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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Differential gene expression of GDP-L-fucose-synthesizing enzymes, GDP-fucose transporter and fucosyltransferase VII.

L-fucose is a fundamental monosaccharide component of many mammalian glycoproteins and glycolipids. Fucosylation requires GDP-L-fucose as a donor of fucose and a specific fucosyltransferase (Fuc-T) to catalyze the transfer of L-fucose to various lactosamine acceptor molecules. The biosynthesis of GDP-L-fucose consists of two pathways. The constitutively active de novo pathway involves conversion of cellular GDP-D-mannose to GDP-L-fucose by GDP-D-mannose-4,6-dehydratase (GMD) and GDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-mannose-3,5-epimerase-4-reductase (FX). In the alternative biosynthetic pathway, in the salvage metabolism, L-fucokinase (Fuk) synthesizes L-fucose-1-phosphate from free fucose. L-fucose-1-phosphate is further catalyzed to GDP-L-fucose by GDP-L-fucose pyrophosphorylase (Fpgt). GDP-L-fucose, synthesized in the cytosol, is translocated to the Golgi for fucosylation by a specific GDP-fucose transporter (FUCT1). Glycans that contain alpha(1,3)-fucosylated modifications, e.g. sialyl Lewis X-type glycans, have an important role in inflammation and in tumorigenesis. We studied the mRNA expression levels of GDP-L-fucose-synthesizing enzymes, GDP-fucose transporter and fucosyltransferase VII by quantitative real-time PCR in mouse endothelial cells, macrophages and lymphoid tumor cells. Moreover, the expression of the same transcripts was detected in acute inflammation using rat kidney allograft as model system. Our results indicate the simultaneous upregulation of the GDP-L-fucose synthesizing enzymes of the de novo pathway, GDP-fucose transporter and fucosyltransferase VII in inflammation and in tumorigenesis.

Animals↗

L-fucose residues on cellulose-based dialysis membranes: quantification of membrane-associated L-fucose and analysis of specific lectin binding.

Contact of mononuclear human leukocytes with cellulose dialysis membranes may result in complement-independent cell activation, i.e. enhanced synthesis of cytokines, prostaglandins and an increase in beta 2-micro-globulin synthesis. Cellular contact activation is specifically inhibited by the monosaccharide L-fucose suggesting that dialysis membrane associated L-fucose residues are involved in leukocyte activation. In this study we have detected and quantitated L-fucose on commercially-available cellulose dialysis membranes using two approaches. A sensitive enzymatic fluorescence assay detected L-fucose after acid hydrolysis of flat sheet membranes. Values ranged from 79.3 +/- 3.6 to 90.2 +/- 5.0 pmol cm-2 for Hemophan or Cuprophan respectively. Enzymatic cleavage of terminal alpha-L-fucopyranoses with alpha-L-fucosidase yielded 7.7 +/- 3.3 pmol L-fucose per cm2 for Cuprophan. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the synthetic polymer membranes AN-69 and PC-PE did not yield detectable amounts of L-fucose. In a second approach, binding of the fucose specific lectins of Lotus tetragonolobus and Ulex europaeus (UEAI) demonstrated the presence of biologically accessible L-fucose on the surface of cellulose membranes. Specific binding was observed with Cuprophan, and up to 2.6 +/- 0.3 pmol L-fucose per cm2 was calculated to be present from Langmuir-type adsorption isotherms. The data presented are in line with the hypothesis that surface-associated L-fucose residues on cellulose dialysis membranes participate in leukocyte contact activation.

Acrylic Resins↗

Regulation of elastase-type endopeptidase activity, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and activation in human dermal fibroblasts by fucose and a fucose-rich polysaccharide.

Tissue loss during ageing and age-dependent pathologies are the result of a disturbed regulation of proteolytic activities. Elastase-type endopeptidases, especially MMP-2 and -9, play an important role in this respect. Dermal fibroblast cultures and skin explant cultures were used in order to measure the efficiency of fucose and fucose-rich polysaccharides to downregulate the elastase-type endopeptidase activity. Fucose and fucose-rich polysaccharides were shown to downregulate this elastase-type activity, the basic activity and also the hyaluronan or kappa-elastin-stimulated activity. In skin explant cultures, we could demonstrate that fucose and fucose-rich polysaccharides produced an inhibition of the activation of the pro-form to the active form of MMP-9. Here, we show that mono-, di-, oligo- and polysaccharides acting on the elastin-laminin receptor and/or on the fucose-mannose receptor are efficient inhibitors of such enzymes by downregulating elastase-type endopeptidase activity, both at the level of their biosynthesis and at the level of the activation of the pro-enzymes. Fucose and fucose-rich polysaccharide preparations were shown to be efficient modulators of MMP-2 and MMP-9, activity with potential therapeutic applications in age-related pathologies accompanied by tissue loss.

