Lectin panning method: the prospective isolation of mouse neural progenitor cells by the attachment of cell surface N-glycans to Phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinating lectin-coated dishes

Biomolecular interaction analysis for carbon nanotubes and for biocompatibility prediction

The interactions between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and biologics have been commonly studied by various microscopy and spectroscopy methods. We tried biomolecular interaction analysis to measure the kinetic interactions between proteins and CNTs. The analysis demonstrated that wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and other proteins have high affinity toward carboxylated CNT (f-MWCNT) but essentially no binding to normal CNT (p-MWCNT). The binding of f-MWCNT-protein showed dose dependence, and the observed kinetic constants were in the range of 10(-9) to 10(-11) M with very small off-rates (10(-3) to 10(-7) s(-1)), indicating a relatively tight and stable f-MWCNT-protein complex formation. Interestingly in hemolysis assay, p-MWCNT showed good biocompatibility, f-MWCNT caused 30% hemolysis, but WGA-coated f-MWCNT did not show hemolysis. Furthermore, the f-MWCNT-WGA complex demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity toward cancer cells, perhaps through the glycoproteins expressed on the cells' surface. Taken together, biomolecular interaction analysis is a precise method that might be useful in evaluating the binding affinity of biologics to CNTs and in predicting biological actions.

Hippocalcin mediates calcium-dependent translocation of brain-type creatine kinase (BB-CK) in hippocampal neurons

Hippocalcin (Hpca) is a Ca(2+)-binding protein that is expressed in neurons and contributes to neuronal plasticity. We purified a 48 kDa Hpca-associated protein from rat brain and identified it to be the creatine kinase B (CKB) subunit, which constitutes brain-type creatine kinase (BB-CK). Hpca specifically bound to CKB in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner, but not to the muscle-type creatine kinase M subunit. The N-terminal region of Hpca was required for binding to CKB. Hpca mediated Ca(2+)-dependent partial translocation of CKB (approximately 10-15% of total creatine kinase activity) to membranes. N-myristoylation of Hpca was critical for membrane translocation, but not for binding to CKB. In cultured hippocampal neurons, ionomycin treatment led to colocalization of Hpca and CKB adjacent to the plasma membrane. These results indicate that Hpca associates with BB-CK and that together they translocate to membrane compartments in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner.

Cell surface lectin array: parameters affecting cell glycan signature

Among the "omics", glycomics is one of the most complex fields and needs complementary strategies of analysis to decipher the "glycan dictionary". As an alternative method, which has developed since the beginning of the 21st century, lectin array technology could generate relevant information related to glycan motifs, accessibility and a number of other valuable insights from molecules (purified and non-purified) or cells. Based on a cell line model, this study deals with the key parameters that influence the whole cell surface glycan interaction with lectin arrays and the consequences on the interpretation and reliability of the results. The comparison between the adherent and suspension forms of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, showed respective glycan signatures, which could be inhibited specifically by neoglycoproteins. The modifications of the respective glycan signatures were also revealed according to the detachment modes and cell growth conditions. Finally the power of lectin array technology was highlighted by the possibility of selecting and characterizing a specific clone from the mother cell line, based on the slight difference determination in the respective glycan signatures.

Lectins as a tool for detecting neural stem/progenitor cells in the adult mouse brain

Glycoconjugates are biopolymers that are broadly distributed in the central nervous system, including the cell surface of neural stem cells or neural precursor cells (NSCs/NPCs). Glycoconjugates can be recognized by carbohydrate-binding proteins, lectins. Two lectins, Phaseolus vulgaris lectin agglutinin E-form (PHA-E4) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) have been reported to be useful in isolating NSCs/NPCs by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) or immunopanning methods. In this study, we analyzed the lectin-binding properties of NSCs/NPCs in two neurogenic regions of the adult mouse brain to determine whether PHA-E4 and WGA exhibit specific binding patterns on sections and whether there are other lectins presenting the binding pattern similar to those of PHA-E4 and WGA in lectin histochemistry. Among nine types of lectins, peanut agglutinin was localized to the white matter and four lectins bound to cells within the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle. Lectin histochemistry combined with immunohistochemistry demonstrated that one lectin, Ricinus communis agglutinin, specifically detected type A neuronal precursors and that the remaining three lectins, Agaricus bisporus agglutinin (ABA), PHA-E4, and WGA, recognized type B NSCs and type C transient amplifying cells in the SVZ. These three lectins also recognized type 1 quiescent neural progenitors and type 2a amplifying neural progenitors in the subgranular layer of the dentate gyrus. Lectin histochemistry of the neurosphere culture also yielded similar results. These observations suggest that, in addition to PHA-E4 and WGA, ABA lectin may also be applicable in FACS or immunopanning for the isolation of NSCs/NPCs.

Cell surface N-glycans-mediated isolation of mouse neural stem cells

The isolation of neural stem cells (NSCs) has been hampered by the lack of valid cell-surface antigens on NSCs, and novel valuable markers have been proposed. Glycan (oligosaccharide chain) is a potential candidate as a marker to isolate NSCs, because the species and the combination order of saccharides in glycan generate remarkable structural diversity and specificity. At present, the expression of hundreds of glycoconjugates with glycans have been found in the NSCs; however, just a few glycan-epitopes have been identified as valuable cell-surface markers. This review focused on the isolation of NSC using glycoprotein, especially complex type N-glycans. The cell-surface N-glycan-mediated isolation of NSCs is therefore expected to provide a comprehensive understanding of the biologic characteristics of NSCs in the brain, and thereby help to develop novel strategies in the field of regenerative medicine.

Cell surface N-glycans mediated isolation of mouse neural stem cells

The isolation of neural stem cells (NSCs) from the brain has been hampered by the lack of valid cell surface markers and the requirement for long-term in vitro cultivation that may lead to phenotype deterioration. However, few suitable specific cell surface antigens are available on NSCs that could be used for their prospective isolation. The present study demonstrated that the expression of complex type asparagine-linked oligosaccharide (N-glycans) was detected on brain cells dissociated from embryonic and adult brain using Phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinating lectin (E-PHA) which binds to biantennary complex type N-glycans, and demonstrated that E-PHA bound preferentially to purified NSCs, but not to neurons, microglia, or oligodendrocyte precursor cells. The labeling of dissociated mouse embryonic brain cells or adult brain cells with E-PHA enabled the enrichment of NSCs by 25-fold or 9-fold of the number of neurosphere-forming cells in comparison to that of unsorted cells, respectively. Furthermore, a lectin blot analysis revealed the presence of several glycoproteins which were recognized by E-PHA in the membrane fraction of the proliferating NSCs, but not in the differentiated cells. These results indicate that complex type N-glycans is a valuable cell surface marker for living mouse NSCs from both the embryonic and adult brain.