O-linked fucose is present in the first epidermal growth factor domain of factor XII but not protein C

Mechanism, Functions, and Diagnostic Relevance of FXII Activation by Foreign Surfaces

Factor XII (FXII) is a serine protease zymogen produced by hepatocytes and secreted into plasma. The highly glycosylated coagulation protein consists of six domains and a proline-rich region that regulate activation and function. Activation of FXII results from a conformational change induced by binding ("contact") with negatively charged surfaces. The activated serine protease FXIIa drives both the proinflammatory kallikrein-kinin pathway and the procoagulant intrinsic coagulation cascade, respectively. Deficiency in FXII is associated with a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) but not with an increased bleeding tendency. However, genetic or pharmacological deficiency impairs both arterial and venous thrombosis in experimental models. This review summarizes current knowledge of FXII structure, mechanisms of FXII contact activation, and the importance of FXII for diagnostic coagulation testing and thrombosis.

Mouse WIF1 Is Only Modified with O-Fucose in Its EGF-like Domain III Despite Two Evolutionarily Conserved Consensus Sites

The Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1 (Wif1), known to inhibit Wnt signaling pathways, is composed of a WIF domain and five EGF-like domains (EGF-LDs) involved in protein interactions. Despite the presence of a potential O-fucosylation site in its EGF-LDs III and V, the O-fucose sites occupancy has never been demonstrated for WIF1. In this study, a phylogenetic analysis on the distribution, conservation and evolution of Wif1 proteins was performed, as well as biochemical approaches focusing on O-fucosylation sites occupancy of recombinant mouse WIF1. In the monophyletic group of gnathostomes, we showed that the consensus sequence for O-fucose modification by Pofut1 is highly conserved in Wif1 EGF-LD III while it was more divergent in EGF-LD V. Using click chemistry and mass spectrometry, we demonstrated that mouse WIF1 was only modified with a non-extended O-fucose on its EGF-LD III. In addition, a decreased amount of mouse WIF1 in the secretome of CHO cells was observed when the O-fucosylation site in EGF-LD III was mutated. Based on sequence comparison and automated protein modeling, we suggest that the absence of O-fucose on EGF-LD V of WIF1 in mouse and probably in most gnathostomes, could be related to EGF-LD V inability to interact with POFUT1.

The single EGF-like domain of mouse PAMR1 is modified by O-Glucose, O-Fucose and O-GlcNAc

Epidermal growth factor-like domains (EGF-LDs) of membrane and secreted proteins can be modified by N-glycans and/or potentially elongated O-linked monosaccharides such as O-glucose (O-Glc) found at two positions (O-Glc 1 and O-Glc2), O-fucose (O-Fuc) and O-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc). The presence of three O-linked sugars within the same EGF-LD, such as in EGF-LD 20 of NOTCH1, has rarely been evidenced. We searched in KEGG GENES database to list mouse and human proteins with an EGF-LD sequence including one, two, three or four potential O-glycosylation consensus sites. Among the 129 murine retrieved proteins, most had predicted O-fucosylation and/or O-GlcNAcylation sites. Around 68% of EGF-LDs were subjected to only one O-linked sugar modification and near 5% to three modifications. Among these latter, we focused on the peptidase domain-containing protein associated with muscle regeneration 1 (PAMR1), having only one EGF-LD. To test the ability of this domain to be glycosylated, a correctly folded EGF-LD was produced in Escherichia coli periplasm, purified and subjected to in vitro incubations with the recombinant O-glycosyltransferases POGLUT1, POFUT1 and EOGT, adding O-Glc1, O-Fuc and O-GlcNAc, respectively. Using click chemistry and mass spectrometry, isolated PAMR1 EGF-LD was demonstrated to be modified by the three O-linked sugars. Their presence was individually confirmed on EGF-LD of full-length mouse recombinant PAMR1, with at least some molecules modified by both O-Glc1 and O-Fuc. Overall, these results are consistent with the presence of a triple O-glycosylated EGF-LD in mouse PAMR1.

Kinetic parameters of human aspartate/asparagine-β-hydroxylase suggest that it has a possible function in oxygen sensing

Human aspartate/asparagine-β-hydroxylase (AspH) is a 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent oxygenase that catalyzes the post-translational hydroxylation of Asp and Asn residues in epidermal growth factor-like domains (EGFDs). Despite its biomedical significance, studies on AspH have long been limited by a lack of assays for its isolated form. Recent structural work has revealed that AspH accepts substrates with a noncanonical EGFD disulfide connectivity (i.e. the Cys 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 disulfide pattern). We developed stable cyclic thioether analogues of the noncanonical EGFD AspH substrates to avoid disulfide shuffling. We monitored their hydroxylation by solid-phase extraction coupled to MS. The extent of recombinant AspH-catalyzed cyclic peptide hydroxylation appears to reflect levels of EGFD hydroxylation observed in vivo, which vary considerably. We applied the assay to determine the kinetic parameters of human AspH with respect to 2OG, Fe(II), l-ascorbic acid, and substrate and found that these parameters are in the typical ranges for 2OG oxygenases. Of note, a relatively high Km for O2 suggested that O2 availability may regulate AspH activity in a biologically relevant manner. We anticipate that the assay will enable the development of selective small-molecule inhibitors for AspH and other human 2OG oxygenases.

[Site-specific O-Glycosylation Analysis of Therapeutic Fc-fusion Protein by Mass Spectrometry]

Therapeutic Fc-fusion proteins, created by linking bioactive peptides or receptor proteins to the Fc moiety of IgG, are currently being developed. In this development process, a Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser linker (G4S linker) is often used to link the peptide/protein and the Fc portion. O-xylose-type core glycans of glycosaminoglycan are known to attach to the Ser residue on the GSG motif in the G4S linker peptide repeats of the Fc fusion protein produced using the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell expression system. In addition, a recent report demonstrated that unexpected mucin-type O-glycosylations occurred on a peptide in a bioactive peptide-Fc fusion protein; this glycosylation affected the bioactivity of the peptide. Therapeutic proteins with non-natural structures, such as Fc-fusion proteins, undergo unintended O-glycosylations; therefore, it is increasingly important to conduct detailed O-glycosylation analysis of fusion proteins during the developmental stages. In this paper, we have summarized recent reports on the unexpected O-glycosylation in fusion proteins, general O-glycosylation types and sequence motifs, and O-glycosylation analytical techniques involving O-linked oligosaccharide analysis and site-specific O-glycosylation analysis using LC/MS. In addition, we have introduced site-specific O-glycosylation analysis of Fc-fusion proteins with GS linker peptides by LC/MS using higher-energy collisional dissociation-tandem mass spectrometry (HCD-MS/MS) and electron-transfer dissociation (ETD)-MS/MS to obtain preferential dissociation of the peptide moiety in the glycopeptide.