Child, Preschool↗

The O-linked fucose glycosylation pathway: identification and characterization of a uridine diphosphoglucose: fucose-beta1,3-glucosyltransferase activity from Chinese hamster ovary cells.

O-Linked fucose is an unusual carbohydrate modification in which fucose is linked directly to the hydroxyl groups of serines or threonines. It has been found on the epidermal growth factor-like modules of several secreted proteins involved in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. We have recently reported the existence of an elongated form of O-linked fucose in Chinese hamster ovary cells consisting of a glucose linked to the 3'-hydroxyl of fucose (Glcbeta1,3Fuc- O-Ser/Thr). This structure is highly unusual for two reasons. First, in mammalian systems fucose is usually a terminal modification of N - and O-linked oligosaccharides. Here the fucose is internal. Secondly, terminal beta-linked glucose is extremely rare on mammalian glycoconjugates. Thus, the Glcbeta1,3Fuc structure is a very unique mammalian carbohydrate structure. Here we report the identification and initial characterization of a novel enzyme activity capable of forming this unique linkage: UDP-glucose: O-linked fucose beta1,3 glucosyltransferase. The enzyme utilizes UDP-glucose as the high energy donor and transfers glucose to alpha-linked fucose residues. The activity is linearly dependent on time, enzyme, and substrate concentrations and is enhanced in the presence of manganese ions. Activity is present in extracts of cultured cells from a variety of species (hamster, human, mouse, rat, chicken) and is enriched in brain and spleen of a normal adult rat. Thus, while this glycosyltransferase appears to be widespread in biology, it forms a very unique linkage, and it represents the first mammalian enzyme identified capable of elongating fucose.

Animals↗

Effect of L-fucose and fucose-rich polysaccharides on elastin biosynthesis, in vivo and in vitro.

With increasing age elastic fibres in human skin are progressively lysed and skin elasticity is also decreasing. Still there is an age-dependent increase of elastic fibre surface density, mostly due to an alteration of the fibres. The present experiments were undertaken to explore if L-fucose and fucose-rich polysaccharides (FROP-s) could influence elastin biosynthesis. We show here, that topical application of a fucose-containing preparation to the skin of hairless rats increased after 4 weeks the elastic fibre surface density by about 40%, shown by quantitative morphology. Using human skin fibroblasts in explant cultures, the addition of L-fucose or of FROP-3 increased the biosynthesis of immunoprecipitable tropoelastin by about 40%. No increase was found however of desmosine-isodesmosine in skin explant cultures after 72 h of incubation. The effect of L-fucose and FROP-3 on the biosynthesis of collagen and non-collagen proteins excreted by the skin explant cultures was also investigated. L-fucose, but not FROP-3, decreased collagen biosynthesis but both increased non-collagen protein biosynthesis. These results show that L-fucose and FROP-3 stimulate tropoelastin biosynthesis in vitro, and elastic fibre formation in vivo. This stimulation concerns also several non-collagen proteins secreted by skin explant cultures. Elastic fibre formation necessitates the simultaneous synthesis of several microfibrillar glycoproteins as well as of tropoelastin. The increased elastic fibre density in the in vivo experiments suggests that this is indeed achieved by L-fucose and FROP-3, further demonstrating their efficiency in the control of age-dependent modifications of connective tissues in general and of skin in particular.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

The O-linked fucose glycosylation pathway. Evidence for protein-specific elongation of o-linked fucose in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

O-Linked fucose is an unusual form of glycosylation recently shown to modify the hydroxyls of serine or threonine residues at a strict consensus site within epidermal growth factor-like domains of several serum proteins. Here we demonstrate that Chinese hamster ovary cells modify numerous proteins with O-linked fucose and that the fucose is elongated on specific proteins. We have identified at least two forms of O-linked fucose elongation in Chinese hamster ovary cells: a disaccharide (Glcbeta1,3Fuc) and a larger oligosaccharide of indeterminate structure. Interestingly, it appears that the level of monosaccharide accumulates in the cells over time whereas the disaccharide does not. Analysis of the O-linked fucose-containing saccharides on individual proteins revealed that some proteins are modified with the monosaccharide only, whereas others are modified with monosaccharide and disaccharide, or monosaccharide and oligosaccharide. These results suggest that elongation of the O-linked fucose monosaccharide is a protein-specific phenomena. The presence of elongated O-linked fucose moieties suggests that a novel glycosylation pathway exists in mammalian cells with O-linked fucose as the core.

