Characterization of sulfated glucuronic acid containing glycolipids reacting with IgM M-proteins in patients with neuropathy

In some patients with neuropathy and plasma cell dyscrasia, the serum IgM M-proteins are known to bind to the myelin associated glycoprotein and to peripheral nerve glycolipids. We have isolated two acidic glycolipids which bind to the M-protein from human cauda equina by DEAE-Sephadex, Iatrobeads, and high performance liquid column chromatographies. The major acidic glycolipid migrated between GM1 and GD1a and the minor acidic glycolipid migrated between GD1a and GD1b. Their structures were elucidated by sugar analysis, enzymatic digestion, mild acid hydrolysis, permethylation, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and NMR studies. Their core structure was confirmed to be paragloboside by high performance thin-layer chromatography-immunostaining using anti-paragloboside monoclonal antibody. Both acidic glycolipids lacked sialic acid but contained sulfated glucuronic acid as their acidic moiety. The sulfate group in the glucuronic acid was established by periodate oxidation and permethylation studies to be attached to the 3 position. The structures of the two acidic glycolipids are therefore consistent with the following: IV3GlcUA(3-sulfate)nLcOse4Cer and VI3GlcUA(3-sulfate)nLcOse6Cer. Additionally, the free carboxyl group on the glucuronic acid residue was shown to be necessary to bind the IgM M-proteins from neuropathy patients.

Impaired monocyte function in glycogen storage disease type Ib

Phagocyte (neutrophil and monocyte) function was evaluated in a boy with glycogen storage disease type Ib. Neutrophils were found to be defective in motility and respiratory burst and monocytes showed a defect in respiratory burst but not in motility. These results suggested that the glucose-6-phosphate transport system plays a role in the function of neutrophils and monocytes and that these two phagocytes are different from each other in their energy metabolism for motility.

[Application of NMR-CT in the staging of cancer of the digestive organs]

To assess the potential of NMR-CT for demonstrating cancer of the digestive organs, we examined a total of 232 patients (89 with esophageal cancer, 52 with liver cancer, 40 with colorectal cancer, 9 with pancreatic cancer, 9 with gastric cancer, and 33 with other diseases). NMR-CT has many features, but we use especially those features which it is possible to select not only in the transverse plane but also in the coronal and sagittal planes, and it has excellent soft tissue contrast resolution. Our machine is a Picker International NMR-CT using a superconducting magnet of 0.256 tesla. Diagnosis of lymph node involvement of esophageal cancer. Using only the coronal plane, each patient was scanned by the spin echo technique (TE = 40, TR = 400) from the plane of the descending aorta to the plane of the trachea 1 cm in thickness, at 1 cm intervals, continuously. All the vessels were clearly differentiated as no-signal regions, especially in coronal images, from areas of carcinomatous involvement. Lymph nodes were identified as intense grey masses in fat tissue of high intensity. Twenty cases were proved by surgery or autopsy, and it was possible to assess 160 lymph-node groups. A total of 25 patients were imaged as having positive lymph nodes, but 17 of them had metastasis-positive nodes. In other 135 nodes imaged as negative lymph nodes, only two had metastasis and 133 were negative for metastasis. Overall accuracy was 93.8%. Diagnosis of liver cancer. Intrahepatic vessels were clearly imaged without using contrast enhancement in NMR-CT, so it was easy to diagnose the segment containing the tumor and to detect tumor emboli in the portal vein. The capsule was imaged in 84% (16/19) using IR techniques, although only 37% (7/19) could be imaged by X-CT. Diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Using the sagittal plane, the sacrum, urinary bladder and other organs were imaged better parallel to their axis, so that the relationship between rectal cancer and surrounding organs could be clearly visualised with NMR-CT. With regard to lymphatic metastasis, coronal imaging was useful for picturing mesenteric and pelvic vessels, so that lymph nodes were imaged as low-intensity masses along the vessels. Lymph metastasis almost 1 cm size can be detected using coronal NMR-CT.

Metabolism of [17,18-3H2]hexacosanoic acid and [15,16-3H2]lignoceric acid in cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN)

We have studied the metabolism of [17,18-3H2]hexacosanoic acid and [15,16-3H2]lignoceric acid in cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN). The successful solubilization of the very long chain fatty acids as albumin conjugates was confirmed by analysis using glycerol density gradient centrifugation. The composition of radioactive fatty acids in total lipids of fibroblasts after culture for 7 days in the presence of [17,18-3H2] hexacosanoic acid or [15,16-3H2]lignoceric acid was analyzed by radio-gas chromatography. Most of the fatty acids added to the culture media were degraded to shorter-chain fatty acids both by control, and ALD or AMN fibroblasts. However, the content of the remaining radioactive hexacosanoic acid or lignoceric acid was much higher in ALD or AMN fibroblasts, and the content of radioactive shorter-chain fatty acids was much lower in ALD or AMN fibroblasts. These results indicate that the degradation of very long chain fatty acids is decreased in ALD, but also that there is a substantial amount of residual activity of their degradation in ALD fibroblasts.

