Purification and characterization of a CMP-sialic:LcOse4Cer sialyltransferase from human colorectal carcinoma cell membranes

An optimised assay for quantitative, high-throughput analysis of polysialyltransferase activity

Optimisation of a highly sensitive cell-free high-throughput HPLC-based assay for assessment of human polysialyltransferase activity is reported.

Influence of backbone conformations of human carbonic anhydrase II on carbon dioxide hydration: hydration pathways and binding of bicarbonate

In this study, the hydration of carbon dioxide and the formation of bicarbonate in human carbonic anhydrase II have been examined. From semiempirical QM/MM molecular dynamics studies, dominant conformations of the protein backbone, possibly contributing to the catalytic activity, have been isolated and further examined by means of density functional QM/MM methods. In agreement with experimental observations, a binding site for cyanate, which acts as an inhibitor, has been located, whereas for carbon dioxide, depending on the conformation of the protein environment, either a different binding site or no binding site has been found. In the latter case, carbon dioxide diffuses barrierless to the zinc-bound oxygen, and then a weakly bound bicarbonate complex is formed. The formed complex is characterized by a long C-O bond to the zinc-bound hydroxide. The nature of the calculated stationary points was verified by determination of vibrational frequencies. Finally, the dissociation of the formed bicarbonate from zinc has been considered. Therefore, a water molecule was included in the QM zone of the QM/MM hybrid potential, and minimization yielded a pentacoordinated intermediate. From a potential energy scan, an activation energy of 6.2 kcal/mol for dissociation of bicarbonate from Zn has been found.

Attenuation of 19-9 antigen secretion in human colorectal carcinoma cell cultures by transfection with cDNA encoding novel ADP-ribosylation factor-like proteins

We have used cDNAs coding for novel ADP-ribosylation factor-like molecules (ARL184 and ARL184Delta) to alter 19-9 antigen glycoprotein secretion in cultured human colorectal carcinoma cells SW1116 by transfection and cloning. This ARL contains a lipophilic N-terminal with an isoleucyl and 3 leucyl residues, 4 functioning consensus sequence GTP binding sites, and 184 total aminoacyl residues. An ARL cDNA was also constructed deleting the codon for the N-terminal glycyl moiety. The resulting cell clones were shown by Northern blots to overexpress ARL mRNA. Electron microscopy-immunocytochemistry also indicated the overexpression of ARL granules subcellularly. Secretion of the tumor-associated 19-9 antigen into apical medium was decreased 3- to 5-fold and the secretion of TCA/PTA precipitable 3H-labeled glycoprotein was decreased by 34% in clone SW1116(ARL184)Delta. Western blot analyses of cell homogenates and media were in agreement with the secretion assays and showed a diminution of 170-200 kDa, 19-9, antigenicity in transfected cells and their media. Apical secretion of 19-9 antigen was diminished 14-fold in cells, SW1116 (ARL184)alpha, transfected with the complete ARL cDNA sequence, suggesting that the glycyl moiety may be required for maximal abatement. However, incorporation of label from [3H]myristate into 22-kDa bands of NP-40 extracts and ARL-antigenic molecules of parent cells was 3-fold greater than that in samples from the two transfectants; thus the transfected cells may not myristylate the overexpressed ARL efficiently. Notwithstanding the N-terminal glycyl moiety undergoing some other modification, we conclude that overexpression of this ARL is sufficient to generate a 19-9-deficient phenotype. These ARLs may eventually disrupt terminal oligosaccharide glycosylation, resulting in an apparent diminished exocytosis of 19-9 glycoprotein carriers by transfected and cloned cells.