Amidohydrolases↗

Impairment of the Golgi GDP-L-fucose transport and unresponsiveness to fucose replacement therapy in LAD II patients.

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type II is an autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by generalized reduction of L-fucose in glycoconjugates; the specific molecular defect is still undefined. The most important clinical symptoms include severe growth and mental retardation and severe immunodeficiency. Patients from two ethnic groups have been reported, i.e. Arab and Turkish. We have observed that GDP-L-fucose transport into Golgi vesicles was specifically impaired in an Arab patient, with a significant reduction of the V:(max) but no significant differences in the K:(m) from control and parents. GDP-L-fucose transport showed simple saturation kinetics in all samples. Transport of UDP-galactose, UDP-N:-acetylglucosamine, and CMP-sialic acid was comparable into vesicles from the Arab patient, parents, and control. These kinetic parameters probably account for the failure to obtain any clinical and biochemical response to fucose therapy in Arab patients. This contrasts both with the distinctive kinetic properties of GDP-L-fucose transport and with the success of fucose therapy, which have been recently reported in one patient of Turkish origin. Accordingly, the biochemical properties of GDP-L-fucose transport into the Golgi are consistent with different variants of leukocyte adhesion deficiency type II that are probably the result of different molecular defects.

Biological Transport↗

Purification and some properties of L-fucose dehydrogenase from Agrobacterium radiobacter and its application to the assay of bound-fucose in glycoconjugates.

L-Fucose dehydrogenase was found in the cell extract of Agrobacterium radiobacter and purified to homogeneity about 480-fold with 16% recovery. The molecular weight of the enzyme was approx. 64,000. The enzyme was active in the neutral pH range, unlike other L-fucose or D-arabinose dehydrogenases which are active only in the alkaline pH range. Using this enzyme and alpha-L-fucosidase F-I of Bacillus circulans (Tsuji, Y., Yamamoto, K., Tochikura, T., Seno, T., Ohkubo, Y. and Yamaguchi, H. (1990) J. Biochem. 107, 324-330) simultaneously, we developed a new coupled enzymatic method in a single buffer system for determining bound-fucose in biological materials. The fucose released by alpha-L-fucosidase F-I was oxidized with L-fucose dehydrogenase in the presence of NAD+, and the NADH formed was measured by absorbance of ultraviolet or utilized to generate color in a reaction involving CuSO4 and neocuproine. Using these methods, bound-fucose in various oligosaccharides and proteins such as lacto-N-fucopentaoses and porcine gastric mucin were quantitated within 15 min.

Animals↗

The binding of fucose-containing glycoproteins by hepatic lectins. Purification of a fucose-binding lectin from rat liver.

A lectin with a high affinity for binding ligands through fucose residues has been purified to homogeneity from rat liver. Affinity chromatography of the lectin on fucosyl-bovine serum albumin-agarose is the key step in the purification. Contaminating amounts of a previously described lectin that binds mannose and N-acetylglucosamine are removed from the fucose-binding lectin by either immunoadsorption on anti-mannose/N-acetylglucosamine lectin IgG-agarose or by specific elution of the fucose-binding lectin from fucosyl-bovine serum albumin-agarose. The pure fucose-binding lectin contains two polypeptide subunits with molecular weights of 88,000 and 77,000, respectively, as judged by gel electrophoresis. Peptide maps of the subunits, however, show that they are very similar structurally. In addition, peptide maps show that the fucose lectin is structurally distinct from other rat hepatic lectins. This is supported by the lack of cross-reaction among the different rat liver lectins and their specific antibodies and the inability of specific antibodies to the mannose/N-acetylglucosamine lectin to inhibit the binding of fucosyl-bovine serum albumin by the fucose lectin.

Acetylglucosamine↗

The binding of fucose-containing glycoproteins by hepatic lectins. The binding specificity of the rat liver fucose lectin.

