Characterization of tumor-associated fucogangliosides from PC 12 pheochromocytoma cells

The Structural Diversity of Natural Glycosphingolipids (GSLs)

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are a subclass of glycolipids made of a glycan and a ceramide that, in turn, is composed of a sphingoid base moiety and a fatty acyl group. GSLs represent the vast majority of glycolipids in eukaryotes, and as an essential component of the cell membrane, they play an important role in many biological and pathological processes. Therefore, they are useful targets for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods for human diseases. Since sphingosine was first described by J. L. Thudichum in 1884, several hundred GSL species, not including their diverse lipid forms that can further amplify the number of individual GSLs by many folds, have been isolated from natural sources and structurally characterized. This review tries to provide a comprehensive survey of the major GSL species, especially those with distinct glycan structures and modification patterns, and the ceramides with unique modifications of the lipid chains, that have been discovered to date. In particular, this review is focused on GSLs from eukaryotic species. This review has listed 251 GSL glycans with different linkages, 127 glycans with unique modifications, 46 sphingoids, and 43 fatty acyl groups. It should be helpful for scientists who are interested in GSLs, from isolation and structural analyses to chemical and enzymatic syntheses, as well as their biological studies and applications.

Novel GM1 ganglioside-like peptide mimics prevent the association of cholera toxin to human intestinal epithelial cells in vitro

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by infection in the gastrointestinal tract by the gram-negative bacterium, Vibrio cholerae, and is a serious public health threat worldwide. There has not been any effective treatment for this infectious disease. Cholera toxin (CT), which is secreted by V. cholerae, can enter host cells by binding to GM1, a monosialoganglioside widely distributed on the plasma membrane surface of various animal epithelial cells. The present study was undertaken to generate peptides that are conformationally similar to the carbohydrate epitope of GM1 for use in the treatment of cholera and related bacterial infection. For this purpose, we used cholera toxin B (CTB) subunit to select CTB-binding peptides that structurally mimic GM1 from a dodecamer phage-display library. Six GM1-replica peptides were selected by biopanning based on CTB recognition. Five of the six peptides showed inhibitory activity for GM1 binding to CTB. To test the potential of employing the peptide mimics for intervening with the bacterial infection, those peptides were examined for their binding capacity, functional inhibitory activity and in vitro effects using a human intestinal epithelial cell line, Caco-2 cells. One of the peptides, P3 (IPQVWRDWFKLP), was most effective in inhibiting cellular uptake of CTB and suppressing CT-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate production in the cells. Our results thus provide convincing evidence that GM1-replica peptides could serve as novel agents to block CTB binding on epithelial cells and prevent the ensuing physiological effects of CT.

The pathological roles of ganglioside metabolism in Alzheimer's disease: effects of gangliosides on neurogenesis

Conversion of the soluble, nontoxic amyloid β-protein (Aβ) into an aggregated, toxic form rich in β-sheets is a key step in the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has been suggested that Aβ induces changes in neuronal membrane fluidity as a result of its interactions with membrane components such as cholesterol, phospholipids, and gangliosides. Gangliosides are known to bind Aβ. A complex of GM1 and Aβ, termed “GAβ”, has been identified in AD brains. Abnormal ganglioside metabolism also may occur in AD brains. We have reported an increase of Chol-1α antigens, GQ1bα and GT1aα, in the brain of transgenic mouse AD model. GQ1bα and GT1aα exhibit high affinities to Aβs. The presence of Chol-1α gangliosides represents evidence for genesis of cholinergic neurons in AD brains. We evaluated the effects of GM1 and Aβ1–40 on mouse neuroepithelial cells. Treatment of these cells simultaneously with GM1 and Aβ1–40 caused a significant reduction of cell number, suggesting that Aβ1–40 and GM1 cooperatively exert a cytotoxic effect on neuroepithelial cells. An understanding of the mechanism on the interaction of GM1 and Aβs in AD may contribute to the development of new neuroregenerative therapies for this disorder.