Apical release of base-labile fatty acyl groups commensurate with stimulation of glycoprotein sialosyl Lewis(a) secretion in colorectal carcinoma cells

The rate of polarized secretion of a putative adhesion ligand, sialosyl Lewis(a) (19-9), by SW1116 colorectal carcinoma cells is stimulated at least 20-fold after pre-incubation with, and the incorporation of, retinoic acid (RA). In order to investigate the possible involvement of fatty acylation in the export of the epitope, purified ligands from carcinoma-cell membranes, membrane subfractions and media were analyzed during RA-induced secretion. Incorporation of radioactivity from (3H)palmitate into membrane subfractions and purified sialosyl Lewis(a) antigenic molecular species of M(r) > 150,000 (SiaLeams) was stimulated by RA treatment. Most of the intracellular lipid radioactivity which bound to solid-phase 19-9 antibody behaved chromatographically, either like ganglioside or like NH2 OH-labile acyl groups, but most of the (3H) bound to SiaLeams of post-incubation media behaved like base-labile fatty acyl groups, or free fatty acid. Release of base-labile lipid radioactivity after 3 hr (associated with antigen) was almost exclusively into the apical media of membrane inserts. Gas-liquid chromatography/mass spec. analyses of purified Sialeams revealed the presence of palmitate (16:0), as well as stearate (18:0) and oleate (18:1) fatty acyl groups. Our results suggest that fatty acylation of SiaLeams may be co-ordinated with alterations in glycosylation and participate in directing these molecules to the apical surface. Lipid analyses were consistent with ganglioside chaperonage of SiaLeams to the apical surface, where N-fatty-acylated gangliosides remain for the most part integrated into the bilayer, but some oxyester or thioester bonds may be cleaved to permit release of SiaLeams to the apical medium.

Repression of the Lewis fucosyl transferase by retinoic acid increases apical sialosyl Lewis(a) secretion in colorectal carcinoma cultures

The rate of polarised secretion of sialosyl Lewis(a)(19-9) molecular species (SiaLeams) by SW1116 colorectal carcinoma cells is stimulated at least ninefold by the presence of 3 microM retinoic acid (RA). In order to investigate the intracellular origins of this augmentation, carcinoma cell membranes, membrane subfractions, and media were studied to determine alterations in sialosyl Lewis(a) levels, oligosaccharide composition, and core structures accompanying the capacity to increase export of this epitope. We observed a nine- to twentyfold increase in sialosyl Lewis(a) epitope levels in a light membrane subfraction from RA-treated cells. Antigenic molecules of < 200,000 M(r) on acrylamide gradient gels were concentrated in two doublets in the apparent M(r) range 106,000-152,000 on Western blots. Carbohydrate analyses of oligosaccharides from SiaLeams of membrane subfractions and apical media indicated much higher fucose/mannose, fucose/sialic, fucose/sialosyl Lewis(a), fucose/total CHO, and (3H) fucose incorporation in control samples than RA samples. Western blots of samples from membrane subfractions and media indicated that, in contrast to the effect of RA on the sialosyl Lewis(a) epitope, RA treatment did not augment cysteine-rich, PDTRP, blood group H-2, blood group A, and EGF receptor-like region epitopes in the media. In addition, Northern blots using the Lewis fucosyl transferase (FTIII) cDNA showed a dramatic diminution of mRNA encoding FTIII but apparently unaltered levels of sialyl transferase (ST4) mRNA. Since subterminal fucosylation of lactosyl termini blocks terminal sialylation, we conclude that one mechanism of sialosyl Lewis(a) induction in this culture system is the lower expression of the Lewis fucosyl transferase mRNA. Therefore less subterminal fucosylation of GlcNAc permits the prior sialylation of terminal Gal beta 1-3 moieties at oligosaccharide termini destined for export from the Golgi.