In vitro acellular method to reveal O-fucosylation on EGF-like domains

A hundred of human proteins have one or more EGF-like domains (EGF-LD) bearing the O-fucosylation consensus motif C2X4(S/T)C3 but to date, only a few of them have been shown to be O-fucosylated. The protein O-fucosyltransferase (POFUT1) specifically recognizes correctly folded EGF-LD of the human EGF (hEGF) type and transfers fucose on serine or threonine residue within the O-fucosylation motif. Here, we propose a strategy for a rapid screening for ability of any EGF-LD to be O-fucosylated, using copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). By an oligonucleotide hybridization approach, double-stranded fragments encoding any EGF-LD can be first rapidly cloned into the prokaryotic vector pET-25b to promote its targeting to periplasm and formation of the three conserved disulfide bonds. After protein production and purification, an in vitro POFUT1-mediated O-fucosylation can be performed with azido GDP-fucose. Successful transfer of O-fucose is finally revealed by blotting technique after CuAAC. In this study, we specially focused on mouse NOTCH1 EGF12 and EGF26, which are both known to be O-fucosylated although having different binding affinities towards POFUT1. Indeed, we clearly showed here that addition of O-fucose by POFUT1 was much more efficient for EGF26 than for EGF12. This experimental approach is rapid and sufficiently sensitive to reveal propensity of any EGF-LD to be O-fucosylated; it is thus useful prior to perform structure-function studies on target proteins containing one or several EGF-LD.

Investigation of O-glycosylation heterogeneity of recombinant coagulation factor IX using LC–MS/MS

Aim: Recombinant coagulation factor IX (rFIX) has extraordinarily multiple post-translational modifications including N-glycosylation and O-glycosylation which have a drastic effect on biological functions and in vivo recovery. Unlike N-glycosylation extensively characterized, there are a few studies on O-glycosylation due to its intrinsic complexity. In-depth O-glycosylation analysis is necessary to better understand and assess pharmacological activity of rFIX. Results: We determined unusual O-glycosylations including O-fucosylation and O-glucosylation which were located at Serine 53 and 61, respectively in EGF domain. Other O-glycosylations bearing core 1 glycan moiety were found on activation peptide. Conclusion: This is the first comprehensive study to characterize O-glycosylation of rFIX using MS-based glycomic and glycoproteomic approaches. Site-specific profiling will be a powerful platform to determine bioequivalence of biosimilars.

The multiple roles of epidermal growth factor repeat O-glycans in animal development

The epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeat is a common, evolutionarily conserved motif found in secreted proteins and the extracellular domain of transmembrane proteins. EGF repeats harbor six cysteine residues which form three disulfide bonds and help generate the three-dimensional structure of the EGF repeat. A subset of EGF repeats harbor consensus sequences for the addition of one or more specific O-glycans, which are initiated by O-glucose, O-fucose or O-N-acetylglucosamine. These glycans are relatively rare compared to mucin-type O-glycans. However, genetic experiments in model organisms and cell-based assays indicate that at least some of the glycosyltransferases involved in the addition of O-glycans to EGF repeats play important roles in animal development. These studies, combined with state-of-the-art biochemical and structural biology experiments have started to provide an in-depth picture of how these glycans regulate the function of the proteins to which they are linked. In this review, we will discuss the biological roles assigned to EGF repeat O-glycans and the corresponding glycosyltransferases. Since Notch receptors are the best studied proteins with biologically-relevant O-glycans on EGF repeats, a significant part of this review is devoted to the role of these glycans in the regulation of the Notch signaling pathway. We also discuss recently identified proteins other than Notch which depend on EGF repeat glycans to function properly. Several glycosyltransferases involved in the addition or elongation of O-glycans on EGF repeats are mutated in human diseases. Therefore, mechanistic understanding of the functional roles of these carbohydrate modifications is of interest from both basic science and translational perspectives.

Novel roles for O-linked glycans in protein folding

N-Glycosylation has long been linked to protein folding and quality control in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Recent work has shown that O-linked glycosylation and the corresponding glycosyltransferases also participate in this important function. Notably, Protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 (Ofut1/Pofut1), a soluble, ER localized enzyme that fucosylates Epidermal Growth Factor-like (EGF) repeats, functions as a chaperone involved in the proper localization of the Notch receptor in certain contexts. Pofut2, a related enzyme that modifies Thrombospondin type I repeats (TSRs), has also been hypothesized to play a role in the folding and quality control of TSR-containing proteins. Both enzymes only modify fully folded substrates suggesting that they are able to distinguish between folded and unfolded structures. Pofuts have known physiological relevance and are conserved across metazoans. Though consensus sequences for O-fucosylation have been established and structures of both Pofuts have been studied, the mechanism of how they participate in protein folding is not known. This article discusses past and recent advances made in novel roles for these protein O-glycosyltransferases.

Structure of human POFUT2: insights into thrombospondin type 1 repeat fold and O-fucosylation

Protein O-fucosylation is a post-translational modification found on serine/threonine residues of thrombospondin type 1 repeats (TSR). The fucose transfer is catalysed by the protein O-fucosyltransferase 2 (POFUT2) and >40 human proteins contain the TSR consensus sequence for POFUT2-dependent fucosylation. To better understand O-fucosylation on TSR, we carried out a structural and functional analysis of human POFUT2 and its TSR substrate. Crystal structures of POFUT2 reveal a variation of the classical GT-B fold and identify sugar donor and TSR acceptor binding sites. Structural findings are correlated with steady-state kinetic measurements of wild-type and mutant POFUT2 and TSR and give insight into the catalytic mechanism and substrate specificity. By using an artificial mini-TSR substrate, we show that specificity is not primarily encoded in the TSR protein sequence but rather in the unusual 3D structure of a small part of the TSR. Our findings uncover that recognition of distinct conserved 3D fold motifs can be used as a mechanism to achieve substrate specificity by enzymes modifying completely folded proteins of very wide sequence diversity and biological function.

