Role of Glycans on Key Cell Surface Receptors That Regulate Cell Proliferation and Cell Death

Selective fluorescent labeling of cellular proteins and its biological applications

Proteins, which are ubiquitous in cells and critical to almost all cellular functions, are indispensable for life. Fluorescence imaging of proteins is key to understanding their functions within their native milieu, as it provides insights into protein localization, dynamics, and trafficking in living systems. Consequently, the selective labeling of target proteins with fluorophores has emerged as a highly active research area, encompassing bioorganic chemistry, chemical biology, and cell biology. Various methods for selectively labeling proteins with fluorophores in cells and tissues have been established and are continually being developed to visualize and characterize proteins. This review highlights research findings reported since 2018, with a focus on the selective labeling of cellular proteins with small organic fluorophores and their biological applications in studying protein-associated biological events. We also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each labeling approach for their utility in living systems.

Design and synthesis of a shikimoyl-functionalized cationic di-block copolypeptide for cancer cell specific gene transfection

Targeted and efficient gene delivery systems hold tremendous potential for the improvement of cancer therapy by enabling appropriate modification of biological processes. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a novel cationic di-block copolypeptide, incorporating homoarginine (HAG) and shikimoyl (LSA) functionalities (HDA-b-PHAGm-b-PLSAn), tailored for enhanced gene transfection specifically in cancer cells. The di-block copolypeptide was synthesized via sequential N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) ring-opening polymerization (ROP) techniques and its physicochemical properties were characterized, including molecular weight, dispersity, secondary conformation, size, morphology, and surface charge. In contrast to the cationic poly-L-homoarginine, we observed a significantly reduced cytotoxic effect of this di-block copolypeptide due to the inclusion of the shikimoyl glyco-polypeptide block, which also added selectivity in internalizing particular cells. This di-block copolypeptide was internalized via mannose-receptor-mediated endocytosis, which was investigated by competitive receptor blocking with mannan. We evaluated the transfection efficiency of the copolypeptide in HEK 293T (noncancerous cells), MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer cells), and RAW 264.7 (dendritic cells) and compared it with commonly employed transfection agents (Lipofectamine). Our findings demonstrate that the homoarginine and shikimoyl-functionalized cationic di-block copolypeptide exhibits potent gene transfection capabilities with minimal cytotoxic effects, particularly in cancer cells, while it is ineffective for normal cells, indicative of its potential as a promising platform for cancer cell-specific gene delivery systems. To evaluate this, we delivered an artificially designed miRNA-plasmid against Hsp90 (amiR-Hsp90) which upon successful transfection depleted the Hsp90 (a chaperone protein responsible for tumour growth) level specifically in cancerous cells and enforced apoptosis. This innovative approach offers a new avenue for the development of targeted therapeutics with an improved efficacy and safety profile in cancer treatment.

Glycosylation in cancer as a source of biomarkers

INTRODUCTION

Glycosylation, the process of glycan synthesis and attachment to target molecules, is a crucial and common post-translational modification (PTM) in mammalian cells. It affects the protein's hydrophilicity, charge, solubility, structure, localization, function, and protection from proteolysis. Aberrant glycosylation in proteins can reveal new detection and therapeutic Glyco-biomarkers, which help to improve accurate early diagnosis and personalized treatment. This review underscores the pivotal role of glycans and glycoproteins as a source of biomarkers in human diseases, particularly cancer.

AREAS COVERED

This review delves into the implications of glycosylation, shedding light on its intricate roles in cancer-related cellular processes influencing biomarkers. It is underpinned by a thorough examination of literature up to June 2024 in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar; concentrating on the terms: (Glycosylation[Title/Abstract]) OR (Glycan[Title/Abstract]) OR (glycoproteomics[Title/Abstract]) OR (Proteoglycans[Title/Abstract]) OR (Glycomarkers[Title/Abstract]) AND (Cancer[Title/Abstract]) AND ((Diagno*[Title/Abstract]) OR (Progno*[Title/Abstract])).

EXPERT OPINION

Glyco-biomarkers enhance early cancer detection, allow early intervention, and improve patient prognoses. However, the abundance and complex dynamic glycan structure may make their scientific and clinical application difficult. This exploration of glycosylation signatures in cancer biomarkers can provide a detailed view of cancer etiology and instill hope in the potential of glycosylation to revolutionize cancer research.

