Transfer of Sugars from Nucleoside Diphosphosugar Compounds to Endogenous and Synthetic Dolichyl Phosphate in Human Lymphocytes

Mice lacking FABP9/PERF15 develop sperm head abnormalities but are fertile

The male germ cell-specific fatty acid-binding protein 9 (FABP9/PERF15) is the major component of the murine sperm perforatorium and perinuclear theca. Based on its cytoskeletal association and sequence homology to myelin P2 (FABP8), it has been suggested that FABP9 tethers sperm membranes to the underlying cytoskeleton. Furthermore, its upregulation in apoptotic testicular germ cells and its increased phosphorylation status during capacitation suggested multiple important functions for FABP9. Therefore, we investigated specific functions for FABP9 by means of targeted gene disruption in mice. FABP9(-/-) mice were viable and fertile. Phenotypic analysis showed that FABP9(-/-) mice had significant increases in sperm head abnormalities (~8% greater than their WT cohorts); in particular, we observed the reduction or absence of the characteristic structural element known as the "ventral spur" in ~10% of FABP9(-/-) sperm. However, deficiency of FABP9 affected neither membrane tethering to the perinuclear theca nor the fatty acid composition of sperm. Moreover, epididymal sperm numbers were not affected in FABP9(-/-) mice. Therefore, we conclude that FABP9 plays only a minor role in providing the murine sperm head its characteristic shape and is not absolutely required for spermatogenesis or sperm function.

Proposed pathway for biosynthesis of the S-layer glycoprotein of Bacillus alvei

The outer surface of the murein sacculus of the eubacterium Bacillus alvei is covered by a surface layer (S-layer) glycoprotein. The glycan chain of this S-layer glycoprotein consists of trisaccharide repeating units with ManNAc, Gal, and Glc as constituents. From cell extracts of B. alvei, nucleotide-activated derivatives of ManNAc, Gal, Glc, and GlcNAc were isolated. Furthermore, GDP- and dolichyl-activated oligosaccharides were obtained. On the basis of the isolated putative glycoprotein precursors, a pathway for the biosynthesis of the oligosaccharide chain is proposed.

On the specificity of dolichol kinase and DolPMan synthase towards isoprenoid alcohols of different chain length in rat liver microsomal membrane

1. A wide range of dolichols differing in the length of hydrocarbon chain (from 11 to 32 isoprene residues) were found to be phosphorylated in the presence of CTP in rat liver microsomes. 2. Fully unsaturated polyprenols of the same chain length as dolichols were poor substrates for dolichol kinase at low detergent (Nonidet P-40) concentration. At higher concentration of detergent, both dolichols and polyprenols were equally effective. 3. In the transfer of mannosyl residues from GDPMan, the dolichyl phosphates generated in rat liver microsomes were all good lipid acceptors, while fully unsaturated polyprenyl phosphates were not.

Nucleotide-activated oligosaccharides are intermediates of the cell wall polysaccharide of Methanosarcina barkeri

The cell wall of Methanosarcina barkeri consists of a heteropolysaccharide (methanochondroitin), which resembles the eukaryotic chondroitin. From cell extracts of Methanosarcina barkeri four uridine diphosphate and one undecaprenyl pyrophosphate-activated intermediate(s) of the methanochondroitin were isolated. In contrast to the known biosynthetic pathways of polysaccharides from other prokaryotes and eukaryotes, nucleotide activated oligosaccharide precursors are involved in the case of the methanochondroitin. Usually, oligosaccharides are synthesized at the lipid stage.