Elimination of GD3 synthase improves memory and reduces amyloid-beta plaque load in transgenic mice

Gangliosides have been shown to be necessary for beta-amyloid (Abeta) binding and aggregation. GD3 synthase (GD3S) is responsible for biosynthesis of the b- and c-series gangliosides, including two of the four major brain gangliosides. We examined Abeta-ganglioside interactions in neural tissue from mice lacking the gene coding for GD3S (St8sia1), and in a double-transgenic (APP/PSEN1) mouse model of Alzheimer's disease cross-bred with GD3S-/- mice. In primary neurons and astrocytes lacking GD3S, Abeta-induced cell death and Abeta aggregation were inhibited. Like GD3S-/- and APP/PSEN1 double-transgenic mice, APP/PSEN1/GD3S-/- "triple-mutant" mice are indistinguishable from wild-type mice on casual examination. APP/PSEN1 double-transgenics exhibit robust impairments on a number of reference-memory tasks. In contrast, APP/PSEN1/GD3S-/- triple-mutant mice performed as well as wild-type control and GD3S-/- mice. Consistent with the behavioral improvements, both aggregated and unaggregated Abeta and associated neuropathology were almost completely eliminated in triple-mutant mice. These results suggest that GD3 synthase may be a novel therapeutic target to combat the cognitive deficits, amyloid plaque formation, and neurodegeneration that afflict Alzheimer's patients.

The repertoire of glycan determinants in the human glycome

The number of glycan determinants that comprise the human glycome is not known. This uncertainty arises from limited knowledge of the total number of distinct glycans and glycan structures in the human glycome, as well as limited information about the glycan determinants recognized by glycan-binding proteins (GBPs), which include lectins, receptors, toxins, microbial adhesins, antibodies, and enzymes. Available evidence indicates that GBP binding sites may accommodate glycan determinants made up of 2 to 6 linear monosaccharides, together with their potential side chains containing other sugars and modifications, such as sulfation, phosphorylation, and acetylation. Glycosaminoglycans, including heparin and heparan sulfate, comprise repeating disaccharide motifs, where a linear sequence of 5 to 6 monosaccharides may be required for recognition. Based on our current knowledge of the composition of the glycome and the size of GBP binding sites, glycoproteins and glycolipids may contain approximately 3000 glycan determinants with an additional approximately 4000 theoretical pentasaccharide sequences in glycosaminoglycans. These numbers provide an achievable target for new chemical and/or enzymatic syntheses, and raise new challenges for defining the total glycome and the determinants recognized by GBPs.

Role of ganglioside metabolism in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease--a review

Gangliosides are expressed in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane of the cells of all vertebrates and are particularly abundant in the nervous system. Ganglioside metabolism is closely associated with the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain characterized clinically by progressive loss of memory and cognitive function and eventually death. Neuropathologically, AD is characterized by amyloid deposits or "senile plaques," which consist mainly of aggregated variants of amyloid beta-protein (Abeta). Abeta undergoes a conformational transition from random coil to ordered structure rich in beta-sheets, especially after addition of lipid vesicles containing GM1 ganglioside. In AD brain, a complex of GM1 and Abeta, termed "GAbeta," has been found to accumulate. In recent years, Abeta and GM1 have been identified in microdomains or lipid rafts. The functional roles of these microdomains in cellular processes are now beginning to unfold. Several articles also have documented the involvement of these microdomains in the pathogenesis of certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD. A pivotal neuroprotective role of gangliosides has been reported in in vivo and in vitro models of neuronal injury, Parkinsonism, and related diseases. Here we describe the possible involvement of gangliosides in the development of AD and the therapeutic potentials of gangliosides in this disorder.