The parameters that affect the interaction of ligands with a fucose-binding lectin from rat liver have been examined. 125I-Fucosyl-bovine serum albumin (Fuc-BSA) containing 50 residues of fucose/molecule was used as the standard ligand. At low initial concentrations of ligand (10 ng/ml) and lectin (140 ng/ml), the reaction reaches equilibrium at pH 7.8, 23 degrees C, within 40 min. The binding of ligands is Ca2+ dependent with half-maximal binding occurring at 54 microM Ca2+; of several metal ions tested, only Sr2+ partially replaced Ca2+. Binding was maximal between pH 7.6 and 8.6, fell slightly up to pH 10, but fell markedly below pH 7. The lectin-ligand complexes dissociated at low pH, on removal of Ca2+, or in the presence of a large excess of competing ligand. The apparent association constant (Ka) for Fuc-BSA was 1.75 X 10(8) M-1. The fucose content of the Fuc-BSA also influenced binding, with little apparent binding below 24 fucose residues/molecule and maximal binding from 40 to 50 fucose residues/molecule. With knowledge of the parameters influencing binding, sensitive reproducible assays for the lectin were developed. The binding specificity of the lectin was examined by measuring the inhibition of 125I-Fuc-BSA binding by neoglycoproteins, monosaccharides, and glycosides or by direct binding of neoglycoproteins. Galactosides and beta-linked fucosides were the best ligands among the neoglycoproteins, with much weaker binding by mannosyl- or N-acetylglucosaminyl-BSA. On the basis of the pattern of inhibition of Fuc-BSA binding by various monosaccharides and glycosides, it is possible to propose the conformations of saccharides that best fit the lectin-binding site. The C1 conformation of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine fits best, although other not obviously related monosaccharides such as L-fucose, L-arabinose, and D-mannose can also assume conformations that permit them to be effective inhibitors. The pattern of binding of neoglycoproteins to the lectin differs from that of other pure hepatic lectins. Thus, the fucose lectin has a high affinity for Fuc-BSA and galactosyl-BSA but a low affinity for N-acetylglucosaminyl-BSA. The galactose lectin binds only galactosyl-BSA and shows little binding with either N-acetylglucosaminyl-BSA or Fuc-BSA. In contrast, the mannose/N-acetylglucosamine lectin binds N-acetylglucosaminyl-BSA and Fuc-BSA but not galactosyl-BSA.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Modification of epidermal growth factor-like repeats with O-fucose. Molecular cloning and expression of a novel GDP-fucose protein O-fucosyltransferase.

The O-fucose modification is found on epidermal growth factor-like repeats of a number of cell surface and secreted proteins. O-Fucose glycans play important roles in ligand-induced receptor signaling. For example, elongation of O-fucose on Notch by the beta1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase Fringe modulates the ability of Notch to respond to its ligands. The enzyme that adds O-fucose to epidermal growth factor-like repeats, GDP-fucose protein O-fucosyltransferase (O-FucT-1), was purified previously from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Here we report the isolation of a cDNA that encodes human O-FucT-1. A probe deduced from N-terminal sequence analysis of purified CHO O-FucT-1 was used to screen a human heart cDNA library and expressed sequence tag and genomic data bases. The cDNA contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 388 amino acids with a predicted N-terminal transmembrane sequence typical of a type II membrane orientation. Likewise, the mouse homolog obtained from an expressed sequence tag and 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends of a mouse liver cDNA library encodes a type II transmembrane protein of 393 amino acids with 90.4% identity to human O-FucT-1. Homologs were also found in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans with 41.2 and 29.4% identity to human O-FucT-1, respectively. The human gene (POFUT1) is on chromosome 20 between PLAGL2 and KIF3B, near the centromere at 20p11. The mouse gene (Pofut1) maps near Plagl2 on a homologous region of mouse chromosome 2. POFUT1 gene transcripts were expressed in all tissues examined, consistent with the widespread localization of the modification. Expression of a soluble form of human O-FucT-1 in insect cells yielded a protein of the predicted molecular weight with O-FucT-1 kinetic and enzymatic properties similar to those of O-FucT-1 purified from CHO cells. The identification of the gene encoding protein O-fucosyltransferase I now makes possible mutational strategies to examine the functions of the unusual O-fucose post-translational modification.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Localization of fucosyl moieties in the mouse renal cortex by lectin histochemistry using the fucose binding lectins LTA and UEA I and by autoradiography using 3H-labelled fucose.

