Characterization of the carbohydrate moiety of Clerodendron trichotomum lectins. Its structure and reactivity toward plant lectins

Solubility-insolubility interconversion of sophoragrin, a mannose/glucose-specific lectin in Sophora japonica (Japanese pagoda tree) bark, regulated by the sugar-specific interaction

Sophoragrin, a mannose/glucose-specific lectin in Sophora japonica (Japanese pagoda tree) bark, was the first lectin found to show self-aggregation that is dependent on the sugar concentration accompanying the interconversion between solubility and insolubility [Ueno, Ogawa, Matsumoto and Seno (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 3146-3153]. The interconversion is regulated by the concentrations of Ca(2+) and specific sugars: mannose, glucose or sucrose. The specific glycotopes for sophoragrin were found in the sophoragrin subunit and an endogenous galactose-specific lectin, B-SJA-I (bark S. japonica agglutinin I), and the lectin subunit that binds to the glycotope was identified by photoaffinity glycan probes. Remarkably, the insoluble polymer of sophoragrin is dissociated by interaction with B-SJA-I into various soluble complexes. Based on these results, self-aggregation of sophoragrin was shown to be a unique homopolymerization due to the sugar-specific interaction. An immunostaining study indicated that sophoragrin localizes mainly in vacuoles of parenchymal cells coincidently with B-SJA-I. These results indicate that sophoragrin can sequester endogenous glycoprotein ligands via sugar-specific interactions, thus providing new insights into the occurrence and significance of the intravacuolar interaction shown by a legume lectin.

The Tn antigen-specific lectin from ground ivy is an insecticidal protein with an unusual physiology

Leaves of ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) contain a lectin (called Gleheda) that is structurally and evolutionary related to the classical legume lectins. Screening of a population of wild plants revealed that Gleheda accounts for more than one-third of the total leaf protein in some clones, whereas it cannot be detected in other clones growing in the same environment. Gleheda is predominantly expressed in the leaves where it accumulates during early leaf maturation. The lectin is not uniformly distributed over the leaves but exhibits a unique localization pattern characterized by an almost exclusive confinement to a single layer of palisade parenchyma cells. Insect feeding trials demonstrated that Gleheda is a potent insecticidal protein for larvae of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Because Gleheda is not cytotoxic, it is suggested that the insecticidal activity is linked to the carbohydrate-binding specificity of the lectin, which as could be demonstrated by agglutination assays with different types of polyagglutinable human erythrocytes is specifically directed against the Tn antigen structure (N-acetylgalactosamine O-linked to serine or threonine residues of proteins).

Leaves of the Lamiaceae species Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy) contain a lectin that is structurally and evolutionary related to the legume lectins

A novel lectin has been isolated and cloned from leaves of Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy), a typical representative of the plant family Lamiaceae. Biochemical analyses indicated that the G. hederacea agglutinin (Gleheda) is a tetrameric protein consisting of four subunits pairwise linked through an interchain disulphide bridge and exhibits a preferential specificity towards N-acetylgalactosamine. Cloning of the corresponding gene and molecular modeling of the deduced sequence demonstrated that Gleheda shares high sequence similarity with the legume lectins and exhibits the same overall fold and three-dimensional structure as the classical legume lectins. The identification of a soluble and active legume lectin ortholog in G. hederacea not only indicates that the yet unclassified Lamiaceae lectins belong to the same lectin family as the legume lectins, but also sheds a new light on the specificity, physiological role and evolution of the classical legume lectins.

Porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase shows binding activity toward N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins

Porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase was shown by interaction analyses using a resonance mirror detector and alpha-amylase-immobilized Sepharose to bind with glycoproteins possessing N-glycans but not O-linked mucin-type glycans. Direct binding of three types of N-glycans to the alpha-amylase was demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance. Binding with biotin-polymer sugar probes revealed that the alpha-amylase has affinity to alpha-mannose, alpha-N-acetylneuraminic acid, and beta-N-acetyllactosamine, which are components of N-glycans. The binding of glycoproteins or carbohydrates enhanced the enzyme activity, indicating that the recognition site for N-glycans is different from its catalytic site. The binding activity was unique to porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase and was not observed for alpha-amylase from saliva, wheat, and fungus.

