Characterization of the extended carbohydrate binding site of concanavalin A: specificity for interaction with the nonreducing termini of alpha-(1 leads to 2)-linked disaccharides

Identification of Peptide Ligands Specific for the Sugar-Binding Site of Concanavalin A by Screening a Synthetic Peptide Combinatorial Library

We describe a method, using an automated multiple-column chromatographic approach, for identifying a ligand from a peptide library (containing greater than 2.48 x 106 unique peptides) with specificity for the sugar-binding site of the lectin Concanavalin A. The method used an immobilized target to capture moieties from the library as the latter flowed through a chromatographic column. Due to the complexity of the initial library, it was not possible to select for individual peptide sequences with high affinity and specificity for the sugar binding site. However, identification of peptides which specifically bound to the target at this site was possible using subtractive pool sequencing of affinity captured material. The latter technique involved sequencing the peptides retained (after washing the column for a fixed time) in the presence and absence of an excess of the known ligand for the target, methyl a-D-mannopyranoside. Comparisons between the proportion of each amino acid at each sequencing cycle in the absence or presence of an excess of sugar resulted in a peptide sequence of enriched amino acids of the formula HxxSx (where x represents any one of the natural amino acids except cysteine). This sublibrary (containing-6859 individual peptides) was synthesized and rescreened. Two peptide sequences (HHRSY and HVVSV) were identified with relatively high affinity for the sugar-binding site of Concanavalin A. The described technique of solution-phase subtractive pool sequencing (Patent pending) can be employed for rapidly screening highly complex mixtures of peptides and obtaining information about the amino acids within the sequences that are essential for binding to a particular site on the target. This technique could also be applied to other combinatorial mixtures (e.g., PNAs, nucleic acids, or libraries composed of either non-natural or D-amino acids) where a defined number of discrete components are synthesized in a variety of permutations.

Tension monitoring during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition links the switch of phenotype to expression of moesin and cadherins in NMuMG cells

Structural alterations during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pose a substantial challenge to the mechanical response of cells and are supposed to be key parameters for an increased malignancy during metastasis. Herein, we report that during EMT, apical tension of the epithelial cell line NMuMG is controlled by cell-cell contacts and the architecture of the underlying actin structures reflecting the mechanistic interplay between cellular structure and mechanics. Using force spectroscopy we find that tension in NMuMG cells slightly increases 24 h after EMT induction, whereas upon reaching the final mesenchymal-like state characterized by a complete loss of intercellular junctions and a concerted down-regulation of the adherens junction protein E-cadherin, the overall tension becomes similar to that of solitary adherent cells and fibroblasts. Interestingly, the contribution of the actin cytoskeleton on apical tension increases significantly upon EMT induction, most likely due to the formation of stable and highly contractile stress fibers which dominate the elastic properties of the cells after the transition. The structural alterations lead to the formation of single, highly motile cells rendering apical tension a good indicator for the cellular state during phenotype switching. In summary, our study paves the way towards a more profound understanding of cellular mechanics governing fundamental morphological programs such as the EMT.

Lectin-carbohydrate interactions on nanoporous gold monoliths

Monoliths of nanoporous gold (np-Au) were modified with self-assembled monolayers of octadecanethiol (C18-SH), 8-mercaptooctyl α-D-mannopyranoside (αMan-C8-SH), and 8-mercapto-3,6-dioxaoctanol (HO-PEG2-SH), and the loading was assessed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Modification with mixed SAMs containing αMan-C8-SH (at a 0.20 mole fraction in the SAM forming solution) with either octanethiol or HO-PEG2-SH was also investigated. The np-Au monoliths modified with αMan-C8-SH bind the lectin Concanavalin A (Con A), and the additional mass due to bound protein was assessed using TGA analysis. A comparison of TGA traces measured before and after exposure of HO-PEG2-SH modified np-Au to Con A showed that the non-specific binding of Con A was minimal. In contrast, np-Au modified with octanethiol showed a significant mass loss due to non-specifically adsorbed Con A. A significant mass loss was also attributed to binding of Con A to bare np-Au monoliths. TGA revealed a mass loss due to the binding of Con A to np-Au monoliths modified with pure αMan-C8-SH. The use of mass losses determined by TGA to compare the binding of Con A to np-Au monoliths modified by mixed SAMs of αMan-C8-SH and either octanethiol or HO-PEG2-SH revealed that binding to mixed SAM modified surfaces is specific for the mixed SAMs with HO-PEG2-SH but shows a significant contribution from non-specific adsorption for the mixed SAMs with octanethiol. Minimal adsorption of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and peanut agglutinin (PNA) towards the mannoside modified np-Au monoliths was demonstrated. A greater mass loss was found for Con A bound onto the monolith than for either IgG or PNA, signifying that the mannose presenting SAMs in np-Au retain selectivity for Con A. TGA data also provide evidence that Con A bound to the αMan-C8-SH modified np-Au can be eluted by flowing a solution of methyl α-D-mannopyranoside through the structure. The presence of Con A proteins on the modified np-Au surface was also confirmed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results highlight the potential for application of carbohydrate modified np-Au monoliths to glycoscience and glycotechnology and demonstrate that they can be used for capture and release of carbohydrate binding proteins in significant quantities.