Neutral oligosaccharides in the urine of a patient with glycogen storage disease type II

Neutral oligosaccharides were isolated from urine of an adult patient with glycogen storage disease type II, a deficiency of lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase, by chromatography on columns of activated charcoal, Dowex 50 X 2 and Dowex 1 X 2. Total neutral oligosaccharides in the urine of the patient were increased about 5-fold as compared with those in normal controls. The most accumulated oligosaccharide was separated by Bio-Gel P-2 column chromatography, and finally purified by paper chromatography. Based on various studies, including carbohydrate analysis, chemical ionization mass spectrometry, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, degradation by glucoamylase and isopullulanase, and methylation analysis, the structure of this oligosaccharide was deduced to be Glc alpha 1----6Glc alpha 1----4Glc alpha 1----4Glc. This oligosaccharide appears to be accumulated in urine of the patient with acid alpha-glucosidase deficiency as an end product of the hydrolysis of glycogen.

The neuropathy of plasma cell dyscrasia: binding of IgM M-proteins to peripheral nerve glycolipids

In some patients with neuropathy and plasma cell dyscrasia, the M-proteins bind to peripheral nerves. Binding of M-proteins to peripheral nerve glycolipids was examined by immunostaining after thin-layer chromatography. The IgM from 16 patients with anti-MAG M-proteins bound to the same two glycolipid bands in peripheral nerve. The IgM that bound to the glycolipids had the same idiotype as the anti-MAG M-protein, indicating that it was the M-protein that bound to both glycolipids. The reactive glycolipids did not contain sialic acid and were not gangliosides. No immunostaining of peripheral nerve glycolipids was observed with IgM from patients with neuropathy and IgM M-proteins that did not bind to MAG, and the anti-MAG antibodies did not bind to brain glycolipids. Anti-MAG M-proteins probably bind to the same or closely related carbohydrate determinants that are shared by a number of glycoproteins and glycolipids of peripheral nerve.

Two positional isomers of sialylheptasaccharides isolated from the urine of a patient with sialidosis

We describe the structures of two positional isomers of sialylheptasaccharide isolated from the urine of a patient with sialidosis with partial deficiency of beta-galactosidase. Based on structural studies including compositional sugar analysis, exoglycosidase digestion, chemical ionization mass spectrometry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, and methylation analysis, their structures were deduced to be as follows: AcNeu alpha 2----6Gal beta 1----4GlcNac beta 1----2Man alpha 1----3(Man alpha 1----6)Man beta 1----4GlcNac; AcNeu alpha 2----6Gal beta 1----4GlcNac beta 1----2Man alpha 1----6(Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNac. Sialyloligosaccharide 1 has previously been found in the urine and liver of patients with mucolipidosis I and II and sialidosis, but sialyloligosaccharide 2 has not been found yet in human urine. These two sialyloligosaccharides could not be completely separated by any chromatographic procedures tested. The analytical techniques, including methylation study and NMR spectroscopy, could not clearly detect the differences between them. However, alpha-mannosidase treatment gave important information for the structural analyses of these sialyloligosaccharides.

Molecular parameters and conformation of globoside and asialo-GM1

Comparative studies of the individual properties and intermolecular organization of asialo-GM1 (Gg4Cer) and globoside (Gb4Cer) were made employing lipid monolayers and high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry. The surface pressure-area isotherm of Gb4Cer is more expanded than that of Gg4Cer. This results in greater molecular areas and compressibilities, and lower intermolecular interaction energies, for Gb4Cer compared to Gg4Cer at all surface pressures. This looser intermolecular packing may be responsible for a lower transition temperature (40.5 degrees C) and enthalpy of transition (delta Hcal) (2.0 kcal mol-1) found for the phase transition of Gb4Cer compared to Gg4Cer (54.0 degrees C and 4.2 kcal mol-1). The surface potential per molecule and resultant molecular dipole moment vector values are greater for Gb4Cer than for Gg4Cer at comparable values of surface pressure and molecular area. All these results reflect the existence of a rigid L-shape in the oligosaccharide chain of Gb4Cer that prevents a close intermolecular packing compared to the straight orientation of the polar head group of Gg4Cer. Significant movements of the oligosaccharide chain may occur depending on the lateral surface pressure. At low surface pressures the orientation of the oligosaccharide chain of Gg4Cer may be displaced an angle of up to about 40 degrees compared to the perpendicular position adopted at high surface pressures. In agreement with an enhanced liquid character of the interface, the oligosaccharide chain of Gb4Cer exhibits a greater freedom of movement and the displacement from the position perpendicular to the interface can reach to about 65 degrees.

