Characterization of oligomannoside binding to the surface of murine melanoma cells. Potential relationship to oligomannoside-initiated cell spreading

Synthesis of Carbohydrate Capped Silicon Nanoparticles and their Reduced Cytotoxicity, In Vivo Toxicity, and Cellular Uptake

The development of smart targeted nanoparticles (NPs) that can identify and deliver drugs at a sustained rate directly to cancer cells may provide better efficacy and lower toxicity for treating primary and advanced metastatic tumors. Obtaining knowledge of the diseases at the molecular level can facilitate the identification of biological targets. In particular, carbohydrate-mediated molecular recognitions using nano-vehicles are likely to increasingly affect cancer treatment methods, opening a new area in biomedical applications. Here, silicon NPs (SiNPs) capped with carbohydrates including galactose, glucose, mannose, and lactose are successfully synthesized from amine terminated SiNPs. The MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] analysis shows an extensive reduction in toxicity of SiNPs by functionalizing with carbohydrate moiety both in vitro and in vivo. Cellular uptake is investigated with flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence microscope. The results show the carbohydrate capped SiNPs can be internalized in the cells within 24 h of incubation, and can be taken up more readily by cancer cells than noncancerous cells. Moreover, these results reinforce the use of carbohydrates for the internalization of a variety of similar compounds into cancer cells.

Magnetic glyco-nanoparticles: a tool to detect, differentiate, and unlock the glyco-codes of cancer via magnetic resonance imaging

Within cancer, there is a large wealth of diversity, complexity, and information that nature has engineered rendering it challenging to identify reliable detection methods. Therefore, the development of simple and effective techniques to delineate the fine characteristics of cancer cells can have great potential impacts on cancer diagnosis and treatment. Herein, we report a magnetic glyco-nanoparticle (MGNP) based nanosensor system bearing carbohydrates as the ligands, not only to detect and differentiate cancer cells but also to quantitatively profile their carbohydrate binding abilities by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using an array of MGNPs, a range of cells including closely related isogenic tumor cells, cells with different metastatic potential and malignant vs normal cells can be readily distinguished based on their respective "MRI signatures". Furthermore, the information obtained from such studies helped guide the establishment of strongly binding MGNPs as antiadhesive agents against tumors. As the interactions between glyco-conjugates and endogenous lectins present on cancer cell surface are crucial for cancer development and metastasis, the ability to characterize and unlock the glyco-code of individual cell lines can facilitate both the understanding of the roles of carbohydrates as well as the expansion of diagnostic and therapeutic tools for cancer.

Oligosaccharide Mimics Containing Galactose and Fucose Specifically Label Tumour Cell Surfaces and Inhibit Cell Adhesion to Fibronectin

With the aim of establishing a versatile and easy synthesis of branched saccharides for biological applications, we used molecular-dynamics simulations to model Lewis(y) to two classes of di- or triantennary saccharide mimetics. One set of mimetics was based on 1,3,5-tris(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexane (TMC) as the core, the other on furan, and both were derivatised with galactose and/or fucose. The TMC-based saccharides were biotinylated, while the furan disaccharides were treated with maleimide-activated biotin in a Diels-Alder fashion to yield oxazatricyclodecanes (OTDs). These were then assayed as cell-surface labels in human colon (SW480 and CaCo-2), liver (PLC), Glia (U333 CG 343) and ovary (SKOV-3) tumour cell lines. Discrete staining patterns were observed in all cells, usually at one or two poles of the cells, particularly with the asymmetric 3-beta-L-fucopyranosyloxymethyl-4-beta-D-galactopyranosyloxymethyl-OTD. Normal SV40-transformed fibroblasts (SV80) showed no staining. Adhesion of the highly metastatic mouse melanoma line B16 F10 to fibronectin was inhibited by 80 % by the TMC-digalactoside and by 30 % by 3,4-bis-(beta-D-galactopyranosyloxymethyl)furan. None of the saccharide mimetics inhibited the adhesion of the less metastatic B16 F1 line. Migration of B16 F10 cells through Matrigel was greatly inhibited by the TMC-digalactoside and weakly inhibited by the TMC-trigalactoside. The saccharide mimetics that had shown the best structural agreements with the terminal saccharides of Lewis(y) in the molecular dynamics simulation were also the most biologically potent compounds; this underlines the predictive nature of molecular dynamics simulations. The use of the non-saccharide cores enabled us to adapt spacer lengths and terminal saccharides to optimise the structures to bind more avidly to cell-surface lectins.