De Novo Glycan Display on Cell Surfaces Using HaloTag: Visualizing the Effect of the Galectin Lattice on the Lateral Diffusion and Extracellular Vesicle Loading of Glycosylated Membrane Proteins

Glycans cover the cell surface to form the glycocalyx, which governs a myriad of biological phenomena. However, understanding and regulating glycan functions is extremely challenging due to the large number of heterogeneous glycans that engage in intricate interaction networks with diverse biomolecules. Glycocalyx-editing techniques offer potent tools to probe their functions. In this study, we devised a HaloTag-based technique for glycan manipulation, which enables the introduction of chemically synthesized glycans onto a specific protein (protein of interest, POI) and concurrently incorporates fluorescent units to attach homogeneous, well-defined glycans to the fluorescence-labeled POIs. Leveraging this HaloTag-based glycan-display system, we investigated the influence of the interactions between Gal-3 and various N-glycans on protein dynamics. Our analyses revealed that glycosylation modulates the lateral diffusion of the membrane proteins in a structure-dependent manner through interaction with Gal-3, particularly in the context of the Gal-3-induced formation of the glycan network (galectin lattice). Furthermore, N-glycan attachment was also revealed to have a significant impact on the extracellular vesicle-loading of membrane proteins. Notably, our POI-specific glycan introduction does not disrupt intact glycan structures, thereby enabling a functional analysis of glycans in the presence of native glycan networks. This approach complements conventional glycan-editing methods and provides a means for uncovering the molecular underpinnings of glycan functions on the cell surface.

Native N-glycome profiling of single cells and ng-level blood isolates using label-free capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry

The development of reliable single-cell dispensers and substantial sensitivity improvement in mass spectrometry made proteomic profiling of individual cells achievable. Yet, there are no established methods for single-cell glycome analysis due to the inability to amplify glycans and sample losses associated with sample processing and glycan labeling. In this work, we present an integrated platform coupling online in-capillary sample processing with high-sensitivity label-free capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry for N-glycan profiling of single mammalian cells. Direct and unbiased quantitative characterization of single-cell surface N-glycomes are demonstrated for HeLa and U87 cells, with the detection of up to 100 N-glycans per single cell. Interestingly, N-glycome alterations are unequivocally detected at the single-cell level in HeLa and U87 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. The developed workflow is also applied to the profiling of ng-level amounts (5-500 ng) of blood-derived protein, extracellular vesicle, and total plasma isolates, resulting in over 170, 220, and 370 quantitated N-glycans, respectively.

Glycans modulate lipid binding in Lili-Mip lipocalin protein: insights from molecular simulations and protein network analyses

The unique viviparous Pacific Beetle cockroaches provide nutrition to their embryo by secreting milk proteins Lili-Mip, a lipid-binding glycoprotein that crystallises in-vivo. The resolved in-vivo crystal structure of variably glycosylated Lili-Mip shows a classical Lipocalin fold with an eight-stranded antiparallel beta-barrel enclosing a fatty acid. The availability of physiologically unaltered glycoprotein structure makes Lili-Mip a very attractive model system to investigate the role of glycans on protein structure, dynamics, and function. Towards that end, we have employed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on various glycosylated stages of a bound and free Lili-Mip protein and characterised the impact of glycans and the bound lipid on the dynamics of this glycoconjugate. Our work provides important molecular-level mechanistic insights into the role of glycans in the nutrient storage function of the Lili-Mip protein. Our analyses show that the glycans stabilise spatially proximal residues and regulate the low amplitude opening motions of the residues at the entrance of the binding pocket. Glycans also preserve the native orientation and conformational flexibility of the ligand. However, we find that either deglycosylation or glycosylation with high-mannose and paucimannose on the core glycans, which better mimic the natural insect glycosylation state, significantly affects the conformation and dynamics. A simple but effective distance- and correlation-based network analysis of the protein also reveals the key residues regulating the barrel's architecture and ligand binding characteristics in response to glycosylation.