Screening of a unique lectin from 16 cultivable mushrooms with hybrid glycoprotein and neoproteoglycan probes and purification of a novel N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectin from Oudemansiella platyphylla fruiting body

Hybrid glycoprotein and neoproteoglycan probes were prepared by coupling various glycoproteins or polysaccharides to peroxidase or biotinyl bovine serum albumin, respectively. Lectins recognizable by the neoglycoconjugate probes were extracted from 16 cultivable mushrooms. Dot-blot assay revealed five extracts to be reactive with only hybrid glycoprotein probes, but others also reacted with neoproteoglycan probes. According to the reactivity pattern with probe screening, the one lectin from Oudemansiella platyphylla extract (OPL) bound best with asialotransferrin-- and asialoagalactotransferrin--peroxidase probes and was isolated using an asialotransferrin column, but it did not bind with other hybrid glycoprotein or neoproteoglycan probes. OPL, consisting of two polypeptides with high homology in the N-terminal amino acid sequences, exhibited weak hemagglutinating activity. Purified OPL specifically bound the beta-GlcNAc probe among various biotinylated polymeric sugar probes, while it exhibited essentially the same binding specificity toward neoglycoconjugate probes as that of the crude extract, showing a preference for the asialobiantennary complex type of N-linked glycans. These results indicate that the neoglycoconjugate probes are valuable in lectin screening.

Structural studies of the glycopeptides of B-chain of cinnamomin--a type II ribosome-inactivating protein by nuclear magnetic resonance

Cinnamomin is a plant type II ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) isolated from the seeds of Cinnamomum camphora. It consists of two nonidentical polypeptide chains (A- and B-chain) held together through one disulfide linkage. Its A- and B-chain contain 0.3% and 3.9% sugars respectively. The B-chain of cinnamomin was digested by pronase E and then the liberated glycopeptides were separated from non-glycopeptides by gel filtration chromatography on a Bio-Gel P-4 column. Three crude glycopeptides were obtained by continuing chromatography over anion-exchange resin (AG1-X2) in the buffer of 2% pyridine-acetic acid (pH 8.3) with a polygradient elution system. Through further purification by the gel filtration chromatography and HPLC, three major glycopeptides, GP1, GP2 and GP3 were obtained. Mainly by two-dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) including TOCSY, DQF-COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC, their primary structures were analyzed as: Man\balpha1,3Man\balpha1,6(Man\balpha1,3)(Xyl\bbeta1,2)Man\bbeta1,4GlcNAc\bbeta1,4GlcNAc\bbeta1-(Gly-)Asn-Asn-Thr(GP1), Man\balpha1,6(Man\balpha1,3)(Xyl\bbeta1,2)Man\bbeta1,4GlcNAc\bbeta1,4(Fuc\balpha1,3)GlcNAc\bbeta1-Asn-Ala-Thr(GP2),Man\balpha1,6(Man\balpha1,3)Man\balpha1,6(Man\balpha 1,2 Man\balpha1,3)Man\bbeta1,4GlcNAc\bbeta1,4GlcNAc\bbeta1-(Ala-)Asn-Gly-Thr(GP3).

N-glycoprotein biosynthesis in plants: recent developments and future trends

N-glycosylation is a major modification of proteins in plant cells. This process starts in the endoplasmic reticulum by the co-translational transfer of a precursor oligosaccharide to specific asparagine residues of the nascent polypeptide chain. Processing of this oligosaccharide into high-mannose-type, paucimannosidic-type, hybrid-type or complex-type N-glycans occurs in the secretory pathway as the glycoprotein moves from the endoplasmic reticulum to its final destination. At the end of their maturation, some plant N-glycans have typical structures that differ from those found in their mammalian counterpart by the absence of sialic acid and the presence of beta(1,2)-xylose and alpha( 1,3)-fucose residues. Glycosidases and glycosyltransferases that respectively catalyse the stepwise trimming and addition of sugar residues are generally considered as working in a co-ordinated and highly ordered fashion to form mature N-glycans. On the basis of this assembly line concept, fast progress is currently made by using N-linked glycan structures as milestones of the intracellular transport of proteins along the plant secretory pathway. Further developments of this approach will need to more precisely define the topological distribution of glycosyltransferases within a plant Golgi stack. In contrast with their acknowledged role in the targeting of lysosomal hydrolases in mammalian cells, N-glycans have no specific function in the transport of glycoproteins into the plant vacuole. However, the presence of N-glycans, regardless of their structures, is necessary for an efficient secretion of plant glycoproteins. In the biotechnology field, transgenic plants are rapidly emerging as an important system for the production of recombinant glycoproteins intended for therapeutic purposes, which is a strong motivation to speed up research in plant glycobiology. In this regard, the potential and limits of plant cells as a factory for the production of mammalian glycoproteins will be illustrated.