The ommatidia of Arca noae: a three-tier structure with a central light-guiding element for the receptor cell

The compound eyes of ark clams appear to function as an optical system to trigger shell closure against predators. We have analyzed the structure of the ommatidia of Arca noae by thin section electron microscopy and serial sectioning, Concanavalin A-gold labeling and acid phosphatase cytochemistry. Our results demonstrate that the ommatidia are a three-tier structure composed of a central single receptor cell, surrounded and covered by proximal pigment cells followed by rows of distal pigment cells. The receptor cells of Arca noae have no lens and the disks of their receptive segment are derived from sensory cilia. The distal mitochondrial segment in the cytoplasm between the nucleus and the receptive segment is surrounded by a mass of Concanavalin A-reactive glycogen particles. Although both, proximal and distal pigment cells have numerous microvilli, only those of the proximal pigment cells form a well-aligned brush border. The microvilli of the latter are ≈9-11 μm long and have a diameter of ≈70-80 nm. Numerous microlamellar bodies cover them. The microlamellar bodies are stored in acid phosphatase-negative secretory granules of the pigment granule-free apical cytoplasm of proximal pigment cells before their secretion. Observation of living compound eyes indicated that the apex of proximal pigment cells transmitted significantly more light than the surrounding distal pigment cells. Hence, the regular geometry of the brush border seems to be a light-guiding structure for receptor cells similar to an optical fiber.

Binding specificity of mannose-specific carbohydrate-binding protein from the cell surface of Trypanosoma cruzi

The sugar binding specificity of the recently described mannose-specific carbohydrate-binding proteins (CBP) isolated to homogeneity from both the epimastigote and trypomastigote stages of the pathogenic protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi has been studied by quantitative hapten inhibition of the biotinylated CBPs to immobilized thyroglobulin using model oligosaccharides. The results clearly show a differential specificity toward high-mannose glycans between the CBPs from the two developmental stages. Thus, the isolated CBP from epimastigotes exhibited stronger affinity for higher mannose oligomers containing the Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-6Manalpha1-6 structure. Its affinity decreased, as did the number of mannose residues on the oligomer or removal of the terminal Manalpha1-2-linked mannose. By contrast the CBP isolated from the trypomastigote stage showed about 400-fold lower avidity than the epimastigote form, and contrary to it, it was slightly more specific toward Man5GlcNAc than Man9GlcNAc. Analysis of the interaction of epimastigote-Man-CBP with its ligands by UV difference spectroscopy indicates the existence of an extended binding site in that protein with a large enthalpic contribution to the binding. The thermodynamic parameters of binding were obtained by isothermal titration calorimetry and been found that the DeltaH values to be in good agreement with the van't Hoff values. The binding reactions are mainly enthalpically driven and exhibit enthalpy-enthropy compensation. In addition, analysis of the high-mannose glycans from different parts of the digestive tract of the reduviid insect vector of T. cruzi suggest a role of the CBP in the retention of the epimastigote stage in the anterior portion of the gut.