Mass Spectrometry Strategies for O-Glycoproteomics

Glycoproteomics has accelerated in recent decades owing to numerous innovations in the analytical workflow. In particular, new mass spectrometry strategies have contributed to inroads in O-glycoproteomics, a field that lags behind N-glycoproteomics due to several unique challenges associated with the complexity of O-glycosylation. This review will focus on progress in sample preparation, enrichment strategies, and MS/MS techniques for the identification and characterization of O-glycoproteins.

Negative Charge-Carrying Glycans Attached to Exosomes as Novel Liquid Biopsy Marker

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer. In this paper, the isolation and properties of exosomes as potential novel liquid biopsy markers for early PCa liquid biopsy diagnosis are investigated using two prostate human cell lines, i.e., benign (control) cell line RWPE1 and carcinoma cell line 22Rv1. Exosomes produced by both cell lines are characterised by various methods including nanoparticle-tracking analysis, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In addition, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is used to study three different receptors on the exosomal surface (CD63, CD81 and prostate-specific membrane antigen-PMSA), implementing monoclonal antibodies and identifying the type of glycans present on the surface of exosomes using lectins (glycan-recognising proteins). Electrochemical analysis is used to understand the interfacial properties of exosomes. The results indicate that cancerous exosomes are smaller, are produced at higher concentrations, and exhibit more nega tive zeta potential than the control exosomes. The SPR experiments confirm that negatively charged α-2,3- and α-2,6-sialic acid-containing glycans are found in greater abundance on carcinoma exosomes, whereas bisecting and branched glycans are more abundant in the control exosomes. The SPR results also show that a sandwich antibody/exosomes/lectins configuration could be constructed for effective glycoprofiling of exosomes as a novel liquid biopsy marker.

Spatial Omics Reveals that Cancer-Associated Glycan Changes Occur Early in Liver Disease Development in a Western Diet Mouse Model of MASLD

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a progressive disease and comprises different stages of liver damage; it is significantly associated with obese and overweight patients. Untreated MASLD can progress to life-threatening end-stage conditions, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. N-Linked glycosylation is one of the most common post-translational modifications in the cell surface and secreted proteins. N-Linked glycan alterations have been established to be signatures of liver diseases. However, the N-linked glycan changes during the progression of MASLD to liver cancer are still unknown. Here, we induced different stages of MASLD in mice and liver-cancer-related phenotypes and elucidated the N-glycome profile during the progression of MASLD by quantitative and qualitative profiling in situ using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). Importantly, we identified specific N-glycan structures including fucosylated and highly branched N-linked glycans at very early stages of liver injury (steatosis), which in humans are associated with cancer development, establishing the importance of these modifications with disease progression. Finally, we report that N-linked glycan alterations can be observed in our models by MALDI-IMS before liver injury is identified by histological analysis. Overall, we propose these findings as promising biomarkers for the early diagnosis of liver injury in MASLD.

Engineering of cell-surface receptors for analysis of receptor internalization and detection of receptor-specific glycosylation

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a cell-surface glycoprotein that is involved mainly in cell proliferation. Overexpression of this receptor is intimately related to the development of a broad spectrum of tumors. In addition, glycans linked to the EGFR are known to affect its EGF-induced activation. Because of the pathophysiological significance of the EGFR, we prepared a fluorescently labeled EGFR (EGFR128-AZDye 488) on the cell surface by employing the genetic code expansion technique and bioorthogonal chemistry. EGFR128-AZDye 488 was initially utilized to investigate time-dependent endocytosis of the EGFR in live cells. The results showed that an EGFR inhibitor and antibody suppress endocytosis of the EGFR promoted by the EGF, and that lectins recognizing glycans of the EGFR do not enhance EGFR internalization into cells. Observations made in studies of the effects of appended glycans on the entry of the EGFR into cells indicate that a de-sialylated or de-fucosylated EGFR is internalized into cells more efficiently than a wild-type EGFR. Furthermore, by using the FRET-based imaging method of cells which contain an EGFR linked to AZDye 488 (a FRET donor) and cellular glycans labeled with rhodamine (a FRET acceptor), sialic acid residues attached to the EGFR were specifically detected on the live cell surface. Taken together, the results suggest that a fluorescently labeled EGFR will be a valuable tool in studies aimed at gaining an understanding of cellular functions of the EGFR.

