Quantitative analysis of EGFR affinity to immobilized glycolipids by surface plasmon resonance

Rapid and sensitive MRM-based mass spectrometry approach for systematically exploring ganglioside-protein interactions

Gangliosides are ubiquitous components of cell membranes. Their interactions with bacterial toxins and membrane-associated proteins (e.g. receptor tyrosine kinases) have important roles in the regulation of multiple cellular functions. Currently, an effective approach for measuring ganglioside-protein interactions especially in a large-scale fashion is largely missing. To this end, we report a facile MS-based approach to explore gangliosides extracted from cells and measure their interactions with protein of interest globally. We optimized a two-step protocol for extracting total gangliosides from cells within 2 h. Easy-to-use magnetic beads conjugated with a protein of interest were used to capture interacting gangliosides. To measure ganglioside-protein interaction on a global scale, we applied a high-sensitive LC-MS system, containing hydrophilic interaction LC separation and multiple reaction monitoring-based MS for ganglioside detection. Sensitivity for ganglioside GM1 is below 100 pg, and the whole analysis can be done in 20 min with isocratic elution. To measure ganglioside interactions with soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (sFlt1), we extracted and readily detected 36 species of gangliosides from perivascular retinal pigment epithelium cells across eight different classes. Twenty-three ganglioside species have significant interactions with sFlt1 as compared with IgG control based on p value cutoff <0.05. These results show that the described method provides a rapid and high-sensitive approach for systematically measuring ganglioside-protein interactions.

Grading the commercial optical biosensor literature-Class of 2008: 'The Mighty Binders'

Optical biosensor technology continues to be the method of choice for label-free, real-time interaction analysis. But when it comes to improving the quality of the biosensor literature, education should be fundamental. Of the 1413 articles published in 2008, less than 30% would pass the requirements for high-school chemistry. To teach by example, we spotlight 10 papers that illustrate how to implement the technology properly. Then we grade every paper published in 2008 on a scale from A to F and outline what features make a biosensor article fabulous, middling or abysmal. To help improve the quality of published data, we focus on a few experimental, analysis and presentation mistakes that are alarmingly common. With the literature as a guide, we want to ensure that no user is left behind.

Tyrosine kinase activity of epidermal growth factor receptor is regulated by GM3 binding through carbohydrate to carbohydrate interactions

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), an N-glycosylated transmembrane protein with an intracellular kinase domain, undergoes dimerization by ligand binding resulting in activation of the kinase domain and phosphorylation. Ganglioside GM3 containing sialyllactose inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity of EGFR through carbohydrate to carbohydrate interactions (CCI) between N-glycans with GlcNAc termini on EGFR and oligosaccharides on GM3. In this study, we provide further evidence for CCI between EGFR and GM3. (i) In vitro and in situ, the inhibitory effect of GM3 on EGFR tyrosine kinase was much higher in A431 cells upon exposure of the GlcNAc termini of the N-glycans to glycosidase treatment (neuraminidase and beta-galactosidase) than in untreated A431 cells. Furthermore, the GM3-mediated inhibition was abrogated by co-incubation with N-glycan containing terminal GlcNAc. (ii) In situ, inhibition of EGFR phosphorylation by GM3 was not observed in alpha-mannosidase IB (ManIB)-knocked down A431 cells that accumulate high mannose-type N-glycans. (iii) EGFR binding to GM3 was enhanced in glycosidase-treated cells that accumulated GlcNAc termini, whereas GM3 did not bind to EGFR from ManIB-knocked down cells that accumulated high mannose-type N-glycans. These results indicate that GM3-mediated inhibition of EGFR phosphorylation is caused by interaction of GM3 with GlcNAc-terminated N-glycan on EGFR.