Identification of the major allergens in wheat flour responsible for baker's asthma

Baker's asthma, a typical occupational allergic disease, is a serious problem in the food industries. In this study, purification and identification of major allergens recognized by IgEs in sera of allergic patients were performed. Major immunoreactive proteins were purified from the albumin fraction by gel filtration on a Toyopearl HW-50 column followed by reverse-phase HPLC. The N-terminal amino acid sequences and molecular masses measured by MS indicated that the major immunoreactive proteins are members of the alpha-amylase inhibitor family, 0.19 and 0.28. Significant leukotriene release by each purified protein was observed in cell-associated stimulation tests, suggesting in vivo activity of these antigens. Carbohydrate analyses of major allergens indicated that they are monoglycosylated but not N-glycosylated in spite of the presence of a potential N-glycosylation site. Recombinant 0.19 expressed in Escherichia coli showed the same reactivity with IgE as native wheat 0.19 in Western blotting and ELISA using methyl vinyl ether maleic anhydride co-polymer as an immobilizing reagent, suggesting that the allergenic epitopes are located in the peptide portions.

The carbohydrate moiety of the bermuda grass antigen BG60. New oligosaccharides of plant origin

BG60 is an important allergen of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) pollen, which causes allergic responses in human. It was suggested that its carbohydrate moiety may be relevant to allergic reaction (Su, S. N., Lau, G. X., Shu, P., Yang, S. Y., Huang, S. W., and Lee, Y. C. (1996) J. Allergy Clin. Immunol., in press). Therefore, the structure of the carbohydrate moiety in BG60 was investigated. The N-linked oligosaccharides were released from the glycopeptides of BG60 by digesting with a glycoamidase from sweet almond and reductively aminated with a fluorescent reagent, 2-aminopyridine. The mixture of pyridylaminated oligosaccharides were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using an octadecylsilyl (ODS) column. Five oligosaccharide fractions were isolated, and each fraction was found to be homogeneous by HPLC on an amide-silica column. The structure of each of the oligosaccharides was analyzed by the two-dimensional mapping technique (Tomiya, N., Awaya, J., Kurono, M., Endo, S., Arata, Y., and Takahashi, N. (1988) Anal. Biochem. 171, 73-90), in tandem with sequential exoglycosidase digestion. The two most abundant oligosaccharides, A and B, have an unusual structural feature, i.e. the presence of an L-Fuc alpha-(1,3)-linked to Asn-linked GlcNAc without a Xyl beta-(1,2)-linked to the branching Man (see below). To the best of our knowledge, these are the first such oligosaccharides found in plant glycoproteins.

Structures and contribution to the antigenicity of oligosaccharides of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen allergen Cry j I: relationship between the structures and antigenic epitopes of plant N-linked complex-type glycans

The oligosaccharide structures of Cry j I, a major allergenic glycoprotein of Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar, sugi), were analysed by 400 MHz 1H-NMR and two-dimensional sugar mapping analyses. The four major fractions comprised a series of biantennary complex type N-linked oligosaccharides that share a fucose/xylose-containing core and glucosamine branches including a novel structure with a nongalactosylated fucosylglucosamine branch. Rabbit polyclonal anti-Cry j I IgG antibodies cross-reacted with three different plant glycoproteins having the same or shorter N-linked oligosaccharides as Cry j I. ELISA and ELISA inhibition studies with intact glycoproteins, glycopeptides and peptides indicated that both anti-Cry j I IgGs and anti-Sophora japonica bark lectin II (B-SJA-II) IgGs included oligosaccharide-specific antibodies with different specificities, and that the epitopic structures against anti-Cry j I IgGs include a branch containing alpha 1-6 linked fucose and a core containing fucose/xylose, while those against anti-B-SJA-II IgGs include nonreducing terminal mannose residues. The cross-reactivities of human allergic sera to miraculin and Clerodendron Trichotomum lectin (CTA) were low, and inhibition studies suggested that the oligosaccharides on Cry j I contribute little or only conformationally to the reactivity of specific IgE antibodies.