Characterization and localization of a long-chain isoprenyltransferase activity in porcine brain: proposed role in the biosynthesis of dolichyl phosphate

Pig brain microsomes catalyzed the enzymatic transfer of radiolabeled isoprenyl groups from [1-14C]isopentenyl pyrophosphate [( 1-14C]I-P-P) into long-chain polyisoprenyl pyrophosphates (Poly-P-P) and unidentified neutral lipids. The brain isoprenyltransferase activity synthesizing the Poly-P-P (1) required 5 mM Mg2+ and 10 mM vanadate ions for maximal activity; (2) exhibited an apparent Km of 8 microM for I-P-P; (3) utilized exogenous farnesyl pyrophosphate and two stereoisomers of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate as substrates; (4) was optimal at pH 8.5; and (5) was stimulated by dithiothreitol. The major products were identified as C90 and C95 allylic Poly-P-P on the basis of the following chemical and chromatographic properties: (1) the intact product co-chromatographed with authentic Poly-P-P on silica-gel-impregnated paper; (2) the major product was converted to a compound chromatographically identical to polyisoprenyl monophosphate (Poly-P) by alkaline hydrolysis; (3) treatment of the labeled Poly-P with wheat germ acid phosphatase or mild acid yielded neutral labeled products; (4) the KOH hydrolyzed product coeluted with authentic Poly-P from lipophilic Sephadex LH-20; and (5) the labeled lipids produced by enzymatic dephosphorylation had mobilities identical to fully unsaturated polyisoprenols containing 18 (C90) and 19 (C95) isoprene units when analyzed by reverse-phase chromatography. When subcellular fractions from rat brain gray matter were compared, the highest specific activity was found in the heavy microsomes. These results demonstrate that brain contains an isoprenyltransferase activity, associated with the rough endoplasmic reticulum, capable of synthesizing long-chain Poly-P-P. The enzymatic reactions by which the Poly-P-P intermediate is converted to dolichyl phosphate remain to be elucidated.

Isolation and characterization of UDP-glucose dolichyl-phosphate glucosyltransferase from human liver

The enzyme UDP-glucose dolichyl-phosphate glucosyltransferase has been purified to near homogeneity from human liver microsomes. A 1100-fold enrichment over starting microsomal membranes was achieved by selective solubilization followed by anion- and cation-exchange chromatography, 5-HgUDP-thiopropyl-Sepharose affinity chromatography, butylagarose chromatography and hydroxyapatite chromatography. The glucosyltransferase was shown to be separated from other dolichyl-phosphate-dependent glycosyltransferases catalyzing the formation of dolichyl diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine and dolichyl phosphomannose. Sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme under reducing conditions revealed a protein band of Mr 36,000. Protection of the solubilized enzyme against rapid inactivation was achieved by its competitive inhibitor uridine. The purified glucosyltransferase activity exhibited a specific requirement for the presence of phospholipids. Phosphatidylethanolamine was the most effective activator of enzyme activity.

Isolation of lipid activated pseudomurein precursors from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

From cell extracts of the pseudomurein possessing methanogen Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum two putative pseudomurein precursors were isolated and characterized: (1) an undecaprenyl pyrophosphate activated disaccharide pentapeptide composed of N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetyltalosaminuronic acid, alanine, glutamic acid and lysine in a molar ratio of 1:1:2:2:1 and (2) the corresponding undecaprenyl pyrophosphate activated tetrapeptide lacking one alanine residue. The isolation of these precursors show that the biosynthesis of the eubacterial murein and the methanobacterial pseudomurein differs not only in the cytoplasmic step, as recently described, but also in the lipid stage.

