeats. The O-fucose modifications on thrombospondin type 1 repeats have only recently been described, but the site of modification occurs in a region proposed to play a role in cell adhesion. O-fucose modifications on epidermal growth factor-like repeats have been described as important players in several signal transduction systems. For instance, Notch, a cell-surface signaling receptor required for many developmental events, bears multiple O-fucose saccharides on the epidermal growth factor-like repeat of its extracellular domain. The O-fucose moieties serve as a substrate for the beta1,3 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity of Fringe, a known modifier of Notch function. The alteration of O-fucose structures by Fringe influences the ability of Notch ligands to activate the receptor and provides a means to regulate Notch signaling. Thus, O-fucose and Fringe provide a clear example of how carbohydrate modifications can have direct functional consequences on the proteins they modify.

Animals↗

Respiration of 14CO2 by intact animals of various species given L-[1-14C]fucose or D-[1-14C]arabinose.

The production of 14CO2 from L-[1-14C]fucose and D-[1-14C]arabinose been studied in five mammalian species. Cats, guinea pigs, mice, and rabbits respired about 22% of the label of L-[1-14C]fucose or of D-[1-14C]arabinose within 6 h after intraperitoneal injection of the sugar. Rats respired only 1.5% of the L-fucose label and 5% of the D-arabinose label in the same time period. Liver homogenates from cat, guinea pig, and rabbit produced significantly more 14CO2 from L-[1-14C]fucose or D-[1-14C]arabinose than mouse or liver homogenates. Unlike those of the other species, guinea pig liver homogenates had very low L-fucose dehydrogenase activity. The results suggest that substantial catabolism of L-fucose and D-arabinose occurs in the tissues of some animal species. Investigators wishing to employ L-fucose as a tracer of glycoprotein metabolism must, therefore, ensure that the species that they employ does not metabolize L-fucose to products interfering with their studies.

Animals↗

Effect of L-fucose and D-glucose concentration on L-fucoprotein metabolism in human Hep G2 cells and changes in fucosyltransferase and alpha-L-fucosidase activity in liver of diabetic rats.

L-Fucose is a monosaccharide that is present at low concentrations in serum and is a normal constituent of glycoproteins. In some pathological conditions, such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes, there is an abnormal fucosylation of acute phase serum proteins. Because most serum proteins are produced in the liver, we have examined L-fucose accumulation, metabolism, and secretion of L-fucose-containing proteins in human Hep G2 liver cells. Accumulation of L-fucose by Hep G2 cells approached 3.5 nmol/mg protein after a 48 h incubation. This accumulation appears similar to accumulation in other cells, which we have shown occurs via a specific transport protein. Exogenous L-fucose was incorporated into protein in both O- and N-linked glycosidic linkages. After a 48 h incubation, 61% of the accumulated L-fucose was incorporated into protein and secreted into the medium, whereas 39% of the L-fucose remaining in the cells was incorporated into integral membrane proteins. Utilizing reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of L-[5,6-(3)H]fucose-containing proteins and detection by scintillation counting, we determined that two major fucoproteins and numerous minor fucoproteins were produced and secreted by normal Hep G2 cells. This elution profile was unchanged when glucose-conditioned cells were examined. By size-separating secreted proteins by nondenaturing HPLC we determined that the size of the two major fucoproteins were approximately 60 and approximately 100 kDa. In these studies we also examined the effect of diabetes on hepatic fucosyltransferase and serum alpha-L-fucosidase activity and found that the activity of these enzymes is increased by 40 and 100%, respectively in diabetic rats.

Animals↗

Disruption of the fucose pathway as a consequence of genetic adaptation to propanediol as a carbon source in Escherichia coli.

In Escherichia coli, L-fucose is dissimilated via an inducible pathway mediated by L-fucose permease, L-fucose isomerase, L-fucose kinase, and L-fuculose 1-phosphate aldolase. The last enzyme cleaves the six-carbon substrate into dihydroxyacetone phosphate and L-lactaldehyde. Aerobically, lactaldehyde is oxidized to L-lactate by a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-linked dehydrogenase. Anaerobically, lactaldehyde is reduced by an NADH-COUPLED REDUCTASE TO L-1,2-propanediol, which is lost into the medium irretrievably, even when oxygen is subsequently introduced. Propanediol excretion is thus the end result of a dismutation that permits further anaerobic metabolism of dihydroxy-acetone phosphate. A mutant selected for its ability to grow aerobically on propanediol as a carbon and energy source was reported to produce lactaldehyde reductase constitutively and at high levels, even aerobically. Under the new situation, this enzyme serves as a propanediol dehydrogenase. It was also reported that the mutant had lost the ability to grow on fucose. In the present study, it is shown that in wild-type cells the full synthesis of lactaldehyde dehydrogenase requires the presence of both molecular oxygen and a small molecule effector, and the full synthesis of lactaldehyde reductase requires anaerobiosis and the presence of a small molecule effector. The failure of mutant cells to grow on fucose reflects the impairment of a regulatory element in the fucose system that prevents the induction of the permease, the isomerase, and the kinase. The aldolase, on the other hand, is constitutively synthesized. Three independent fucose-utilizing revertants of the mutant all produce the permease, the isomerase, the kinase, as well as the aldolase, constitutively. These strains grow less well than the parental mutant on propanediol.