ERK2-type mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and its substrates in postsynaptic density fractions from the rat brain

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and MAPK kinase (MAPKK) were detected by Western blotting in the synaptic fraction prepared from the rat brain. There were two bands immunoreactive to the anti-MAPK antiserum in the soluble, P2, synaptosome, and synaptic plasma membrane fractions. These immunoreactive bands possibly corresponded to extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2 (Boulton et al., 1991b), respectively. Only ERK2 was detected in the postsynaptic density (PSD) fraction. We then surveyed MAPK substrates in the synaptic fractions using purified Xenopus MAPK (ERK2-type MAPK), and found a number of MAPK substrates unique to the PSD fraction. Thus, ERK2 is present in the synapse, especially at the postsynaptic site, and it may play a role(s) in synaptic function via the phosphorylation of synapse-specific substrates. Developmental changes in ERK2 also supported its role in the synapse.

Immunogenicity of the N-glycans of peanut peroxidase

The three tryptic glycopeptides of cationic peanut peroxidase (C. PRX) and the sole one of anionic peanut peroxidase (A. PRX) were individually coupled to bovine serum albumin to raise antisera. The three categories of antibodies directed towards three N-glycans of C. PRX (anti-GLa, anti-GLb and anti-GLc) were isolated from antisera with glycan-conjugated ECH Sepharose 4B affinity columns and the distribution of epitopes on the N-glycans was investigated. The reactivity of anti-GLa, anti-GLb and anti-GLc is inhibited 25-40% by 1 M fucose, compared with a slight inhibition by N-acetylglycosamine and xylose. Mannose and galactose showed no inhibition to anti-GLa and only a slight inhibition to anti-GLb and anti-GLc. All of anti-GLa, anti-GLb and anti-GLc recognize A. PRX and horseradish peroxidase but do not recognize fetuin. Also, their reactivity is inhibited by bromelain by more than 70%. The three categories of antibodies present high homogeneity and appear to be directed mainly towards the core structure [Xyl] (Man)3 [Fuc] (GlcNAc)2. An effective and simple method to screen antibodies with carbohydrate specificities is described herein.

The oligosaccharides of the Fe(III)-Zn(II) purple acid phosphatase of the red kidney bean. Determination of the structure by a combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and selective enzymic degradation

Purple acid phosphatase of the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris (KBPase), a dimeric 110-kDa glycoprotein related to the mammalian purple acid phosphatases with a two-metal cluster at the active site contains five oligosaccharide side chains/monomer. The N-linked glycan structures were characterized by selective enzymic degradation in combination with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). The purified protein was cleaved by cyanogen bromide. One 30-kDa large methionine-free fragment required a further tryptic digest. The peptides were separated by HPLC and the glycosylated species were identified both by their heterogeneous mass spectra and by an immunoassay. None of the glycopeptides proved to have more than one glycosylation site. The composition of the carbohydrate moieties were calculated by comparing the mass spectra of the glycopeptides before and after enzymic deglycosylation. These results were complemented by data from a carbohydrate composition analysis. In four of the five peptides an alpha 1-3 fucose attached to the asparagine-linked N-acetylglucosamine prevented removal of the glycan by peptide N-glycosidase F; peptide N-glycosidase A removed all carbohydrates from the peptides. To reveal the sequence of the carbohydrate moiety including the linkage positions between the different saccharides, one of the glycopeptides was degraded by specific exoglycosidases. The enzymic degradations by these hydrolases were monitored by mass spectrometry of small aliquots taken at intervals during the reaction. The detailed structure of this one glycan in conjunction with the respective mass spectra and the composition analysis were used to infer the structure of the other four glycans. All glycans of the KBPase have a complex-type xylose-containing structure with four of the five having an additional fucose.

Structural analysis of the carbohydrate chains isolated from mistletoe (Viscum album) lectin I

Two glycopeptide fractions prepared from mistletoe (Viscum album) lectin I by Pronase digestion were fractioned by affinity chromatography on a concanavalin A-Sepharose column. With 400-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy, in conjunction with sugar analysis, the following oligosaccharide structures could be determined: two oligomannose-type glycans in the ratio 4:1, one containing six mannose and the other containing five mannose units, both with two 2-acetamido-2-deoxyglucose units. In addition, a mannotriosyl-->N,N'-diacetylchitobiose glycan containing a xylosyl group and an alpha-fucosyl group (1-->3)-linked to the 2-acetamido-2-deoxyglycosyl-1 residue, a common core element of many plant glycoproteins, was also observed.