Rare and unusual glycosylation of peptides and proteins

Glycosylation represents the most complex co- and post-translational modification of proteins. In addition to N- and O-glycans, almost all combinations, including the nature of the carbohydrate moiety and the amino-acid involved, but also the type of the chemical linkage, can be isolated from natural glycoconjugates. This diversity correlates with the importance and the variety of the biological processes (and consequently the diseases) glycosides are involved in. This review focuses on rare and unusual glycosylation of peptides and proteins.

O-fucosylation of thrombospondin type 1 repeats

Thrombospondin type 1 repeats (TSRs) are small cysteine-rich motifs with three conserved disulfide bonds originally described as modules in the thrombospondins. Since then, TSRs have been found as tandem repeats in a wide variety of secreted and cell-surface proteins of diverse function. TSRs in many contexts are known to bind a variety of receptors and have antiangiogenic capabilities. They can be modified with O-linked fucose on serine/threonine found in the consensus, CX(2-3)(S/T)CX(2)G. Here we review what is known about O-fucosylation of TSRs and describe in detail mass spectral methods to map sites of O-fucosylation on proteins containing TSRs. These methods include techniques to identify glycosylated peptides and the relative amounts of elongated products by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of glycopeptides.

O-GlcNAc modification of the extracellular domain of Notch receptors

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) domains are posttranslationally modified with unique O-linked glycans. The classical types of O-glycans on EGF domains are O-fucose and O-glucose glycans, found on many plasma glycoproteins and signaling molecules, whose biological functions have been demonstrated especially in the context of the Notch signaling pathway. We recently discovered O-GlcNAc modification as a new modification of the EGF domain that occurs on the conserved Ser/Thr residue located between the fifth and sixth cysteine residues within the EGF domain of Notch receptors in Drosophila. Here, we describe the methods employed to detect the O-GlcNAc modification of EGF repeats of Notch receptors. These methods include mass spectrometric analysis, galactosyltransferase labeling, immunoblotting with a specific antibody, and beta-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase digestion experiments. We also describe a method to detect O-GlcNAc transferase activity from crude membrane fraction proteins prepared from cultured S2 cells.

gamma-Glutamate and beta-hydroxyaspartate in proteins

Vitamin K-dependent coagulation plasma proteins possess from 9-12 residues of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) distributed over a ca. 45 amino acid peptide sequence, i.e., the Gla domain, which encompasses the NH2-terminal region. In addition, epidermal growth factor (EGF) homology units present in many of these same proteins contain beta-hydroxyaspartate (Hya) residues, which is a modification decoupled from gamma-carboxylation. The function of Gla residues in these proteins, viz., prothrombin, coagulation factors VII, IX, and X, along with anticoagulant protein C and protein S, is to coordinate Ca2+. This results in a large conformational alteration in the proteins or peptides, which allows adsorption to membrane phospholipids (PL), an event that is critical is to their proper functions in the blood coagulation system. Less certain is the role of Hya in EGF domains, but it has been proposed that modification at this residue may negatively regulate fucosylation of these regions. In several proteins, these modules also interact with Ca2+, but it has been shown that although the particular aspartate containing the beta-OH group is critical to that interaction, beta-hydroxylation of that Asp residue is not. Because of their widespread distribution, quantitative detection protocols for both Gla and Hya are of importance. It is the purpose of this communication to detail a reliable method for these analyses that is employed in our laboratories.

Biological functions of glycosyltransferase genes involved in O-fucose glycan synthesis

Rare types of glycosylation often occur in a domain-specific manner and are involved in specific biological processes. Well-known examples of such modification are O-linked fucose (O-fucose) and O-linked glucose (O-glucose) glycans on epidermal growth factor (EGF) domains. In particular, O-fucose glycans are reported to regulate the functions of EGF domain-containing proteins such as urinary-type plasminogen activator and Notch receptors. Two glycosyltransferases catalyze the initiation and elongation of O-fucose glycans. The initiation process is catalyzed by O-fucosyltransferase 1, which is essential for Notch signalling in both Drosophila and mice. O-fucosyltransferase 1 can affect the folding, ligand interaction and endocytosis of Notch receptors, and both the glycosyltransferase and non-catalytic activities of O-fucosyltransferase 1 have been reported. The elongation of O-fucose monosaccharide is catalyzed by Fringe-related genes, which differentially modulate the interaction between Notch and two classes of ligands, namely, Delta and Serrate/Jagged. In this article, we have reviewed the recent reports addressing the distinctive features of the glycosyltransferases and O-glycans present on the EGF domains.

The threonine that carries fucose, but not fucose, is required for Cripto to facilitate Nodal signaling

Cripto is a membrane-bound co-receptor for Nodal, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily. Mouse embryos lacking either Cripto or Nodal have the same lethal phenotype at embryonic day 7.5. Previous studies suggest that O-fucosylation of the epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) repeat in Cripto is essential for the facilitation of Nodal signaling. Substitution of Ala for the Thr to which O-fucose is attached led to functional inactivation of both human and mouse Cripto. However, embryos null for protein O-fucosyltransferase 1, the enzyme that adds O-fucose to EGF repeats, do not exhibit a Cripto null phenotype and die at about embryonic day 9.5. This suggested that the loss of O-fucose from the EGF repeat may not have led to the inactivation of Cripto in previous studies. Here we investigate this hypothesis and show the following: 1) protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 is indeed the enzyme that adds O-fucose to Cripto; 2) Pofut1(-/-) embryonic stem cells behave the same as Pofut1(+/+) embryonic stem cells in a Nodal signaling assay; 3) Pofut1(-/-) and Pofut1(+/+) embryoid bodies are indistinguishable in their ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes; and 4) none of 10 amino acid substitutions at Thr(72), including Ser which acquires O-fucose, rescues the activity of mouse Cripto in Nodal signaling assays. Therefore, the Thr to which O-fucose is linked in Cripto plays a key functional role, but O-fucose at Thr(72) is not required for Cripto to function in cell-based signaling assays or in vivo. By contrast, we show that O-fucose, and not the Thr to which it is attached, is required in the ligand-binding domain of Notch1 for Notch1 signaling.