Aerobiosis↗

Isolation of a mutation resulting in constitutive synthesis of L-fucose catabolic enzymes.

A ribitol-positive transductant of Escherichia coli K-12, JM2112, was used to facilitate the isolation and identification of mutations affecting the L-fucose catabolic pathway. Analysis of L-fucose-negative mutants of JM2112 enabled us to confirm that L-fucose-1-phosphate is the apparent inducer of the fucose catabolic enzymes. Plating of an L-fuculokinase-negative mutant of JM2112 on D-arabinose yielded an isolate containing a second fucose mutation which resulted in the constitutive synthesis of L-fucose permease, isomerase, and kinase. This constitutive mutation differs from the constitutive mutation described by Chen et al. (J. Bacteriol. 159:725-729, 1984) in that it is tightly linked to the fucose genes and appears to be located in the gene believed to code for the positive activator of the L-fucose genes.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases↗

D-arabinose metabolism in Escherichia coli B: induction and cotransductional mapping of the L-fucose-D-arabinose pathway enzymes.

D-Arabinose is degraded by Escherichia coli B via some of the L-fucose pathway enzymes and a D-ribulokinase which is distinct from the L-fuculokinase of the L-fucose pathway. We found that L-fucose and D-arabinose acted as the apparent inducers of the enzymes needed for their degradation. These enzymes, including D-ribulokinase, appeared to be coordinately regulated, and mutants which constitutively synthesized the L-fucose enzymes also constitutively synthesized D-ribulokinase. In contrast to D-arabinose-positive mutants of E. coli K-12, in which L-fuculose-1-phosphate and D-ribulose-1-phosphate act as inducers of the L-fucose pathway, we found that these intermediates did not act as inducers in E. coli B. To further characterize the E. coli B system, some of the L-fucose-D-arabinose genes were mapped by using bacteriophage P1 transduction. A transposon Tn10 insertion near the E. coli B L-fucose regulon was used in two- and three-factor reciprocal crosses. The gene encoding D-ribulokinase, designated darK, was found to map within the L-fucose regulon, and the partial gene order was found to be Tn10-fucA-darK-fucI-fucK-thyA.

Arabinose↗

Decreased intramolecular turnover of L-fucose in membrane glycoproteins of rat liver during liver regeneration.

In plasma membrane glycoproteins of rat liver L-fucose undergoes a rapid intramolecular turnover in that fucose residues are removed from the glycoproteins (Tauber, R., Park, C.S. & Reutter, W. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 4026-4029). The present paper demonstrates that the intramolecular turnover of L-fucose is markedly decreased during liver regeneration. Turnover half-lives of L-fucose were measured in regenerating liver by pulse-chase experiments in five plasma membrane glycoproteins (Mr 60,000 (gp60), 80,000 (gp80), 120,000 (gp120), 140,000 (gp140), and 160,000 (gp160). The glycoproteins were isolated from plasma membranes by concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography and semipreparative NaDodSO4 polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. L-Fucose turned over in the five glycoproteins with heterogeneous half-lives ranging from 22 h (gp160) to 49 h (gp120). The protein moieties of the glycoproteins were degraded with half-lives ranging from 56 h (gp80) to 107 h (gp140). Relative to the half-life of the protein backbone the half-live of L-fucose was increased in the five membrane glycoproteins by 70% (gp60), 150% (gp80), 182% (gp120), 60% (gp140) and 16% (gp160) during liver regeneration when compared to normal liver. The data show that L-fucose turns over in different membrane glycoproteins with individual rates, and that loss of L-fucose from plasma membrane glycoproteins is reduced in rapidly proliferating liver after partial hepatectomy.

Animals↗

Role of monocyte fucose-receptors in T-cell fibronectin activity.