Gastrulation-stage alcohol exposure induces similar rates of craniofacial malformations in male and female C57BL/6J mice

BACKGROUND

Prenatal alcohol exposure during gastrulation (embryonic day [E] 7 in mice, ~3rd week of human pregnancy) impairs eye, facial, and cortical development, recapitulating birth defects characteristic of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). However, it is not known whether the prevalence or severity of craniofacial features associated with FAS is affected by biological sex.

METHODS

The current study administered either alcohol (2.9 g/kg, two i.p. doses, 4 hr apart) or vehicle to pregnant C57BL/6J females on E7, prior to gonadal sex differentiation, and assessed fetal morphology at E17.

RESULTS

Whereas sex did not affect fetal size in controls, alcohol-exposed females were smaller than both control females and alcohol-treated males. Alcohol exposure increased the incidence of eye defects to a similar degree in males and females. Together, these data suggest that females might be more sensitive to the general developmental effects of alcohol, but not effects specific to the craniofacies. Whole transcriptomic analysis of untreated E7 embryos found 214 differentially expressed genes in females vs. males, including those in pathways related to cilia and mitochondria, histone demethylase activity, and pluripotency.

CONCLUSION

Gastrulation-stage alcohol induces craniofacial malformations in male and female mouse fetuses at similar rates and severity, though growth deficits are more prevalent females. These findings support the investigation of biological sex as a contributing factor in prenatal alcohol studies.

In-capillary sample processing coupled to label-free capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry to decipher the native N-glycome of single mammalian cells and ng-level blood isolates

The development of reliable single-cell dispensers and substantial sensitivity improvement in mass spectrometry made proteomic profiling of individual cells achievable. Yet, there are no established methods for single-cell glycome analysis due to the inability to amplify glycans and sample losses associated with sample processing and glycan labeling. In this work, we developed an integrated platform coupling online in-capillary sample processing with high-sensitivity label-free capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry for N-glycan profiling of single mammalian cells. Direct and unbiased characterization and quantification of single-cell surface N-glycomes were demonstrated for HeLa and U87 cells, with the detection of up to 100 N-glycans per single cell. Interestingly, N-glycome alterations were unequivocally detected at the single-cell level in HeLa and U87 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. The developed workflow was also applied to the profiling of ng-level amounts of blood-derived protein, extracellular vesicle, and total plasma isolates, resulting in over 170, 220, and 370 quantitated N-glycans, respectively.

ST6GAL1 sialyltransferase promotes acinar to ductal metaplasia and pancreatic cancer progression

The role of aberrant glycosylation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains an under-investigated area of research. In this study, we determined that ST6 β-galactoside α2,6 sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1), which adds α2,6-linked sialic acids to N-glycosylated proteins, was upregulated in patients with early-stage PDAC and was further increased in advanced disease. A tumor-promoting function for ST6GAL1 was elucidated using tumor xenograft experiments with human PDAC cells. Additionally, we developed a genetically engineered mouse (GEM) model with transgenic expression of ST6GAL1 in the pancreas and found that mice with dual expression of ST6GAL1 and oncogenic KRASG12D had greatly accelerated PDAC progression compared with mice expressing KRASG12D alone. As ST6GAL1 imparts progenitor-like characteristics, we interrogated ST6GAL1's role in acinar to ductal metaplasia (ADM), a process that fosters neoplasia by reprogramming acinar cells into ductal, progenitor-like cells. We verified ST6GAL1 promotes ADM using multiple models including the 266-6 cell line, GEM-derived organoids and tissues, and an in vivo model of inflammation-induced ADM. EGFR is a key driver of ADM and is known to be activated by ST6GAL1-mediated sialylation. Importantly, EGFR activation was dramatically increased in acinar cells and organoids from mice with transgenic ST6GAL1 expression. These collective results highlight a glycosylation-dependent mechanism involved in early stages of pancreatic neoplasia.