Thermotropic behavior of binary mixtures of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and glycosphingolipids in aqueous dispersions

The thermotropic behavior of mixtures of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) with natural glycosphingolipids (galactosylceramide, phrenosine, kerasine, glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, asialo-GM1, sulfatide, GM3, GM1, GD1a, GT1b) in dilute aqueous dispersions were studied by high sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry over the entire composition range. The pretransition of DPPC is abolished and the cooperativity of the main transition decreases sharply at mole fractions of glycosphingolipids below 0.2. All systems exhibit non-ideal temperature-composition phase diagrams. The mono- and di-hexosylceramides are easily miscible with DPPC when the proportion of glycosphingolipids in the system is high. A limited quantity (1-6 molecules of DPPC per molecule of glycosphingolipid (GSL) can be incorporated into a homogeneously mixed lipid phase. Domains of DPPC, immiscible with the rest of a mixed GSL-DPPC phase that shows no cooperative phase transition, are established as DPPC exceeds a certain proportion in the system. One negative charge (sulfatide) or four neutral carbohydrate residues (asialo-GM1) in the oligosaccharide chain of the glycosphingolipids results in phase diagrams exhibiting coexistence of gel and liquid phases over a broad temperature-composition range. Systems containing gangliosides show complex phase diagrams, with more than one phase transition. However, no evidence for phase-separated domains of pure ganglioside species is found. The thermotropic behavior of systems containing DPPC and glycosphingolipids correlates well with their interactions in mixed monolayers at the air/water interface.

Preparation and specificity of avian anti-GM2(NeuGc) ganglioside antiserum

Antibodies to N-glycolyl neuraminic acid-containing GM2 ganglioside, GM2(NeuGc), were prepared by immunizing chickens. The specificity of the antibodies was examined by the double immunodiffusion test and solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). One(C-4) of two antisera produced did not cross-react with GM3(NeuGc) but the other(C-3) did as assessed by the double immunodiffusion test. In RIA, the antibody activity of C-4 antiserum was detected only in the IgG fraction. Specificity of the serum was examined using authentic glycolipids which were structurally related to GM2(NeuGc). The antiserum showed a high specificity for the homologous ganglioside by either an RIA or an inhibition assay. This antiserum is a useful tool for the detection of GM2(NeuGc) in human and animal tissues under normal and/or disease condition.

Turnover of fibrinopeptide A (FPA) in rabbits

FPA disappeared from the circulating blood along a double-exponential decay curve consisting of an initial phase (t 1/2 = 1.8 min) and a late phase (t 1/2 = 34.7 min). The rapid decrease in blood FPA was due to the large extravascular space, the size of which was estimated to be about 5 times larger than that of intravascular space. The actual amounts of 125I-FPA distributed to the organs and tissues were generally quite low. However, in the case of the urine, the injected amount of FPA was excreted at the rate of 50% per hour. Thus, the urinary FPA levels may reflect the occurrence of intravascular coagulation.

An interspecies comparison of gangliosides and neutral glycolipids in adrenal glands

Gangliosides and neutral glycolipids of adrenal glands of mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, cat, pig, cow, monkey, and chicken were analyzed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). The major gangliosides common to all species had lactosylceramide in their core structure. GM3 containing N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) was the major ganglioside in rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and cat, whereas GM3 containing N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) was the major one in mouse, cow, and monkey. GD3 was also detected in all species except mouse and GD3(NeuAc)2 was the major in pig adrenal gland. GM4(NeuAc) was detected in the adrenal glands of guinea pig and chicken but not in those of the other species. In the neutral glycolipid fractions, galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, globotriaosylceramide and globotetraosylceramide were detected and the proportions of these glycolipids varied among the species. Guinea pig and chicken adrenal glands contained large amounts of galactosylceramide, this being consistent with the presence of GM4 in these two species. Globopentaosylceramide was detected in mouse, guinea pig, cat, and chicken by the TLC-immunostaining procedure.

[Preoperative combination therapy involving local administration of a non-specific immunoactivated preparation (OK-432) and chemotherapeutic preparations for patients with stomach cancer]

OMF therapy, which is a combination therapy consisting of OK-432 administered locally, Mitomycin C and 5-Fluorouracil, was administered to 50 cases of stomach cancer (52 episodes) preoperatively. Judging the criterion for a positive (+) effect as being the existence of degeneration or necrosis in 1/3-1/2 of carcinomas visible within whole fields, the ratio of histological effectiveness shown by this therapy was 75%. As for its effect on metastatic foci of lymph nodes, when 70 case from an n1 group and 8 from an n2 group with metastatic positive lymph nodes, including 17 cases (4 in Stage II and 13 in Stage III) ablated for curing were studied, a greater than positive (+) effect was shown in 51 out of the total of 78. Consequently the effective ratio was 65%. The survival ratio of 16 cases in Stage III on the 48th month calculated by the Kaplan Meier method was 78.6%. The survival time of 50% of 9 cases in Stage IV (absolute non-curing ablation) was 15 months. Tissue samples were examined constantly after local administration of OK-432. Exudation of neutrocytes was shown on the 1st day, and that of histiocytes, lymphocytes and plasmacytes on the 4th day. At this stage, degeneration of the primary focus or necrotizing change was observed. Interstitial reaction peaked on the 14th day, but histiocytes tended to decrease.

