Expression of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase gene during 3T3 cell growth

Regulation of the beta1,4-Galactosyltransferase I promoter by E2F1

Cell surface carbohydrate chains are widely known to contribute to cell migration, recognition and proliferation. beta1,4-Galactosyltransferase I (beta1,4GalT I) transfers galactose to the terminal N-acetylglucosamine of complex-type N-glycan, and contributes to cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Here, we identified beta1,4GalT I as a novel target gene of cell cycle regulator E2F1. E2F1 proteins interact with the promoter of the beta1,4GalT I gene in vivo, and E2F1 over-expression stimulates the activity of beta1,4GalT I promoter and the mRNA and protein expression of beta1,4GalT I, and augments the level of beta1, 4-galactosyltion. Site-specific mutagenesis revealed that this region which contains two E2F1 binding site (nt -215 to -207 and +1 to +6) is necessary for beta1,4GalT I activation by E2F1. Furthermore, down-regulation of beta1,4GalT I expression attenuates E2F1-induced DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression as well as the expression of cell-cycle regulator Cyclin D1. Thus, beta1,4GalT I is an important E2F1 target gene that is required for cell cycle progression in mammalian cells, which elicits a new mechanism of cell growth and a new mechanism of beta1,4GalT I transcription.

Gene-expression profiles for five key glycosylation genes for galactose-fed CHO cells expressing recombinant IL-4/13 cytokine trap

Recombinant protein glycosylation profiles have been shown to affect the in-vivo half-life, and therefore the efficacy and economics, for many therapeutics. While much research has been conducted correlating the effects of various stimuli on recombinant protein glycosylation characteristics, relatively little work has examined glycosylation-related gene-expression profiles. In this study, the effects of galactose feeding on the gene-expression profiles for five key glycosylation-related genes were determined for Chinese hamster ovary cells producing a recombinant IL-4/13 cytokine trap fusion. The genes investigated were sialidase, a putative alpha2,3-sialyltransferase, CMP-sialic acid transporter, beta1,4-galactosyltransferase, and UDP-galactosyltransferase. Additionally, the sialic acid content (sialylation) of the recombinant protein was examined. The peak sialic acid content of the IL-4/13 cytokine trap fusion protein was observed to be similar for the control and galactose-fed cultures. The gene-expression profiles for four of the glycosylation genes were observed to be sensitive to the glucose concentration and not significantly different for the control and galactose-fed cultures prior to glucose depletion. However, the sialidase gene-expression profiles were different for the control and galactose-fed cultures. The sialidase gene-expression profile increased significantly for the galactose-fed cultures prior to glucose depletion, whereas for the control cultures, the sialidase gene-expression profiles did not increase until the late stationary phase. The intracellular sialidase enzyme activity decreased exponentially with time for the control cultures; however, for the galactose-fed cultures, the intracellular sialidase enzyme activity decreased initially and then remained relatively high compared to the control cultures. These results indicate that the galactose feeding may increase the potential for desialylation, which offsets any improvements in the sialylation rate due to increased substrate levels. Thus, galactose feeding is an unnecessary expense for the production of the IL-4/13 cytokine trap fusion protein in a batch process.

N-glycosylation and residues Asn805 and Asn890 are involved in the functional properties of type VI adenylyl cyclase

In this study, we demonstrate that type VI adenylyl cyclase (ACVI) is glycosylated in vivo. Treating HEK293 cells expressing ACVI with tunicamycin to block the addition of N-linked oligosaccharide or removing the N-linked oligosaccharide by in vitro peptidyl-N-glycosidase F digestion reduced the molecular mass of ACVI. Furthermore, tunicamycin treatment suppressed the forskolin-stimulated activity of ACVI. Mutation of either one or both potential N-glycosylation sites (Asn(805) and Asn(890), located on extracellular loops 5 and 6, respectively) also reduced the molecular mass of ACVI. Therefore, ACVI was glycosylated at both Asn(805) and Asn(890). Confocal analysis indicated that glycosylation was not required for the delivery of ACVI to the cell surface. Although no significant alterations in K(m) values for ATP or sensitivity to divalent cations were detected, the glycosylation-deficient ACVI mutant N805Q/N890Q-ACVI exhibited much lower forskolin-, Mn(2+)-, and Mg(2+)-stimulated cyclase activities than did wild-type ACVI. By contrast, the Galpha(s)-stimulated cyclase activities of wild-type ACVI and N805Q/N890Q-ACVI were indistinguishable. Furthermore, compared with wild-type ACVI, N805Q/N890Q-ACVI was less sensitive to inhibition mediated by dopamine D2 receptors or by protein kinase C. Collectively, glycosylation of ACVI not only affected its catalytic activity in an activator-dependent manner, but also altered its ability to be regulated by a Galpha(i) protein-coupled receptor or by protein kinase C.