Glycosphingolipid antigens in neural tumor cell lines and anti-glycosphingolipid antibodies in sera of patients with neural tumors

To characterize biomarkers in neural tumors, we analyzed the acidic lipid fractions of 13 neural tumor cell lines using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) immunostaining. Sulfated glucuronosyl glycosphingolipids (SGGLs) are cell surface molecules that are endowed with the Human Natural Killer-1 (HNK-1) carbohydrate epitope. These glycosphingolipids (GSLs) were expressed in all cell lines with concentrations ranging from 210 to 330 ng per 2 x 10(6) cells. Sulfoglucuronosyl paragloboside (SGPG) was the prominent species with lesser amounts of sulfoglucuronosyl lactosaminyl paragloboside (SGLPG) in these tumor cell lines as assessed by quantitative HPTLC immunostaining. Among the gangliosides surveyed, GD3 and 9-O-acetylated GD3 (OAc-GD3) were expressed in all tumor cell lines. In contrast, fucosyl-GM1 was not found to restrict to small cell lung carcinoma cells. In addition, we have analyzed serum antibody titers against SGPG, GD3, and OAc-GD3 in patients with neural tumors by ELISA and HPTLC immunostaining. All sera had high titers of antibodies of the IgM isotype against SGPG (titers over 1:3,200), especially in tumors such as meningiomas, germinomas, orbital tumors, glioblastomas, medulloblastomas, and subependymomas. Serum in a patient with subependymomas also had a high anti-SGGL antibody titer of the IgG and IgA types (titers over 12,800). The titer of anti-GD3 antibody was also elevated in patients with subependymomas and medulloblastomas; the latter cases also had a high titer of antibody against OAc-GD3. Our data indicate that certain GSL antigens, especially SGGLs, GD3, and OAc-GD3, are expressed in neural tumor cells and may be considered as tumor-associated antigens that represent important biomarkers for neural tumors. Furthermore, antibody titers in sera of patients with these tumors may be of diagnostic value for monitoring the presence of tumor cells and tumor progression.

Fucoganglioside alpha-fucosyl(alpha-galactosyl)-GM1: a novel member of lipid membrane microdomain components involved in PC12 cell neuritogenesis

In order to search for novel components of lipid membrane microdomains involved in neural signalling pathways, mAbs (monoclonal antibodies) were raised against the detergent-insoluble membrane fraction of PC12 (pheochromocytoma) cells. Among the 22 hybrid clones, mAb PR#1 specifically detected a fucoganglioside Fuc(Gal)-GM1 [a-fucosyl(a-galactosyl)-GM1], a ganglioside homologous with GM1a (II3NeuAc,GgOse4Cer), as a novel member of microdomain components with biological functions. In the presence of mAb PR#1 in the culture medium, the outgrowth of neurites was induced in PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with no effects on cell proliferation, suggesting that Fuc(Gal)-GM1 is preferentially involved in PC12 cell neuritogenesis. Effects through Fuc(Gal)-GM1 were different from those through GM1a during differentiation, e.g. under PR#1 treatment on Fuc(Gal)-GM1, round cell bodies with thinner cell processes were induced, whereas treatment with CTB (cholera toxin B subunit), a specific probe for GM1a, produced flattened cell bodies with thicker pro-cesses. Molecular analysis demonstrated that the PR#1-Fuc(Gal)-GM1 pathway was associated with Fyn and Yes of the Src family of kinases, although Src itself was not involved. No association was found with TrkA (tropomyosin receptor kinase A) and ERKs (extracellular-signal-regulated kinases), which are responsible for GM1a-induced differentiation. From these findings, it is suggested that a fucoganglioside Fuc(Gal)-GM1 provides a functional platform distinct from that of GM1a for signal transduction in PC12 cell differentiation.