Thermotropic behavior of glycosphingolipids in aqueous dispersions

The thermotropic behavior of 20 chemically related glycosphingolipids (GSLs) of high purity, containing neutral and anionic carbohydrate residues in their oligosaccharide chains, was studied by high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry. In general, the polar head group of GSLs appears to be one of the major determinants of their phase behavior. Compared to phospholipids, the presence of the carbohydrate rather than the phosphorylcholine moiety in the polar head group and a sphingosine base in the hydrocarbon portion of GSLs reduces the effect on the transition temperature (Tm) brought about by increasing the number of methylene groups in the amide-linked fatty acyl chains. For simple neutral GSLs, the Tm's were 20-40 degrees C higher than those of phospholipids with comparable hydrocarbon chains. As the oligosaccharide chain of GSLs becomes more complex, the excess heat capacity, Tm, enthalpy (delta Hcal), and entropy of the transition decrease proportionally to the number of carbohydrate residues present in the polar head group. The Tm and delta Hcal for anionic GSLs were 16-25 degrees C and 1-3 kcal mol-1 lower than those of neutral GSLs with comparable oligosaccharide chains. A linear dependence of delta Hcal with Tm was found. However, the slopes of these plots were different for neutral and for anionic GSLs, suggesting different types of intermolecular organizations for the two. The Tm and delta Hcal were linearly dependent on the molecular area of both neutral and anionic GSLs; this indicated that the influence of the complexity of the polar head group in GSLs for establishing the thermodynamic behavior may be mediated by the intermolecular spacings.

Immunoglobulin production in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines in patients with ataxia telangiectasia

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 7 patients with ataxia telangiectasia were transformed by Epstein-Barr virus, and lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) were established. Immunoglobulin levels in the supernatants of the LCL were measured in order to analyze immunological abnormalities, especially the low levels of serum IgA in these patients. We found that the geometric means of IgA production in the supernatants of the LCL from the 7 patients were significantly lower than those from 9 healthy controls (5.0 vs. 834 ng/ml, p less than 0.001). These results indicate that the low levels of serum IgA in ataxia telangiectasia are attributable at least in part to an intrinsic abnormality of B cells.

[The role of endoscopic lithotomy in the treatment of intrahepatic stones]

Although hepatolithiasis is a benign disease, its treatment is still the most difficult one in medical field. Before 1977, we had tried bilioenterostomy at the porta hepatis to expect spontaneous dislodgement of stones. However their results were very poor because of frequent occurrence of cholangitis which leads to hepatic failure or death in 8 of 15 patients. From 1977 to 1981, 35 patients had undergone postoperative cholangioscopy (POC). Complete stone removal was obtained in 24 patients. There were 13 difficult local problems in the remaining 11 patients including 6 being too narrow to permit the passage of the fiberscope, 3 having stones incarcerated, 3 having abnormal distribution of biliary tract and one being a missed stone. From 1981, we have carried out percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotomy (PTCL) for the treatment of intrahepatic stones in 16 patients. Because abnormal distribution of biliary tract can be easily detected by PTC and incarcerated stones can be made into small pieces before removal following LASER application. We had succeeded in complete stone removal in 12 patients. 2 patients needed biliary reconstruction or liver resection after PTCL. We concluded that for treatment of the disease of intrahepatic stone PTCL should be considered as the first choice before surgery in order to avoid unnecessary hepatic resection or biliary reconstruction.

Isolation and characterization of a novel phytosphingosine-containing GM2 ganglioside from mullet roe (Mugil cephalus)

The major ganglioside from the roe of striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) has been isolated and purified. Compositional analysis of this ganglioside revealed that it contained an equimolar ratio of the following residues: N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose, glucose, and the long-chain base. Further structural studies by sequential enzymatic hydrolysis, permethylation analysis, and proton NMR spectroscopy indicated that the structure of the oligosaccharide moiety was identical to that of GM2 ganglioside from human brain: GalNAc beta 1----4Gal beta 1----4(3----2 alpha NeuAc)-Glc----ceramide. This ganglioside, however, differed from brain GM2 in its ceramide portion. The most striking differences are the presence of large amounts of C18 and C20 phytosphingosine (over 80% of the total long-chain bases) and the preponderance of monounsaturated alpha-hydroxy fatty acids (over 80%). Such a phytosphingosine-containing GM2 ganglioside has never been reported.

