A new member of the GP138 multigene family implicated in cell interactions in Dictyostelium discoideum

Glycopeptidome of a heavily N-glycosylated cell surface glycoprotein of Dictyostelium implicated in cell adhesion

Genetic analysis has implicated the cell surface glycoprotein gp130 in cell interactions of the social amoeba Dictyostelium, and information about the utilization of the 18 N-glycosylation sequons present in gp130 is needed to identify critical molecular determinants of its activity. Various glycomics strategies, including mass spectrometry of native and derivatized glycans, monosaccharide analysis, exoglycosidase digestion, and antibody binding, were applied to characterize a nonanchored version secreted from Dictyostelium. s-gp130 is modified by a predominant Man(8)GlcNAc(4) species containing bisecting and intersecting GlcNAc residues and additional high-mannose N-glycans substituted with sulfate, methyl-phosphate, and/or core alpha 3-fucose. Site mapping confirmed the occupancy of 15 sequons, some variably, and glycopeptide analysis confirmed 14 sites and revealed extensive heterogeneity at most sites. Glycopeptide glycoforms ranged from Man(6) to Man(9), GlcNAc(0-2) (peripheral), Fuc(0-2) (including core alpha 3 and peripheral), (SO(4))(0-1), and (MePO(4))(0-1), which represented elements of virtually the entire known cellular N-glycome as inferred from prior metabolic labeling and mass spectrometry studies. gp130, and a family of 14 related predicted glycoproteins whose polypeptide sequences are rapidly diverging in the Dictyostelium lineage, may contribute a functionally important shroud of high-mannose N-glycans at the interface of the amoebae with each other, their predators and prey, and the soil environment.

A novel cryptic plasmid pBMB175 from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis YBT-1765

A new cryptic plasmid pBMB175 from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis YBT-1765 was isolated and characterized. Sequence analysis showed that pBMB175 (14,841 bp and 31% GC content) contained at least eighteen putative open reading frames (ORFs), among which nine ORFs displayed the homology with the hypothetical proteins in rolling-circle replication plasmid pGI3. Deletion analysis revealed that the pBMB175 minireplicon located in a novel 1,151 bp fragment. This fragment contains ORF7 coding sequence, which encodes a protein (Rep175, 149 amino acids [aa]) indispensable for plasmid replication. Rep175 has no significant homology with known function proteins. Furthermore, a putative double-strand origin (dso), having no DNA similarity with characterized dso of other replicon so far, was identified in this minireplicon fragment. These features showed that pBMB175 could be placed into a new plasmid family.

Glycoprotein gp130 of dictyostelium discoideum influences macropinocytosis and adhesion

Glycoprotein gp130, found on the plasma membrane of Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae, was postulated previously to play a role in phagocytosis. The gene for gp130 was cloned and when translated, yielded a 768 amino acid preproprotein of 85.3 kDa. It had nearly 40% similarity to the 138 kDa family of glycoproteins implicated in sexual cell fusion during macrocyst formation in D. discoideum. The difference between the calculated size and observed M(r) of 130 kDa on protein gels likely was due to N-glycosylation that was confirmed by lectin blots. Consistent with its surface-exposure, an antibody raised against recombinant protein stained the plasma membrane of D. discoideum amoebae. Gp130 and its transcripts were high during axenic growth of cells, but relatively low during growth on bacteria. The gene for gp130 was disrupted and cell lines lacking the glycoprotein were efficient phagocytes, indicating that gp130 was dispensable for phagocytosis. Gp130-null cells were similar in size to parent DH1 cells, had enhanced macropinocytosis and grew faster to higher densities. They also exhibited weaker cell-substrate adhesion but displayed greater cell-cell cohesion. Collectively, the data indicated that gp130 influenced macropinocytosis and played a role in adhesion during vegetative growth.

Total tetra knockout of GP138 multigene family implicated in cell interactions in Dictyostelium discoideum

The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum reproduces sexually under submerged and dark conditions. A cell surface glycoprotein gp138 has been identified as a target molecule for cell fusion-blocking antibodies, and is considered to be indispensable for the sexual cell fusion in this organism. Currently, four isoforms of gp138, DdFRP1alpha, DdFRP1beta, DdFRP2, and DdFRP3, are known. Genes encoding the latter three isoforms, GP138C, GP138A, and GP138B, have been isolated, comprising a GP138 multigene family. Here we isolated the fourth GP138 gene, GP138D, encoding DdFRP1alpha. These GP138 genes were found to cluster in a tandem array on chromosome 5, being bordered by two GP138-like sequences highly homologous to them but truncated. To clarify functional relationships among the GP138 family members, the entire GP138 region was deleted by a single knockout. Northern hybridization and western immuno-blotting analyses confirmed complete losses of GP138 mRNA and DdFRPs in the knockout strains, indicating that there are no more GP138 genes. Unexpectedly, however, the GP138-null mutants were fully potent for both sexual cell fusion and subsequent development. In addition, the original fusion-blocking antibodies detected a cell surface protein of close electrophoretic mobility to gp138 in the knockouts, suggesting the possibility that the actual target molecule of the fusion-blocking antibodies was not DdFRPs but this unidentified component. Since GP138-null mutants exhibited no obvious defects either in growth or asexual development, the real function of the GP138 family is unknown. Nevertheless, the expression levels of other developmental genes such as acaA, csaA, cotA-C, and spiA appeared to be altered in the GP138-null mutants. Therefore, it seems to have a non-critical but some role(s) during asexual development.