Sreedhara Sangadala

The Heliothis virescens 170 kDa aminopeptidase functions as “Receptor A” by mediating specific Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A δ-endotoxin binding and pore formation

The relationship between Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac delta-endotoxin binding and pore formation was investigated using a purified 170 kDa aminopeptidase N (APN) from Heliothis virescens brush border membranes. Aminopeptidases with molecular sizes of 110, 140 and 170 kDa were eluted from a Cry1Ac toxin affinity column using N-acetylgalactosamine. The 140 kDa aminopeptidase has a cross-reacting determinant typical of a cleaved glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor. After mild base treatment to de-acylate the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol linkage and incubation in phosphatidyl inositol phospholipase C, anti-cross-reacting determinant antibody recognized the 170 kDa protein. Kinetic binding characteristics of Cry1A toxins to purified 170 kDa APN were determined using surface plasmon resonance. Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac, but not Cry1C and Cry1E toxins recognized 170 kDa APN. Each Cry1A toxin recognized two binding sites: a high affinity site with KD ranging from 41 to 95 nM and a lower affinity site with KD in the 325 to 623 nM range. N-acetylgalactosamine inhibited Cry1Ac but not Cry1Aa and Cry1Ab binding to 170 kDa APN. When reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles, the 170 kDa APN promoted toxin-induced 86Rb+ release for Cry1A toxins, but not Cry1C toxin. Furthermore Cry1Ac, the Cry protein most toxic to H. virescens larvae, caused 86Rb+ release at lower concentrations, and to a greater extent than Cry1Aa and Cry1Ab toxins. The correlation between toxin-binding specificity and 86Rb+ release strongly suggests that the purified 170 kDa APN is the functional receptor A in the H. virescens midgut epithelial cell brush border membranes.

Binding of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac toxin to Manduca sexta aminopeptidase-N receptor is not directly related to toxicity

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac δ‐endotoxin specifically binds a 115‐kDa aminopeptidase‐N purified from Manduca sexta midgut. Cry1Ac domain III mutations were constructed around a putative sugar‐binding pocket and binding to purified aminopeptidase‐N and brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) was compared to toxicity. Q509A, R511A, Y513A, and 509–511 (QNR‐AAA) eliminated aminopeptidase‐N binding and reduced binding to BBMV. However, toxicity decreased no more than two‐fold, indicating activity is not directly correlated with aminopeptidase‐N binding. Analysis of toxin binding to aminopeptidase‐N in M. sexta is therefore insufficient for predicting toxicity. Mutants retained binding, however, to another BBMV site, suggesting alternative receptors may compensate in vivo.

Structures of sulfated oligosaccharides in human trachea mucin glycoproteins.

AbstractThe structures of high molecular weight sulfated oligosaccharide chains in mucins purified from the sputum of a patient with cystic fibrosis and blood group H determinant were established. Reduced oligosaccharides released by treatment with alkaline borohydride were separated by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Agarose and a fraction containing multisulfated chains was further purified by lectin affinity chromatography to completely remove small amounts of sialylated chains. A major sulfated oligosaccharide fraction containing chains with an average of 160 to 200 sugar residues was isolated by gel filtration on BioGel P-10 columns and individual subfractions were characterized by methylation analysis, periodate oxidation and sequential glycosidase digestion before and after desulfation. Carbohydrate analysis yielded Fuc, Gal and GldNAc in a ratio of 1:2:2.1 and only one galactosaminitol residue for every 160-to 200 sugar residues. The average molecular weight of oligosaccharide chains in these fractions was between 27,000 and 40,000 daltons. Structural analysis showed that these high molecular weight chains contained varying amounts of the repeating unit shown in the following oligosaccharide. Only one in about every 10 repeating units contained sulfate esters.Several shorter chains which contain 2 to 3 sulfate esters were also isolated from this multisulfated oligosaccharide fraction. The structures proposed for these oligosaccharides indicate that they are lower molecular weight chains with the same general structure as those found in the high molecular weight sulfated oligosaccharides. Taken collectively, the results of these studies show that a major sulfated oligosaccharide fraction in resporatory mucin purified from the mucus of patients with cystic fibrosis contains high molecular weight branched chains that consist of a repeating oligosaccharide sequence with sulfate linked to the 6 positions of galactose and possibly GlcNAc residues in the side chains.