Identification and characterization of abeta1,3-glucosyltransferase that synthesizes the Glc-beta1,3-Fuc disaccharide on thrombospondin type 1 repeats

Thrombospondin type 1 repeats (TSRs) are biologically important domains of extracellular proteins. They are modified with a unique Glcbeta1,3Fucalpha1-O-linked disaccharide on either serine or threonine residues. Here we identify the putative glycosyltransferase, B3GTL, as the beta1,3-glucosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of this disaccharide. This enzyme is conserved from Caenorhabditis elegans to man and shares 28% sequence identity with Fringe, the beta1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase that modifies O-linked fucosyl residues in proteins containing epidermal growth factor-like domains, such as Notch. beta1,3-Glucosyltransferase glucosylates properly folded TSR-fucose but not fucosylated epidermal growth factor-like domain or the non-fucosylated modules. Specifically, the glucose is added in a beta1,3-linkage to the fucose in TSR. The activity profiles of beta1,3-glucosyltransferase and protein O-fucosyltransferase 2, the enzyme that carries out the first step in TSR O-fucosylation, superimpose in endoplasmic reticulum subfractions obtained by density gradient centrifugation. Both enzymes are soluble proteins that efficiently modify properly folded TSR modules. The identification of the beta1,3-glucosyltransferase gene allows us to manipulate the formation of the rare Glcbeta1,3Fucalpha1 structure to investigate its biological function.

Evolution of distinct EGF domains with specific functions

EGF domains are extracellular protein modules cross-linked by three intradomain disulfides. Past studies suggest the existence of two types of EGF domain with three-disulfides, human EGF-like (hEGF) domains and complement C1r-like (cEGF) domains, but to date no functional information has been related to the two different types, and they are not differentiated in sequence or structure databases. We have developed new sequence patterns based on the different C-termini to search specifically for the two types of EGF domains in sequence databases. The exhibited sensitivity and specificity of the new pattern-based method represents a significant advancement over the currently available sequence detection techniques. We re-annotated EGF sequences in the latest release of Swiss-Prot looking for functional relationships that might correlate with EGF type. We show that important post-translational modifications of three-disulfide EGFs, including unusual forms of glycosylation and post-translational proteolytic processing, are dependent on EGF subtype. For example, EGF domains that are shed from the cell surface and mediate intercellular signaling are all hEGFs, as are all human EGF receptor family ligands. Additional experimental data suggest that functional specialization has accompanied subtype divergence. Based on our structural analysis of EGF domains with three-disulfide bonds and comparison to laminin and integrin-like EGF domains with an additional inter-domain disulfide, we propose that these hEGF and cEGF domains may have arisen from a four-disulfide ancestor by selective loss of different cysteine residues.

O-linked glycosylation and functional incompatibility of porcine von Willebrand factor for human platelet GPIb receptors

BACKGROUND

Xenograft rejection is associated with vascular inflammation, thrombocytopenia and the accelerated consumption of coagulation factors. Primary biological incompatibilities of the xenograft in the regulation of clotting appear to amplify pathological processes associated with rejection. The functional incompatibility of porcine von Willebrand factor (vWF) expressed within the xenograft vasculature may heighten interactions with the primate platelet receptor GPIb, hence augmenting formation of platelet microthrombi and vascular injury. Here, we address the functional impact of O-linked glycosylation of the vWF A1 domain on primate platelet activation.

METHODS

Recombinant human or porcine vWF A1-domains were transiently over-expressed in COS-7 cells as FLAG-tagged fusion protein, linked to plasma membranes via GPI anchors. O-linked glycosylation was blocked by the addition of phenyl-alpha-GalNAc2 to cultures. Expressed vWF-A1 domains were characterized utilizing cytofluometric- and Western blot analyses.

RESULTS

Cytofluometric analysis confirmed equivalent levels of human and porcine vWF A1-domain expression irrespective of the levels of O-linked glycosylation. Differential glycosylation patterns of vWF-A1 under these conditions were confirmed by Western blot analyses. Native porcine vWF A1-domains had enhanced human platelet activation potential when compared with human recombinant vWF A1. However, the loss of O-linked glycosylation abolished differences in aggregatory responses between human and porcine vWF A1 domains.

CONCLUSIONS

Various degrees of O-linked glycosylation of vWF-A1-domains modulate levels of functional interaction with platelet receptor GPIb and consequent platelet aggregation responses in vitro. These data may have implications for outcomes of xenotransplantation. We speculate that alterations in glycosylation of vWF and other adhesion proteins associated with the targeting of the alpha1,3-Gal-epitope in mutant swine may have salutatory effects on the primate platelet activation observed in these xenografts.

Methods in enzymology: O-glycosylation of proteins

Cell surface and extracellular proteins are O-glycosylated, where the most abundant type of O-glycosylation in proteins is the GalNAc attachment to serine (Ser) or threonine (Thr) in the protein chain by an a-glycosidic linkage. Most eukaryotic nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins modified by a-linked O-GlcNAc to Ser or Thr exhibit reciprocal O-GlcNAc glycosylation and phosphorylation during the cell cycle, cell stimulation, and/or cell growth. Less-investigated types of O-glycosylation are O-fucosylation, O-mannosylation, and O-glucosylation, but they are functionally of high relevance for early stages of development and for vital physiological functions of proteins. Glycosaminoglycans are a-linked to proteoglycans via a xylose-containing tetrasaccharide, represented by linear chains of repetitive disaccharides modified by carboxylates and O- or/and N-linked sulfates. Analysis of O-glycosylation by mass spectrometry (MS) is a complex task due to the high structural diversity of glycan and protein factors. The parameters in structural analysis of O-glycans include determination of (i) O-glycosylation attachment sites in the protein sequence, (ii) the type of attached monosaccharide moiety, (iii) a core type in the case of GalNAc O-glycosylation, (iv) the type and size of the oligosaccharide portion, (v) carbohydrate branching patterns, (vi) the site of monosaccharide glycosidic linkages, (vii) the anomericity of glycosidic linkages, and (viii) covalent modifications of the sugar backbone chains by carbohydrate- and noncarbohydrate-type of substitutents. Classical and novel analytical strategies for identification and sequencing of O-glycans by MS are described. These include methods to analyze O-glycans after total or partial release from the parent protein by chemical or enzymatic approach or to analyze O-glycosylated peptides by mapping and sequencing from proteolytic mixtures. A recombination process of multiply charged glycopeptides with electrons by electron capture dissociation Fourier transform ion cyclotrone resonance (FTICR)-MS has been introduced and is instrumental for nonergodic polypeptide backbone cleavages without losses of labile glycan substituents. A method for O-glycoscreening under increased sensitivity and efficient sequencing as a combination of an on-line coupling of capillary electrophoresis separation, as well as an automated MS-tandem MS (MS/MS) switching under variable energy conditions collision-induced dissociation (CID) protocol, is beneficial for determination of O-acetylation and oversulfation (Bindila et al., 2004a; Zamfir et al., 2004a). O-glycomics by robotized chip-electrospray/ionization (ESI)-MS and MS/MS on the quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) and FTICR analyzers, accurate mass determination, and software for assignment of fragmentation spectra represent essentials for high-throughput (HTP) in serial screenings (Bindila et al., 2004b; Froesch et al., 2004; Vakhrushev et al., 2005). Dimerization of intact O-glycosylated proteins can be investigated by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF)-MS after blotting.