Elucidating the Implications of Norovirus N- and O-Glycosylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and Phosphorylation

Norovirus is the most common cause of foodborne gastroenteritis, affecting millions of people worldwide annually. Among the ten genotypes (GI-GX) of norovirus, only GI, GII, GIV, GVIII, and GIX infect humans. Some genotypes reportedly exhibit post-translational modifications (PTMs), including N- and O-glycosylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and phosphorylation, in their viral antigens. PTMs have been linked to increased viral genome replication, viral particle release, and virulence. Owing to breakthroughs in mass spectrometry (MS) technologies, more PTMs have been discovered in recent years and have contributed significantly to preventing and treating infectious diseases. However, the mechanisms by which PTMs act on noroviruses remain poorly understood. In this section, we outline the current knowledge of the three common types of PTM and investigate their impact on norovirus pathogenesis. Moreover, we summarize the strategies and techniques for the identification of PTMs.

EGFR and p38MAPK Contribute to the Apoptotic Effect of the Recombinant Lectin from Tepary Bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) in Colon Cancer Cells

Previous works showed that a Tepary bean lectin fraction (TBLF) induced apoptosis on colon cancer cells and inhibited early colonic tumorigenesis. One Tepary bean (TB) lectin was expressed in Pichia pastoris (rTBL-1), exhibiting similarities to one native lectin, where its molecular structure and in silico recognition of cancer-type N-glycoconjugates were confirmed. This work aimed to determine whether rTBL-1 retained its bioactive properties and if its apoptotic effect was related to EGFR pathways by studying its cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cells. Similar apoptotic effects of rTBL-1 with respect to TBLF were observed for cleaved PARP-1 and caspase 3, and cell cycle G0/G1 arrest and decreased S phase were observed for both treatments. Apoptosis induction on SW-480 cells was confirmed by testing HA2X, p53 phosphorylation, nuclear fragmentation, and apoptotic bodies. rTBL-1 increased EGFR phosphorylation but also its degradation by the lysosomal route. Phospho-p38 increased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, matching apoptotic markers, and STAT1 showed activation after rTBL-1 treatment. The results show that part of the rTBL-1 mechanism of action is related to p38 MAPK signaling. Future work will focus further on the target molecules of this recombinant lectin against colon cancer.

Glycobiology of cellular expiry: Decrypting the role of glycan-lectin regulatory complex and therapeutic strategies focusing on cancer

Often the outer leaflets of living cells bear a coat of glycosylated proteins, which primarily regulates cellular processes. Glycosylation of such proteins occurs as part of their post-translational modification. Within the endoplasmic reticulum, glycosylation enables the attachment of specific oligosaccharide moieties such as, 'glycan' to the transmembrane receptor proteins which confers precise biological information for governing the cell fate. The nature and degree of glycosylation of cell surface receptors are regulated by a bunch of glycosyl transferases and glycosidases which fine-tune attachment or detachment of glycan moieties. In classical death receptors, upregulation of glycosylation by glycosyl transferases is capable of inducing cell death in T cells, tumor cells, etc. Thus, any deregulated alternation at surface glycosylation of these death receptors can result in life-threatening disorder like cancer. In addition, transmembrane glycoproteins and lectin receptors can transduce intracellular signals for cell death execution. Exogenous interaction of lectins with glycan containing death receptors signals for cell death initiation by modulating downstream signalings. Subsequently, endogenous glycan-lectin interplay aids in the customization and implementation of the cell death program. Lastly, the glycan-lectin recognition system dictates the removal of apoptotic cells by sending accurate signals to the extracellular milieu. Since glycosylation has proven to be a biomarker of cellular death and disease progression; glycans serve as specific therapeutic targets of cancers. In this context, we are reviewing the molecular mechanisms of the glycan-lectin regulatory network as an integral part of cell death machinery in cancer to target them for successful therapeutic and clinical approaches.

N-Linked Glycosylation in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells Is Critical for Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Signaling