T-cell fibronectin (FN) is a lymphokine produced by antigen- and mitogen-activated T cells that agglutinates human monocytes at femtomolar concentrations. This extreme degree of activity derives from co-operative interactions between multiple FN domains and multiple monocyte integrin protein receptors. T-cell FN, like other FN, is a glycoprotein. The role interactions between T-cell FN carbohydrate and lectin-like monocyte surface receptors play in mediating T-cell FN activity was studied by determining the ability of monosaccharides to inhibit T-cell FN activity. L-Fucose and L-rhamnose significantly inhibited T-cell FN-mediated monocyte agglutination at concentrations as low as 0.01 mM; D-glucose, D- or L-galactose, D- or L-mannose and D-fucose were not inhibitory at 10-100 mM. This inhibition appeared to be due to interference with the binding of T-cell FN fucose residues to monocyte fucose receptors since: (i) treatment of T-cell FN with alpha-L-fucosidase abolished its agglutinating activity for human monocytes, while treatment with beta-D-galactosidase or with alpha-L-fucosidase in the presence of L-fucose had no effect; (ii) treatment of monocytes with alpha-L-fucosidase did not affect their response to T-cell FN; and (iii) L-fucose or L-rhamnose did not alter the expression of monocyte integrin FN receptors under conditions where T-cell FN-mediated monocyte agglutination was completely inhibited. In vivo, 1 mumol intracutaneous L-fucose inhibited expression of delayed hypersensitivity by 30% (P much less than 0.001); similar doses of L-rhamnose inhibited responses by 10% (P less than 0.02). These data implicate a fucose receptor in monocyte response to T-cell FN, and suggest that T-cell FN is only one of the mediators involved in initiating delayed hypersensitivity reactions in vivo.

Cell Aggregation↗

Elevated serum fucose levels in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

We measured serum fucose concentrations in 34 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), 23 with chance proteinuria and/or hematuria (CPH), and 20 healthy children as controls. The serum fucose levels in the patients with INS were significantly elevated at onset (14.0 +/- 3.7 mg/dl, n = 4, p < 0.02), in relapses (19.1 +/- 3.7 mg/dl, n = 10, p < 0.001), and in remission (13.9 +/- 7.0 mg/dl, n = 30, p < 0.01) as compared with CPH patients (10.6 +/- 3.2 mg/dl, n = 23) and controls (9.1 +/- 3.1 mg/dl, n = 20). Those in remission were further divided into 2 groups and the mean fucose concentrations were significantly different in the two remission groups: 20.1 +/- 4.6 mg/dl in 14 patients whose blood samples were taken within one week of remission and 9.0 +/- 2.9 mg/dl in the other 16 patients whose samples were taken at 1 to 6 months of remission. The mean value in the latter remission group was significantly lower in comparison with the former group, but not different from the controls. Gel-chromatography of serum samples from patients with INS revealed a single peak of fucose in the high molecular fraction, and this was also found in the same fractions of serum inhibitor of lymphocyte blastogenesis in INS. We concluded that serum fucose concentrations are elevated in INS patients and that, because of the large molecular weight, the fucose is probably in a form bounded to some glycoproteins in the serum. Considering various reports on fucose, serum fucose may be associated with immunodepression in INS patients.

Child↗

Differentiation of the fucoidan sulfated L-fucose isomers constituents by CE-ESIMS and molecular modeling.

Alpha-L-fucose, the monosaccharide component of fucoidan, is found in the polysaccharide mainly as its sulfated form where sulfate groups are in position 2 and/or 4 and/or 3. The correlation between biological activities and structure of fucoidan requires the determination of the sulfation pattern of the fucose residues. Therefore, it is of importance to discriminate between the isobaric sulfated fucose isomers. For this purpose, the three isomers 2-O-, 3-O-, and 4-O-sulfated fucose have been analyzed using electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis. The results reported herein show that it is possible to differentiate between these three positional isomers of sulfated fucose based on their fragmentation pattern upon MS/MS experiments. 3-O-Sulfated fucose was characterized by the loss of the hydrogenosulfate anion HSO4- as the main fragmentation product, while the two other isomers 2-O-, and 4-O-sulfated fucose exhibited cross-ring fragmentation yielding to distinctive (0,2)X and (0,2)A daughter ion, respectively. A computational study of the conformation of the sulfated fucose isomers was carried out providing an understanding of the fragmentation pattern with respect to the position of the sulfate group.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

A novel NDP-6-deoxyhexosyl-4-ulose reductase in the pathway for the synthesis of thymidine diphosphate-D-fucose.