Comparison of the lectin-binding pattern in different human melanoma cell lines

Glycosylation is generally altered in tumour cells in comparison with their normal counterparts. These alterations are thought to be important because they contribute to the abnormal behaviour of cancer cells. Therefore, we have comparatively analysed the glycoproteins in cell extracts from human melanoma (primary site--WM35; metastatic sites-- WM239, WM9 and A375) cell lines using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and lectin staining. The glycoprotein pattern of the WM35 line differed from that of the other cell lines in having less proteins that reacted with Sambucus nigra, Maackia amurensis and Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinins. A glycoprotein of about 70 kDa had a significantly increased reaction with Sambucus nigra agglutinin in all the cell lines from metastatic sites. In the WM9, WM239 and A375 cell lines, additional bands (160-100 kDa) were stained with Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin, suggesting that cells from metastatic sites contain more glycoproteins with beta1-6 branches. On the other hand, only minor changes in the reaction with Galanthus nivalis agglutinin, a mannose-specific lectin, were detected. Among the proteins showing different lectin staining, one, with an apparent molecular weight of 133 kDa, was recognized by antibodies as N-cadherin. The present results suggest that in human melanoma the expression of branched and sialylated complex type N-oligosaccharides consistently increased in cells from metastatic sites, and support the view that carbohydrates are associated with the acquisition of the metastatic potential of tumour cells.

Synthesis of galactosyl and lactosyl derivatives as potential anti-metastasis compounds

Based on the known anti-metastasis activities of lactosides and galactosides, a galactosyl and a lactosyl trimannoside were prepared via the conventional Koenigs-Knorr and trichloroacetimidate methods, respectively. Through typical deblocking procedures, a tetrasaccharide alpha-D-Galp-(1 --> 2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1 --> 2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1 --> 6)-alpha-D-ManpOCH3 and a pentasaccharide beta-D-Galp-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1 --> 2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1 --> 2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1 --> 6)-alpha-D-ManpOCH3 were obtained.

Calreticulin-integrin bidirectional signaling complex

Calreticulin has multiple functions, diverse cellular locations, and putative isoforms. It likely maintains integrin avidity by binding alpha integrin cytoplasmic tails and is a surface lectin which triggers cell spreading. In the present study, we have immunocaptured a cell surface complex from B16 mouse melanoma cells which contains alpha 6 beta 1 integrin, two molecular forms of calreticulin, and KDEL docking protein (KDEL-R). One of the calreticulins, "endocalreticulin", a 52 kDa protein, does not become surface biotinylated, and is probably bound to alpha integrin cytoplasmic tails; it disappears when B16 cells adhere to laminin, and two ubiquitinated calreticulins appear. One ubiquitinated species, a 125 kDa protein, is restricted to focal contacts whereas a second species, a 75 kDa protein, is in focal contacts and surrounding plasma membrane; it also arises when cells bind non-specific surfaces. The other calreticulin, "ectocalreticulin", a 62 kDa protein, becomes surface biotinylated, is probably anchored to surface KDEL-R, and cooperates with alpha 6 beta 1 integrin, triggering cell spreading. The present results suggest a model in which calreticulin-integrin surface complex functions as a symbiotic unit, transmitting information in both directions across the plasma membrane.

Non-RGD domains of osteopontin promote cell adhesion without involving alpha v integrins

Osteopontin (OPN) is an integrin-binding secreted protein that contains an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) amino acid sequence and binds to various cell types via RGD-mediated interaction with the alpha v beta 3 integrin. We have identified a cell line whose binding to OPN does not require RGD or alpha v interactions. We compared the ability of two murine cell lines, L929 fibroblastic cells and B16-BL6 melanoma cells, to interact with OPN (from human milk, and recombinant human and mouse OPN) as well as recombinant OPN prepared to include either the N-terminal or C-terminal halves but lacking the RGD sequence. Both cell lines adhered to GRGDS peptides coupled to BSA, and these interactions were inhibited by addition of GRGDS (but not GRGES) peptides or a monoclonal antibody specific to the alpha v integrin subunit. Adhesion of L929 cells to OPN was also dependent on the RGD sequence and the alpha v integrin subunit. However, the binding of B16-BL6 cells was not inhibited by either GRGDS peptides or the anti-alpha v antibody. B16-BL6 (but not L929) cells were also able to adhere to and spread on both N-terminal and C-terminal OPN proteins that lack the RGD sequence, and these interactions were not inhibited by either GRGDS peptides or anti-alpha v antibody. Together these results indicate that B16-BL6 cells can adhere to OPN by interactions that are independent of either the RGD sequence or the alpha v integrin subunit, and suggest that some cells can interact with additional, non-RGD binding sites in OPN.

