Sadako Inoue

KDN (deaminated neuraminic acid): dreamful past and exciting future of the newest member of the sialic acid family.

KDN is an abbreviation for 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nononic acid, and its natural occurrence was revealed in 1986 by a research group including the present authors. Since sialic acid was used as a synonym for N-acylneuraminic acid at that time, there was an argument if this deaminated neuraminic acid belongs to the family of sialic acids. In this review, we describe the 20 years history of studies on KDN (KDNology), through which KDN has established its position as a distinct member of the sialic acid family. These studies have clarified that: (1) KDN occurs widely among vertebrates and bacteria similar to the occurrence of the more common sialic acid, N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), but its abundant occurrence in animals is limited to lower vertebrates. (2) KDN is found in almost all types of glycoconjugates, including glycolipids, glycoproteins and capsular polysaccharides. (3) KDN residues are linked to almost all glycan structures in place of Neu5Ac. All linkage types known for Neu5Ac; α2,3-, α2,4-, α2,6-, and α2,8- are also found for KDN. (4) KDN is biosynthesized de novo using mannose as a precursor sugar, which is activated to CMP-KDN and transferred to acceptor sugar residues. These reactions are catalyzed by enzymes, some of which preferably recognize KDN, but many others prefer Neu5Ac to KDN. In addition to these basic findings, elevated expression of KDN was found in fetal human red blood cells compared with adult red blood cells, and ovarian tumor tissues compared with normal controls. KDNase, an enzyme which specifically cleaves KDN-linkages, was discovered in a bacterium and monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize KDN residues in KDNα2,3-Gal- and KDNα2,8-KDN-linkages have been developed. These have been used for identification of KDN-containing molecules. Based on past basic studies and variety of findings, future perspective of KDNology is presented.

Identification of 2-Keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galactonononic acid (KDN, Deaminoneuraminic Acid) Residues in Mammalian Tissues and Human Lung Carcinoma Cells CHEMICAL EVIDENCE OF THE OCCURRENCE OF KDN GLYCOCONJUGATES IN MAMMALS

Since the discovery of KDN glycoprotein in 1986, the occurrence of KDN (= 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galactonononic acid) glycan chains has been reported for different organisms ranging from bacteria to lower vertebrates, including amphibians and fish. Recently, the presence of α28-linked oligo/polyKDN groups in mammalian tissues was shown by immunohistochemical and immunoblotting methods. In this communication we report the detection and quantitation of the KDN residues in glycoprotein and glycolipid fractions of rat tissues and human lung cancer cell lines by a highly sensitive fluorometric high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. We now provide unequivocal chemical proof of the occurrence of KDN in mammals by isolation of KDN from pig submaxillary gland and by structural assignment using chemical methods including fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, fluorescence-assisted HPLC analysis, gas-liquid chromatography, and 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Dynamic Change of Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule Polysialylation on Human Neuroblastoma (IMR-32) and Rat Pheochromocytoma (PC-12) Cells during Growth and Differentiation

Polysialic acid (PSA) is a regulatory epitope of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in homophilic adhesion of neural cells mediated by NCAM, is also known to be re-expressed in several human tumors, thus serves as an oncodevelopmental antigen. In this study, using a recently developed ultrasensitive chemical method in addition to immunochemical methods, growth stage-dependent and retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation-dependent changes of PSA expression in human neuroblastoma (IMR-32) and rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Both IMR-32 and PC-12 cells expressed PSA on NCAM, and the level of PSA expressed per unit weight of cells increased with post-inoculation incubation time. The most prominent feature was seen at the full confluence stage. RA induced neuronal differentiation in both IMR-32 and CP-12 cells that paralleled the change in the PSA level. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of NCAM glycoforms differing in the degree of polymerization (DP) of oligo/polysialyl chains, whose DP was smaller than 40. DP distribution of PSA was different between the cell lines and was changed by the growth stage and the RA treatment. Thus DP analysis of PSA is important in understanding both mechanism and biological significance of its regulated expression.