The binding patterns of the two fucose binding lectins, Lotus tetragonolobus (LTA) and Ulex europeus I (UEA I) were investigated using fluorescence lectin histochemistry on the unfixed renal cortex of the mouse (NMRI) embedded in LR-Gold. The fluorescence staining results were compared with the autoradiographic localization of the incorporation of radioactive fucose into the renal cortex. For this study the turnover of incorporated 3H-fucose in the renal cortex was investigated 30 min, 2 h and 8 h after application. The localization of the radioactive fucose within the renal cortex corresponded well to the labelling pattern observed for lecting histochemistry using LTA. In contrast, with UEA I, no binding sites for this lectin could be observed. The results of our investigation clearly showed that fucosyl moieties in the renal cortex of the NMRI mouse are recognized by the fucose binding lecting LTA, but not by UEA I and that postembedding fluorescence histochemistry with LTA on the LR-Gold embedded kidney is a suitable technique for the localization of fucosyl moieties at the light microscopical level.

Animals↗

Production of GDP-L-fucose, L-fucose donor for fucosyloligosaccharide synthesis, in recombinant Escherichia coli.

A recombinant Escherichia coli strain was developed to produce guanosine 5'-diphosphate (GDP)-L-fucose, donor of L-fucose, which is an essential substrate for the synthesis of fucosyloligosaccharides. GDP-D: -mannose-4, 6-dehydratase (GMD) and GDP-4-keto-6-deoxymannose 3, 5-epimerase 4-reductase (WcaG), the two crucial enzymes for the de novo GDP-L-fucose biosynthesis, were overexpressed in recombinant E. coli by constructing inducible overexpression vectors. Optimum expression conditions for GMD and WcaG in recombinant E. coli BL21(DE3) were 25 degrees C and 0.1 mM isopropyl-beta-D-thioglucopyranoside. Maximum GDP-L-fucose concentration of 38.9 +/- 0.6 mg l(-1) was obtained in a glucose-limited fed-batch cultivation, and it was enhanced further by co-expression of NADPH-regenerating glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase encoded by the zwf gene to achieve 55.2 +/- 0.5 mg l(-1) GDP-L-fucose under the same cultivation condition.

Carbohydrate Epimerases↗

Effects of L-fucose and fucose-rich oligo- and polysaccharides (FROP-s) on collagen biosynthesis by human skin fibroblasts. Modulation of the effect of retinol, ascorbate and alpha-tocopherol.

The action of L-fucose and a fucose-rich oligosaccharide (FROP-3) on skin explant cultures and fibroblast cell cultures, alone or together with three vitamins (A, C, E, often used in topical preparations) was studied, using as criteria collagen accumulation and collagen and non-collagen protein biosynthesis. In order to confirm the results observed, several variants of the chemical procedure were used. Collagen accumulation in cell cultures and (3)H-proline incorporation in proteins and collagen gave comparable results. L-Fucose produced a slight but significant inhibition of collagen accumulation and of incorporation of radioactive proline in cell associated collagen and also modified the ratio of excreted (soluble) to cell- or tissue-bound collagen and non-collagen proteins. The oligosaccharide (FROP-3) did not produce a comparable inhibition of collagen biosynthesis. Both L-fucose and FROP-3 modulated the action of the two above-mentioned vitamins in most experimental conditions used. The combined action of the three vitamins (all-trans retinol, ascorbate, alpha-tocopherol) with L-fucose and even more so with FROP-3 can be considered as favourable for the modulation of the biosynthetic activity of fibroblasts.

Ascorbic Acid↗

Pharmacology of skin aging. Stimulation of glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis by L-fucose and fucose-rich polysaccharides, effect of in vitro aging of fibroblasts.

The effect of L-fucose and fucose-rich polysaccharides (FROP-s [Biomed. Pharmacother., 2003; 57: 187-94]) was investigated, using human skin fibroblast cultures at several passages. The cells were incubated with radioactive glucosamine for 24 h, followed by the determination of individual glycosaminoglycans (GAG-s) by selective hydrolysis using specific enzymes. The effect of L-fucose and of FROP-3 [Biomed. Pharmacother., in 2003; 57: 187-94], both at 1 and 10 microg/ml, added to the culture medium, was investigated. L-Fucose stimulated the incorporation of the tracer in heparan sulfates by fibroblasts at the ninth passage by 20%. FROP-3 stimulated incorporation in keratan sulfates by 45% by fibroblasts of the fifth passage. This effect was identical at both concentrations tested. For fibroblasts at the ninth passage FROP-3 stimulated incorporation in dermatan sulfate. This effect was dose dependent of the order of +67% at 1 microg/ml and +128% at 10 microg/ml. Incorporation in hyaluronan was also stimulated by about +27%. These stimulations of GAG-biosynthesis might play a role in the increase of total skin thickness of hairless rats treated with L-fucose, as well as in several other favorable results recorded for FROP-3 such as the increased hydration (resistance to pressure) and elasticity of human skin (Robert C, Robert AM, Robert L).