Gangliosides and neutral glycolipids in guinea pig adrenal glands

Glycolipids were isolated from the adrenal glands of seven strains of guinea pig by DEAE-Sephadex and Iatrobeads column chromatographies. The average lipid-bound sialic acid content of the adrenal glands was estimated to be 96.0 +/- 30.4 nmol/g fresh tissue. The ganglioside fraction contained two major gangliosides which accounted for 82% of the total lipid-bound sialic acid. They were identified as N-acetylneuraminylgalactosylceramide (GM4) and N-acetylneuraminyllactosylceramide (GM3). The neutral glycolipid fraction contained one major and three minor glycolipids. The major glycolipid was identified as galactosylceramide, which accounted for 81% of the total glycolipid. The other three glycolipids were identified as Forssman glycolipid (7%), lactosylceramide (5%), and gangliotriaosylceramide (7%). In all strains examined, the glycolipid patterns were similar.

Isolation and characterization of a novel disialoganglioside from bovine adrenal medulla

A novel GDlb ganglioside which contains only N-glycolylneuraminic acid was isolated from bovine adrenal medulla by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Iatrobeads column chromatography. The concentration of this ganglioside was 0.9 nmol lipid-bound sialic acid per gram fresh tissue, which accounted for 2.7% of the disialoganglioside fraction. The structure was elucidated by sugar analysis, neuraminidase digestion, and permethylation studies. The complete structure of this ganglioside was identified as GDlb (NeuGc)2 or II3 (NeuGc)2-GgOse4Cer.

Chemical-ionization mass spectra of the permethylated sialo-oligosaccharides liberated from gangliosides

Permethylated mono- and di-sialo-oligosaccharides liberated from several parent gangliosides have been examined by chemical-ionization mass spectrometry with ammonia as the reagent gas in order to elucidate their structures. Several major fragment-ions, in addition to both the protonated and ammonium adduct molecular-ions, may be readily assigned without interference from the ceramide moiety. Sialic acid-containing di-, tri-, and tetra-saccharide ions can be clearly observed and used to determine the sugar residue to which the sialic acid residue is attached. The neutral-sugar skeletons produced by the loss of sialic acid give rise to both the protonated and the ammonium adduct ions; in the case of tetrasaccharides, these are further degraded to produce di- and tri-saccharide ions. These characteristic ions are useful for the determination of the number of sugar residues and their sequence in an oligosaccharide structure. The chemical-ionization mass spectra of GM3- and GM1-oligosaccharides with isobutane show the ions corresponding to each monosaccharide residue. These results indicate that chemical-ionization mass spectrometry is highly useful in determining the complete sugar-sequence of gangliosides.

Carrier detection of sialidosis with partial beta-galactosidase deficiency by the assay of lysosomal sialidase in lymphocytes

Lysosomal and plasma membrane sialidase activities in lymphocytes were studied in four patients with sialidosis with partial beta-galactosidase deficiency, four obligate heterozygotes, and three siblings of a patient. Lysosomal sialidase activity in homozygotes was absent, and that in heterozygotes was significantly decreased to 70% of control level. The results indicate that carriers can be detected by the assay of lysosomal sialidase activity of lymphocytes.

Ganglioside composition of chromaffin granule membrane in bovine adrenal medulla

The ganglioside composition of chromaffin granule membranes of bovine adrenal medulla was investigated. Two major gangliosides, which accounted for over 95% of total gangliosides, were characterized as GM3 (NeuAc) and GM3 (NeuGc) by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). Chromaffin granule membranes contained a relatively higher concentration of gangliosides than the membranes of other subcellular organelles; three times higher than microsomal membranes and seven times higher than mitochondrial membranes. This high concentration of ganglioside in chromaffin granule membranes could contribute to the high concentration of gangliosides in the adrenal medulla as compared to other extraneural tissues.

Adrenal medulla gangliosides

The gangliosides were examined in adrenal glands of mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, monkey, pig, ox and chicken. GM3 ganglioside was predominant in all examined animals except pig. In pig GD3 ganglioside was the major one. GM4 ganglioside was found in guinea pig and chicken. The distribution of sialic acid varied in each species. NeuNGly containing gangliosides were not detected in rat, guinea pig, rabbit and chicken. The other animals have both NeuNAc and NeuNGly containing gangliosides. Chromaffin granules from bovine adrenal medulla contain gangliosides at concentrations 3 and 7 times as great as microsomal and mitochondrial fractions, respectively. These gangliosides were NeuNAc-containing GM3 and NeuNGly containing GM3 in the same amount.

