Proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies of soybean lectin-monosaccharide interactions: computer analysis of complex binding behavior

The interaction of N-trifluoroacetylgalactosamine and its derivatives with winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) basic agglutinin reveals differential mechanism of their recognition: a fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance study

Here, we show the binding results of a leguminosae lectin, winged bean basic agglutinin (WBA I) to N-trifluoroacetylgalactosamine (NTFAGalN), methyl-α-N-trifluoroacetylgalactosamine (MeαNTFAGalN) and methyl-β-tifluoroacetylgalactosamine (MeβNTFAGalN) using (19) F NMR spectroscopy. No chemical shift difference between the free and bound states for NTFAGalN and MeβNTFAGalN, and 0.01-ppm chemical shift change for MeαNTFAGalN, demonstrate that the MeαNTFAGalN has a sufficiently long residence time on the protein binding site as compared to MeβNTFAGalN and the free anomers of NTFAGalN. The sugar anomers were found in slow exchange with the binding site of agglutinin. Consequently, we obtained their binding parameters to the protein using line shape analyses. Aforementioned analyses of the activation parameters for the interactions of these saccharides indicate that the binding of α and β anomers of NTFAGalN and MeαNTFAGalN is controlled enthalpically, while that of MeβNTFAGalN is controlled entropically. This asserts the sterically constrained nature of the interaction of the MeβNTFAGalN with WBA I. These studies thus highlight a significant role of the conformation of the monosaccharide ligands for their recognition by WBA I.

Further characterization of the saccharide specificity of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) agglutinin

2-Dansylamino-2-deoxy-D-galactose (GalNDns) has been shown to bind to peanut (Arachis hypogaea) agglutinin (PNA) in a saccharide-specific manner. This binding was accompanied by a five-fold increase in the fluorescence of GalNDns. The interaction was characterized by an association constant of 0.15 mM at 15 degrees and delta H and delta S values of -57.04 kJ.mol-1 and -118.1J.mol-1.K-1, respectively. Binding of a variety of other mono-, di- and oligo-saccharides to PNA, studied by monitoring their ability to dissociate the PNA GalNDns complex, revealed that PNA interacts with several T-antigen-related structures, such as beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-D-GalNAc, beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-alpha-D-GalpNAcOMe, and beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1----3)-Ser, as well as the asialo-GM1 tetrasaccharide, with comparable affinity, thus showing that this lectin does not discriminate between saccharides in which the penultimate sugar of the beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-D-GalNAc unit is the alpha or beta anomer, in contrast to jacalin (Artocarpus integrifolia agglutinin), another anti T-lectin which preferentially binds to beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-alpha-D-GalNAc and does not recognize beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-GalNAc or the related asialo-GM1 oligosaccharide. These studies also indicated that, in the extended combining region of PNA which accommodates a disaccharide, the primary subsite (subsite A) is highly specific for D-galactose, whereas the secondary subsite (subsite B) is less specific and can accommodate various structures, such as D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, D-glucose, and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose.

Chemical modification and NMR studies on a mushroom lectin Ischnoderma resinosum agglutinin (IRA)

Chemical modification and NMR studies on a beta-galactosyl-specific lectin which was isolated from the fruiting bodies of a mushroom, Ischnoderma resinosum, has been carried out in order to investigate the amino acid residues involved in its sugar-binding sites. Modification of amino groups with succinic anhydride greatly affected the hemagglutinating activity. Inhibitory sugar lactulose could prevent the loss of the activity. Modification of carboxyl groups with glycine ethyl ester led to a 75% loss of the activity, the presence of inhibitory sugar being protective against the modification. Treatment with cyclohexane-1,2-dione for modification of arginine residues was accompanied by a complete loss of the activity. The arginine residues modification could also be protected by the inhibitory sugar. N-Bromosuccinimide treatment for modification of tryptophan residues caused a loss of the activity, although the inhibitory sugar exhibited no protective effect against this treatment. Modification of thiol groups with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) resulted in a 50% loss of the activity. Modification of histidine residues with ethoxyformic anhydride led to a complete loss of the activity. The loss of the activity could be protected by the inhibitory sugar. Treatment with N-acetylimidazole for modification of tyrosine residues was accompanied by a loss of the activity. This modification was completely prevented in the presence of the inhibitory sugar. The activity of the tyrosine-modified lectin was recovered by the treatment with hydroxylamine. Furthermore, in the NOESY spectrum of the mixture of IRA and its inhibitory sugar, methyl beta-galactoside, an NOE cross peak between H-3 and/or 5 of the p-hydroxyphenyl group of a tyrosine in the lectin, and H-5 of the galactoside could be observed. These results indicate that a tyrosine residue is involved in the carbohydrate-binding site of the lectin. In addition, line broadening and down-field shifts of the galactoside-protons were observed in the presence of the lectin.

Topography of the combining region of a Thomsen-Friedenreich-antigen-specific lectin jacalin (Artocarpus integrifolia agglutinin). A thermodynamic and circular-dichroism spectroscopic study

Thermodynamic analysis of carbohydrate binding by Artocarpus integrifolia (jackfruit) agglutinin (jacalin) shows that, among monosaccharides, Me alpha GalNAc (methyl-alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine) is the strongest binding ligand. Despite its strong affinity for Me alpha GalNAc and Me alpha Gal, the lectin binds very poorly when Gal and GalNAc are in alpha-linkage with other sugars such as in A- and B-blood-group trisaccharides, Gal alpha 1-3Gal and Gal alpha 1-4Gal. These binding properties are explained by considering the thermodynamic parameters in conjunction with the minimum energy conformations of these sugars. It binds to Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha Me with 2800-fold stronger affinity over Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta Me. It does not bind to asialo-GM1 (monosialoganglioside) oligosaccharide. Moreover, it binds to Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha Ser, the authentic T (Thomsen-Friedenreich)-antigen, with about 2.5-fold greater affinity as compared with Gal beta 1-3GalNAc. Asialoglycophorin A was found to be about 169,333 times stronger an inhibitor than Gal beta 1-3GalNAc. The present study thus reveals the exquisite specificity of A. integrifolia lectin for the T-antigen. Appreciable binding of disaccharides Glc beta 1-3GalNAc and GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal and the very poor binding of beta-linked disaccharides, which instead of Gal and GalNAc contain other sugars at the reducing end, underscore the important contribution made by Gal and GalNAc at the reducing end for recognition by the lectin. The ligand-structure-dependent alterations of the c.d. spectrum in the tertiary structural region of the protein allows the placement of various sugar units in the combining region of the lectin. These studies suggest that the primary subsite (subsite A) can accommodate only Gal or GalNAc or alpha-linked Gal or GalNAc, whereas the secondary subsite (subsite B) can associate either with GalNAc beta Me or Gal beta Me. Considering these factors a likely arrangement for various disaccharides in the binding site of the lectin is proposed. Its exquisite specificity for the authentic T-antigen, Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha Ser, together with its virtual non-binding to A- and B-blood-group antigens, Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta Me and asialo-GM1 should make A. integrifolia lectin a valuable probe for monitoring the expression of T-antigen on cell surfaces.