Vitronectin diversity in evolution but uniformity in ligand binding and size of the core polypeptide

We isolated vitronectins from the plasma or sera of 14 animal species including mouse and rat by heparin affinity chromatography. They cross-reacted with anti-vitronectin antibody and their amino terminal sequences showed strong homology. They also promoted spreading of BHK cells and were bound to heparin and collagen in the same way. Therefore, these properties appear to be essential for vitronectin function. However, the apparent molecular weights of these vitronectins varied considerable from 59 to 78 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In addition, the number of bands also varied from 1 to 3. To search for the uniformity of vitronectin polypeptide, vitronectins were deglycosylated and examined by Ferguson plot analysis. The size of the polypeptide portion of vitronectins was estimated to range from 40 to 57 kDa which was 19-26 kDa smaller than original values. Supposing a possible cleavage site at 5-13 kDa far from the carboxyl terminus, all vitronectin polypeptides were speculated to be synthesized de novo in the size range of 50-57 kDa. Proteins reacting with anti-vitronectin antibody were also detected on the immunoblot of 13 more species including Drosophila and Physarum. Almost all of these vitronectin-like proteins showed marked species-specific variations in their apparent molecular weights from 51 to 96 kDa in SDS-PAGE.

1H-NMR structural determination of the N-linked carbohydrate chains on glycopeptides obtained from the bean lectin phytohemagglutinin

Phytohemagglutinin, the lectin of the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris, is a N-linked glycoprotein with one high-mannose-type and one xylose-containing oligosaccharide side chain per polypeptide. The high-mannose-type glycan is attached to Asn12 and the complex-type glycan to Asn60 [Sturm, A. & Chrispeels, M. J. (1986) Plant Physiol. 81, 320-322]. The structures of the oligosaccharides were elucidated from two glycopeptides obtained from the lectin by Pronase digestion, affinity chromatography on concanavalin-A--Sepharose and gel-filtration chromatography on a column of BioGel P-4. The N-linked glycan structures were investigated by 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy and were established to be: [formula; see text]

Studies on synthetic pathway of xylose-containing N-linked oligosaccharides deduced from substrate specificities of the processing enzymes in sycamore cells (Acer pseudoplatanus L.)

We measured the activities of alpha-1,3-mannosyl-glycoprotein beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, alpha-1,6-mannosyl-glycoprotein beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, beta-1,4-mannosyl-glycoprotein beta-1,2-xylosyltransferase and glycoprotein 3-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase in the Golgi fraction of suspension-cultured cells of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) using fluorescence-labelled oligosaccharides as acceptor substrates for these transferase reactions. The structures of the pyridylaminated oligosaccharides produced by these reactions were analyzed by two-dimensional sugar mapping using high-performance liquid chromatography. We demonstrated that (formula; see text) was processed to produce by these in vitro reactions. On the basis of these results, we discuss a biosynthetic pathway for xylose containing N-linked oligosaccharides in plant glycoproteins.

P400 protein is one of the major substrates for Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the postsynaptic density-enriched fraction isolated from rat cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum

Concanavalin A-binding glycoprotein with 250 K M(r) found in the postsynaptic density (PSD)-enriched preparation (or synaptic cytoskeleton) from rat cerebellum was identified with P400 protein from the physicochemical properties and enrichment in the cerebellum. Proteins homologous to the cerebellar 250 K M(r) protein occurred in the PSD-enriched preparations from rat cerebral cortex and from hippocampus, although the contents in the preparations were very low. The 250 K M(r) proteins in the PSD-enriched preparations from cerebellum and from cerebrum were highly phosphorylated by Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II. The protein of synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) and PSD-enriched fractions prepared from cerebral cortex were not phosphorylated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase endogenous to the fractions, whereas the protein from cerebellum was done in SPM and PSD-enriched fractions. The facts suggest that P400 or P400-like protein is closely associated with Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase II in the PSD-enriched preparations, especially in the preparation from cerebral cortex. Phosphorylation of the protein by Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase II may play an important role in the postsynaptic function in both cerebellum and at least in some areas of cerebrum.

In vitro hydrolysis of oligomannose-type sugar chains by an alpha-1,2-mannosidase from microsomes of developing castor bean cotyledons

An alpha-1,2-mannosidase involved in the processing of N-linked oligosaccharides was prepared from the microsomal fraction of developing castor bean cotyledons. The processing alpha-mannosidase was solubilized with 1.0% Triton X-100 and purified by ion-exchange chromatography followed by two gel filtration steps. The enzyme obtained could convert Man9GlcNAc2-PA to Man5GlcNAc2-PA, but this enzyme was inactive with Man5GlcNAc2-PA, Man4GlcNAc2-PA, and p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside. The enzyme was optimally active between pH 5.5-6.0. The processing mannosidase was inhibited by deoxymannojirimycin, EDTA, and Tris ions but not by swainsonine. Structural analyses of the mannose-trimming intermediates produced by the alpha-mannosidase revealed that specific intermediates were formed during conversion of Man9GlcNAc2-PA to Man5GlcNAc2-PA.