Induction of glycoprotein biosynthesis in activated B lymphocytes

Resting murine splenic B lymphocytes (B cells) can be stimulated to proliferate by exposure to a variety of polyclonal activators. To investigate changes in glycoprotein synthesis that occur during the activation process, N-glycosylation activity was assessed by following the incorporation of [2-3H]mannose into dolichol-linked oligosaccharide intermediates and glycoprotein after B cells were exposed to anti-immunoglobulin M (anti-mu). Stimulation of B cells by anti-mu resulted in a dramatic induction of N-glycosylation activity. The incorporation of radiolabeled mannose into oligosaccharide-lipid increased 9-fold while the rate of labeling of glycoprotein increased 27-fold between 18 and 38 h after exposure to anti-mu. Maximal stimulation of N-glycosylation activity was observed at an anti-mu concentration of 20-50 micrograms/ml. Similar results were obtained when B cells were activated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), another polyclonal activating agent. The major dolichol-bound oligosaccharide labeled during the induction period was determined to be Glc3Man9GlcNAc2 by HPLC analysis. Nearly full induction of oligosaccharide-lipid synthesis and protein N-glycosylation was also seen when DNA synthesis was suppressed by activating B cells with anti-mu in a serum-free medium, or by activating with anti-mu or LPS in the presence of hydroxyurea. The results suggest that the N-glycosylation pathway is induced during the G0 to G1 transition or during the G1 period, and that entry into S phase is not required. These studies describe a striking developmental increase in N-glycosylation activity and extend the information on biochemical changes occurring during the activation of B cells.

Distribution, metabolism and function of dolichol and polyprenols

Polyisoprenoid alcohols consisting of 9 or more isoprene units are present in all living cells. They can be fully unsaturated (polyprenols) or alpha-saturated (dolichol). Dolichol forms may have additional saturation at or near the omega-end. Some species contain ony dolichol or only polyprenols while others have nearly equal amounts of both types. Some polyisoprenoid alcohols consist entirely of trans isoprene units but most, including dolichol, contain both trans and cis units. Considerable advances in lipid methodology have occurred since the first review of polyisoprenoid alcohols by Hemming in 1974. For example, direct analysis of both dolichol and Dol-P by HPLC has replaced earlier methods which were often both insensitive and inaccurate. The availability of radiolabeled dolichol and polyprenols has facilitated studies concerning the metabolism and distribution of these compounds. Those studies suggest that only a small portion of the dolichol present in cells is likely to be involved in glycosylation. Polyisoprenoid alcohols are usually present at a family of homologues where each differs in size by one isoprene unit. Little or no size related specificity has been observed for any reaction involving dolichol or polyisoprenol intermediates. The overall length of polyisoprenoid alcohols may, however, affect the manner in which these compounds influence the physical and biochemical properties of membranes. Studies on the biosynthetic pathway leading from cis, trans Pol-PP by phosphatase action. The formation of the dolichol backbone from a polyprenol requires the action of an additional enzyme, an alpha-saturase. This enzyme does not always act at the level of a single common substrate, since Pol-PP, Pol-P, and polyprenol all appear to be utilized as substrates. The major product of the de novo pathway differs among different species. Dol-P would appear to be the most energy efficient end-product since it can participate directly in glycoprotein formation. Most often, however, Dol-P is not the major product of metabolic labeling experiments. In some cases, dolichol is formed so that rephosphorylation is required to provide Dol-P for participation in glycoprotein formation. The kinase responsible for this phosphorylation appears to bypass the considerable stores of dolichol present in tissues (i.e. sea urchin eggs) in favor of dolichol derived directly from de novo synthesis. Although HMGR is a major regulatory component of the pathway leading to polyisoprenoid alcohols and cholesterol, control is most often not co-ordinated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Characterization of three intermediates in the biosynthesis of teichuronic acid of Micrococcus luteus