Retinoic-acid-induced augmentation of molecular species carrying sialosyl Lewis(a) antigen in colorectal-carcinoma cell cultures

In order to study the effects of vitamin-A metabolites on long-term carcinoma-antigen secretion, colorectal-carcinoma cells SW1116 were cultured on membrane filters in totally synthetic media with 0 to 2.6 microM retinoic acid (RA). RA altered cell division, cell size and soluble-sialosyl Le(a) (S-Le(a) secretion and S-Le(a) accumulation within cells and apical-membrane domains. Cultures treated with RA for 10-12 days grew to lower cell densities (60% of controls) and contained more protein per cell (140% of controls). RA treated cells also had 5-fold higher levels of S-Le(a) in cells and secreted 9-fold more S-Le(a) into culture media assayed per 24 hr by (ELISA) 19-9 monoclonal antibody binding. As total media S-Le(a) increased, polarity of non-lipid S-Le(a) antigen secretion increased toward the interior (apical) media. High-performance thin-layer immunobinding showed that ganglioside S-Le(a) was higher in RA-fed cells, but could not be detected in apical media of RA-fed or control cells after 24 hr. Western blots indicated that non-lipid sialosyl Lewis(a) was bound to 150- to 180-kDA molecular species principally in cells, but 210- to 300-kDa molecular species appeared in the non-lipid extract of media. Thus, the above RA alterations, monitored by 3 immunochemical techniques, include up to 9-fold stimulation of "constitutive" 150- to 300-kDa sialosyl-Lewis(a) secretion, but ganglioside Lewis(a) is sorted differently and retained by apical membranes.

A high Mr factor in human blood which confers serum resistance on gonococci: some properties and synergism with CMP-NANA

A high relative molecular mass (M(r)) component which confers serum resistance on gonococci has been purified about 300-fold from a dialysed sonicate of human blood cells. Serum resistance conferred by the high M(r) factor (RIF), like that induced by cytidine-5' monophospho-N acetyl neuraminic acid (CMP-NANA), decreased when gonococci were incubated with neuraminidase. Also, the resistance-inducing activities of both high M(r) RIF and CMP-NANA were inhibited by CMP and inactivated at pH 4.0. These activities were not additive but synergistic. Neuraminidase decreased the activity of high M(r) RIF but not CMP-NANA. In tests with 14C CMP-NANA and gonococcal lipopolysaccharide, no sialyltransferase activity was detected, even in highly active samples of high M(r) RIF under conditions in which low activities of rat liver sialyltransferase were readily detected. Conversely, rat liver sialyltransferase was neither active in the RIF assay nor able to enhance the RIF activity of CMP-NANA. Nevertheless, high M(r) RIF greatly enhanced the sialyltransferase activity of a gonococcal extract; this enhancement suggests an explanation for the synergism between CMP-NANA and high M(r) RIF in inducing serum resistance in gonococci.

Biosynthesis of GM1b and similar neolactoseries gangliosides by a partially purified chicken skeletal muscle sialyltransferase. Effect of sphingomyelin and acetylcholine

An alpha 2----3 glycolipid galactosyl sialyltransferase (SAT3/4) has been partially purified from embryonic chicken skeletal muscle. It is preserved in 50 mM Hepes buffer (pH 6.8) containing 1% Triton CF-54 and 20% glycerol at -70 degrees C for a period of 6 months without loss of activity. The SAT3+4 preparation transfers sialic acid to nLcOse4Cer, nLcOse6Cer and GgOse4Cer with respective Km values of 1.4, 0.83 and 0.45 mM. The activity is stimulated 2-3-fold at high substrate concentration and 6-8-fold at low substrate concentration; 0.01 and 0.005 mumol for asialo GM1 and 0.025 and 0.01 mumol for other glycolipids in the presence of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) at an optimum concentration 0.75%. A higher concentration is inhibitory. SM from chicken muscle is more effective than that from bovine brain and the stimulation is qualitatively proportional to that of the saturated fatty acyl content of SM. Free fatty acids (palmitic and stearic), their sodium salts, other choline compounds including choline chloride, phosphorylcholine and acetylcholine either do not have any effect or are inhibitory. Acetylcholine, even in the presence of SM and PC, is strongly inhibitory (70%).

