Eric G. Berger

Structure, biosynthesis and functions of glycoprotein glycans

Since the pioneering work on structure and function of heteroglycans compiled in the classical books edited by A. Gottschalk in 19721, there have been several promising developments in glycoconjugate research, as reviewed in this article. In Part 1, contributed by A. Kobata, current knowledge on heteroglycan structures is presented and representative examples taken from higher organisms are given. Part 2, written by J. F. G. Vliegenthart and J. P. Kamerling, covers the most important achievements in methodology: procedures to obtain pure glycans and to analyze their structures. Part 3, contributed by J. Paulson, is devoted to biosynthesis of glycans now describable as pathways since several of the glycosyltransferases have been isolated and analyzed for specificity. In Part 4, contributed by E. Buddecke, current knowledge on functional roles of glycans is presented. It will become apparent that the prerequisite for valid work either in biosynthetic or functional context depends on solid structural information. This is particularly true whenever glycosyltransferase reaction products are being analyzed, or glycans involved in biological functions are investigated. Although in past years, a great deal of important knowledge has been gathered by use of crude glycosidase or glycosyltransferase activities (a notable example is found in reference 2), one may now postulate that glycans implicated in biological reactions should be thoroughly analyzed. This review may familiarize ‘newcomers’ with the field of glycoconjugate research with special emphasis on glycoprotein glycans. Glycolipids are not included in this article as they have recently been reviewed by S. I. Hakomori3. The reader is also referred to several excellent monographs4,5 and the Proceedings of the Glycoconjugate Symposia held biannually6–8.

Deficiency of dolichol-phosphate-mannose synthase-1 causes congenital disorder of glycosylation type Ie

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG), formerly known as carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndromes, lead to diseases with variable clinical pictures. We report the delineation of a novel type of CDG identified in 2 children presenting with severe developmental delay, seizures, and dysmorphic features. We detected hypoglycosylation on serum transferrin and cerebrospinal fluid beta-trace protein. Lipid-linked oligosaccharides in the endoplasmic reticulum of patient fibroblasts showed an accumulation of the dolichyl pyrophosphate Man(5)GlcNAc(2) structure, compatible with the reduced dolichol-phosphate-mannose synthase (DolP-Man synthase) activity detected in these patients. Accordingly, 2 mutant alleles of the DolP-Man synthase DPM1 gene, 1 with a 274C>G transversion, the other with a 628delC deletion, were detected in both siblings. Complementation analysis using DPM1-null murine Thy1-deficient cells confirmed the detrimental effect of both mutations on the enzymatic activity. Furthermore, mannose supplementation failed to improve the glycosylation status of DPM1-deficient fibroblast cells, thus precluding a possible therapeutic application of mannose in the patients. Because DPM1 deficiency, like other subtypes of CDG-I, impairs the assembly of N-glycans, this novel glycosylation defect was named CDG-Ie.

Immunohistochemical localization of galactosyltransferase in human fibroblasts and HeLa cells.

Anti-human galactosyltransferase (E.C. 2.4.1.22) antibodies were elicited in rabbits and purified on a galactosyltransferase-agarose column. Purified antibodies were used to localize galactosyltransferase in acetone-fixed HeLa cells and human lung fibroblasts. Both protein A-peroxidase developed with 3-amino 9-ethylcarbazole and swine anti-rabbit IgG-fluorescein isothiocyanate served to detect binding of anti-galactosyltransferase antibodies. In cells of confluent cultures, anti-galactosyltransferase staining appeared as a concise triangular structure in the juxtanuclear region with one angle oriented toward the bulk of the cytoplasm. The stained structure appeared as a dense cap on the nucleus in HeLa cells and as a more extended granular structure in fibroblasts. In cells of sparse cultures, specific anti-galactosyltransferase staining appeared in both HeLa cells and fibroblasts as a granular, extended structure, which was occasionally perinuclear. There was no evidence of cell surface localization of galactosyltransferase by light microscopy. The positively stained structures are interpreted to be part of the Golgi complex.

Detection of terminal N-linked N-acetylglucosamine residues in the Golgi apparatus using galactosyltransferase and endoglucosaminidase F/peptide N-glycosidase F: adaptation of a biochemical approach to electron microscopy.

Purified human milk beta-N-acetylglucosaminide beta 1, 4 galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.38) was used to galactosylate N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues present in ultra-thin sections of Lowicryl K4M-embedded rat and pig liver. Both endogenous galactose and galactosylated transferase products could be revealed by Ricinus communis lectin I-gold complexes (RcL I-g15). Without galactosyltransferase (GT) treatment, labeling for galactose (gal) was limited to the trans region of rat and pig hepatocyte Golgi apparatus. After exposure to GT, additional labeling was found over cis Golgi apparatus cisternae. RcL I-g15 labeling was sensitive to a purified preparation of endoglucosaminidase F/peptide N-glycosidase F (at pH 9). This indicates that endogenous gal and gal transferred by GT to terminal GlcNAc residues are present N-linked oligosaccharides. The RcL I-g15 labeling produced by GT was insensitive to extensive washing with solutions containing either EDTA and urea or SDS and 2-mercaptoethanol or 0.1 M GlcNAc. Substrate inhibition studies showed that 50 mM GlcNAc specifically inhibited the additional RcL I-g15 labeling produced by GT. The use of purified glycosyltransferases therefore appears to allow specific detection of oligosaccharide substrates and their high resolution localization in thin sections by electron microscopy.

