Characterization of sulphated monosaccharides from stumptail monkey (Macaca arctoides) salivary mucin

Mucins: the frontline defence of the lung

Mucus plays a vital role in protecting the lungs from environmental factors, but conversely, in muco-obstructive airway disease, mucus becomes pathologic. In its protective role, mucus entraps microbes and particles removing them from the lungs via the co-ordinated beating of motile cilia. This mechanism of lung defence is reliant upon a flowing mucus gel, and the major macromolecular components that determine the rheological properties of mucus are the polymeric mucins, MUC5AC and MUC5B. These large O-linked glycoproteins have direct roles in maintaining lung homeostasis. MUC5B is essential for interaction with the ciliary clearance system and MUC5AC is up-regulated in response to allergic inflammatory challenge. Mucus with abnormal biophysical properties is a feature of muco-obstructive respiratory disease and can result from many different mechanisms including alterations in mucin polymer assembly, mucin concentration and the macromolecular form in mucus, as well as changes in airway surface hydration, pH and ion composition. The abnormal mucus results in defective lung protection via compromised ciliary clearance, leading to infection and inflammation.

Comparative analysis of lysosomal hydrolases and natural glycoprotein substrates in the rat major salivary glands

1. The activities of some lysosomal hydrolases and the concentrations of their natural substrates were studied in the submandibular and sublingual glands of male and female rats using biochemical procedures. 2. In sublingual gland enzyme activities and substrate concentrations show the highest values. 3. The enzyme activities appear, in general, lower and the natural substrate concentrations higher in the females with respect to males. 4. In both glands beta-galactosidase shows the highest activity and beta-glucosidase the lowest. 5. These findings suggest that metabolic turnover of glycoproteins is slower in females than in males, probably because the oestrogens control the activity of lysosomal hydrolases.

Structure of two sulphated oligosaccharides from respiratory mucins of a patient suffering from cystic fibrosis. A fast-atom-bombardment m.s. and 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopic study

Human respiratory-mucin glycopeptides were isolated from the sputum of a patient suffering from cystic fibrosis. They were subjected to treatment with alkaline borohydride. Application of ion-exchange chromatography afforded carbohydrate fractions containing sulphate. One of these fractions containing a mixture of sulphated oligosaccharides was subsequently submitted to gel-filtration chromatography and h.p.l.c. Two sulphated oligosaccharide-alditols, A and B, were prepared; their structure was determined by means of 400 MHz 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy and fast-atom-bombardment m.s. They had a core type 2 and the sulphate was 3-linked to a terminal galactose residue: (Formula; see text)

Enzymatic sulfation of mucus glycoprotein in rat submandibular salivary gland

1. The enzymic activity which catalyzes transfer of sulfate ester group from 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate to mucus glycoprotein was found associated with Golgi-rich membrane fraction of rat submandibular salivary gland. 2. Optimum enzyme activity was obtained with 0.5% Triton X-100, 4 mM MgCl2 and 25 mM NaF at a pH of 6.8 using desulfated submandibular salivary mucus glycoprotein. The apparent Km of the enzyme for mucus glycoprotein was 11.1 mg/ml. 3. Alkaline borohydride reductive cleavage of the synthesized 35S-labeled glycoprotein led to the liberation of the label into reduced oligosaccharides. A 75.4% of the label was found incorporated in four oligosaccharides. These were identified in order of abundance as sulfated penta-, tri-, hepta- and nonsaccharides. 4. Based on the results of chemical and enzymatic analyses of the intact and desulfated compounds the pentasaccharide was characterized as SO3H----GlcNAc beta----Gal beta----GlcNAc(NeuAc alpha----)GalNAc-ol and the trisaccharide as SO3H----GlcNAc beta----Gal beta----GalNAc-ol.

