Tumor-associated blood group antigen expressions and immunoglobulins associated with tumors

Sequential two-step multienzyme synthesis of tumor-associated sialyl T-antigens and derivatives

A series of α2-3-sialylated β1-3-linked galactosides, including sialyl T-antigens, 3'-sialyl galacto-N-biose, 3'-sialyl lacto-N-biose, and their derivatives containing natural and non-natural sialic acid forms have been synthesized from simple monosaccharides using an efficient sequential two-step multienzyme approach.

Protein glycosylation: implications for in vivo functions and therapeutic applications

The glycosylation machinery in eukaryotic cells is available to all proteins that enter the secretory pathway. There is a growing interest in diseases caused by defective glycosylation, and in therapeutic glycoproteins produced through recombinant DNA technology route. The choice of a bioprocess for commercial production of recombinant glycoprotein is determined by a variety of factors, such as intrinsic biological properties of the protein being expressed and the purpose for which it is intended, and also the economic target. This review summarizes recent development and understanding related to synthesis of glycans, their functions, diseases, and various expression systems and characterization of glycans. The second section covers processing of N- and O-glycans and the factors that regulate protein glycosylation. The third section deals with in vivo functions of protein glycosylation, which includes protein folding and stability, receptor functioning, cell adhesion and signal transduction. Malfunctioning of glycosylation machinery and the resultant diseases are the subject of the fourth section. The next section covers the various expression systems exploited for the glycoproteins: it includes yeasts, mammalian cells, insect cells, plants and an amoeboid organism. Biopharmaceutical properties of therapeutic proteins are discussed in the sixth section. In vitro protein glycosylation and the characterization of glycan structures are the subject matters for the last two sections, respectively.

Isolation and characterization of a Vicia graminea and Vicia unijuga lectins-binding (Vgu) glycoprotein with Thomsen-Friedenreich (T) activity from human liver metastases of pancreas carcinoma

1. Perchloric acid-soluble fraction from liver metastases of pancreas carcinoma of a patient with blood group B, was subjected to a systematic affinity chromatography using Vicia unijuga lectin (VUA) and Arachis hypogaea anti-T lectin (PNA) as immobilized ligands and separated into three fractions, B-active glycoprotein fraction, serologically inactive glycoprotein fraction and glycoprotein (VP) fraction exhibiting reactivities for Vicia graminea lectin (VGA), VUA and PNA. 2. VGA- and VUA-binding (Vgu) glycoprotein with Thomsen-Friedenreich (T) activity which was isolated, in a high state of purity, from VP fraction by HPLC using Asahipak GS-710 column, was demonstrated to be a mannose-rich glycoprotein with mol. wt of 1492 kDa and contained 40.40% carbohydrate.