Monosialoganglioside biosynthesis by subcellular membranes of rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines differing in metastatic potential

We found that rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) subcellular membranes contain sialyltransferase activities for LcOse4Cer and GgOse4Cer acceptors. Chromatographic analyses and neuraminidase lability of the sialyltransferase products indicated that the principal site of sialylation was the non-reducing terminal galactosyl moiety. In order to control for the effects of cell density in culture, metastatic S4T18 RMS cells and nonmetastatic F9-4/21 RMS cells were harvested at 2 X 10(4) to 6 X 10(4) per cm2 prior to analyses. Irrespective of metastatic potential, we found that sialyltransferase-specific activities were influenced by cell densities. F9-4/21 cells, for example, at a density of 6 X 10(4), produced membranes with sialyltransferase-specific activities to LcOse4Cer 1.9-fold higher than cells at 2.1 X 10(4)/cm2. Metastatic potential (predetermined in vivo) appeared to be correlated with an accelerated effect of cell density on the sialyltransferase activity to LcOse4Cer. Metastatic S4T18 cells at 6.3 X 10(4)/cm2 yielded membranes with sialyltransferase-specific activities 5.4-fold higher than membranes from cells at 1.9 X 10(4)/cm2. Conversely, fucosyltransferase activities in the presence of LcOse4Cer were highest in non-metastatic F9-4/21 cells at low cell densities. Quantitative analyses of monosialoganglioside fractions of RMS cells were in agreement with the sialyl-transferase studies. HPLC and HPTLC analyses demonstrated the presence of glucosamine-containing monosialoganglioside with Rf identical with the radioactive products of LcOse4Cer sialylation, which increased 4.5-fold on a per mg protein basis as cell densities increased in S4T18 cells in culture from 1.9 X 10(4)/cm2 to 6.3 X 10(4)/cm2. Plasma membrane marker Na+, K+, ATPase-specific activity also increased in RMS metastatic cells in a manner comparable to that described for the sialyl-transferase activity to LcOse4Cer. Our results suggest that metastatic potential is expressed in the rate of sialylation at specific membrane sites of RMS intercellular contact. We propose a process of selection for metastasis whereby specific cell surface non-reducing galactosyl termini are recognized by intercellular transferases and lectins in the primary tumor, and the corresponding labile sialylated sites (on disseminated cells) are recognized by host neuraminidases.

Ganglioside inhibition of (125I)-plasmin binding to colorectal carcinoma cells

The pre-incubation of human colorectal carcinoma cells SW 1116 with 25 to 100 uM purified gangliosides resulted in 35-60% inhibition of specific (125I)-plasmin binding to the cell surface. After 5 to 6 days in culture, tumor cells were pre-incubated at 4 degrees for 1 to 4 h followed by post-incubation with (125I)-plasmin by techniques previously described. At 25 uM the capacity for inhibition of plasmin binding was GT1b greater than GQ1b greater than or equal to GD1a greater than GM1 less than or equal to GgOse 4Cer. Thus a terminal sialyl moiety appears to be necessary (p less than 0.05) although exogenous N-acetyl neuraminic acid was ineffective (p greater than 0.05), indicating a role for the lipid portion of the ganglioside. Other (glyco)lipids such as sphingosine, fucolipid H-1 and sulfatide were without significant effect. The inhibition could not be reversed by the presence of 10 mM Ca+2, EDTA, pre-treatment of the cell with carboxypeptidase or pretreatment of plasmin with neuraminidases. The inhibition was however reversed by post-incubation in control medium without exogenous ganglioside. Cell counts determined prior to, and after ganglioside incubation showed that the effect was not due to cell death or detachment from the culture surface. The dissociation constant for (125I)-plasmin binding was 5.6 x 10(-8) M (700,000 sites/cell), but in the presence of trisialoganglioside (GT1b), Scatchard plots suggested diversification of binding sites with 280,000 sites/cell at Kd 2.6 x 10(-8) M and 820,000 sites/cell at Kd 2.1 x 10(-7) M. Another interpretation of the Scatchard plot in the presence of ganglioside was that the glycolipid imposed negative cooperativity on plasmin binding to the cell surface. These results suggest that certain gangliosides can affect tumor cell invasiveness by altering protease binding to the cell surface.