Stereoselective Synthesis of α- and β-l-C-Fucosyl Aldehydes and Their Utility in the Assembly of C-Fucosides of Biological Relevance

An efficient synthesis of O-benzylated derivatives of the title sugar aldehydes via thiazole addition to tri-O-benzyl-l-fuconolactone followed by highly stereoselective deoxygenation of the resulting thiazolylketose and thiazole to formyl transformation is described. Wittig olefination of these aldehydes with galactopyranose and glucopyranose 6-phosphoranes and reduction of the resulting alkenes afforded alpha- and beta-linked (1-->6)-L-C-fucosyl disaccharides, namely, beta-L-C-Fuc-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Gal, alpha-L-C-Fuc-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Gal, and alpha-L-C-Fuc-(1-->6)-alpha-d-Glc. The alpha-anomer of the above C-fucosyl aldehydes was transformed into a C-fucosylmethyl triphenylphosphonium iodide from which the corresponding C-fucosylmethylene phosphorane was generated upon treatment with BuLi. This phosphorane reacted with the Garner aldehyde (N-Boc D-serinal acetonide) and its one-carbon higher homologue to give alkenes whose reduction and unveiling of the glycinyl group from the oxazolidine ring afforded C-fucosyl alpha-amino acids, namely alpha-L-linked C-fucosyl serines and C-fucosyl asparagines. As a final test of the synthetic utility of the title aldehydes, the beta-anomer was employed as starting material in the stereoselective synthesis of both R- and S-epimer L-C-fucosyl phenylhydroxy acetates. One epimer was obtained by reaction of the sugar aldehyde with phenylmagnesium bromide, oxidation of the resulting alcohol to ketone, addition of 2-lithiothiazole to the latter, and transformation of the thiazole ring into the carboxyl group through an aldehyde intermediate. The other epimer was obtained by the same procedure and inverting the timing of phenyl and thiazolyl group addition. In both routes, the key step establishing the configuration of the quaternary carbon atom of the aliphatic chain was the highly stereoselective addition of the organometal to the ketone intermediate.

Differential terminal fucosylation of N-linked glycans versus protein O-fucosylation in leukocyte adhesion deficiency type II (CDG IIc)

LAD II/CDG IIc is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by a decreased expression of fucosylated antigens on cell surfaces that results in leukocyte adhesion deficiency and severe neurological and developmental abnormalities. Its molecular basis has been identified as a defect in the transporter of GDP-l-fucose into the Golgi lumen, which reduces the availability of the substrate for fucosyltransferases. During metabolic radiolabeling experiments using [3H]fucose, LAD II fibroblasts incorporated significantly less radiolabel compared with control cells. However, fractionation and analysis of the different classes of glycans indicated that the decrease in [3H]fucose incorporation is not generalized and is mainly confined to terminal fucosylation of N-linked oligosaccharides. In contrast, the total levels of protein O-fucosylation, including that observed in Notch protein, were unaffected. This finding demonstrates that the decrease in GDP-l-fucose levels in the fibroblast Golgi caused by the LAD II defect does not impair bulk protein O-fucosylation, but severely affects the bulk addition of fucose as a terminal modification of N-linked glycans. These data suggest that the severe clinical abnormalities including neurological and developmental ones observed in at least some of the LAD II patients may be related to alteration in recognition systems involving terminal fucose modifications of N-glycans and not be due to a defective O-fucosylation of proteins such as Notch.

Notch ligands are substrates for protein O-fucosyltransferase-1 and Fringe

O-Fucose has been identified on epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) repeats of Notch, and elongation of O-fucose has been implicated in the modulation of Notch signaling by Fringe. O-Fucose modifications are also predicted to occur on Notch ligands based on the presence of the C(2)XXGG(S/T)C(3) consensus site (where S/T is the modified amino acid) in a number of the EGF repeats of these proteins. Here we establish that both mammalian and Drosophila Notch ligands are modified with O-fucose glycans, demonstrating that the consensus site was useful for making predictions. The presence of O-fucose on Notch ligands raised the question of whether Fringe, an O-fucose specific beta 1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, was capable of modifying O-fucose on the ligands. Indeed, O-fucose on mammalian Delta 1 and Jagged1 can be elongated with Manic Fringe in vivo, and Drosophila Delta and Serrate are substrates for Drosophila Fringe in vitro. These results raise the interesting possibility that alteration of O-fucose glycans on Notch ligands could play a role in the mechanism of Fringe action on Notch signaling. As an initial step to begin addressing the role of the O-fucose glycans on Notch ligands in Notch signaling, a number of mutations in predicted O-fucose glycosylation sites on Drosophila Serrate have been generated. Interestingly, analysis of these mutants has revealed that O-fucose modifications occur on some EGF repeats not predicted by the C(2)XXGGS/TC(3) consensus site. A revised, broad consensus site, C(2)X(3-5)S/TC(3) (where X(3-5) are any 3-5 amino acid residues), is proposed.