Interspecies comparison of muscle gangliosides by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography

Skeletal muscle gangliosides prepared from ten species of animals (human, monkey, bovine, hog, dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, mouse, and chicken) were studied by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. Densitometric quantification of spots on the chromatograms was carried out with an image analysis system equipped with a computer system. In about thirty-five resorcinol-positive spots, sixteen components could be identified by comparison with authentic standards we had previously obtained. GM3 ganglioside was found as a major component in all examined animals, but there were remarkable species variations in the minor gangliosides. In bovine and hog muscle gangliosides, more than fifteen minor components were detected owing to the presence of N-glycolyl neuraminic acid species. In contrast to this, muscle gangliosides of human, dog, cat, rabbit, and chicken showed relatively simple patterns because of the absence or the small amounts of N-glycolyl type gangliosides. The presence of lactosamine containing gangliosides was characteristic of muscle gangliosides of the examined species.

Gangliosides of hog skeletal muscle

The ganglioside content of hog skeletal muscle was 27 nmol/g wet weight when calculated as lipid-bound sialic acid. The elution profile on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column chromatography showed that the monosialoganglioside fraction (61% of total lipid-bound sialic acid) contained at least seven major gangliosides and that the disialoganglioside fraction (25%) contained four major ones. These gangliosides were purified by latrobeads column chromatography, and from the results of sugar analysis, specific enzymatic hydrolysis, a permethylation study and CrO3 oxidation, the structures of these gangliosides were determined to be as follows: A, GM3(NeuAc); B, GM3(NeuGc); C, sialosylparagloboside(NeuAc); D sialosylparagloboside (NeuGc); E, GM1(NeuAc); F, GM1(NeuGc); G, sialosyllactosaminylparagloboside(NeuAc) (monosialogangliosides) and H, GD1a(NeuAc, NeuAc); I, GD1a(NeuAc, NeuGc); J, GD1a(NeuGc, NeuGc); K, GD1b(NeuAc, NeuAc) (disialogangliosides), where NeuAc is N-acetylneuraminic acid and NeuGc is N-glycolylneuraminic acid as sialyl groups. The major fatty acids of gangliosides A, D and G were mainly C16:0, but those of the others, E, F, H, J and K, were C16:0, C18:0, C22:0 and C24:0. The long-chain bases were predominantly C18:1 sphingosine in all gangliosides.

Isolation and characterization of the trisialogangliosides from bovine adrenal medulla

Trisialogangliosides were isolated from bovine adrenal medulla by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Iatrobeads column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by sugar analysis, neuraminidase digestion, and permethylation studies. The complete structures of trisialogangliosides, A to D, were identified as follows. A: GT1b, IV3NeuAc, II3 (NeuAc)2-GgOse4Cer. B: GT1b(NeuAc/NeuAc-NeuGc-); IV3NeuAc, II3 (NeuAc alpha 2-8 NeuGc-)GgOse4Cer. C: GT1b (NeuGc/NeuAc-NeuAc-); IV3NeuGc, II3 (NeuAc alpha 2-8 NeuAc-)GgOse4Cer. D: GT1b (NeuAc/NeuGc-NeuGc-); IV3NeuAc, II3 (NeuGc alpha 2-8 NeuGc-)GgOse4Cer. Gangliosides B, C, and D, which contain N-glycolylneuraminic acid, have not previously been reported in the literature.

Purification and characterization of the biliary plasminogen activator bilokinase

The aim of the present study is to elucidate the enzymological and chemical properties of the plasminogen activator in bile, bilokinase. A bilokinase preparation was obtained from 94.2 liters of bovine gall bladder bile through seven purification steps, two of which employed a precipitation method in which ammonium sulfate and acetone were used sequentially. Twenty mg of bilokinase preparation with a specific activity of 5,900 IU/mg were obtained, for a 9% yield with 6,556-fold purification. This preparation revealed a single band upon disc electrophoresis. The bilokinase was a 3.32 S protein and its molecular weight was found to be 57,000. Isoelectric focusing showed that the bilokinase was separable into 5 fractions having different isoelectric points ranging from pH 7.4 to 9.0 The properties of the individual fractions have not yet been determined. The enzymatic activity of bilokinase was recognized to be heat-labile and to be stable at pH 4.0. The activation of plasminogen by bilokinase took place most effectively at pH 7.8 in a manner similar to that of urokinase. In its hydrolysis of both N alpha-acetylglycyl-L-lysine-methyl ester-acetate and H-D-Glu-Gly-Arg-pNA (S-2227), bilokinase showed similar Km values to those of urokinase; however, they were quite distinct from those of plasmin. It was concluded therefore that bilokinase is a plasminogen activator with enzymatic properties which are quite similar to those of the urinary plasminogen activator urokinase. The origin of bilokinase and its relation to liver function are now under investigation.