Immunohistochemical Evidence for Cell Surface and Golgi Localization of Galactosyltransferase in Human Stomach, Jejunum, Liver and Pancreas

Immunohistochemical localization of galactosyltransferase (UDP-galactose: 2-acetamido-2-deoxy beta-D-glucopyranose beta (1-4) transferase) in human tissue specimens of gastric and jejunal mucosa, exocrine pancreas, and liver was carried out at the light microscopic level using affinity purified rabbit anti-human milk galactosyltransferase antibodies. Intracellular localization of galactosyltransferase in epithelial cells appeared as a triangular compact structure close to the apical pole of the nucleus. In hepatocytes, the enzyme was found in discrete spots in the cytoplasm between the nuclei and the bile canaliculi. In addition to the intracellular, juxtanuclear location an intense reaction at the luminal part of the cell surface was found in the lining epithelium of the stomach, in enterocytes of the jejunal villus tips, and in ductular cells of the pancreas. Enterocytes located in the middle portion along the cryptvillus gradient exhibited cytoplasmic staining adjacent to the brush borders. Basolateral membranes appeared negative. Little or no enzyme could be demonstrated in cells belonging to the connective tissue. These results show that secretory cells contain a Golgi apparatus which can be visualized at the light microscopic level by virtue of its content in galactosyltransferase. Presence of galactosyltransferase antigen on the surface of certain cells supports the assumption that ectoglycosyltransferases do exist, at sites, however, apparently not involved in cell contact and adhesion.

Permanent mixed-field polyagglutinable erythrocytes lack galactosyltransferase activity.

Pemanent mixed-field poIyaggIutinability (PMFP) of human erythrocytes is a rare condition characterized by the presence of Tn antigen on the cell surface [ 11. The carbohydrate moiety of Tn antigen is a Oglycosidically linked o-i%acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) [2] . In normal individuals the a-GaINAc residue is substituted with galactose (gal) in a P(l+3) linkage forming the ~omsen-F~edenreich (T) antigen [3], which is considered to be a precursor of the M and N blood~oups [4]. Based upon serological evidence, Sturgeon postulated a biosynthetic defect in PMFP consisting of a block in the transfer of Dgalactose to the GalNAc [ 1 J . We have recently described a soluble galactosyltransferase activity in human serum which catalyzes a gal /3( l-+3) GalNAc linkage [5] using sialic acid free ovine submaxillary mucin (Sf-OSM) as an exogenous substrate. We now present evidence of a similar membrane-bound galactosyltransferase: Sf-OSM activity from normal A or 0 erythrocytes of types M, MN or N, and the absence of this enzyme in Tn tr~sformed erythrocyte membranes from a patient (R.R.) in whom this condition was first observed in 1972 and last confirmed in November 1977 (Dr M. N. Metaxas, personal communication).

Monoclonal antibodies to soluble, human milk galactosyltransferase (lactose synthase A protein).

Monoclonal antibodies have been produced against soluble human milk galactosyltransferase of a blood group O donor. After initial screening by radioimmunoassay, fourteen hybridomas were further characterized by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoblotting of purified enzyme following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, enzyme activity modification, and enzyme localization in HeLa cells by immunofluorescence. Of these fourteen clones, seven had titers between 1500 and 7800 as estimated by ELISA. In general, the titer correlated with staining intensity on immunoblots and in immunofluorescence. In the presence of monoclonal antibody, enzyme activity was usually slightly enhanced or stabilized. Subcloning yielded four monoclonal antibody preparations designated as GT2/24/108, GT2/36/118, GT2/61/14, and GT2/77/22, which belong to Ig class G2b, G3, M, and G1, respectively. They all recognized the enzyme in purified form or in defatted milk as a single, broad band on electrophoresis-immunoblotting and produced a concise juxtanuclear fluorescence typical for the Golgi apparatus in HeLa cells.

Co-purification of soluble human galactosyltransferase and immunoglobulins.

Abstract Preparations of human malignant effusion galactosyltransferase activity purified according to previously published techniques using enzyme-specific affinity chromatography consistently produced antibodies directed toward immunoglobulins with no detectable antigalactosyltransferase. Double immunodiffusion analysis of the antigen showed the presence of both IgG and IgA. Affinity chromatography with anti-human IgG-Sepharose and anti-human serum-Sepharose resulted in a 48,000-fold purification of galactosyltransferase activity with no detectable IgG by radioimmunoassay. Immunization of rabbits with this preparation produced antibodies directed against galactosyltransferase activity and minimal anti-Ig. The persistence of immunoglobulins during the purification of soluble galactosyltransferase activity through two enzyme-specific affinity chromatographic steps suggests an association of immunoglobulins with galactosyltransferase activity.

Immunological detection of cell surface galactosyltransferase in preimplantation mouse embryos

Presence of cell surface galactosyltransferase was surveyed in preimplantation mouse embryos by indirect immunofluorescence staining using an affinity-purified antibody against galactosyltransferase from human milk. Distinct fluorescence staining was observed in embryos ranging from late 8-cell stage to early blastocysts, while the embryos at other stages were stained only weakly. The cell surface enzyme was also present in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells, in a fraction of bone marrow cells of the mouse, and in a few percent of testicular sperm.

Mini-review: How Golgi-associated glycosylation works

Abstract New evidence based on immunolocalization of sequentially acting glycosyltransferases demonstrates that each step in chain elongation is compartmentalized. Thus, individual Golgi cisternae possess their unique set of glycosyltransferases.