Protein glycosylation: nature, distribution, enzymatic formation, and disease implications of glycopeptide bonds

Formation of the sugar-amino acid linkage is a crucial event in the biosynthesis of the carbohydrate units of glycoproteins. It sets into motion a complex series of posttranslational enzymatic steps that lead to the formation of a host of protein-bound oligosaccharides with diverse biological functions. These reactions occur throughout the entire phylogenetic spectrum, ranging from archaea and eubacteria to eukaryotes. It is the aim of this review to describe the glycopeptide linkages that have been found to date and specify their presence on well-characterized glycoproteins. A survey is also made of the enzymes involved in the formation of the various glycopeptide bonds as well as the site of their intracellular action and their affinity for particular peptide domains is evaluated. This examination indicates that 13 different monosaccharides and 8 amino acids are involved in glycoprotein linkages leading to a total of at least 41 bonds, if the anomeric configurations, the phosphoglycosyl linkages, as well as the GPI (glycophosphatidylinositol) phosphoethanolamine bridge are also considered. These bonds represent the products of N- and O-glycosylation, C-mannosylation, phosphoglycation, and glypiation. Currently at least 16 enzymes involved in their formation have been identified and in many cases cloned. Their intracellular site of action varies and includes the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, cytosol, and nucleus. With the exception of the Asn-linked carbohydrate and the GPI anchor, which are transferred to the polypeptide en bloc, the sugar-amino acid linkages are formed by the enzymatic transfer of an activated monosaccharide directly to the protein. This review also deals briefly with glycosidases, which are involved in physiologically important cleavages of glycopeptide bonds in higher organisms, and with a number of human disease states in which defects in enzymatic transfer of saccharides to protein have been implicated.

Fucosylation of Cripto is required for its ability to facilitate nodal signaling

O-linked fucose modification is rare and has been shown to occur almost exclusively within epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like modules. We have found that the EGF-CFC family member human Cripto-1 (CR) is modified with fucose and through a combination of peptide mapping, mass spectrometry, and sequence analysis localized the site of attachment to Thr-88. The identification of a fucose modification on human CR within its EGF-like domain and the presence of a consensus fucosylation site within all EGF-CFC family members suggest that this is a biologically important modification in CR, which functionally distinguishes it from the EGF ligands that bind the type 1 erbB growth factor receptors. A single CR point mutation, Thr-88 --> Ala, results in a form of the protein that is not fucosylated and has substantially weaker activity in cell-based CR/Nodal signaling assays, indicating that fucosylation is functionally important for CR to facilitate Nodal signaling.

C-mannosylation and O-fucosylation of the thrombospondin type 1 module

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a multidomain protein that has been implicated in cell adhesion, motility, and growth. Some of these functions have been localized to the three thrombospondin type 1 repeats (TSRs), modules of approximately 60 amino acids in length with conserved Cys and Trp residues. The Trp residues occur in WXXW patterns, which are the recognition motifs for protein C-mannosylation. This modification involves the attachment of an alpha-mannosyl residue to the C-2 atom of the first tryptophan. Analysis of human platelet TSP-1 revealed that Trp-368, -420, -423, and -480 are C-mannosylated. Mannosylation also occurred in recombinant, baculovirally expressed TSR modules from Sf9 and "High Five" cells, contradictory to earlier reports that such cells do not carry out this reaction. In the course of these studies it was appreciated that the TSRs in TSP-1 undergo a second form of unusual glycosylation. By using a novel mass spectrometric approach, it was found that Ser-377, Thr-432, and Thr-489 in the motif CSX(S/T)CG carry the O-linked disaccharide Glc-Fuc-O-Ser/Thr. This is the first protein in which such a disaccharide has been identified, although protein O-fucosylation is well described in epidermal growth factor-like modules. Both C- and O-glycosylations take place on residues that have been implicated in the interaction of TSP-1 with glycosaminoglycans or other cellular receptors.

Direct determination of glycosylation sites in O-fucosylated glycopeptides using nano-electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

O-Fucosylation is an unusual posttranslational modification present in several proteins that play important roles in physiological processes such as coagulation, cell signaling and metastasis. Although the exact function of the modification is still unclear, the number of proteins found to be modified is increasing, and there is a need for further structural and functional analyses. Here we report on a rapid and straightforward approach in the analysis of glycosylation status and determination of glycosylation sites in O-fucosylated glycopeptides using nano-electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight (nano-ESI Q-TOF) mass spectrometry. In a single measurement of previously chemically untreated O-fucosylated peptides originating from the thrombospondin-1 repeats, we were able to determine the glycosylation status of the analyzed peptide, the glycosylation site, and the glycan structure. The abundance of glycosylated peptide fragment ions in MS(2) spectra suggests that nano-ESI Q-TOF mass spectrometry can be used as a general approach in structural studies of O-fucosylation in proteins.

Functional consequences of mutations in Ser-52 and Ser-60 in human blood coagulation factor VII

Human blood coagulation factor VII has unique carbohydrate moieties O-glycosidically linked to serine 52 and serine 60 residues in its first epidermal growth factor-like domain. To study the functional role of these glycosyl moieties in factor VII, we constructed, expressed, and purified site-specific recombinant mutants of human factor VII in which serine 52 and serine 60 were conservatively replaced with alanine residues. S52A factor VIIa (Ser-52-->Ala), S60A factor VIIa (Ser-60-->Ala), and S52,60A factor VIIa (Ser-52, Ser-60-->Ala) exhibited 56, 73, and 44%, respectively, of the clotting activity of wild-type factor VIIa using human brain thromboplastin as a source of tissue factor/phospholipids and 32, 43, and 14% of wild-type factor VIIa using a mixture of recombinant soluble tissue factor and mixed brain phospholipids. The tissue factor-dependent and -independent amidolytic activities of these mutants were essentially indistinguishable from that of wild-type factor VIIa. In addition, equilibrium dialysis experiments indicated that the profiles of 45Ca2+ binding to these mutants were identical with that of wild-type factor VII. In the presence of either Ca2+ or EGTA, the Kd values for the interaction of the three factor VIIa mutants to full-length tissue factor were 2- to 5-fold higher than that of wild-type factor VIIa, while the Kd values for the interaction of these mutants to soluble tissue factor were 4- to 15-fold higher than that of wild-type factor VIIa. Measurement of the association and dissociation rate constants for factor VIIa binding to relipidated tissue factor apoprotein revealed that the association rate constants of the three factor VII mutants were decreased in comparison with that of wild-type factor VIIa, while the dissociation rate constants of these three mutants were virtually identical to that of wild-type factor VIIa. These findings strongly suggest that glycosyl moieties attached to Ser-52 and Ser-60 in factor VII/VIIa provide unique structural elements that are important for the rapid association of factor VII/VIIa with its cellular receptor and cofactor.