Cell surface proteins carrying N-glycans play important roles in inter- and intracellular processes including cell adhesion, development, and cellular recognition. Dysregulation of the glycosylation machinery has been implicated in various diseases, and investigation of global differential cell surface proteome effects due to the loss of N-glycosylation will provide comprehensive insights into their pathogenesis. Cell surface proteins isolated from Parent Pro^-5 CHO cells (W5 cells), two CHO mutants with loss of N-glycosylation function derived from Pro^-5 CHO (Lec1 and Lec4 cells), were subjected to proteome analysis via high-resolution LCMS. We identified 44 and 43 differentially expressed membrane proteins in Lec1 and Lec4 cells, respectively, as compared to W5 cells. The defective N-glycosylation mutants showed increased abundance of integrin subunits in Lec1 and Lec4 cells at the cell surface. We also found significantly reduced levels of IGF-1R (Insulin like growth factor-1 receptor); a receptor tyrosine kinase; and the GTPase activating protein IQGAP1 (IQ motif-containing GTPase activating protein), a highly conserved cytoplasmic scaffold protein) in Lec1 and Lec4 cells. In silico docking studies showed that the IQ domain of IQGAP1 interacts with the kinase domain of IGF-1R. The integrin signaling and insulin growth factor receptor signaling were also enriched according to GSEA analysis and pathway analysis of differentially expressed proteins. Significant reductions of phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK2 in Lec1 and Lec4 cells were observed upon IGF-1R ligand (IGF-1 LR3) stimulation. IGF-1 LR3, known as Long arginine3-IGF-1, is a synthetic protein and lengthened analog of insulin-like growth factor 1. The work suggests a novel mechanism for the activation of IGF-1 dependent ERK signaling in CHO cells, wherein IQGAP1 plausibly functions as an IGF-1R-associated scaffold protein. Appropriate glycosylation by the enzymes MGAT1 and MGAT5 is thus essential for processing of cell surface receptor IGF-1R, a potential binding partner in IQGAP1 and ERK signaling, the integral components of the IGF pathway.

Glycoconjugates: Synthesis, Functional Studies, and Therapeutic Developments

Glycoconjugates are major constituents of mammalian cells that are formed via covalent conjugation of carbohydrates to other biomolecules like proteins and lipids and often expressed on the cell surfaces. Among the three major classes of glycoconjugates, proteoglycans and glycoproteins contain glycans linked to the protein backbone via amino acid residues such as Asn for N-linked glycans and Ser/Thr for O-linked glycans. In glycolipids, glycans are linked to a lipid component such as glycerol, polyisoprenyl pyrophosphate, fatty acid ester, or sphingolipid. Recently, glycoconjugates have become better structurally defined and biosynthetically understood, especially those associated with human diseases, and are accessible to new drug, diagnostic, and therapeutic developments. This review describes the status and new advances in the biological study and therapeutic applications of natural and synthetic glycoconjugates, including proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycolipids. The scope, limitations, and novel methodologies in the synthesis and clinical development of glycoconjugates including vaccines, glyco-remodeled antibodies, glycan-based adjuvants, glycan-specific receptor-mediated drug delivery platforms, etc., and their future prospectus are discussed.

Identification of a prognostic risk-scoring model and risk signatures based on glycosylation-associated cluster in breast cancer

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease whose subtypes represent different histological origins, prognoses, and therapeutic sensitivity. But there remains a strong need for more specific biomarkers and broader alternatives for personalized treatment. Our study classified breast cancer samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) into three groups based on glycosylation-associated genes and then identified differentially expressed genes under different glycosylation patterns to construct a prognostic model. The final prognostic model containing 23 key molecules achieved exciting performance both in the TCGA training set and testing set GSE42568 and GSE58812. The risk score also showed a significant difference in predicting overall clinical survival and immune infiltration analysis. This work helped us to understand the heterogeneity of breast cancer from another perspective and indicated that the identification of risk scores based on glycosylation patterns has potential clinical implications and immune-related value for breast cancer.

Role of tumor cell sialylation in pancreatic cancer progression

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest malignancies and is currently the third leading cause of cancer death. The aggressiveness of PDAC stems from late diagnosis, early metastasis, and poor efficacy of current chemotherapies. Thus, there is an urgent need for effective biomarkers for early detection of PDAC and development of new therapeutic strategies. It has long been known that cellular glycosylation is dysregulated in pancreatic cancer cells, however, tumor-associated glycans and their cognate glycosylating enzymes have received insufficient attention as potential clinical targets. Aberrant glycosylation affects a broad range of pathways that underpin tumor initiation, metastatic progression, and resistance to cancer treatment. One of the prevalent alterations in the cancer glycome is an enrichment in a select group of sialylated glycans including sialylated, branched N-glycans, sialyl Lewis antigens, and sialylated forms of truncated O-glycans such as the sialyl Tn antigen. These modifications affect the activity of numerous cell surface receptors, which collectively impart malignant characteristics typified by enhanced cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis-resistance. Additionally, sialic acids on tumor cells engage inhibitory Siglec receptors on immune cells to dampen anti-tumor immunity, further promoting cancer progression. The goal of this review is to summarize the predominant changes in sialylation occurring in pancreatic cancer, the biological functions of sialylated glycoproteins in cancer pathogenesis, and the emerging strategies for targeting sialoglycans and Siglec receptors in cancer therapeutics.