Teichuronic acid, the Micrococcus luteus cell wall polysaccharide which consists of D-glucose and N-acetyl-D-mannosaminuronic acid, is synthesized in vitro from uridine diphosphate N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, uridine diphosphate N-acetyl-D-mannosaminuronic acid, and uridine diphosphate D-glucose in a series of reactions catalyzed by a particulate enzyme preparation. Several lipid-linked intermediates are formed, of which the first three are called components A, B, and C. The formation of these intermediates is inhibited by tunicamycin. The lipid moiety of the intermediates is approximately 95% undecaprenol and 5% dodecaprenol as determined by mass spectrometry. The oligosaccharide moieties of components B and C are the disaccharide, N-acetyl-D-mannosaminuronyl-(1,3)-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and the trisaccharide, N-acetyl-D-mannosaminuronyl-(1,4)-N-acetyl-D-mannosaminuronyl++ +-(1, 3)-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, respectively, as determined by the complete degradation of the former and partial degradation of the latter by the alkaline beta-elimination reaction. The saccharide and lipid moieties of the intermediates are linked through pyrophosphate. Thus, component A is P1-N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminyl P2-undecaprenyl diphosphate, component B is P1-N-acetyl-D-mannosaminuronyl-(1, 3)-N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminyl P2-undecaprenyl diphosphate, and component C is P1-N-acetyl-D-mannosaminuronyl-(1,4)-N-acetyl-D-mannosaminurony l-(1, 3)-N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminyl P2-undecaprenyl diphosphate.

Enzymatic glucosylation of dolichol monophosphate and transfer of glucose from isolated dolichyl-D-glucosyl phosphate to ceramides by BHK-21 cell microsomes

Enzymatic glucosylation of dolichol monophosphate (dolichol-P) from UDP-D-[3H]glucose was studied using the microsomal fraction of BHK-21 cells. The reaction product was separated by preparative thin-layer chromatography, further purified by DEAE-cellulose acetate column chromatography, and characterized as dolichyl-beta-D-glucosyl phosphate (Dol-P-Glc). The microsomal fraction of BHK cells catalyzed the incorporation of glucose from UDP-[3H]glucose into ceramides (endogenous and exogenous) and Dol-P; both reactions required Mn2+. Maximal glucosylation of Dol-P was achieved at pH 5.6-5.8 in the presence of a non-ionic detergent, Zonyl A. Glucosylation of exogenous Dol-P, from UDP-Glc, was non-competitively inhibited by exogenous ceramides. Incubation of Dol-P-[3H]Glc or Dol-P-[14C]Glc with liposomes (containing ceramides) and the microsomal fraction of BHK-21 cells resulted in the formation of a radioactive glucolipid which comigrated with the same RF value as glucosylceramide (Glc-Cer) on silica gel thin-layer chromatography. Transfer of [14C]glucose from Dol-P-[14C]Glc to exogenous ceramides was confirmed by double-labeling techniques. The pH dependence for transfer of radio-labeled glucose from Dol-P-[3H]Glc to ceramides was multi-phasic (optima at pH 4.0 and 7.0); glycosylation occurred within 5 min and Zonyl A was absolutely essential for the transfer reaction. These results indicate that Dol-P-Glc may also participate in the synthesis of ceramide hexosides.

Recent studies on the involvement of retinyl phosphate as a carrier of mannose in biological membranes

Rat liver microsomes synthesized [14C]mannosylretinylphosphate and dolichyl [14C]mannosylphosphate from guanosinedisphosphate [14C]mannose, retinylphosphate and dolichylphosphate. Two distinct enzyme activities were shown to be responsible for the biosynthesis of the two mannolipids. A higher affinity mannosyl transferase (EA I), responsible for dolichylmannosylphosphate synthesis, displayed a Km for GDP-mannose of 1.7 microM; while a lower affinity enzyme (EA II), responsible for mannosylretinylphosphate synthesis, displayed a Km for GDP-mannose of 12.5 microM. These Km values were unaffected by the addition of either dolichylphosphate for EA II, or retinylphosphate for EA I. The same Km values were found before and after solubilization of the enzyme activity with 1% Triton X-100. Differential solubilization of EA I and EA II was demonstrated, utilizing different concentrations of Triton X-100. Triple-labeled mannosylretinylphosphate was prepared from [3H]retinylphosphate, retinyl[32P]phosphate and GDP-[14C]mannose from incubations containing rat liver microsomes. This compound was shown to donate [14C]mannose to endogenous acceptors of rat liver microsomes.