Fucosyl-GM1 expression and amyloid-beta protein accumulation in PC12 cells

Gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, are ubiquitously expressed in all eukaryotic cells and are localized primarily in the plasma membrane. For a rat pheochromocytoma cell line, PC12, which has been used frequently as a model for investigating events leading to neuronal differentiation, it is generally thought that GM1 is a major ganglioside, based on reactivity with the probe cholera toxin B subunit (Ctxb). From a series of biochemical studies, however, it has been reported that no GM1 is expressed in PC12 cells. In this study, we have reevaluated GM1 expression and Ctxb reactivity in PC12 cells and a subcloned line, PC12D cells. Flow cytometric analysis with Ctxb revealed that about 30-50% of PC12 cells were reactive with Ctxb. However, a detailed biochemical analysis showed that PC12 cells express abundantly a different ganglioside, fucosyl-GM1, instead of GM1, and the reactivity of Ctxb in the PC12 cells actually arose from its interaction with fucosyl-GM1, which also interacts with this ligand. Because it has been claimed that amyloid-beta protein (Abeta) interacts with GM1 in PC12 cells to provide "seeding" for amyloid to accumulate, we further evaluated this possibility and found that Abeta is mostly likely interacting with fucosyl-GM1 in this cell line. Our data thus suggest that a specific interaction may occur between Abeta and fucosyl-GM1 for the accumulation of amyloid in PC12 cells.

Differential functional relevance of a plasma membrane ganglioside sialidase in cholinergic and adrenergic neuroblastoma cell lines

Gangliosides located in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane are important modulators of cellular functions. Our previous work has shown that in cultured human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells a sialidase residing in the same membrane selectively desialylates gangliosides with terminal sialic acid residues, causing a shift from higher species to GM1 and a conversion of GM3 to lactosylceramide. Inhibition of this sialidase by 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc2en) resulted in increased cell proliferation and a loss of differentiation markers. In this study, we examined the occurrence and function of this ganglioside sialidase in other neuronal cells. Subcellular fractionation showed the sialidase to be located in the plasma membrane of all cell lines studied. The presence of the inhibitor NeuAc2en led to a profound decrease in the amount of the differentiation marker 200 kDa/70 kDa neurofilaments and an increase in cell proliferation in the cholinergic SK-N-MC and mixed cholinergic/adrenergic SK-N-FI and SK-N-DZ neuroblastoma lines, but had little or no effect in the human adrenergic SK-N-SH and SK-N-AS and the adrenergic/cholinergic PC12 cells from rat. The influence of the inhibitor on cell behaviour was paralleled by a diminished number of cholera toxin B-binding GM1 sites. The findings demonstrate that the plasma membrane ganglioside sialidase is an important element of proliferation and differentiation control in some, but not all, neuroblastoma cells and suggest that there might be a relationship between plasma membrane sialidase activity and cholinergic differentiation.

Functional analysis of the 5'-flanking region of FTA for expression of rat GDP-L-fucose:beta-D-galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase

The tissue-specific and species-specific expression of the ABH antigens is well known among vertebrate species and it is regulated by the alpha(1,2)fucosyltransferase that forms the H antigen, a precursor of the A and B antigens. To investigate the mechanisms governing the tissue-specific and species-specific expression of this alpha(1,2)fucosyltransferase, we characterized the gene structure, including the promoter region, of FTA, a rat orthologous homolog of human FUT1 that encodes the H alpha(1, 2)fucosyltransferase and is responsible for the expression of the ABH antigens on human red blood cells. Northern blot and 5'-RACE analyses suggested that at least two forms of FTA mRNA (2.9 and 2.6 kb), which use alternative transcription start sites, are present in the cancer cell lines RCN-9 (rat colon cancer) and PC12 (rat pheochromocytoma), whereas only the 2.6 kb form was detected in normal colon, stomach and pancreas. Transcriptional activity of the 5'-flanking sequence, which contains three putative Sp1-binding sites, but lacks both TATA and CAAT boxes, was examined. Transient transfection experiments of promoter-reporter gene constructs showed high promoter activity in RCN-9, PC12 and human colon cancer (WiDr) cell lines, weak activity in human vascular endothelial (ECV304) cells and no activity in human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells. The results suggest that the 5'-flanking region of FTA contains a tissue-specific promoter. Deletional analysis of the 5'-flanking sequence revealed regions containing cell-type-specific positive acting element(s) and negative regulatory element(s), which are related to the promoter activity.