Lysosomal sialidase deficiency in sialidosis with partial beta-galactosidase deficiency

We analyzed the subcellular localization of sialidases in human lymphocytes from a patient with adult type sialidosis with partial beta-galactosidase deficiency and normal controls. Sialidase activities were measured with alpha,2 leads to 3 NeuAc-lactitol, 4-methylumbelliferyl-NeuAc and GM3 ganglioside as substrates. Sialidases in the lysosomes were sonication-labile and hydrolyzed mainly hydrophilic substrates such as NeuAc-lactitol and 4-methylumbelliferyl-NeuAc, but hydrolyzed subsidiarily GM3 ganglioside. On the other hand, sialidases in the plasma membrane were sonication-stable and hydrolyzed both hydrophilic substrates and GM3 ganglioside. In sialidosis with partial beta-galactosidase deficiency, the sialidases of the lysosomes showed 3-5% activity toward hydrophilic substrates and 25% activity toward GM3 ganglioside as compared with sialidase activities of the controls. However, there are no differences in the activities of the sialidases in the plasma membrane. These results demonstrate that the essential defect in this disease is the deficiency of a lysosomal sialidase.

Disialogangliosides in bovine adrenal medulla

Gangliosides were isolated from bovine adrenal medulla by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Iatrobeads column chromatography. The disialo fraction contained five major gangliosides, A to E; together they accounted for 4.6% of the total lipid-bound sialic acid. On the basis of sugar analysis, permethylation, mild acid hydrolysis and neuraminidase degradation studies, the structures of these five gangliosides are characterized as follows: (formula: see text). The major fatty acids of the disialogangliosides were C16:0, C18:0, C22:0, C23:0, C24:0, and C24:1, which were characteristic of extraneural gangliosides.

Characterization of GM1 ganglioside by direct inlet chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Intact permethylated and permethylated-reduced (LiAlH4) derivatives of GM1 ganglioside were analyzed by direct inlet ammonia chemical ionization (CI) mass spectrometry. In addition, the trimethylsilylated derivative of the permethylated-reduced sample of this ganglioside was similarly analyzed. CI mass spectrometry proves to be a highly satisfactory method for structural studies of GM1 ganglioside because of the simple fragmentation pattern and the presence of prominent molecular ions and fragment ions in the high mass region. Complete information on the carbohydrate sequence and lipophilic composition can be easily obtained.

Four positional isomers of sialyloligosaccharides isolated from the urine of a patient with sialidosis

Four positional isomers of sialyloligosaccharides were isolated from the urine of an adult patient with sialidosis with partial deficiency of beta-galactosidase. From structural studies including compositional sugar analysis, exoglycosidase digestion, chemical ionization mass spectrometry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, and methylation analysis, their structures were deduced to be as follows: 1. AcNeu alpha 2 leads to 3 Gal beta 1 leads to 4GlcNac beta 1 leads to 2Man alpha 1 leads to 3Man beta 1 leads to 4GlcNac 2. AcNeu alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 4GlcNac beta 1 leads to 2Man alpha 1 leads to 6Man beta 1 leads to 4GlcNac 3. AcNeu alpha 2 leads to 6Gal beta 1 leads to 4GlcNac beta 1 leads to 2Man alpha 1 leads to 3Man beta 1 leads to 4GlcNac 4. AcNeu alpha 2 leads to 6Gal beta 1 leads to 4GlcNac beta 1 leads to 2Man alpha 1 leads to 6Man beta 1 leads to 4GlcNac Sialyloligosaccharides 1 and 3 have previously been found in the liver and urine of patients with mucolipidosis I, II, and variable forms, but sialyloligosaccharides 2 and 4 have not previously be found in human urine.

Increased synthesis of hexacosanoic acid (C23:0) by cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN)

We studied the metabolism of radioactive stearic acid by cultured skin fibroblasts from patients wtih adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and its variant, adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), to clarify the mechanism of the increased content of very long chain saturated fatty acids in cholesterol esters and sphingolipids, which are known to be the characteristic biochemical changes in ALD and AMN. A substantial amount of hexacosanoic acid (C26 : 0) wa synthesized from stearic acid by ALD and AMN fibroblasts, whereas only a trace amount of hexacosanoic acid was synthesized by control fibroblasts. This indicates that the primary biochemical defect in ALD and AMN may involved the elongation system of very long chain fatty acids.

Topographical distribution of gamma-aminobutyric acid within the cat thalamus in relation to the basal ganglia, as determined by mass fragmentometry

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry was introduced for the assay of GABA in the cat brain. The method is quite simple, sensitive, and specific for quantitative analysis. Study of the regional distribution of the GABA content within the thalamus disclosed that the ventromedial nucleus (VM) of the thalamus had a high concentration of GABA. The VM receives the afferent projection from the zona reticulata of the substantia nigra. The result, together with the results obtained by physiological as well as pharmacological studies, supports the hypothesis that the transmitter substance of the nigrothalamic pathway is GABA.

