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Suzuki K, Okawa K, Ohkura M, Kanaizumi T, Kobayashi T, Takahashi K, Takei H, Otsuka M, Tabata E, Bauer PO, Oyama F. Evolutionary insights into sequence modifications governing chitin recognition and chitinase inactivity in YKL-40 (HC-gp39, CHI3L1). J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107365. [PMID: 38750795 PMCID: PMC11190707 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
YKL-40, also known as human cartilage glycoprotein-39 (HC-gp39) or CHI3L1, shares structural similarities with chitotriosidase (CHIT1), an active chitinase, but lacks chitinase activity. Despite being a biomarker for inflammatory disorders and cancer, the reasons for YKL-40's inert chitinase function have remained elusive. This study reveals that the loss of chitinase activity in YKL-40 has risen from multiple sequence modifications influencing its chitin affinity. Contrary to the common belief associating the lack of chitinase activity with amino acid substitutions in the catalytic motif, attempts to activate YKL-40 by creating two amino acid mutations in the catalytic motif (MT-YKL-40) proved ineffective. Subsequent exploration that included creating chimeras of MT-YKL-40 and CHIT1 catalytic domains (CatDs) identified key exons responsible for YKL-40 inactivation. Introducing YKL-40 exons 3, 6, or 8 into CHIT1 CatD resulted in chitinase inactivation. Conversely, incorporating CHIT1 exons 3, 6, and 8 into MT-YKL-40 led to its activation. Our recombinant proteins exhibited properly formed disulfide bonds, affirming a defined structure in active molecules. Biochemical and evolutionary analysis indicated that the reduced chitinase activity of MT-YKL-40 correlates with specific amino acids in exon 3. M61I and T69W substitutions in CHIT1 CatD diminished chitinase activity and increased chitin binding. Conversely, substituting I61 with M and W69 with T in MT-YKL-40 triggered chitinase activity while reducing the chitin-binding activity. Thus, W69 plays a crucial role in a unique subsite within YKL-40. These findings emphasize that YKL-40, though retaining the structural framework of a mammalian chitinase, has evolved to recognize chitin while surrendering chitinase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Suzuki
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Okawa
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masashi Ohkura
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoki Kanaizumi
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takaki Kobayashi
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koro Takahashi
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiromu Takei
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Momo Otsuka
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eri Tabata
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan; Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (PD), Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Fumitaka Oyama
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
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Muchowicz A, Bartoszewicz A, Zaslona Z. The Exploitation of the Glycosylation Pattern in Asthma: How We Alter Ancestral Pathways to Develop New Treatments. Biomolecules 2024; 14:513. [PMID: 38785919 PMCID: PMC11117584 DOI: 10.3390/biom14050513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Asthma has reached epidemic levels, yet progress in developing specific therapies is slow. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that asthma is an umbrella term for various distinct subsets. Due to its high heterogeneity, it is difficult to establish biomarkers for each subset of asthma and to propose endotype-specific treatments. This review focuses on protein glycosylation as a process activated in asthma and ways to utilize it to develop novel biomarkers and treatments. We discuss known and relevant glycoproteins whose functions control disease development. The key role of glycoproteins in processes integral to asthma, such as inflammation, tissue remodeling, and repair, justifies our interest and research in the field of glycobiology. Altering the glycosylation states of proteins contributing to asthma can change the pathological processes that we previously failed to inhibit. Special emphasis is placed on chitotriosidase 1 (CHIT1), an enzyme capable of modifying LacNAc- and LacdiNAc-containing glycans. The expression and activity of CHIT1 are induced in human diseased lungs, and its pathological role has been demonstrated by both genetic and pharmacological approaches. We propose that studying the glycosylation pattern and enzymes involved in glycosylation in asthma can help in patient stratification and in developing personalized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zbigniew Zaslona
- Molecure S.A., Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland; (A.M.); (A.B.)
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Yamanaka D, Suzuki K, Kimura M, Oyama F, Adachi Y. Functionally modified chitotriosidase catalytic domain for chitin detection based on split-luciferase complementation. Carbohydr Polym 2022; 282:119125. [PMID: 35123762 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we applied a luciferase-fragment complementation assay for chitin detection. When luciferase-fragment fused chitin-binding proteins were mixed with chitin, the reconstituted luciferase became active. The recombinant chitin-binding domain (CBD) and a functionally modified catalytic domain (CatD) of human chitotriosidase were employed for this method. We designed the CatD mutant as a chitin-binding protein with diminished chitinolytic activity. The non-wash assay using the CatD mutant had higher sensitivity than CBD for chitin detection and proved to be a structure-specific biosensor for chitin, including crude biomolecules (from fungi, mites, and cockroaches). The CatD mutant recognized a chitin-tetramer as the minimal binding unit and bound chitin at KD 99 nM. Furthermore, a sandwich ELISA using modified CatD showed a low limit of quantification for soluble chitin (13.6 pg/mL). Altogether, our work shows a reliable method for chitin detection using the potential capabilities of CatD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Yamanaka
- Laboratory for Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan.
| | - Kento Suzuki
- Laboratory for Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan.
| | - Masahiro Kimura
- Laboratory for Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan; Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan; Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (PD), Koujimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan.
| | - Fumitaka Oyama
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan.
| | - Yoshiyuki Adachi
- Laboratory for Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan.
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Trehalose Activates Hepatic and Myocardial Autophagy and Has Anti-Inflammatory Effects in db/db Diabetic Mice. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12030442. [PMID: 35330193 PMCID: PMC8950581 DOI: 10.3390/life12030442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Db/db mice (carrying a mutation in the gene encoding leptin receptor) show autophagy suppression. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of autophagy inducer trehalose on liver and heart autophagy in db/db mice and to study inflammation dysregulation and the suitability of chitinases’ expression levels as diabetes markers. Thirty-eight male db/db mice and C57/BL mice (control) were used. The db/db model manifested inflammation symptoms: overexpression of TNF-α in the spleen and underexpression of IL-10 in the liver and spleen (cytokine imbalance). Simultaneously, we revealed decreased expression of chitotriosidase (CHIT1) and acid mammalian chitinase (CHIA) in the liver of db/db mice. CHIA expression in db/db mice is significantly lower only in the spleen. Trehalose treatment significantly reduced blood glucose concentration and glycated hemoglobin. Treatment of db/db mice by trehalose was followed by increased autophagy induction in the heart and liver (increased autolysosomes volume density studied by morphometric electron-microscopic method). Trehalose exerted beneficial cardiac effects possibly via increased lipophagy (uptake of lipid droplets). The autophagy activation by trehalose had several positive effects on the heart and liver of db/db mice; therefore, lipophagy activation seems to be a promising therapy for diabetes.
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