Heterogeneity of the complex N-linked oligosaccharides at specific glycosylation sites of two secreted carrot glycoproteins

The N-linked glycans from the 52/54-kDa medium protein and cell wall beta-fructosidase, two glycoproteins secreted by carrot suspension culture cells, were characterized. Carrot cells were labelled with [3H]glucosamine or [3H]fucose. The 52/54-kDa medium protein was isolated from the culture medium and beta-fructosidase from cell walls. The purified proteins were digested with trypsin and glycopeptides were isolated and sequenced. Glycans obtained from individual glycopeptides were separated by gel filtration chromatography and characterized by concanavalin A chromatography, by treatments with exoglycosidases and by sugar composition analysis. The 52/54-kDa medium protein and cell wall beta-fructosidase have one high-mannose-type glycan similar to those from yeast and animal glycoproteins. In addition, the 52/54-kDa medium protein has three complex-type and cell wall beta-fructosidase two complex-type glycans per polypeptide. The complex-type glycans isolated from individual glycosylation sites are fairly large and very heterogeneous. The smallest of these glycans has the structure [Xyl](Man)3[Fuc](GlcNAc]2Asn (square brackets indicating branching) whereas the larger ones carry additional sugars like terminal N-acetylglucosamine and possibly rhamnose and arabinose in the case of the 52/54-kDa medium protein and only arabinose in the case of cell wall beta-fructosidase. These terminal sugars are linked to the alpha-mannose residues of the glycan cores. The 52/54-kDa medium protein is secreted with large and homogeneous complex glycans, their heterogeneity originates from slow processing after secretion. The complex glycans from cell wall beta-fructosidase are processed before the enzyme is integrated into the cell wall.

The (1----3)-linked alpha-L-fucosyl group of the N-glycans of the Wistaria floribunda lectins is recognized by a rabbit anti-serum

An increasing number of plant glycoproteins have been shown to possess a characteristic N-glycan component containing a beta-(1----2)-linked D-xylose unit on the core beta-D-mannose unit, and an alpha-(1----3)-linked L-fucose unit on the asparagine-linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose unit. Wistaria floribunda seeds have two distinct lectins; the erythroagglutinin, WFA, and the lymphocyte mitogen, WFM. Earlier studies indicated that both lectins belong to such a class of glycoproteins. We now report the complete structural analysis of Pronase glycopeptides derived from WFA. On the basis of chemical treatment of the glycopeptides, carbohydrate composition and methylation analysis of fluorescein-labeled glycopeptides, and their susceptibility to specific exoglycosidases, the structure of the WFA glycan was found to be, alpha-D-Manp-(1----6)-[beta-D-Xylp-(1----2)]- [alpha-D-Manp(1----3)]-beta-D-Manp-(1----4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-[ alpha-L- Fucp-(1----3)]-beta-D-Glcp-NAc-(1----N). Quantitative studies on the interaction of the original fluorescein-labeled glycopeptide and its specific degradation products with a rabbit anti-glycan antibody, developed against WFM, showed that the (1----3)-linked alpha-L-fucose unit is essential for interaction. Loss of the terminal alpha-D-mannosyl groups resulted in decreased, though detectable binding.

Direct carbohydrate analysis of glycoproteins electroblotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride membrane from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel

A procedure for the carbohydrate analysis of glycoproteins electrotransferred to a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane is described. The glycoproteins (plant lectins, transferrin, and vitronectin) were first separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and then electroblotted onto a membrane. Each of the glycoprotein bands visualized by staining with Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 was excised from the membrane and subjected to direct hydrolysis either in 2.5 M trifluoroacetic acid at 100 degrees C for 6 h for neutral sugars and hexosamines, or in 0.05 M H2SO4 at 80 degrees C for 1 h for sialic acids. The hydrolysate obtained was analyzed for neutral sugars, hexosamines, and sialic acids independently by three different systems of high-performance liquid chromatography. The analytical values were reproducible with reasonable accuracy and agreed with those expected with recoveries of 57-66%. The method was successfully applied to a mannose-specific lectin of Sophora japonica bark, which is composed of four different subunits that aggregate sugar specifically. Because the four subunits could be separated by SDS-PAGE alone, the method proved useful for determining their carbohydrate compositions. Three of them were shown to contain carbohydrates typical of N-linked oligosaccharides of plant origin, which agreed well with the results of the binding assay carried out on a membrane using various horseradish peroxidase-labeled lectins.