Purification and characterization of a GDP-fucose:polypeptide fucosyltransferase from Chinese hamster ovary cells

A GDP-fucose:polypeptide fucosyltransferase was purified 5000-fold to homogeneity from Chinese hamster ovary cell extracts in the absence of detergent. The purification procedure included two affinity chromatographic steps using the acceptor substrate, a recombinant factor VII EGF-1 domain, and the donor substrate analog, GDP-hexanolamine, as ligands. The purified enzyme migrates as a single band of 44,000 daltons on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and is itself a glycoprotein with more than one high mannose type oligosaccharide chain with a total molecular weight of 4000. The Km values for factor VII EGF-1 domain and GDP-fucose are 15 and 6 microM, respectively. The Vmax is 2.5 micromol.min-1.mg-1. The presence of 50 mM Mn2+ increased the enzyme activity 17-fold, but Mn2+ was not absolutely required, since the enzyme exhibited some activity even in the presence of EDTA. The acceptor substrate specificity was studied using site-directed mutagenesis of human factor IX EGF domain. Only one of several differently folded species could serve as acceptor substrate, although they all had the same molecular weight as determined by liquid chromatography on-line with mass spectrometry. This indicates that the enzyme requires proper folding of the epidermal growth factor domain for its activity.

Amino acid sequences of metalloendopeptidases specific for acyl-lysine bonds from Grifola frondosa and Pleurotus ostreatus fruiting bodies

The complete amino acid sequences of two lysine-specific zinc metalloendopeptidases (EC 3.4.24), Grifola frondosa metalloendopeptidase (GFMEP) and Pleurotus ostreatus metalloendopeptidase (POMEP), from the fruiting bodies of these two edible mushrooms have been established based on the sequence information of the peptides generated from the reduced and alkylated GFMEP and POMEP by proteolytic digestions using GFMEP, trypsin, and other proteinases as well as by several chemical cleavages. From the sequences, it was found that GFMEP and POMEP were polypeptides composed of 167 and 168 amino acid residues, from which their molecular weights were calculated to be 18,040.5 and 17,921.3 in accord with the observed (M+H)+ values of 18,028 and 17,927, respectively, as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Two disulfide bonds in GFMEP were found to link Cys5 to Cys75 and Cys77 to Cys97. An unusual post-translational modification of GFMEP was corroborated to be a partial attachment of a single mannose to Thr42. Comparison of the sequences revealed that overall identity between the enzymes was 61.3%. Although a highly homologous sequence was not found in sequence data bases except for a consensus zinc-binding sequence, HEXXH, both metalloendopeptidases somewhat resembled a family of metalloproteinases categorized as deuterolysin. These proteases together with GFMEP and POMEP do not have conserved third and/or fourth liganding amino acid residues seen in metzincin or thermolysin superfamily proteins and belong to a novel zinc metalloendopeptidase superfamily.

The O-linked fucose glycosylation pathway. Evidence for protein-specific elongation of o-linked fucose in Chinese hamster ovary cells

O-Linked fucose is an unusual form of glycosylation recently shown to modify the hydroxyls of serine or threonine residues at a strict consensus site within epidermal growth factor-like domains of several serum proteins. Here we demonstrate that Chinese hamster ovary cells modify numerous proteins with O-linked fucose and that the fucose is elongated on specific proteins. We have identified at least two forms of O-linked fucose elongation in Chinese hamster ovary cells: a disaccharide (Glcbeta1,3Fuc) and a larger oligosaccharide of indeterminate structure. Interestingly, it appears that the level of monosaccharide accumulates in the cells over time whereas the disaccharide does not. Analysis of the O-linked fucose-containing saccharides on individual proteins revealed that some proteins are modified with the monosaccharide only, whereas others are modified with monosaccharide and disaccharide, or monosaccharide and oligosaccharide. These results suggest that elongation of the O-linked fucose monosaccharide is a protein-specific phenomena. The presence of elongated O-linked fucose moieties suggests that a novel glycosylation pathway exists in mammalian cells with O-linked fucose as the core.

O-GLYCBASE version 2.0: a revised database of O-glycosylated proteins

O-GLYCBASE is an updated database of information on glycoproteins and their O-linked glycosylation sites. Entries are compiled and revised from the literature, and from the SWISS-PROT database. Entries include information about species, sequence, glycosylation sites and glycan type. O-GLYCBASE is now fully cross-referenced to the SWISS-PROT, PIR, PROSITE, PDB, EMBL, HSSP, LISTA and MIM databases. Compared with version 1.0 the number of entries have increased by 34%. Revision of the O-glycan assignment was performed on 20% of the entries. Sequence logos displaying the acceptor specificity patterns for the GalNAc, mannose and GlcNAc transferases are shown. The O-GLYCBASE database is available through WWW or by anonymous FTP.

O-linked L-fucose is present in Desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activator

DSPAalpha1 (Desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activator), a plasminogen activator from the saliva of the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus, is an effective thrombolytic agent. An unusual type of posttranslational modification, in which L-fucose is O-glycosidically linked to threonine 61 in the epidermal growth factor domain was found for natural DSPAalpha1 and its recombinant form isolated from Chinese hamster ovary cells. In the present study a combination of carbohydrate and amino acid composition analysis, amino acid sequencing, and mass spectrometry revealed that the L-fucose is bound to residues 56-68 of DSPAalpha1. The amino acid sequence of this glycosylation site agreed with the suggested consensus sequence Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Gly-Gly-Ser/Thr-Cys described for other proteins. Anew strategy for the identification of the modified amino acid was established. Direct evidence for the occurrence of fucosyl-threonine was obtained by mass spectrometry after digestion of the glycopeptide with a mixture of peptidases. On the basis of these results, DSPAalpha1 is a suitable model for studying the influence of O-fucosylation on clearance rates, particularly in comparative studies with the identically fucosylated and structurally related tissue plasminogen activator.