Denaturation of Either Manduca sexta Aminopeptidase N or Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A Toxins Exposes Binding Epitopes Hidden under Nondenaturing Conditions

ABSTRACT The effect of polypeptide denaturation of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A toxins or purified Manduca sexta 120-kDa aminopeptidase N on the specificities of their interactions was investigated. Ligand and dot blotting experiments were conducted with 125I-labeled Cry1Ac, Cry1Ac mutant 509QNR-AAA511 (QNR-AAA), or 120-kDa aminopeptidase N as the probe. Mutant QNR-AAA does not bind the N-acetylgalactosamine moiety on the 120-kDa aminopeptidase. Both 125I-Cry1Ac and 125I-QNR-AAA bound to 210- and 120-kDa proteins from M. sexta brush border membrane vesicles and purified 120-kDa aminopeptidase N on ligand blots. However, on dot blots 125I-QNR-AAA bound brush border vesicles but did not bind purified aminopeptidase except when aminopeptidase was denatured. In the reciprocal experiment, 125I-aminopeptidase bound Cry1Ac but did not bind QNR-AAA. 125I-aminopeptidase bound Cry1Ab to a limited extent but not the Cry1Ab domain I mutant Y153D or Cry1Ca. However, denatured 125I-aminopeptidase detected each Cry1A toxin and mutant but not Cry1Ca on dot blots. The same pattern of recognition occurred with native (nondenatured) 125I-aminopeptidase probe and denatured toxins as the targets. The broader pattern of toxin-binding protein interaction is probably due to peptide sequences being exposed upon denaturation. Putative Cry toxin-binding proteins identified by the ligand blot technique need to be investigated under native conditions early in the process of identifying binding proteins that may serve as functional toxin receptors.

Polydispersity of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 toxins in solution and its effect on receptor binding kinetics

Dynamic light scattering and surface plasmon resonance techniques were used to investigate the influence of ionic strength, buffer composition and pH on the multimerization of trypsin-activated Cry1Ac and Cry1C toxins over time and the subsequent effects of the different multimers on receptor binding models. In carbonate buffer at pH 10.5, Cry1Ac and Cry1C assumed a monomeric state. After 24 h, a complete conversion of monomeric toxin to a dimeric or trimeric form was observed only for Cry1Ac under low ionic strength condition. Cry1C and Cry1Ac in high ionic strength buffer remained monomeric. Substitution of CAPS pH 11 for carbonate buffer suppressed this Cry1Ac oligomerization effect. Once Cry1Ac toxin was in an aggregated form, increases in ionic strength failed to revert the aggregated toxin back to a monomeric form. Monomeric Cry1Ac bound to a purified 115 kDa aminopeptidase N receptor from Manduca sexta in a 2:1 molar ratio thus confirming the existence of two binding sites on this receptor. Binding rates of dimeric or higher aggregated Cry1Ac toxin forms were different from those generated using the monomeric form and could not be fitted to existing binding models. In summary, our results confirm that the M. sexta 115 kDa aminopeptidase N receptor possesses two Cry1Ac binding sites. They further suggest that although high pH and low salt conditions promote Cry1Ac aggregation, this observation cannot be applied universally to other members of the Cry family.

Carbohydrate analyses of Manduca sexta aminopeptidase N, co-purifying neutral lipids and their functional interactions with Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac toxin.

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac insecticidal toxin binds specifically to 120kDa aminopeptidase N (APN) (EC 3.4.11.2) in the epithelial brush border membrane of Manduca sexta midguts. The isolated 120-kDa APN is a member of a functional Cry1 toxin receptor complex (FEBS Lett. 412 (1997) 270). The 120-kDa form is glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored and converted to a 115-kDa form upon membrane solubilization. The 115-kDa APN also binds Cry1A toxins and Cry1Ac binding is inhibited by N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc). Here we determined the monosaccharide composition of APN. APN is 4.2mol% carbohydrate and contains GalNAc, a residue involved in Cry1Ac interaction. APN remained associated with non-covalently bound lipids through anion-exchange column purification. Most associated lipids were separated from APN by hydrophobic interaction chromatography yielding a lipid aggregate. Chemical analyses of the lipid aggregate separated from APN revealed neutral lipids consisting mostly of diacylglycerol and free fatty acids. The fatty acids were long, unsaturated chains ranging from C:14 to C:22. To test the effect of APN-associated lipids on Cry1Ac function, the lipid aggregate and 115-kDa APN were reconstituted into phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles. The lipid aggregate increased the amount of Cry1Ac binding, but binding due to the lipid aggregate was not saturable. In contrast the lipid aggregate promoted Cry1Ac-induced release of 86Rb(+) at the lowest Cry1Ac concentration (50nM) tested. The predominant neutral lipid component extracted from the lipid aggregate promoted Cry1Ac-induced 86Rb(+) release from membrane vesicles in the presence of APN.