Cloning and expression of the catalytic domain from rat hepatoma H35 cell GDP-fucose:GM1 alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase, an enzyme which is activated during early stages of chemical carcinogenesis in rat liver

A ganglioside GM1-specific alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase is induced during the early stages of chemical carcinogenesis with N-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) in rat liver hepatocytes. The induction of this enzyme gives rise to the expression of a fucose-containing ganglioside with the same determinant structure as blood group B on a GM1 ganglioside core. Fucoganglioside synthesis is not found in normal rat liver but is elevated in premalignant liver and is often highly expressed in derived rat hepatoma cell lines. Based upon the consensus sequence from portions of previously cloned human, rabbit, and rat alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase enzymes, primers were designed which were used in RT-PCR experiments with rat hepatoma H35 cell total RNA to generate cDNAs encoding the extracellular, catalytic domain of the H35 cell alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase. Sequencing of these PCR fragments showed them to encode a novel enzyme with high homology to other cloned enzymes, particularly secretor alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferases. The derived sequence indicated that the 3' portion of the gene was virtually identical to the alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase B (FTB) fragment reported earlier in rat PROb colon-adenocarcinoma cells (J-P. Piau et al. Biochem. J. 300, 623-626, 1994). A PCR product corresponding to the H35 cell alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase was obtained from total RNA isolated from F344 rat liver after 0.03% N-2-acetylaminofluorene administration. No PCR product was obtained from total RNA isolated from normal F344 liver using PCR primers for the H35 cell alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase. The H35 cell alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase was expressed in the pPROTA vector and the derived fusion protein demonstrated the ability to transfer fucose to ganglioside GM1 but not to the neolacto-series acceptor nLcOse4Cer.

Nerve growth factor-induced neurite formation in PC12 cells is independent of endogenous cellular gangliosides

The PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cell line is an established model for nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite formation. It has been shown that when gangliosides are added to the culture medium of PC12 cells, NGF-induced neurite formation of PC12 cells is enhanced. To determine the role of endogenous cellular gangliosides themselves in NGF-elicited neurite formation, we depleted cellular gangliosides using the new specific glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor, d, l-threo-1-phenyl-2-hexadecanoylamino-3-pyrrolidino-1-propanol.HCl (PPPP). 0.5-2 microM PPPP rapidly inhibited ganglioside synthesis and depletedcellular gangliosides. Nonetheless, over a concentration range of 5-100 ng/ml NGF, in both low serum and serum-free medium, neurite formation was normal. Even pretreatment of PC12 cells for up to 6 days with 1 microM PPPP followed by cotreatment with PPPP and NGF for 10 days, still did not inhibit neurite formation. The conclusion that ganglioside depletion did not block neurite formation stimulated by NGF was supported by the lack of effect of PPPP, under these same conditions, on cellular acetylcholine esterase activity, a neuronal differentiation marker (73.8 +/- 12.1 versus 67.2 +/- 4.6 nmol/min/mg protein at 50 ng/ml NGF; control versus 1 microM PPPP). These findings, together with previous studies showing enhancement of NGF-induced neurite formation by exogenous gangliosides, underscore the vastly different effects that exogenous gangliosides and endogenous gangliosides may have upon cellular functions.

Ganglioside composition of GH3 cells: enhancement of fucoganglioside expression by estradiol, epidermal growth factor and insulin

The GH3 cell line, a bipotential cell line secreting both prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH), is a useful model for investigating GH/PRL cell lineage differentiation and anterior pituitary adenoma formation. In this study, we investigated the ganglioside composition of GH3 cells and identified two fucogangliosides as the major gangliosides expressed by these cells. Analyses by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) revealed that the GH3 cells contained two major gangliosides, designated FG1 and FG2, respectively. Their structures were identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry: FG1 is IV2FUc alpha,II3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer and FG2 is IV2FUc alpha,IV3Gal alpha,II3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer. Expression of these fucogangliosides was enhanced by chronic treatment with 17 beta-estradiol (1 nM), epidermal growth factor (10 nM) and insulin (300 nM), which induced differentiation of GH3 cells to normal PRL-secreting cells. Interestingly, immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry revealed that the increased expression of these gangliosides reflected a quantitative change inside the cells but not on the cell surface. These results suggest that the intracellular distribution of fucogangliosides is closely related to the differentiation of GH3 cells.