The solution structure and backbone dynamics of the fibronectin type I and epidermal growth factor-like pair of modules of tissue-type plasminogen activator

BACKGROUND

The thrombolytic serine protease tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is a classical modular protein consisting of three types of domain in addition to the serine protease domain: F1 (homologous to fibronectin type I); G (epidermal growth factor-like) and kringle. Biochemical data suggest that the F1 and G modules play a major role in the binding of t-PA to fibrin and to receptors on hepatocytes.

RESULTS

We have derived the solution structure of the F1 and G pair of modules from t-PA by two- and three-dimensional NMR techniques, in combination with dynamical simulated annealing calculations. We have also obtained information about the molecule's backbone dynamics through measurement of amide 15N relaxation parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the F1 and G modules each adopt their expected tertiary structure, the modules interact intimately to bury a hydrophobic core, and the inter-module linker makes up the third strand of the G module's major beta-sheet. The new structural results allow the interpretation of earlier mutational data relevant to fibrin-binding and hepatocyte-receptor binding.

A novel strategy to identify maternal and paternal inheritance in the mouse

A novel strategy for identifying proteins which reveal maternal or paternal inheritance in the mouse is presented. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis we investigated protein expression patterns of adult liver and different embryonic and extraembryonic tissue in C57BL/6Crl and in DBA/2Crl mice, as well as in their reciprocal hybrids. We found three groups of protein spots which showed maternal or paternal inheritance of quantitative variations. These proteins were characterized by N-terminal or internal amino acid sequencing, by determination of the amino acid composition, by glycoprotein staining and RNA expression analysis. The three proteins identified were: alpha-enolase, cyclophilin and beta-group hemoglobins. The parental effects observed for alpha-enolase and cyclophilin were found to be due to parent-specific post-translational modifications of these proteins. For the beta-group hemoglobins our results suggested parental effects on the transcriptional level.

Primary structure of bovine Hageman factor (blood coagulation factor XII): comparison with human and guinea pig molecules

A bovine Hageman factor cDNA was cloned from a liver cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence was analyzed and the amino-acid sequence was deduced. The sequence deduced was consistent with the partial amino-acid sequences of bovine Hageman factor protein. The sequences for three portions including the amino terminal had been previously reported (Fujikawa et al. (1977) Biochemistry 16, 2270-2278). In comparison with the primary structures of human and guinea pig Hageman factors, the putative domain structures were totally conserved. Each domain possessed high sequence homology with the human molecule (66-88%) and the guinea pig one (63-81%) except for the proline-rich region (less than 10%) which connects the amino-terminal five domains with a serine proteinase portion. Significant heterogeneities were observed among the three species around the essential cleavage sites for the conversion to the activated Hageman factors. Bovine Hageman factor has no suitable amino-acid sequence as the substrate for the trypsin-type proteinases at the proline-rich region in difference from the human and guinea pig molecules. Probably this is the reason why the beta-form activated Hageman factor (the proteinase moiety) is not liberated in the activation of the bovine molecule with trypsin or plasma kallikrein.

Identification and structural analysis of the tetrasaccharide NeuAc alpha(2-->6)Gal beta(1-->4)GlcNAc beta(1-->3)Fuc alpha 1-->O-linked to serine 61 of human factor IX

O-Linked fucose has been found attached to Thr/Ser residues within the sequence Cys-X-X-Gly-Gly-Thr/Ser-Cys in the N-terminal EGF domains of several coagulation/fibrinolytic proteins. Carbohydrate composition and mass spectrometric analyses of tryptic and thermolytic peptides containing the corresponding site (Ser-61) in the first EGF domain of human factor IX indicated the presence of a tetrasaccharide containing one residue each of sialic acid, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and fucose. The Ser-61 tetrasaccharide was not susceptible to alpha-fucosidase digestion. Fragments generated during mass spectrometric analysis indicated that fucose was the attachment sugar residue. The involvement of fucose in the carbohydrate-peptide linkage was confirmed by two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis of the glycopeptide containing factor IX residues 57-65. The complete structure of the tetrasaccharide was obtained by methylation analysis and two-dimensional 1H TOCSY and ROESY experiments as NeuAc alpha(2-->6)Gal beta(1-->4)GlcNAc beta(1-->3)Fuc alpha 1-->O-Ser61.

Glycosidase digestion, electrophoresis and chromatographic analysis of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor glycoforms produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells is glycosylated. The carbohydrate compositional analysis indicated that G-CSF molecule contains sialic acid, galactose and galactosamine. By isolation and characterization of the purified glycopeptides obtained from cleavages by Staphylococcal aureus V-8 protease and cyanogen bromide, the O-linked glycosylation site was confirmed to be a Thr residue at position 133. Neuraminidase and O-glycanase digestion followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide and isoelectric focusing gel electrophoreses distinguished two possible carbohydrate structures attached at Thr-133: structure A, NeuNAc-Gal-beta(1,3)-GalNAc-O-Thr; and structure B, NeuNAc-Gal-beta(1,3)-[NeuNAc]-GalNAc-O-Thr. Different glycoforms, undigested or after glycosidase digestion, can also be separated by ion-exchange or reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The approach described in this report provides a simple and valuable procedure to characterize glycoprotein structures containing simple carbohydrate moieties.

On the post-translational modifications at the C-terminal domain of the major cysteine proteinase (cruzipain) from Trypanosoma cruzi

Cruzipain, the major cysteine proteinase from Trypanosoma cruzi, has a 130 amino acid-long C-terminal domain, which, although microheterogeneous in SDS-PAGE, has a single N-terminal amino acid sequence. Most of the Thr residues present at the beginning of this sequence are modified; the nature of this modification is still unknown, but O-glycosylation and phosphorylation seem both to be absent. The only potential site for N-glycosylation (Asn 254) is glycosylated in vivo. Most of the eight Cys residues are involved in disulfide bridges. The results are consistent with cruzipain being made of two well-defined domains, a catalytic one with high homology to cathepsin L, and a C-terminal domain, linked to the former by a 'hinge' corresponding to the Pro- and Thr-rich region at its N-terminus.