Specificity of submaxillary gland sialyltransferases

Evidence for an O-glycan sialylation system in brain. Characterization of a beta-galactoside alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase from rat brain regulating the expression of an alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase activity

We present evidence for the existence in rat brain of several sialyltransferases able to sialylate sequentially asialofetuin. [14C]Sialylated glycans of asialofetuin were analyzed by gel filtration. Three types of [14C]sialylated glycans were synthesized: N-glycans and monosialylated and disialylated O-glycans. The varying effects of N-ethylmaleimide, lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPtdCho) and trypsin, were helpful in the identification of these different sialyltransferases. One of them, selectively inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, was identified as the Neu5Ac alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-R:alpha 2----6 sialyltransferase previously described [Baubichon-Cortay, H., Serres-Guillaumond, M., Louisot, P. and Broquet, P. (1986) Carbohydr. Res. 149, 209-223]. This enzyme was responsible for the synthesis of disialylated O-glycans. LysoPtdCho and trypsin selectively inhibited the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of monosialylated O-glycan. N-ethylmaleimide, lysoPtdCho and trypsin did not inhibit Neu5Ac transfer onto N-glycans, giving evidence for three different molecular species. To identify the enzyme responsible for monosialylated O-glycan synthesis, we used another substrate: Gal beta 1----3GalNAc--protein obtained after galactosylation of desialylated ovine mucin by a GalNAc-R:beta 1----3 galactosyltransferase from porcine submaxillary gland. This acceptor was devoid of N-glycans and of NeuAc in alpha 2----3 linkages on the galactose residue. When using N-ethylmaleimide we obtained the synthesis of only one product, a monosialylated structure. After structural analysis by HPLC on SAX and SiNH2 columns, we identified this product as Neu5Ac alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc. The enzyme leading to synthesis of this monosialylated O-glycan was identified as a Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-R:alpha 2----3 sialyltransferase. When using lysoPtdCho and trypsin, sialylation was completely abolished, although the Neu5Ac alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-R:alpha 2----6 sialyltransferase was not inhibited. We provided thus evidence for the interpendence between the two enzymes, the alpha 2----3 sialyltransferase regulates the alpha 2----6 sialyltransferase activity since it synthesizes the alpha 2----6 sialyltransferase substrate.

A brain sialyltransferase having a narrow specificity for O-glycosyl-linked oligosaccharide chains

The existence of a brain sialyltransferase catalyzing the specific transfer of NeuAc on native fetuin was demonstrated. This enzyme was not able to sialylate either asialofetuin or desialylated and nondesialylated orosomucoid, transferrin, and bovine submaxillary mucin. It required the presence of Mn2+ for optimal activity. Moreover, in fetuin, this activity was closely related to the proportion of NeuAc residues, but in liver tissue sialylation occurred only onto asialofetuin. In native fetuin, sialylation took place on O-glycan chains to give an O-disialyltetrasaccharidic structure. The Gal----GalNAc----protein was not an acceptor, but alpha-NeuAc-(2----3)-Gal----GalNAc----protein was, suggesting a specific transfer alpha-(2----6) to the GalNAc residue.

Sialyltransferase of bovine serum: age- and hormone-related changes

Sialyltransferase activity of bovine serum with the acceptor asialofetuin exhibits a pH optimum at 6.0-6.5, no divalent cation dependence, and a Km for CMP-sialic acid of 0.05 mM. Although a 2-fold increase in sialyltransferase activity with the acceptor asialofetuin is observed in serum samples from 2-day-old vs 20-day-old calves, the relative activity towards other glycoprotein acceptors is not different between the groups. With the acceptor lactose, the major product (greater than 95%) for all samples is 3'-sialyllactose, suggesting that the elevated levels of sialyltransferase in 2-day-old calves are due to Gal-R (alpha 2-3) sialyltransferase.

High-pressure liquid chromatography of neutral oligosaccharides: effects of structural parameters

Sixty-five neutral oligosaccharides were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography on an amine-modified silica column (Lichrosorb-NH2). By systematic comparison of the retention times, it was possible to attribute chromatographic behavior to specific structural features. It appeared that retention times increase with the number of sugar residues. The presence of a fucose or an N-acetylglucosamine residue results in a decreased retention time, in particular when the latter sugar is at the reducing end. A dramatic increase in retention time is shown by oligosaccharides having a 1----6 linkage, regardless of whether this linkage is involved in a branch. Less important features are the nature of the component sugars other than N-acetylglucosamine and fucose, the anomeric configuration of the sugars, and the presence of a reduced terminal sugar.