Biosynthesis of a blood group H1 antigen by alpha 1, 2-fucosyltransferase in PC12 cells

We have examined the expression of GDP-fucose: glycosphingolipid fucosyltransferase activity in PC12 cells and PC12 sublines in relation to the neuronal differentiation induced by nerve growth factor (NGF) or dexamethasone. Transfer of fucose to paragloboside (nLc4Cer) yielded a product which was determined to be a blood group H1 antigen (Fuc alpha 1-2Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-Cer) by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis and enzymatic hydrolysis, suggesting that PC12 cells have an alpha 1,2-fucosyltransferase. Lactosylceramide was also fucosylated at a reduced rate. When the differentiation of PC12 cells and PC12 subline cells, PC12D and MR31, was induced by exposure to either NGF or dexamethasone, the fucosyltransferase activity for nLc4Cer was found to decrease in both cell lines, suggesting the association with cell differentiation. This is the first report of the presence of an alpha 1,2-fucosyltransferase in cultured neuronal cell lines which catalyses the in vitro biosynthesis from nLc4Cer of a type-2 chain glycosphingolipid having the blood group H1 determinant. The disaccharides, beta-lactose and N-acetyllactosamine, were also fucosylated by PC12 cell enzyme, although the specificity for the carbohydrate structure was different from that for glycosphingolipids.

Expression and localization of Lewis(x) glycolipids and GD1a ganglioside in human glioma cells

We analysed the glycolipid composition of glioma cells (N-370 FG cells), which are derived from a culture of transformed human fetal glial cells. The neutral and acidic glycolipid fractions were isolated by column chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and analysed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). The neutral glycolipid fraction contained 1.6 micrograms of lipid-bound glucose/galactose per mg protein and consisted of GlcCer (11.4% of total neutral glycolipids), GalCer (21.5%), LacCer (21.4%), Gb4 (21.1%), and three unknown neutral glycolipids (23%). These unknown glycolipids were characterized as Lewis(x) (fucosylneolactonorpentaosyl ceramide; Le(x)), difucosylneolactonorhexaosyl ceramide (dimeric Le(x)), and neolactonorhexaosyl ceramide (nLc6) by an HPTLC-overlay method for glycolipids using specific mouse anti-glycolipid antibodies against glycolipid and/or liquid-secondary ion (LSI) mass spectrometry. The ganglioside fraction contained 0.6 micrograms of lipid-bound sialic acid per mg protein with GD1a as the predominant ganglioside species (83% of the total gangliosides) and GM3, GM2, and GM1 as minor components. Trace amounts of sialyl-Le(x) and the complex type of sialyl-Le(x) derivatives were also present. Immunocytochemical studies revealed that GD1a and GalCer were primarily localized on the surface of cell bodies. Interestingly, Le(x) glycolipids and sialyl-Le(x) were localized not only on the cell bodies but also on short cell processes. Especially, sialyl-Le(x) glycolipid was located on the tip of fine cellular processes. The unique localization of the Le(x) glycolipids suggests that they may be involved in cellular differentiation and initiation of cellular growth in this cell line.