The 1.2 A resolution structure of the Con A-dimannose complex

The complex between concanavalin A (Con A) and alpha1-2 mannobiose (mannose alpha1-2 mannose) has been refined to 1.2 A resolution. This is the highest resolution structure reported for any sugar-lectin complex. As the native structure of Con A to 0.94 A resolution is already in the database, this gives us a unique opportunity to examine sugar-protein binding at high resolution. These data have allowed us to model a number of hydrogen atoms involved in the binding of the sugar to Con A, using the difference density map to place the hydrogen atoms. This map reveals the presence of the protonated form of Asp208 involved in binding. Asp208 is not protonated in the 0.94 A native structure. Our results clearly show that this residue is protonated and hydrogen bonds to the sugar. The structure accounts for the higher affinity of the alpha1-2 linked sugar when compared to other disaccharides. This structure identifies different interactions to those predicted by previous modelling studies. We believe that the additional data presented here will enable significant improvements to be made to the sugar-protein modelling algorithms.

Peptide ligands for a sugar-binding protein isolated from a random peptide library

Peptide ligands for the carbohydrate-binding protein concanavalin A (Con A) have been identified by screening a large, diverse peptide library expressed on the surface of filamentous phage. A dodecapeptide containing the consensus sequence Tyr-Pro-Tyr was found to bind Con A with an affinity (dissociation constant, Kd) of 46 microM, comparable to that of a known carbohydrate ligand, methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside (Kd of 89 microM). In addition the peptide inhibited precipitation of the alpha-glucan dextran 1355 by Con A. Given the complexity of oligosaccharide synthesis, the prospect of finding peptides that competitively inhibit carbohydrate-specific receptors may simplify the development of new therapeutic agents.

Interactions of five D-mannose-specific lectins with a series of synthetic branched trisaccharides

The interaction of a series of synthetic, branched trisaccharides with five D-mannose-specific lectins was studied by precipitation-inhibition assay. The branched methyl alpha-D-mannotrioside, alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-[alpha-D-Manp-(1----6)]-alpha-D-Man pOMe, the best inhibitor of the Con A-Dextran interaction, was 42 times more potent than alpha-D-ManpOMe, and 3-6 times more potent than the two trisaccharides substituted with D-glucosyl groups, and 8-15 times those with D-galactosyl groups. Surprisingly, methyl O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-(1----3)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside was bound to Con A 8-fold more avidly than methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside. However, the related pea lectin (PSA) was singularly different from Con A in its carbohydrate-binding activity, showing no significantly enhanced binding to any of the sugars examined. The trisacchrides containing terminal, nonreducing, (1----3)-linked alpha-D-mannopyranosyl groups, i.e., alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-[alpha-D-Glep-(1----6)]alpha-D-Manp OMe, alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)]-alpha-D-Galp-(1----6)]-alpha-D-ManpOMe++ +, and alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-[alpha-D-Manp-(1----6)]-alpha-D-Man pOMe, were the best inhibitors of the snowdrop lectin (GNA)-D-mannan precipitation system. On the other hand, all branched trisaccharides exhibited very similar inhibitory potencies toward the daffodil lectin (NPA)-D-mannan interaction, whereas alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-[alpha-D-Galp-(1----6)]-alpha-D-ManpOMe++ + and alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-[alpha-D-Manp-(1----6)]-alpha-D-Man pOMe were somewhat better inhibitors than the other branched trisaccharides of the amaryllis lectin (HHA)-D-mannan precipitation reaction. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Induction of suppressor cells, interleukin-2 production and mitogenesis with monomeric concanavalin A: different actions of tetrameric and monomeric concanavalin A

The ability of a photoalkylated monomeric concanavalin A (Con A) derivative to induce mitogenesis, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and suppressor cells in murine spleen cell cultures has been compared with the activity of native, tetrameric Con A. The monomeric derivative was prepared by photochemically induced alkylation of tryptophan residues of tetravalent Con A in the presence of chloroacetamide followed by sizing chromatography [Tanaka et al. (1981) J. Biochem. 89, 1643-1646]. The monomeric derivative appeared to display less mitogenic activity than the tetramer and was also less effective in inducing IL-2 production. No difference was detected between the monomeric and tetrameric forms of Con A in inducing suppressor cells. The data suggest that cross-linking and bridging via sugar-binding sites, while potentiating mitogenesis and IL-2 production, had little effect on suppressor cell induction.