The serotype-specific polysaccharide antigen of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4 (serotype b) consists of D-fucose and L-rhamnose. Thymidine diphosphate (dTDP)-D-fucose is the activated nucleotide sugar form of D-fucose, which has been identified as a constituent of structural polysaccharides in only a few bacteria. In this paper, we show that three dTDP-D-fucose synthetic enzymes are encoded by genes in the gene cluster responsible for the synthesis of serotype b-specific polysaccharide in A. actinomycetemcomitans. The first and second steps of the dTDP-D-fucose synthetic pathway are catalyzed by D-glucose-1-phosphate thymidylyltransferase and dTDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase, which are encoded by rmlA and rmlB in the gene cluster, respectively. These two reactions are common to the well studied dTDP-L-rhamnose synthetic pathway. However, the enzyme catalyzing the last step of the dTDP-D-fucose synthetic pathway has never been reported. We identified the fcd gene encoding a dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose reductase. After purifying the three enzymes, their enzymatic activities were analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. In addition, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis and gas-liquid chromatography analysis proved that the fcd gene product converts dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose to dTDP-D-fucose. Moreover, kinetic analysis of the enzyme indicated that the Km values for dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose and NADPH are 97.3 and 28.7 microM, respectively, and that the enzyme follows the sequential mechanism. This paper is the first report on the dTDP-D-fucose synthetic pathway and dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose reductase.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗

Biosynthesis of the fucose-containing xyloglucan nonasaccharide by pea microsomal membranes.

Pea microsomal membranes catalyze the transfer of [(14)C]fucose (Fuc) from GDP-[U-(14)C]fucose, with or without added unlabeled UDP-glucose (Glc), UDP-xylose (Xyl) or UDP-galactose (Gal), to an insoluble product with properties characteristic of xyloglucan. After digestion of the ethanol-insoluble pellet with Streptomyces griseus endocellulase, [(14)C] fucose residues occur exclusively in a fragment corresponding in size to the xyloglucan nonasaccharide, Glc(4) Xyl(3) Gal Fuc. This fragment contains a single labeled fucose residue per oligomer, alpha-linked in a terminal nonreducing position. By comparison, in incubations where GDP-[(14)C] fucose is absent and replaced by UDP-[(3)H]xylose, the maximum size of labeled oligosaccharide found following cellulase digestion of products is an octasaccharide. In the presence of both GDP-[(14)C]fucose and UDP-[(3)H]xylose, a nonasaccharide containing the two labels is produced. Fucose and xylose residues are transferred within a few minutes to acceptor molecules of molecular weight up to 300,000. Such products do not elongate detectably over 60 minutes of incubation. The data support the conclusion that the nonasaccharide subunit of xyloglucan may be generated in vitro by transfucosylation to preformed acceptor chains, and that its synthesis is dependent on the inclusion of exogenous GDP-fucose.

Journal Article↗

GDP-L-fucose pyrophosphorylase. Purification, cDNA cloning, and properties of the enzyme.

The enzyme that catalyzes the formation of GDP-L-fucose from GTP and beta-L-fucose-1-phosphate (i.e. GDP-beta-L-fucose pyrophosphorylase, GFPP) was purified about 560-fold from the cytosolic fraction of pig kidney. At this stage, there were still a number of protein bands on SDS gels, but only the 61-kDa band became specifically labeled with the photoaffinity substrate, azido-GDP-L-[32P]fucose. Several peptides from this 61-kDa band were sequenced and these sequences were used for cloning the gene. The cDNA clone yielded high levels of GFPP activity when expressed in myeloma cells and in a baculovirus system, demonstrating that the 61-kDa band is the authentic GFPP. The porcine tissue with highest specific activity for GFPP was kidney, with lung, liver, and pancreas being somewhat lower. GFPP was also found in Chinese hamster ovary, but not Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Northern analysis showed the mRNA in human spleen, prostate, testis, ovary, small intestine, and colon. GFPP was stable at 4 (o)C in buffer containing 50 mM sucrose, with little loss of activity over a 9-day period. GTP was the best nucleoside triphosphate substrate but significant activity was also observed with ITP and to a lesser extent with ATP. The enzyme was reasonably specific for beta-L-fucose-1-P, but could also utilize alpha-D-arabinose-1-P to produce GDP-alpha-D-arabinose. The product of the reaction with GTP and alpha-L-fucose-1-P was characterized as GDP-beta-L-fucose by a variety of chemical and chromatographic methods.

Amino Acid Sequence↗