Enzymatic sulfation of salivary mucins: structural features of 35S-labeled oligosaccharides

Sulfotransferase activity catalyzing the transfer of sulfate ester group from 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate to salivary mucins was found associated with Golgi-rich membrane fraction of rat submandibular salivary glands. Alkaline borohydride reductive cleavage of the synthesized 35S-labeled glycoprotein led to the liberation of the label into reduced acidic oligosaccharides. Most of the label was found incorporated in four oligosaccharides. These were identified as sulfated tri-, penta-, hepta- and nonasaccharides. The trisaccharide was characterized as SO3H,6GlcNAc beta 1,3Gal beta 1,3GalNac-o1, the pentasaccharide as SO3H,6GlcNAc beta 1,3Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc beta 1,3(NeuAc alpha 2,6) GalNAc-o1 and heptasaccharide as SO3H,6Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc beta 1,6(Fuc alpha 1) 2Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc beta 1,3Gal beta 1,3)GalNAc-o1.

Sulfation in vitro of mucus glycoprotein by submandibular salivary gland: effects of prostaglandin and acetylsalicylic acid

Enzymatic sulfation of mucus glycoprotein by rat submandibular salivary gland and the effect of prostaglandin and acetylsalicylic acid on this process were investigated in vitro. The sulfotransferase enzyme which catalyzes the transfer of sulfate ester group from 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate to submandibular gland mucus glycoprotein has been located in the detergent extracts of Golgi-rich membrane fraction of the gland. Optimum enzyme activity was obtained at pH 6.8 with 0.5% Triton X-100, 25 mM NaF and 4 mM MgCl2, using the desulfated glycoprotein. The enzyme was also capable of sulfation of the intact mucus glycoprotein, but the acceptor capacity of such glycoprotein was 68% lower. The apparent Km of the submandibular gland sulfotransferase for salivary mucus glycoprotein was 11.1 microM. The 35S-labeled glycoprotein product of the enzyme reaction gave in CsCl density gradient a 35S-labeled peak which coincided with that of the glycoprotein. This glycoprotein upon reductive beta-elimination yielded several acidic 35S-labeled oligosaccharide alditols which accounted for 75% of the 35S-labeled glycoprotein label. Based on the analytical data, the two most abundant oligosaccharides were identified as sulfated tri- and pentasaccharides. The submandibular gland sulfotransferase activity was stimulated by 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 and inhibited by acetylsalicylic acid. The rate of enhancement of the glycoprotein sulfation was proportional to the concentration of prostaglandin up to 2.10(-5) M, at which point a 31% increase in sulfation was attained. The inhibition of the glycoprotein sulfation by acetylsalicylic acid was proportional to the drug concentration up to 2.5.10(-4) M at which concentration a 48% reduction in the sulfotransferase activity occurred. The apparent Ki value for sulfation of salivary mucus glycoprotein in presence of acetylsalicylic acid was 58.9 microM. The results suggest that prostaglandins may play a role in salivary mucin sulfation and that this process is sensitive to such nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents as acetylsalicylic acid.

Enzymatic sulphation of mucus glycoprotein in rat sublingual salivary gland

Sulphotransferase activity catalysing the transfer of sulphate ester group from 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulphate to salivary mucus glycoprotein was located in detergent extracts of the Golgi-rich membrane fraction of rat sublingual salivary glands. Optimum enzyme activity was obtained with 0.5 per cent Triton X-100, 20 mM NaF and 2 mM MgCl2, at pH 6.8, using desulphated sublingual salivary mucus glycoprotein. The enzyme was equally capable of sulphation of the proteolytically degraded and desulphated glycoprotein, whereas the acceptor capacity of intact salivary mucus glycoprotein was about four times lower. The Golgi enzyme preparation also catalysed the sulphation of galactosylceramide. However, the sulphation of mucus glycoprotein was not affected by the presence of this glycolipid, suggesting that the sulphotransferase involved in mucin sulphation is different from that responsible for the synthesis of galactosylceramide sulphate. The apparent Km of the sublingual-gland mucus glycoprotein sulphotransferase for salivary mucin was 7.7 microM. The 35S-labelled glycoprotein product of the enzyme reaction gave, in CsCl density gradient, a band in which the 35S label coincided with the glycoprotein. Alkaline borohydride reductive cleavage of this glycoprotein released the label into the reduced acidic oligosaccharide fraction. Upon thin-layer chromatography, two [35S]-oligosaccharides were detected. These were identified as penta- and heptasaccharides, each bearing a labelled sulphate ester group on the terminal N-acetylglucosamine residue. Based on the results of chemical and enzymatic analyses of the intact and desulphated compounds the following structures for these oligosaccharides are suggested: SO3----GlcNAc beta----Gal beta----GlcNAc beta----Gal beta----GlcNAc beta----(NeuAc----)GalNAc-ol and SO3----GlcNAc beta----Gal beta----GlcNAc beta----(NeuAc----)GalNAc-ol.

