The lactose analog GalNAcbeta1-->4Glc is present in bovine colostrum. Enzymatic basis for its occurrence

Structure-based design of beta 1,4-galactosyltransferase I (beta 4Gal-T1) with equally efficient N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase activity: point mutation broadens beta 4Gal-T1 donor specificity

beta1,4-Galactosyltransferase I (Gal-T1) normally transfers Gal from UDP-Gal to GlcNAc in the presence of Mn(2+) ion. In the presence of alpha-lactalbumin (LA), the Gal acceptor specificity is altered from GlcNAc to Glc. Gal-T1 also transfers GalNAc from UDP-GalNAc to GlcNAc, but with only approximately 0.1% of Gal-T activity. To understand this low GalNAc-transferase activity, we have carried out the crystal structure analysis of the Gal-T1.LA complex with UDP-GalNAc at 2.1-A resolution. The crystal structure reveals that the UDP-GalNAc binding to Gal-T1 is similar to the binding of UDP-Gal to Gal-T1, except for an additional hydrogen bond formed between the N-acetyl group of GalNAc moiety with the Tyr-289 side chain hydroxyl group. Elimination of this additional hydrogen bond by mutating Tyr-289 residue to Leu, Ile, or Asn enhances the GalNAc-transferase activity. Although all three mutants exhibit enhanced GalNAc-transferase activity, the mutant Y289L exhibits GalNAc-transferase activity that is nearly 100% of its Gal-T activity, even while completely retaining its Gal-T activity. The steady state kinetic analyses on the Leu-289 mutant indicate that the K(m) for GlcNAc has increased compared to the wild type. On the other hand, the catalytic constant (k(cat)) in the Gal-T reaction is comparable with the wild type, whereas it is 3-5-fold higher in the GalNAc-T reaction. Interestingly, in the presence of LA, these mutants also transfer GalNAc to Glc instead of to GlcNAc. The present study demonstrates that, in the Gal-T family, the Tyr-289/Phe-289 residue largely determines the sugar donor specificity.

Differential galactosylation of neuronal and haematopoietic signal regulatory protein-(α) determines its cellular binding-specificity

Signal regulatory protein-(α) (SIRP(α)) is a member of the Ig superfamily selectively expressed by neuronal and myeloid cells. The molecule mediates functional interactions with CD47/integrin-associated protein. Here we provide evidence for the tissue-specific glycosylation of neuronal and haematopoietic SIRP(α). We demonstrate a major difference in the galactosylation of N-linked glycans isolated from neuronal (i.e. brain-derived) SIRP(α) as compared to myeloid (i.e. spleen-derived) SIRP(α), with neuronal SIRP(α) almost completely lacking galactose. (β)4-galactosyltransferase assays demonstrated that this is most likely due to a low galactosylation capacity of the brain. In order to investigate the role of galactosylation of SIRP(α) in cellular interactions, soluble recombinant SIRP(α) glycoforms containing galactose (SIRP(α)-Fc) or lacking galactose (SIRP(α)((Δ)Gal)-Fc) were produced. Binding studies demonstrated superior binding of SIRP(α)((Δ)Gal)-Fc to cerebellar neurons and isolated lymphocytes. In contrast, SIRP(α)-Fc bound relatively strong to macrophages. These data show that the galactosylation of SIRP(α) determines its cellular binding specificity.

Recombinant glycodelin carrying the same type of glycan structures as contraceptive glycodelin-A can be produced in human kidney 293 cells but not in chinese hamster ovary cells

We have produced human recombinant glycodelin in human kidney 293 cells and in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Structural analyses by lectin immunoassays and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry showed that recombinant human glycodelin produced in CHO cells contains only typical CHO-type glycans and is devoid of any of the N, N'-diacetyllactosediamine (lacdiNAc)-based chains previously identified in glycodelin-A (GdA). By contrast, human kidney 293 cells produced recombinant glycodelin with the same type of carbohydrate structures as GdA. The presence of a beta1-->4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase functioning in the synthesis of lacdiNAc-based glycans in human kidney 293 cells is concluded to be the cause of the occurrence of lacdiNAc-based glycans on glycodelin produced in these cells. Furthermore, human kidney 293 cells were found to be particularly suited for the production of recombinant glycodelin when they were cultured in high glucose media. Lowering the glucose concentration and the addition of glucosamine resulted in higher relative amounts of oligomannosidic-type glycans and complex glycans with truncated antennae. Human glycodelin is an attractive candidate for the development of a contraceptive agent, and this study gives valuable information for selecting the proper expression system and cell culture conditions for the production of a correctly glycosylated recombinant form.