Characterization of gangliosides from Ehrlich ascites tumour cells and their variants

Differences in the nature of the gangliosides present in two types of Ehrlich ascites tumour (EAT) cells, the adherent and non-adherent EAT cells, were studied. Gangliosides were isolated by DEAE Sephadex column chromatography and analysed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). The non-adherent EAT (na-EAT) cells which grow in the peritoneal cavity of mice were selected for growth on basement membrane and tissue culture plastic to give the adherent EAT (a-EAT) cells. na-EAT cells contained 1.57 nmol lipid-bound sialic acid per mg protein and at least 12 different gangliosides, including major gangliosides such as GM3, GM2, GM1, GD3, GD1a and GT1b. On the other hand, the ganglioside pattern of a-EAT cells differed significantly from that of na-EAT cells, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The content of lipid-bound sialic acid in a-EAT cells was only 0.24 nmol per mg of protein. The gangliosides in a-EAT cells were characterized as GD1a and trisialogangliosides and, significantly, a-EAT cells did not contain monosialogangliosides. Neutral glycolipids were isolated from both cell lines and their patterns were compared. In contrast to the gangliosides pattern, their neutral glycolipid patterns were similar. Glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide were the major components in both types of cells. In addition to na- and a-EAT cells, a-EAT cells were passaged in mice by intraperitoneal injection, giving rise to a third variant (c/m EAT cells). We analysed the gangliosides in c/m EAT cells to determine whether there was a change in the ganglioside pattern found in na-EAT cells. After repeated passage of c/m EAT cells in mice, the pattern of gangliosides shifted to that of na-EAT cells. Alterations of ganglioside composition may be associated with the growth environment of the murine peritoneal cavity; alternatively, a selection process may have occurred.

Accumulation of isogloboside and ganglio-N-tetraosyl ceramide having blood group B determinant in the hepatomas of female LEC rats

We have studied the neutral glycolipid composition of spontaneous hepatomas in LEC female rats. Neutral lipid fractions were isolated and purified by column chromatographies on DEAE-Toyopearl 650(M) and Iatrobeads. The neutral glycolipid fraction contained 3.2 to 4.4 micrograms lipid-bound glucose (Glc) per mg protein, and consisted of isogloboside (iso-Gb4, 50.8% of total neutral glycolipids) and IV3Gal, IV2Fuc, GgOse4Cer (asialo-BGM1, 13.5%) as the major neutral glycolipids and Gb3 and iso-Gb3 (9.2%), GlcCer (7.2%), LacCer (6.1%) as the other species. The structure of iso-Gb4 was elucidated by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), permethylation study, liquid secondary ion (LSI) mass spectrometry, and nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY) and that for asialo-BGM1 by GLC, LSI mass spectrometry, and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)-overlay method using anti-asialo-BGM1 antibody. Isogloboside and asialo-BGM1 which are found in negligible amounts in normal liver tissues may represent excellent markers for studying tumor metastasis and cellular adhesion.

The chemical constitution of gangliosides of the vertebrate nervous system

Glycosphingolipids are uniquely distinguished amongst the glycoconjugates by the apparently systematic structuring of their ceramide-linked carbohydrate moieties. These often highly complex oligosaccharides provide a structural repertoire that may vary considerably according to cell types and animal species. However, as a possible reflection of their specific functional role in the central nervous system, the brain glycosphingolipids of all vertebrates follow the same principles of carbohydrate structuring with only minor variations: the anabolically early addition of sialic acid to lactosylceramide (Gal beta 4Glc beta Cer-->NeuAc alpha 3Gal beta 4Glc beta Cer) in central nervous tissue results in the preferential formation of 'gangliosides', i.e., sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids. Higher gangliosides result from extensions of sialo-lactosylceramide by addition of nucleotide-activated monosaccharides. In consequence, gangliosides of the vertebrate central nervous system consist of ceramide-linked sialo-oligosaccharides of varying chain length with a ganglio-series core carbohydrate, i.e., GalNAc beta 4Gal beta 3GalNAc beta 4Gal beta 4Glc beta < 0. Substitution by mono-, bis-, or tris-sialo-groups may variably be at the galactoside- and N-acetylgalactosaminide residues in 3- and 6-positions of the ganglio-series oligosaccharides, respectively. Ganglioside, which is derived by sialylation of galactosylceramide, NeuAc alpha 3Gal beta Cer, is a characteristic constituent of glial cells. In nerve tissue, gangliosides of the lacto-(Gal beta(3GlcNAc beta 3Gal beta)n4Glc beta <) and the neolacto-series (Gal beta(4GlcNAc beta 3Gal beta)n4Glc <) are more characteristic of vertebrate peripheral nerves and neuroectoderm-derived tumours. Recent studies using monoclonal antibodies have revealed that various single ganglioside components are specifically distributed in nervous tissues. This finding adds a new dimension to the earlier notion that gangliosides are involved in membrane related phenomena including cell to cell interactions, as well as, the modulation of signalling mechanisms.