Structure and biosynthesis of the xylose-containing carbohydrate moiety of rice alpha-amylase

Suspension-cultured cells of rice secrete alpha-amylase into the culture medium. It has been shown that the mature form of the alpha-amylase contains xylose-bearing N-linked oligosaccharide: (formula; see text) We demonstrate that suspension-cultured cells of rice secrete alpha-amylase containing oligomannose-type oligosaccharides in the presence of 1-deoxymannojirimycin or tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane. On the other hand, alpha-amylase purified from germinated rice seedlings contains several kinds of oligomannose-type and N-acetyllactosamine-type oligosaccharides. The processing pathway of oligosaccharide moieties in rice cells is discussed on the basis of a comparison of these oligosaccharides structures.

Diversities in animal vitronectins. Differences in molecular weight, immunoreactivity and carbohydrate chains

Six animal plasma vitronectins, human, horse, porcine, bovine, rabbit and chicken vitronectins purified by a novel method using two successive heparin affinity columns, showed marked diversity in molecular weight, immunoreactivity and carbohydrate composition. Chicken vitronectin had a distinctly different amino acid composition from the mammalian vitronectins; and bovine vitronectin was the only one to contain N-glycolylneuraminic acid as well as N-acetylneuraminic acid. Binding studies with horseradish peroxidase-labelled lectins indicated that all the vitronectins contained complex-type, sialylated N-linked sugar chains and that only porcine vitronectin had a fucosylated sugar chain. D-Galactosamine determinations and binding studies with horseradish peroxidase-peanut lectin on native and asialovitronectins revealed that the mammalian vitronectins other than human vitronectin contained O-linked sugar chains with sialic acid, chicken vitronectin contained unsialylated chains, and human vitronectin contained neither. The results indicate that diversities in vitronectins are apparent in their molecular weights and glycosylations, especially in the number and structure of O-linked sugar chains.

Carbohydrate analysis of glycoproteins. A review

Many of the products prepared by biotechnological approaches, including recombinant genetic engineering, cell tissue culture, and monoclonal technologies, are glycoproteins. As little as five years ago, glycosylation was believed to play no significant role in the function of glycoproteins. Recent large scale testing of glycoprotein-based pharmaceuticals has indicated that both the extent and type of glycosylation can play a central role in glycoprotein activity. Although methods for compositional and sequence analysis of proteins and nucleic acids are generally available, similar methods have yet to be developed for carbohydrate oligomers and polymers. This review focuses on new, developing methods for the analysis and sequencing of the carbohydrate portion of glycoproteins. Included are: (1) the release of oligosaccharides and hydrolysis of carbohydrate chains using enzymatic and chemical methods; (2) fractionation by LPLC, electrophoresis, HPLC, and lectin affinity chromatography; (3) detection through the preparation of derivatives or by new electrochemical methods; (4) analysis by spectroscopic methods, including MS and high-field NMR; and (5) their sequencing through the use of multiple, well-integrated techniques. The ultimate goal of the analytical approaches discussed is to firmly establish structure and, thus, permit the study of structure-function relationships and eventually to allow the intelligent application of carbohydrate remodeling techniques in the preparation of new glycoproteins.

Synthesis of four structural elements of xylose-containing carbohydrate chains from N-glycoproteins