Calreticulin binding affinity for glycosylated laminin

Several lines of evidence indicate that calreticulin has lectin-like properties. As a molecular chaperone, calreticulin binds preferentially to nascent glycoproteins via their immature carbohydrates; this property closely resembles that seen for calnexin, a chaperone with extensive molecular identity to calreticulin. A cell surface form of calreticulin also exhibits lectin-like properties, binding specific oligomannosides including those covalently linked to laminin. In the present study we examined the interaction between calreticulin and laminin by means of surface plasmon resonance. The results show that calreticulin specifically binds to glycosylated laminin but fails to specifically bind tunicamycin-derived unglycosylated laminin or bovine serum albumin. Calreticulin binding to glycosylated laminin requires calcium and is abolished in the presence of EDTA. Scatchard analysis of binding yields an apparent association constant, Ka, of 2.1 +/- 0.9 x 10(6) m-1 while kinetic analysis yields an estimate of the association on rate, (Kassoc), as 2 x 10(5) m-1 s-1. The composite results support calreticulin's lectin-like properties as well as its proposed role in laminin recognition, both in the cell interior and on the cell surface.

Cell surface calreticulin is a putative mannoside lectin which triggers mouse melanoma cell spreading

B16 mouse melanoma cells adhere to and spread on laminin. We have previously shown that cell spreading is uncoupled from adhesion when unglycosylated laminin is used as a substratum; spreading was restored by a Pronase digest of laminin which became inactive when it was specifically depleted of its mannoside peptides; spreading was also specifically restored by mannosides such as mannan, Man9, and Man6, but not Man3. The effector mannosides bind to a cell surface receptor, previously shown by direct and indirect methods. We have now identified the receptor as cell surface calreticulin by isolating it via mannan affinity chromatography and showing its sequence identity with mouse calreticulin. Anti-calreticulin antibodies confirm this identity, decorate the B16 cell surface, and block cell spreading. Purified B16 cell calreticulin from whole cell lysates successfully competes with cell surface calreticulin and prevents cell spreading. The composite data implicate cell surface calreticulin as a putative lectin that must be occupied to initiate spreading of laminin-adherent B16 cells.

Purification of cranin, a laminin binding membrane protein. Identity with dystroglycan and reassessment of its carbohydrate moieties

Cranin was described in 1987 as a membrane glycoprotein expressed in brain and many other tissues, which binds laminin with high affinity in a calcium-dependent manner. Dystrophin-associated glycoprotein ("dystroglycan") is a laminin-binding protein cloned in 1992 whose relation to cranin has remained uncertain. Here we describe the purification of cranin to homogeneity from sheep brain, show cranin to be a form of dystroglycan, and localize the N terminus of beta-dystroglycan to amino acid residue 654. We find that brain alpha-dystroglycan is tightly associated with membranes, and localizes to regions of synaptic contact as assessed by immunocytochemistry of rat cerebellum. Brain alpha-dystroglycan expresses high mannose/hybrid N-linked saccharides, terminal GalNAc residues, and the HNK-1 epitope. Although dystroglycan has previously been presumed to be a proteoglycan, the amino acid sequence, pI, O-sialoglycoprotease susceptibility, lectin-binding profile, and laminin-binding properties of brain dystroglycan are more typical of mucin-like proteins. Furthermore, using CHO mutant cell lines deficient in xylosyltransferase and galactosyltransferase I, which are required for glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, it is shown that chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate are not critical for laminin binding, and indeed are apparently not expressed at all in dystroglycan from CHO cells.

Rodent myoblast interactions with laminin require cell surface glycoconjugates but not laminin glycosyl groups

Laminin glycosyl groups are necessary for the spreading of murine melanoma cells which become attached to this glycoprotein. Laminin has been implicated in myogenesis but the potential role of its glycosyl groups in this process has not been examined. In this study we report the effects of the carbohydrate moieties of laminin on myoblast adhesion, spreading, and differentiation. Unglycosylated laminin from tunicamycin-treated cultures of a mouse cell line, M1536 B3, was used in the experiments. Glycosylated laminin from a murine tumor and from cultures of M1563 B3 cells served as controls. Cell binding experiments with C2C12 mouse myoblasts showed that the cells preferred a laminin-coated surface, compared to the uncoated plastic surface (nontissue culture wells). Myoblasts did not distinguish between glycosylated and unglycosylated laminin substrates. Both glycosylated and unglycosylated forms of laminin promoted myoblast growth and differentiation. In contrast, cells on uncoated plastic surfaces grew very slowly and did not further differentiate. The L6 rat myoblast response to glycosylated and unglycosylated laminin was the same. These results indicate that although rodent myoblasts in culture require a laminin substratum for spreading, growth, and differentiation on a proprietary plastic surface, laminin carbohydrates are not implicated in those cellular responses. In contrast, parallel studies using the lectin, Con A, indicate that cell surface glycoconjugates of myoblasts are implicated in the response of these cells to a laminin substratum.