Quantitation and structures of oligosaccharide chains in human trachea mucin glycoproteins

Human respiratory mucin glycoproteins from patients with cystic fibrosis were purified and oligosaccharide chains were released by treatment with alkaline borohydride. A neutral oligosaccharide alditol fraction was isolated from mucin obtained from a patient with A blood group determinant by chromatography on DEAF-cellulose and individual oligosaccharide chains were then isolated by gel filtration on BioGel P-6 columns and high performance liquid chromatography with gradient and isocratic solvent systems. The structures of the purified oligosaccharides were determined by methylation analysis, sequential glycosidase digestion and ′H-NMR spectroscopy. The amount of each chain was determined by compositional analysis. A wide array of discrete branched oligosaccharide structures that contain from 3 to 22 sugar residues were found. Many of the oligosaccharides are related and appear to be precursors of larger chains. The predominant branched oligosaccharides which accumulate contain terminal blood group H (Fucα2Ga1β4) or blood group A (Fucα2(Ga1NAcα3) (Ga1β4) determinants which stop further branching and chain elongation. The elongation of oligosaccharide chains in respiratory mucins occurs on the β3-linked G1cNAc at branch points, whereas the 6-linked GlcNAc residue ultimately forms short side chains with a Fucα2 (Ga1NAcα3) Galβ4 G1cNAcβ6 structure in individuals with A blood group determinant.The results obtained in the current studies further suggest that even higher molecular weight oligosaccharide chains with analogous branched structures are present in some human respiratory mucin glycoproteins. Increasing numbers of the repeating sequence shown in the oligosaccharide below is present in the higher molecular weight chains. {ie75-1} This data in conjunction with our earlier observations on the extensive branching of these oligosaccharide chains helps to define and explain the enormous range of oligosaccharide structures found in human and swine respiratory mucin glycoproteins. Comparison of the relative concentrations of each oligosaccharide chain suggest that these oligosaccharides represent variations of a common branched core structure which may be terminated by the addition of a2-linked fucose to the β3/4 linked galactose residue at each branch point. These chains accumulate and are found in the highest concentrations in these respiratory mucins.

Synthesis of sulfated oligosaccharides by cystic fibrosis trachea epithelial cells.

The mucin glycoproteins in tracheal mucus of patients with cystic fibrosis is more highly sulfated than the corresponding secretions from healthy individuals [16]. In order to further characterize these differences in sulfation and possibly also glycosylation patterns, we compared the structures of sulfated mucin oligosaccharides synthesized by continuously cultured human tracheal cells transformed by siman virus 40. The synthesis of highly sulfated oligosaccharide chains in mucins secreted by normal human epithelial and submucosal cell lines were compared with mucins formed by cystic fibrosis tracheal epithelial and submucosal cell lines.The epithelial cell lines from cystic fibrosis trachea showed a higher rate of sulfate uptake and a significantly higher rate of synthesis and sulfation of high molecular weight chains. Mucins synthesized by each cell line in the presence of 35SO4 were isolated and oligosaccharide chains were released by beta-elimination and separated by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The sulfated high molecular weight chains synthesized by the cystic fibrosis cell lines were characterized by methylation analysis and sequential glycosidase digestion before and after desulfation. Carbohydrate analysis yielded Fuc, Gal and GlcNAc in a ratio of 1:2:2.2 and only one galactosaminitol residue for about every 150-200 sugar residues present. The average molecular size of oligosaccharide chains in these fractions was between 30,000-40,000 daltons.These studies show that increased sulfation of oligosaccharides in mucins synthesized by cells from cystic fibrosis trachea is accompanied by a significant increase in the extension of a basic branched structure present in many of the lower molecular weight oligosaccharides.

Characterization of mucin glycoprotein-specific translation products from swine and human trachea, pancreas and colon