Atractylenolide III Attenuates Apoptosis in H9c2 Cells by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress through the GRP78/PERK/CHOP Signaling Pathway

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of atractylenolide III (ATL-III) on endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) injury, H9c2 cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by tunicamycin (TM), and the GRP78/PERK/CHOP signaling pathway. Molecular docking was applied to predict the binding affinity of ATL-III to the key proteins GRP78, PERK, IREα, and ATF6 in ERS. Then, in vitro experiments were used to verify the molecular docking results. ERS injury model of H9c2 cells was established by TM. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay, and apoptosis was detected by Hoechst/PI double staining and flow cytometry. Protein expression levels of GRP78, PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3 were detected by Western blot. And mRNA levels of GRP78, CHOP, PERK, eIF2α, and ATF4 were detected by RT-qPCR. Moreover, the mechanism was further studied by using GRP78 inhibitor (4-phenylbutyric acid, 4-PBA), and PERK inhibitor (GSK2656157). The results showed that ATL-III had a good binding affinity with GRP78, and the best binding affinity was with PERK. ATL-III increased the viability of H9c2 cells, decreased the apoptosis rate, downregulated Bax and Caspase-3, and increased Bcl-2 compared with the model group. Moreover, ATL-III downregulated the protein and mRNA levels of GRP78, CHOP, PERK, eIF2α, and ATF4, consistent with the inhibition of 4-PBA. ATL-III also decreased the expression levels of PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, Bax, and Caspase-3, while increasing the expression of Bcl-2, which is consistent with GSK2656157. Taken together, ATL-III could inhibit TM-induced ERS injury and H9c2 cardiomyocyte apoptosis by regulating the GRP78/PERK/CHOP signaling pathway and has myocardial protection.

RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis reveals Maackia amurensis leukoagglutinin has antitumor activity in human anaplastic thyroid cancer cells

Background

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding molecules that can bind specifically to the sugar residues of glycoconjugates and are found in almost all organisms. Plant lectins subjected to many studies reported exhibiting anti-cancer activity. This study aimed to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms of Maackia amurensis leukoagglutinin II (MAL-II) treated ATCCs.

Methods and results

We tested the effects of MAL-II, which is isolated from Amur seeds, on cancerous features of 8505C human anaplastic thyroid cancer cells (ATCCs) on a large scale using RNA-Seq. Transcriptome analysis was performed using Illumina next-generation sequencing technology by using cDNA libraries obtained from total RNA isolates of ATCCs treated with 0.25 µM MAL-II for 24 h. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis were performed for the systematic analysis of gene functions. Moreover, we validated RNA-Seq findings using qPCR. Our results showed that many cancer-related genes such as TENM4, STIM2, SYT12, PIEZO2, ABCG1, SPNS2, ARRB1, and IRX5 were downregulated and many anticancer genes such as HSPA6, G0S2, TNFAIP3, GEM, GADD45G, RND1, SERPINB2, and IL24 were upregulated. Also, pathway enrichment analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were found to be associated with Ras, p53, and apoptosis signaling pathways, which are some important signal transduction pathways in development, proliferation, stem cell control, and carcinogenesis.

Conclusion

Collectively, our results show that MAL-II treatment reveals significant antitumor activity by changing the expression of many cancer-related genes and implies that MAL-II treatment might be a potential candidate molecule to inhibit the malignancy of human anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11033-022-07759-6.