Cells, Cultured↗

Identification of a GDP-L-fucose:polypeptide fucosyltransferase and enzymatic addition of O-linked fucose to EGF domains.

An assay of GDP-fucose:polypeptide fucosyltransferase has been established. The enzyme catalyzes the reaction that attaches fucose through an O-glycosidic linkage to a conserved serine or threonine residue in EGF domains. The assay uses recombinant human factor VII EGF-1 domain as acceptor substrate and GDP-fucose as donor substrate. Synthetic peptides with sequences taken from five proteins previously shown to contain O-linked fucose (Harris and Spellman, 1993; Glycobiology, 3, 219-224) did not serve as efficient acceptor substrates. These synthetic peptides did not compromise complete EGF domains and did not contain all six cysteine residues that define the EGF structure. Therefore, the enzyme appears to require more than just a consensus primary sequence and likely requires that the EGF domain disulfide bonds be properly formed. The enzymatic reaction showed linear dependency of its activity on time, amount of enzyme, and substrates. Although the enzyme did not exhibit an absolute requirement for Mn2+, enzymatic activity did increase ten fold in the presence of 50 mM MnCl2. The in vitro glycosylation reaction resulted in complete conversion of the acceptor substrate to glycosylated product, and characterization of the purified product by electrospray mass spectrometry revealed that one fucose was added onto the polypeptide. Most of the enzymatic activity was found to be in the soluble fraction of CHO cell homogenates. However, when enzyme was prepared from rat liver in the presence of protease inhibitors, 37% of the activity was recovered by Triton X-100 extraction of the membrane particles after extensive aqueous washes. The result suggests that the enzyme is probably a membrane protein and, by analogy with other glycosyltransferases, probably has a 'stem' region that is very susceptible to proteolysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Photoaffinity labeling of GDP-fucose:nLcOse4Cer alpha 1----3-fucosyltransferase from human small cell lung carcinoma NCI-H69 cells with the GDP-fucose analog GDP-hexanolaminyl-4-azidosalicylic acid.

An iodinatable photoactive analog of GDP-fucose, GDP-hexanolaminyl-4-azidosalicylic acid, has been prepared and applied to studies of the previously described alpha 1----3-fucosyltransferase from NCI-H69 cells (Holmes, E. H., Ostrander, G. K., and Hakomori, S. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7619-7627). The NCI-H69 cell alpha 1----3-fucosyltransferase was obtained from a 0.2% Triton X-100-solubilized enzyme fraction after affinity purification on a GDP-hexanolamine-Sepharose column and gel filtration through a fast protein liquid chromatography Superose 12 column. Increasing concentrations of the photoaffinity reagent were found to result in loss of up to 35% of the original enzyme activity at under 100 microM final concentrations. The inactivation was photolysis dependent and could be prevented by the addition of GDP-fucose prior to photolysis. The photoprobe behaved as a competitive inhibitor with respect to GDP-fucose with a Ki of 23 microM, identical to that of GDP. Photoincorporation of 125I-labeled GDP-hexanolaminyl-4-azidosalicylic acid into the enzyme fraction labeled a slow migrating protein band in a native polyacrylamide gel which corresponded to enzyme activity. Inclusion of GDP-fucose prevented photolabeling of this band. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis of the photolabeled, GDP-fucose-protected band yielded a 125I-labeled protein band that migrated at Mr 45,000, most probably corresponding to an alpha 1----3-fucosyltransferase protein subunit. These studies suggest photoaffinity labeling using nucleotide affinity ligands linked to photoactivatable, heterobifunctional cross-linking reagents may be generally applicable to photoaffinity labeling glycosyltransferase enzyme proteins.

Affinity Labels↗

Activity of enzymes catalyzing formation of beta-L-fucosyl phosphate and GDP-beta-L-fucose in amphibian tissues and their application in chemo-enzymic synthesis of GDP-beta-L-fucose.

Amphibian oviduct and liver were shown to contain enzymes that catalyze the formation of GDP-beta-L-fucose from GDP-alpha-D-mannose or L-fucose. The conversion of L-fucose into beta-L-fucopyranosyl phosphate was achieved on a preparative scale using high-activity fucokinase in toad liver extracts. For chemo-enzymic preparation of GDP-beta-L-fucose, a convenient modification for pyrophosphate synthesis through phosphomorpholidate which does not require anhydrous conditions is suggested.

Animals↗