Structural studies on a sulphated glycoprotein preparation isolated from human saliva

The identity of the sulphated component in a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein preparation (GP) from human whole saliva was investigated. A t0.5 of 96 min for inorganic sulphate release in 0.25 M HCl indicated the presence of O-substituted sulphate, probably associated with hydroxyl groups of sugar residues. This possible association of ester was also inferred from infra-red data of the intact GP, where major absorption bands were detected at 1230-1250 and 828 cm-1. Further a sulphated-monosaccharide derivative was released during acid hydrolysis in 0.1 M HCl at 100 degrees C for 75 min and isolated by gel-filtration on Sephadex G-15. This derivative was separated from a range of non-sulphated sugars by thin-layer chromatography in various solvent systems and possessed the chromatographic characteristics of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-O-sulphate.

Purification of a low-molecular-weight, mucin-type glycoprotein from human submandibular-sublingual saliva

A low-molecular-weight, monomeric, mucin-type glycoprotein (MG2) has been isolated from human submandibular-sublingual saliva. Initial purification involved sequential gel-filtration on Sephadex G-200 and Sepharose CL-2B, the latter in the presence of 6M urea. Fractions containing MG2 were next separated from contaminating secretory IgA by immunoaffinity chromatography or recycling through Sephadex G-200. Mucin fractions were 14C-labeled by reductive methylation, and then the final purification-step entailed recycling radiolabeled materials through Sephadex G-200. Radiolabeling aided in the assessment of purity, as judged by SDS-PAGE and ion-exchange chromatography. The carbohydrate portion accounted for 69.6% of the recovered weight and was composed of N-acetyl-glucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose, fucose, and N-acetylneuraminic acid. Sulfate was also present. The protein comprised 30.4% of the recovered weight with threonine, serine, proline, and glycine accounting for 75.2% of the total amino acids. The oligosaccharides were alkali-labile, indicating an O-glycosyl linkage to the peptide. The mucin was weakly acidic and had an estimated mol. wt. of 200 000-250 000.

Immunochemistry of monkey salivary mucin

The immunochemistry of monkey salivary mucin was examined using a monospecific antiserum. Quantitative precipitation assays using various mucin derivatives indicated that the antiserum contained antibody populations with specificity toward carbohydrate moieties as well as toward non-glycosylated peptide regions. Using quantitative inhibition assays, the carbohydrate specificity was found to reside in a complex oligosaccharide containing fucose.

Characterization of a pentasaccharide in salivary mucin from the stumptail monkey, Macaca arctoides

Oligosaccharides were prepared by alkaline cleavage and sodium borotritide reduction. Following gel filtration on Sephadex G-25, [3H]-oligosaccharides were further fractionated by anion-exchange and preparative paper chromatography. The principal neutral oligosaccharide contained GalNAcol: GlcNAc: Gal: Fuc (1:1:2:1). Using a combination of exoglycosidase digestion, periodate oxidation and methylation analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, it structure was determined to be: Gal beta 1 leads to 4 GlcNAc beta 1 leads to 3 (Fuc alpha 1 leads to 2 Gal 1 leads to 6)GalNAcol.