A Multiscale Molecular Dynamic Analysis Reveals the Effect of Sialylation on EGFR Clustering in a CRISPR/Cas9-Derived Model

Bacterial and viral pathogens can modulate the glycosylation of key host proteins to facilitate pathogenesis by using various glycosidases, particularly sialidases. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is activated by ligand-induced receptor dimerization and oligomerization. Ligand binding induces conformational changes in EGFR, leading to clusters and aggregation. However, information on the relevance of EGFR clustering in the pattern of glycosylation during bacterial and viral invasion remains unclear. In this study, (1) we established CRISPR/Cas9-mediated GFP knock-in (EGFP-KI) HeLa cells expressing fluorescently tagged EGFR at close to endogenous levels to study EGF-induced EGFR clustering and molecular dynamics; (2) We studied the effect of sialylation on EGF-induced EGFR clustering and localization in live cells using a high content analysis platform and raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS) coupled with a number and brightness (N&B) analysis; (3) Our data reveal that the removal of cell surface sialic acids by sialidase treatment significantly decreases EGF receptor clustering with reduced fluorescence intensity, number, and area of EGFR-GFP clusters per cell upon EGF stimulation. Sialylation appears to mediate EGF-induced EGFR clustering as demonstrated by the change of EGFR-GFP clusters in the diffusion coefficient and molecular brightness, providing new insights into the role of sialylation in EGF-induced EGFR activation; and (4) We envision that the combination of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated fluorescent tagging of endogenous proteins and fluorescence imaging techniques can be the method of choice for studying the molecular dynamics and interactions of proteins in live cells.

Bisimidazolium Salt Glycosyltransferase Inhibitors Suppress Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression In Vitro and In Vivo

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a leading cause of cancer death, and the disease progression has been related to glycophenotype modifications. Previously synthesized bisimidazolium salts (C20 and C22) have been shown to selectively inhibit the activity of glycosyltransferases in cultured cancer cell homogenates. The current study investigated the anticancer effects of C20/C22 and the possible pathways through which these effects are achieved. The therapeutic value of C20/C22 in terms of inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis, as well as inducing apoptosis, were examined with hepatic cancer cell line HepG2 and a xenograft mouse model. C20/C22 treatment downregulated the synthesis of SLex and Ley sugar epitopes and suppressed selectin-mediated cancer cell metastasis. C20/C22 inhibited HepG2 proliferation, induced cell-cycle arrest, increased intracellular ROS level, led to ER stress, and eventually induced apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway. Furthermore, C20/C22 upregulated the expressions of death receptors DR4 and DR5, substantially increasing the sensitivity of HepG2 to TRAIL-triggered apoptosis. In vivo, C20/C22 effectively inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis in the xenograft mouse model without adverse effects on major organs. In summary, C20 and C22 are new promising anti-hepatic cancer agents with multiple mechanisms in controlling cancer cell growth, metastasis, and apoptosis, and they merit further development into anticancer drugs.

Glycoconjugate journal special issue on: the glycobiology of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects over 10 million aging people worldwide. This condition is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta region of the substantia nigra (SNpc) and by aggregation of proteins, commonly α-synuclein (SNCA). The formation of Lewy bodies that encapsulate aggregated proteins in lipid vesicles is a hallmark of PD. Glycosylation of proteins and neuroinflammation are involved in the pathogenesis. SNCA has many posttranslational modifications and interacts with components of membranes that affect aggregation. The large membrane lipid dolichol accumulates in the brain upon age and has a significant effect on membrane structure. The replacement of dopamine and dopaminergic neurons are at the forefront of therapeutic development. This review examines the role of membrane lipids, glycolipids, glycoproteins and dopamine in the aggregation of SNCA and development of PD. We discuss the SNCA-dopamine-neuromelanin-dolichol axis and the role of membranes in neuronal stem cells that could be a regenerative therapy for PD patients.

Recent Progress and Perspectives on Cell Surface Modification

The cell membrane is a biological interface consisting of phospholipid bilayer, saccharides and proteins that maintains a stable metabolic intracellular environment as well as regulating and controlling the exchange of substances inside and outside the cell. Cell membranes provide a highly complex biological surface carrying a variety of essential surfaces ligands and receptors for cells to receive various stimuli of external signals, thereby inducing corresponding cell responses regulating the life activities of the cell. These surface receptors can be manipulated via cell surface modification to regulate cellular functions and behaviors Thus, cell surface modification has attracted considerable attention due to its significance in cell fate control, cell engineering and cell therapy. In this minireview, we describe the recent developments and advances of cell surface modification, and summarize the main modification methods with corresponding functions and applications. Finally, the prospect for the future development of the modification of the living cell membrane is discussed.