Developmentally Regulated Expression of a Peptide:N-Glycanase during Germination of Rice Seeds (Oryza sativa) and Its Purification and Characterization

Peptide:N-glycanase (PNGase; EC3.5.1.52) activity was detected in dormant rice seeds (Oryza sativa) and the imbibed rice grains. Time-course studies revealed that the enzyme activity remained almost constant until about 30 h after imbibition in both of endosperm- and embryo tissue-containing areas, and started to increase only in growing germ part, reached a peak at about 3-day stage, followed by a gradual decrease concomitant with a sharp increase in the coleoptile. The specific activity increased about 6-fold at about 3-day stage. PNGase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from the extracts of germinated rice seeds at 24 h, and the apparent molecular weight of the purified enzyme, estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), was about 80,000. The purified enzyme was designated PNGase Os to denote its origin. The N-terminal sequence of the 10 residues was determined to be SYNVASVAGL. The purified PNGase Os in SDS-PAGE appeared as a rather broad band, consistent with the presence of multiple glycoforms as indicated by chromatographic behavior on a Sephadex G-75 column. PNGase expressed in coleoptile under anoxia condition was also purified, and both of the purified enzymes were found to exhibit very similar, if not identical, electrophoretic mobility in SDS-PAGE. PNGase Os exhibited a broad pH-activity profile with an optimum of 4–5 and, interestingly, was significantly inactivated by K+ and Na+ at near the physiological concentration, 100 mm. These results are discussed in relation to other work.

Chemical Analysis of the Developmental Pattern of Polysialylation in Chicken Brain EXPRESSION OF ONLY AN EXTENDED FORM OF POLYSIALYL CHAINS DURING EMBRYOGENESIS AND THE PRESENCE OF DISIALYL RESIDUES IN BOTH EMBRYONIC AND ADULT CHICKEN BRAINS

Recent studies have demonstrated the involvement of two polysialyltransferases in neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) polysialylation. The availability of cDNAs encoding these enzymes facilitated studies on polysialylation of N-CAM. However, there is a dearth of detailed structural information on the degree of polymerization (DP), DP ranges, and the influence of embryogenesis on the DP. It is also unclear how many polysialic acid (polySia) chains are attached to a single core N-glycan. In this paper we applied new, efficient, and sensitive high pressure liquid chromatography methods to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the polySia structures expressed on embryonic and adult chicken brain N-CAM. Our studies resulted in the following new findings. 1) The DP of the polySia chains was invariably 40–50 throughout developmental stages from embryonic day 5 to 21 after fertilization. In contrast, glycopeptides containing polySia with shorter DPs, ranging from 15 to 35, were isolated from adult brain. 2) Chemical evidence showed glycan chains abundant in Neu5Acα2,8Neu5Ac were expressed during all developmental stages including adult. 3) Levels of both di- and polySia were found to show distinctive changes during embryonic development.

A challenge to the ultrasensitive chemical method for the analysis of oligo- and polysialic acids at a nanogram level of colominic acid and a milligram level of brain tissues

Polysialic acid (polySia) is a functional epitope and is known: 1) to regulate normal fertilization of lower vertebrates and invertebrates; 2) to be expressed on neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) when the formation or re-arrangement of nervous tissues takes place during embryonic stages as well as in adults of higher vertebrates; and 3) to be re-expressed in several human tumors. Thus, polySia serves as oncodevelopmental antigen. To date sensitive biochemical diagnostic probes (antibodies and endo-N-acylneuraminidase) to detect polySia are known. However, these reagents are not commercially available yet and they are only reactive to specific types of polySia structure. Moreover, precise information not only on diversity but also on the length or degree of polymerization (DP) of extended polySia chains is considered important in understanding the molecular mechanism of biosynthesis of polySia chains and fine-tuning of NCAM-NCAM adhesive interaction by polySia chain but cannot be obtained with these biochemical probes. We have been continuously making efforts to develop and improve the sensitivity of chemical methods for polySia analysis toward these challenging problems. This article presents our most recently developed chemical method for polySia analysis and its use in obtaining new information on DP of colominic acid samples and polySia chains present in rat brain tissues with the highest sensitivity that has ever been attained.

Identification and partial characterization of soluble and membrane-bound KDN(deaminoneuraminic acid)-glycoproteins in human ovarian teratocarcinoma PA-1, and enhanced expression of free and bound KDN in cells cultured in mannose-rich media