The synthesis of the oligosaccharides beta-D-Xylp-(1----2)-beta-D-Manp-OMe (12), beta-D-Xylp-(1----2)-[alpha-D-Manp-(1----6)]-beta-D-Manp+ ++-OMe (17), beta-D-Xylp-(1----2)-[alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)]-beta-D-Manp+ ++-OMe (21), and beta-D-Xylp-(1----2)-[alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)] [alpha-D-Manp-(1----6)]-beta-D-Manp-OMe (25) is described. Methyl 3-O-benzyl-4,6-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-mannopyranoside (6) was prepared from the corresponding glucoepimer (4) by oxidation, followed by stereoselective reduction. Condensation of 6 with 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-xylopyranosyl bromide in the presence of mercuric cyanide gave a 1:9 mixture of methyl 3-O-benzyl-4,6-O-isopropylidene-2-O-(2,3,4- tri-O-acetyl-alpha- (7a) and -beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-beta-D-mannopyranoside (7), and then 7 was converted into the acetylated disaccharide-glycoside 11. Regioselective mannosylation, with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide, at position 6 of deisopropylidenated 7 (8), using mercuric bromide as a promoter, afforded the trisaccharide-glycoside derivative 13, which was transformed into the acetylated trisaccharide-glycoside 16. The disaccharide derivative 10, obtained from 8, and the trisaccharide derivative 15, obtained from 13, were glycosylated at position 3 with O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)trichloroacetimidate (19), using trimethylsilyl triflate as a promoter, giving rise to acetylated tri- (20) and tetra-saccharide (24) derivatives, respectively. O-Deacetylation of 11, 16, 20, and 24 gave 12, 17, 21, and 25, respectively.

Correct glycosylation, Golgi-processing, and targeting to protein bodies of the vacuolar protein phytohemagglutinin in transgenic tobacco

We used a heterologous system (transgenic Nicotiana tabacum L.) to investigate the processing, assembly and targeting of phytohemagglutinin (PHA), the lectin of the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. In the bean, this glycoprotein accumulates in the protein bodies of the storage parenchyma cells in the cotyledons, and each polypeptide has a high-mannose glycan attached to Asn12 and a complex glycan on Asn60. The gene for PHA-L, dlec2, with 1200 basepairs (bp) 5' upstream and 1600 bp 3' downstream from the coding sequence was introduced into tobacco using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (T. Voelker et al., 1987, EMBO J. 6, 3571-3577). Examination of thin sections of tobacco seeds by immunocytochemistry with antibodies against PHA showed that PHA-L accumulated in the amorphous matrix of the protein bodies in the embryo and endosperm. This localization was confirmed using a non-aqueous method to isolate the protein bodies from mature tobacco seeds. The biochemical analysis of tobacco PHA indicated that the signal peptide had been correctly removed, and that the polypeptides formed 6.4 S oligomers; tobacco PHA had a high-mannose glycan at Asn12 and a complex glycan at Asn60. The presence of the complex glycan shows that transport to the protein bodies was mediated by the Golgi complex. At seed maturity, a substantial portion of the PHA-L remained associated with the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex, as indicated by fractionation experiments using aqueous media and the presence of two high-mannose glycans on some of the polypeptides. Taken together, these data show that insertion of the nascent PHA into the endoplasmic reticulum, signal peptide processing, glycosylation, assembly into oligomers, glycan modification in the Golgi, and targeting of the protein occur faithfully in this heterologous system, although transport may not be as efficient as in bean cotyledons.

Transport and posttranslational processing of the vacuolar enzyme α-mannosidase in jack-bean cotyledons

α-Mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24) is a vacuolar enzyme which occurs abundantly in the cotyledons of the jack-bean (Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC). The mature enzyme is a tetramer with two polypeptides each of relative molecular mass (Mr) 66000 and Mr 44000. The enzyme has an interesting molecular structure because in its native form, it does not bind to concanavalin A (ConA) in spite of the presence of a high-mannose glycan. α-Mannosidase is synthesized in the developing cotyledons of jack-beans at the same time as the abundant proteins canavalin and ConA. The enzyme is synthesized as a precursor which has an Mr of 110000 and is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Antibodies against the deglycosylated subunits cross-react with the Mr-110000 precursor. Processing of the precursor to the constituent polypeptides occurs posttranslationally, probably in the protein bodies. Immunocytochemical evidence shows that α-mannosidase is present in the ER and the Golgi complex of developing cells, and accumulates in the protein bodies.Labeling with [(3)H]glucosamine shows that after processing only the Mr-66000 polypeptide has glucosamine-containing glycans. The synthesis of these glycans is inhibited by tunicamycin, indicating that they are asparagine-linked oligosaccharides. Analysis of the glycans shows that there is a large glycan that is retained by ConA and a small glycan that is not retained by ConA. The large glycan is only partially sensitive to α-mannosidase because of the presence of a terminal glucose residue. Cross-reaction of the large subunit with an antiserum directed against small, complex glycans of plant glycoproteins indicates that this polypeptide probably has a xylose-containing glycan. Pulse-chase experiments carried out in the presence of tunicamycin show that the presence of glycans is not required for transport of α-mannosidase out of the ER-Golgi system.