Urinary sialyloligosaccharides in adult type sialidosis: occurrence of two positional isomers

Two positional isomers of sialyloligosaccharides were isolated from the urine of a patient with adult type sialidosis with partial deficiency of beta-galactosidase. From structural studies including sugar analysis, enzyme degradation and methylation analysis, the following structures are deduced; 1. alpha-AcNeu-(2 leads to 3)-beta-Gal-(1 leads to 4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1 leads to 2)-alpha-Man-(1 leads to 3)-beta-Man-(1 leads to 4)-GlcNAc 2. alpha-AcNeu-(2 leads to 3)-beta-Gal-(1 leads to 4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1 leads to 2)-alpha-Man-(1 leads to 6)-beta-Man-(1 leads to 4)-GlcNAc The sialyloligosaccharide 1 has previously been reported to be present in liver and urine of patients with mucolipidosis I, II and variant forms. The sialyloligosaccharide 2 was first demonstrated in human urine.

Abnormality of long-chain fatty acids in erythrocyte membrane sphingomyelin from patients with adrenoleukodystrophy

We have devised an analytical method for the determination of fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane sphingomyelin by chemical ionization mass spectrometry combined with capillary column gas-liquid chromatography. Fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane sphingomyelin from 8 patients with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and 16 healthy controls were examined by this method. The ratio of hexacosanoic acid (C26:0) to docosanoic acid (C22:0) in erythrocyte membrane sphingomyelin from ALD patients was 2.6-fold higher than that of the controls. This result suggests that biochemical diagnosis of ALD is possible by the analysis of fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane sphingomyelin. Furthermore, it demonstrates that biochemical abnormality in ALD is the generalized abnormal metabolism of very long-chain saturated fatty acids.

Characterization of gangliosides in human leucocytes

Lipids extracted from leucocyte pellets with chloroform-methanol were applied to a DEAE-Sephadex column an the gangliosides were eluted with 0.2M sodium acetate in methanol. The eluate was desalted by Sephadex G-50 column chromatography. The purified ganglioside was spotted on the high-performance than-layer plate. The plate was developed and sprayed with resorcinol reagents and heated. Seventeen bands of gangliosides were demonstrated in normal human leucocytes. The composition of these gangliosides was different in the various kinds of leucocytes. Amounts of GM3 ganglioside were apparently greater in normal lymphocytes and leukaemic cells than in granulocytes. Among the acute-leukaemic cells, some kinds of complex gangliosides were much more abundant in myelogenous cells than in lymphocytic cells. These changes in ganglioside composition are suggested as new biochemical markers for leukaemic cells.

Characterization of glycosphingolipids by direct inlet chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Permethylated derivatives of cerebrosides and ceramide di-, tri-, tetra-, and penta-hexosides were analyzed by the direct inlet ammonia chemical ionization (CI) mass spectrometry. In the CI mass spectra, the fragment ions produced by the loss of methanol from the protonated molecular ion were observed in all of the glycosphingolipids. Other fragment ions due to the cleavage of glycosidic moiety were major ones under the CI conditions. These ions provide information on the molecular species of glycosphingolipids and the sugar sequence of their oligosaccharides. Glycosphingolipids with hydroxy fatty acids could also be differentiated from those with nonhydroxy fatty acids by comparing the intensities of characteristic fragment ions. The CI method should be particularly useful in structural studies of glycosphingolipids from natural sources.

Gangliosides and neutral glycolipids of human adrenal medulla

Glycolipids were isolated from human adrenal medulla by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Iatrobeads column chromatography. The lipid-bound sialic acid was about 234 microgram/g fresh tissue. The glanglioside fraction contained two major gangliosides which accounted for 93% of the total lipid-bound sialic acid. They were identified as GM3, N-acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide and GD3, N-acetylneuraminyl N-acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide on the basis of cochromatography with authentic standards, sugar composition analysis, and neuraminidase digestion. GM3, N-acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide and GD3, N-acetylneuraminyl N-acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide occurred in a ratio of approximately 3 : 2, and the ratio seemed to be rather constant irrelevant of age and sex differences. The neutral glycolipid fraction consisted of GL1a, glucosylceramide (18%), GL1b, galactosylceramide (23%), GL2a, lactosylceramide (27%), GL3, digalactosylglucosylceramide (20%), and GL4, globoside (12%). The major fatty acids of all these glycolipids were 16 : 0, 18 : 0, 22 : 0, 24 : 0 and 24 :1.