KDN (Deaminoneuraminic acid, or deaminated neuraminic acid) is a minor but biosynthetically independent member of the sialic acid. Human occurrence of KDN has already been established, although its level is so little that it is often undetectable by conventional sialic acid analysis. Elevated expression of KDN in fetal cord blood cells and some malignant tumor cells have been reported. However, in mammalian cells and tissues KDN mostly occurs as the free sugar and little occurred conjugated to glycolipids and/or glycoproteins. A positive correlation between the ratio of free KDN/free Neu5Ac in ovarian adenocarcinomas and the stage of malignancy has been noted for diagnostic use. We hypothesized that elevated expression of KDN in mammalian systems may be closely related to elevated activities of enzymes involved in the formation of sialoglycoconjugates and/or aberrant supply of the precursor sugar, mannose, used in the biosynthesis of KDN. In this study we used human ovarian teratocarcinoma cells PA-1 to further analyze KDN expression in human cells. Major findings reported in this paper are, (i) a 30 kDa KDN-glycoprotein immunostainable with monoclonal antibody, mAb.kdn3G, (specific for the KDNα2 → 3Galβ1→ epitope) and sensitive to KDNase was identified in the membrane fraction of the cell: (ii) a 49 kDa KDN-glycoprotein that is not reactive with mAb.kdn3G but is sensitive to KDNase was identified in the soluble fraction: and (iii) PA-1 cells showed unique response to mannose added to the growth medium in that the levels of both free and bound forms of KDN are elevated. This is the first report on the identification of mammalian KDN-glycoproteins by chemical and biochemical methods.

Catalysis by a New Sialidase, Deaminoneuraminic Acid Residue-cleaving Enzyme (KDNase Sm), Initially Forms a Less Stable α-Anomer of 3-Deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulosonic Acid and Is Strongly Inhibited by the Transition State Analogue, 2-Deoxy-2,3-didehydro-D-glycero-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosonic Acid, but Not by 2-Deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic Acid

Deaminoneuraminic acid residue-cleaving enzyme (KDNase Sm) is a new sialidase that has been induced and purified from Sphingobacterium multivorum. Catalysis by this new sialidase has been studied by enzyme kinetics and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Vmax/Km values determined for synthetic and natural substrates of KDNase Sm reveal that 4-methylumbelliferyl-KDN (KDNα2MeUmb, Vmax/Km = 0.033 min−1) is the best substrate for this sialidase, presumably because of its good leaving group properties. The transition state analogue, 2,3-didehydro-2,3-dideoxy-D-galacto-D-glycero-nonulosonic acid, is a strong competitive inhibitor of KDNase Sm (Ki = 7.7 μM versus Km = 42 μM for KDNα2MeUmb). 2-Deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid and 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-glycolylneuraminic acid are known to be strong competitive inhibitors for bacterial sialidases such as Arthrobacter ureafaciens sialidase; however, KDNase Sm activity is not significantly inhibited by these compounds. This observation suggests that the hydroxyl group at C-5 is important for recognition of the inhibitor by the enzyme. Reversible addition of water molecule (or hydroxide ion) to the reactive sialosyl cation, presumably formed at the catalytic site of KDNase Sm, eventually gives rise to two different adducts, the α- and β-anomers of free 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulosonic acid. 1H NMR spectroscopic studies clearly demonstrate that the thermodynamically less stable α-form is preferentially formed as the first product of the cleavage reaction and that isomerization rapidly follows, leading to an equilibrium mixture of the two isomers, the β-isomer being the major species at equilibrium. Therefore, we propose that KDNase Sm catalysis proceeds via a mechanism common to the known exosialidases, but the recognition of the substituent at C-5 by the enzyme differs.

Acid–base properties of the reaction product of sialic acid with fluorogenic reagent, 1,2-diamino-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene (DMB)

N-Acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) forms the highly fluorophoric quinoxalinone derivative (Q) when treated with 1,2-diamino-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene (DMB). Effects of protonation and deprotonation on the fluorescence of Q were examined at room temperature. The strong fluorescence was found to be caused by the neutral form Q but not the protonated form of its excited state [Q]* and at pH below 1 the emission was completely quenched. The deprotonated singlet form [Q-]* was a less efficient fluorescer than [Q]*.

Human KDN (Deaminated Neuraminic Acid) and Its Elevated Expression in Cancer Cells: Mechanism and Significance

Sialic acids are a family of nine-carbon carboxylated sugars having a nonulosonate skeletal structure (Fig. 35.1). This structure is uniquely different from that of other sugar units of animal glycans. The most popular sialic acid is N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), which is universally found on cell surface glycocalyx and in secreted glycoproteins of vertebrates and some invertebrates. Sialic acids have low acid–base dissociation constants and give a negative charge on the cell surface under a wide range of physiological pH. In nature, more than 50 kinds of sialic acids are known. Nearly all of them are derived from Neu5Ac by a substitution on the hydroxyl groups (e.g., O-acetyl-Neu5Ac) and/or a hydroxylation of the N-acetyl group (e.g., N-glycolylneuraminic acid, Neu5Gc). Each modified sialic acid has properties different from those of Neu5Ac and is believed to contribute to specific physiological functions. In animal cells, sialic acids are most frequently the terminal sugars of cell surface glycolipids and glycoproteins, and any change that occurs on sialic acids can considerably influence the biological properties of a cell.