Differential Effects of Glycosphingolipids n Protein Kinase C Activity in PC12D Pheochromocytoma Cells

Previous studies have shown that certain glycosphingolipids may function as modulators of protein kinase C (PKC) activity. To study the structure-activity relationship, we examined the effects of 17 gangliosides, 10 neutral glycolipids, as well as sulfatide, psychosine and ceramide on PKC activity in PC12D cells. Using an in vitro assay system, we found that all but one (GQ1b) ganglioside inhibited PKC activity at concentrations between 25 and 100 &mgr;M, and the potency was proportional to the number of sialic acid residues. However, at lower concentrations several gangliosides, including GM1 and LM1 behaved as mild activators of PKC activity. GQ1b had no effect within the range 0.1-10 &mgr;M, but acted as a mild activator of PKC activity at 25 &mgr;M. On the other hand, fucosyl-GM1 and GM1 containing blood group B determinant, which are abundant in PC12 cells, were potent inhibitors of PKC activity. Among the neutral glycosphingolipids tested, LacCer, Gb3, GalGb3, and GA1, all of which have a terminal galactose residue, were found to be ineffective or acted as mild activators of PKC activity. In contrast, GA2, Gb4 and Gb5 which have a terminal N-acetylgalactosamine residue, were potent inhibitors of the PKC activity. Thus, the terminal sugar residue may play a pivotal role in determining the effect of glycosphingolipids in modulating PKC activity. In addition, we also found that GalCer containing normal fatty acids acted as potent activators of PKC activity. Ceramide and GlcCer appeared to be ineffective in modulating PKC activity, wheras psychosine and sulfatides appeared to be inhibitory. We conclude that the carbohydrate head groups and the hydrophobic groups of gangliosides and neutral glycolipids may modulate the PKC system in unique manners, which may in turn affect various biological processes in the cell. Copyright 1994 S. Karger AG, Basel

Fucosyl-GM1 in human sensory nervous tissue is a target antigen in patients with autoimmune neuropathies

Several gangliosides of human nervous tissues have been reported to be potential target antigens in autoimmune neuropathies. To explain the diversity of clinical symptoms in patients with antiganglioside antibodies, we have searched for ganglioside antigens that are specific to individual nervous tissues such as motoneurons, peripheral motor nerves, and sensory nerves. Although the major ganglioside compositions were not different among human peripheral motor and sensory nerves, fucosyl-GM1 was found to be expressed in sensory nervous tissue but not in spinal cord, motor nerve, and sympathetic ganglia. Sera from several patients with sensory nerve involvement also reacted with fucosyl-GM1 as well as GM1. Thus, fucosyl-GM1 may be a responsible target antigen for developing sensory symptoms in some patients with autoimmune neuropathies.

Identification of a brain-specific 27/26-kDa extracellular protein with the monoclonal antibody to differentiated PC12h pheochromocytoma cells

We have searched for brain-specific extracellular molecules using a library of monoclonal antibodies against surface antigens of differentiated PC12h cells. One of the monoclonal antibodies, PCH42-14, recognized a 27/26-kDa protein of 10-week-old rat brain on immunoblotting. PCH42-14 antigen was detected only in brain, especially in cerebrum, olfactory bulb, mesencephalon, hippocampus, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord. On hippocampal neuron culture, PCH42-14 antigen existed extracellularly along with the neuronal extensions.