Interactions of concanavalin A with a trimannosyl oligosaccharide fragment of complex and high mannose type glycopeptides

It has previously been reported that the binding interactions of concanavalin A with a purified high mannose type glycopeptide from ovalbumin differs from that with simple mono- and oligosaccharides (Brewer, C.F. (1979) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 90, 117-122). We now report studies with a synthetic analog of complex type glycopeptides, and a synthetic trimannosyl oligosaccharide fragment that is common to both complex and high mannose type glycopeptides. We find that both synthetic oligosacchardes undergo similar interactions with concanavalin A which mimic the effects of binding corresponding larger glycopeptides. Furthermore, the relative affinity of the trimannosyl oligosaccharide is 130-fold greater than the binding of methyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside. The results indicate that the trimannosyl oligosaccharide is a unique structural element recognized by the lectin.

Release of cell-associated concanavalin A by methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside reveals three binding states of concanavalin-A receptors on mouse fibroblasts

Based on the partial reversibility of concanavalin A binding by saturating concentrations of methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside (MeManp) three states of cellular association could be characterized: type I, most rapidly established and most tightly bound, not released by MeManp at 0 degrees C or at 37 degrees C; type II, most loosely bound, released by MeManp at 0 degrees C, therefore not critically dependent on the temperature at which the release reaction is performed; type III, intermediate strength of binding, released by MeManp only at 37 degrees C, thus reflecting the temperature-sensitive nature of these cell complexes. A similar temperature dependence was found for cell-bound concanavalin A when it was displaced by an excess of the same lectin. The types of binding are seen irrespective of the temperature at which the cellular association was established. About 10% of the concanavalin A molecules bind to receptor structures in a saturable way and represent the type I association. Type I association is clearly distinct from types II and III. Type II seems to be the precursor of type III. Most of the type II associations can be converted into type III associations since ConA-cell complexes originally sensitive to the action of MeManp at low temperature gradually do become resistant after prolonged association at the same temperature. The temperature dependence in binding to cells was, however, not related to receptor mobility since glutaraldehyde-treated cells had most of the release properties that were observed in untreated cells and which did not markedly differ between 3T3 cells and their SV40-transformed counterparts. In contrast to cellular binding, dissociation of concanavalin A from Sephadex beads by saturating concentrations of MeManp was complete irrespective of temperature.

Synthesis of three disaccharides for the preparation of immunogens bearing immunodeterminants known to occur on glycoproteins

p-Nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside was condensed with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide, the product deprotected, and the disaccharide glycoside converted into p-trifluoroacetamidophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-beta- D-glucopyranoside. p-Nitrophenyl 3-O-benzoyl-4,6-di-O-benzylidene-alpha-D-mannopyranoside was condensed with 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-beta-D-glucopyranosyl bromide, and the product was deprotected, to yield p-nitrophenyl 2-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside. p-Nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-3,4-di-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside was condensed with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl bromide, and, after reduction, trifluoroacetylation, and deprotection, p-trifluoroacetamidophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-6-O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside was obtained.

Binding of disaccharides by peanut agglutinin as studied by ultraviolet difference spectroscopy

The binding of the disaccharides methyl beta-D-lactoside and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranose [beta-D-Gal-(l leads to 3)-D-GalNAc] to peanut agglutinin was studied by ultraviolet difference spectroscopy. The magnitude of the difference spectra varied with the concentration of the carbohydrates; association constants and thermodynamic parameters were determined from titration experiments at different temperatures. The enthalpy and entropy changes for binding of methyl beta-D-lactoside were found to be delta H degree = -65 +/- 4 kJ mol-1, delta S degree = -156 +/- 14 J mol-1 K-1. For beta-D-Gal-(1 leads to 3)-D-GalNAc the observed thermodynamic parameters were delta H degree = -78 +/- 5 kJ mol-1,, delta S degree = -177 +/- 16 J mol-1 K-1. For both disaccharides, the enthalpy change upon binding to the lectin is much larger than found for the binding site on peanut agglutinin. The observed parameters are compared with those found for the binding of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides to other lectins and to lysozyme. Molecular models of the minimum energy conformers of beta-D-Gal(1 leads to 3)-D-GalNAc and methyl beta-D-lactoside are used to interpret the interaction of these, and structurally related ligands, with the peanut agglutinin binding site.