SummaryRNA was isolated from cultured swine trachea epithelial cells and mucus-secreting tumor cell lines from human pancreas, lung and colon by extraction with guanidine isothiocyanate. Poly(A)+mRNA rich fractions were purified by repeated chromatography on oligo (dT)-cellulose columns and they were translated in a cell-free rabbit reticulocyte system. Translation products labelled with 35S-methionine were isolated by immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies to the polypeptide chains of mucin glycoproteins and they were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and fluorography. A single principal polypeptide band of 67 kDa was found in all cases when the immunoprecipitates were washed with buffer containing bovine serum albumin and unlabeled deglycosylated mucin glycoprotein. The intensity of the 67 kDa band decreased when unlabeled deglycosylated mucin glycoprotein was added to the translation mixture before immunoprecipitation. Affinity purified monospecific antibodies elicited against chemically deglycosylated polypeptide chains of purified mucin glycoproteins from human and swine trachea and Cowpers gland were all equally effective in immunoprecipitating the 67 kDa translation product. Monospecific antibodies directed against the glycosylated and unglycosylated regions of the polypeptide chain yielded single bands with a molecular size of 67 kDa in each case. Peptide profiles obtained by digestion of the 67 kDa translation product with S. aureus V-8 protease were identical to those obtained with deglycosylated human and swine trachea mucin glycoproteins.These stydies clearly demonstrate that the translation product of swine trachea and human lung, colon and pancreatic mucin glycoprotein gene is a single polypeptide chain of 67 kDa. The relative size and properties of the translation products synthesized with poly (A)+RNA isolated from mucus-secreting cells derived from three different tissues are similar to those of mucin glycoproteins purified directly from mucus secretions of human and swine trachea epithelium.

UDP-GlcNAc: Gal?3GalNAc-Mucin: (GlcNAc ? GalNAc) ?6-N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase and UDP-GlcNAc: Gal?3(GlcNAc?6) GalNAc-Mucin (GlcNAc ? Gal)?3-N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase from Swine Trachea Epithelium

SummaryTwo specific β-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases involved in the branching and elongation of mucin oligosaccharide chains, namely, a β1,6 N-acetylglucosaminylsaminyltransferase that transfers N-acetylglucosamine from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine to Galβ3GalNAc-Mucin to yield Galβ3(GlcNAcβ6)GalNAc-Mucin and a β3-N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase that transfers N-acetylglucosamine from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine to Galβ3(GlcNACβ6)GalNAc-mucin to yield GlcNAcβ3Galβ3 (GlcNAcβ6)GalNAc-Mucin were purified from the microsomal fraction of swine trachea epithelium. The β1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase was purified about 21,800-fold by procedures which included affinity chromatography on DEAE columns containing bound asialo Cowpers gland mucin glycoprotein with Galβ1,3GalNAc side chains. The apparent molecular weight estimated by gel filtration was found to be about 60 Kd. The purified enzyme showed a high specificity for Galβ1,3GalNAc chains and the most active substrates were mucin glycoproteins containing these chains. The apparent Km of the β6-glucosaminyltrans-ferase for Cowpers gland mucin glycoprotein containing Galβ1,3GalNAc chains was 0.53 µM; for UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, 12 µM; and for Galβ 1,3GalNAcα NO2ø, 4 mM. The activity of the β6-glucosaminyltransferase was dependent on the extent of glycosylation of the Galβ3GalNAc chains in Cowpers gland mucin glycoprotein.The best substrate for the partially purified β3-Glucosaminyltransferase was Cowpers gland mucin glycoprotein containing Galβ1,3(GlcNAcβ6)GalNAc side chains. This enzyme showed little or no activity with intact sialylated Cowpers gland mucin glycoprotein or derivatives of this glycoprotein containing GalNAc or Galβ1,3GalNAc side chains.The radioactive oligosaccharides formed by these enzymes in large scale reaction mixtures were released from the mucin glycoproteins by treatment with alkaline borohydride, isolated by gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-6 and characterized by methylation analysis and sequential digestion with exoglycosidases. The oligosaccharide products formed by the β6- and β3-glucosaminyltransferases were shown to be Galβ3(GlcNACβ6) GalNAc and GlcNAcβ3 Galβ3(GlcNACβ6)GalNAc respectively.Taken collectively, these results demonstrate that swine trachea epithelium contains two specific N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases which catalyze the initial branching and elongation reactions involved in the synthesis of O-linked oligosaccharide chains in respiratory mucin glycoproteins. The first enzyme a β6-glucosaminyltransferase converts Galβ3GalNAc chains in mucin glycoproteins to Galβ3(GlcNAcβ6)GalNAc chains. This product is the substrate for a second β3-glucosaminyltransferase which converts the Galβ3(GlcNAcβ6)GalNAc chains to GlcNAcβ3Gal(GlcNAcβ6)GalNAc chains in the glycoprotein. The β3-glucosaminyltransferase did not utilize Galβ3GalNAc chains as a substrate and this results in an ordered sequence of addition of N-acetylglucosamine residues to growing oligosaccharide chains in tracheal mucin glycoproteins.