Down-regulation of beta1,4-galactosyltransferase gene expression by cell-cycle suppressor gene p16

Beta1,4-Galactosyltranferase (beta1,4GT, EC 2.4.1.38) is one of the key enzymes controlling the biosynthesis of complex-type oligosaccharides, and is also one of the best-studied glycosyltransferases. To study the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of beta1,4GT gene expression, we transfected cell-cycle suppressor gene p16 into A549 cell line (in which p16 is deleted), measured beta1,4GT gene expression by Northern blot hybridization, and evaluated its activity. It was found that p16 could down-regulate beta1,4GT gene expression and its activity. However, p16 decreased cell surface beta1,4GT activity more than total activity. beta1,4GT mRNA stability was also assayed. It was found that p16 could not influence beta1,4GT mRNA stability.

Purification and properties of recombinant beta-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans

A gene encoding beta-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans which had hydrolysis specificity for the beta1-3 linkage was expressed in Escherichia coli. The beta-galactosidase was purified from crude cell lysates of E. coli by column chromatographies on Resource Q and Sephacryl S-200 HR. The enzyme released galactose with high selectivity from oligosaccharides which had terminal beta1-3 linked galactose residues. However it did not hydrolyse beta1-4 linked galactooligosaccharides. Moreover, Galbeta1-3GlcNAc, Galbeta1-3GalNAc, and their p-nitrophenyl glycosides were regioselectively synthesized in 10-46% yield by the transglycosylation reaction using this enzyme.

Serum- and polypeptide growth factor-inducible gene expression in mouse fibroblasts

Complex cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis are regulated in part by extracellular signaling molecules: for example, polypeptide growth factors, cytokines, and peptide hormones. Many polypeptide growth factors exert their mitogenic effects by binding to specific cell surface receptor protein tyrosine kinases. This interaction triggers numerous biochemical responses, including changes in phospholipid metabolism, the activation of a protein phosphorylation cascade, and the enhanced expression of specific immediate-early, delayed-early, or late response genes. In this review, I summarize the major findings obtained from studies investigating the effects of serum or individual polypeptide growth factors on gene expression in murine fibroblasts. Several experimental approaches, including differential hybridization screening of cDNA libraries and differential display, have been employed to identify mRNA species that are expressed at elevated levels in serum- or polypeptide growth factor-stimulated cells. These studies have demonstrated that serum- and growth factor-inducible genes encode a diverse family of proteins, including DNA-binding transcription factors, cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix proteins, metabolic enzymes, secreted chemokines, and serine-threonine kinases. Some of these gene products act as effectors of specific cell cycle functions (e.g., enzymes involved in nucleotide and DNA synthesis), others are required to successfully convert a metabolically inactive cell to a metabolically active cell that will eventually increase in size and then divide (e.g., glucose-metabolizing enzymes), and some actually function as positive or negative regulators of cell cycle progression. In conclusion, research conducted during the past 15 years on serum- and growth factor-regulated gene expression in murine fibroblasts has provided significant insight into mitogenic signal transduction and cell growth control.

Perturbing cell surface beta-(1,4)-galactosyltransferase on F9 embryonal carcinoma cells arrests cell growth and induces laminin synthesis

Cell growth and differentiation are influenced by intercellular contact, suggesting that cell adhesion molecules may be instrumental in triggering these events. F9 embryonal carcinoma cells are an ideal system in which to examine the function of cell adhesion molecules in growth and differentiation, since the relevant cell adhesion molecules and differentiation markers are well defined. Intercellular adhesion in F9 cells is mediated by uvomorulin, or E-cadherin, and cell surface beta-(1,4)-galactosyltransferase. Since previous studies suggested that neither F9 cell growth nor differentiation is directly dependent on uvomorulin function, in this study we examined whether cell surface galactosyltransferase plays any role in F9 cell growth or differentiation. A variety of galactosyltransferase perturbants, including anti-galactosyltransferase antibodies, UDPgalactose, and the substrate modifier protein alpha-lactalbumin, inhibited the growth of F9 cells, whereas control reagents did not. To examine this in more detail, we analyzed the effects of perturbing surface galactosyltransferase on progression through the F9 cell cycle. Anti-galactosyltransferase IgG treatment inhibited ornithine decarboxylase activity and lengthened the F9 cell cycle during G1 and G2, the latter mimicking the effects of retinoic acid, a reagent known to prolong the F9 cell cycle and induce differentiation. In contrast, anti-uvomorulin antibodies had no effect on F9 cell growth, ornithine decarboxylase activity, or progression through the cell cycle. Furthermore, perturbation of surface galactosyltransferase adhesions in F9 cell aggregates induced precocious F9 cell differentiation, as assayed by increased laminin synthesis, whereas control reagents had no effect. Thus, perturbing surface galactosyltransferase adhesions in F9 cells both decreases growth and stimulates synthesis of laminin. These results imply that interactions between surface galactosyltransferase and its oligosaccharide ligand during cell adhesion may affect the normal growth-regulatory and differentiation-inducing signals, as is seen, in part, during treatment with retinoic acid.