Steps in the biosynthesis of mosquito cell membrane glycoproteins and the effects of tunicamycin

A cultured cell line of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is sensitive to tunicamycin as expected from the ability of crude membrane preparations to catalyse the formation of N-acetylglucosamine-linked dolichyl pyrophosphate. Formation of dolichylphosphomannose was also detected and this reaction was totally insensitive to tunicamycin. Incorporation of radioactive mannose into total acid-precipitable glycoproteins was inhibited greater than 90% in whole cells by tunicamycin, while the incorporation of leucine and glucosamine was less affected. Separation of the radioactive hexosamines from acid hydrolysates of cells incubated with [14C]glucosamine and tunicamycin showed predominant labelling of galactosamine, whereas in control cells not treated with the drug both glucosamine and galactosamine were labelled equally. Evidently, mosquito cells synthesise N-glycosidically linked carbohydrate chains assembled through tunicamycin-sensitive steps involving dolichyl pyrophospho-oligosaccharides, and O-glycosidically linked chains rich in N-acetylgalactosamine, the assembly of which is unaffected by tunicamycin. These results support structural evidence (Butters, T.D. and Hughes, R.C. (1981) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 640, 655-671) for the presence of high mannose N-glycans and N-acetylgalactosamine-rich O-glycans in mosquito cell glycoproteins. The absence of complex N-glycans was confirmed by the demonstration of negligible activities of N-acetylglucosaminyl-, galactosyl- and sialyltransferases responsible for assembly of the terminal sequences of N-glycans of mature mammalian glycoproteins.

Glucosyltransferase activities in liver mitochondria. I. Biosynthesis of dolichyl[14C]glucosyl phosphate and [14C]glucosylceramide

Mitochondria, and specially outer mitochondrial membranes, incorporate D-[14C]glucose from UDP-D-[14C]glucose into products extracted with organic solvents and into a residual precipitate, with a pH optimum of about 6.5 in (2-N-morpholino-ethane)-sulfonic acid (MES) buffer. The chloroform/methanol (2:1, v/v) extract contains two products. The major [14C]glucolipid is stable to mild alkali, but releases [14C]glucose upon mild acid hydrolysis. It is retained on DEAE-cellulose (acetate form) and is eluted with the same ionic strength as an hexosyldolichyl monophosphate diester. This [14C] glucolipid has the same chromatographic behaviour as dolichyl-mannosylphosphate in neutral, acidic and basic solvent systems; and its biosynthesis is greatly increased by exogenous dolichylmonophosphate. The other [14C]glucolipid is stable upon mild acid hydrolysis and is not retained on DEAE-cellulose. On silicic acid it is eluted with acetone. The biosynthesis of this compound is stimulated by exogenous ceramide. This glucolipid has the same chromatographic mobility in different solvent systems as glucosylceramide isolated from the liver of a patient with Gaucher's disease. Biosynthesis of these two glucolipids is inhibited by UDP, but only biosynthesis of dolichylglucosyl monophosphate is reversible with this nucleotide. The biosynthesis of these different glucosylated derivatives is stimulated by the addition of divalent cations (Mn2+, Mg2+). the effect of these two metal ions on dolichylglucosyl monophosphate and glucosylceramide formation is studied in different conditions.

Synthesis of glycolipids

The chemical syntheses of naturally occurring glycolipids derived from sphingosine bases and glycerol derivatives, and the syntheses of polyisoprenoid lipid intermediates and other miscellaneous glycolipids recorded up to the end of 1977 are reviewed.

A dolichyl phosphate-cleaving acid phosphatase from Tetrahymena pyriformis

Tetrahymena pyriformis contains an enzyme which hydrolyzed dolichyl phosphate. This activity was solubilized from lyophilized samples of this organism and was relatively stable when stored frozen. The soluble enzyme preparation had an acid pH optimum and hydrolyzed both dolichyl and phytanyl phosphates at equivalent rates. The polyprenylphosphate phosphatase activity was compared with the acid phosphatases which hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl phosphate and marked differences were found. Dolichyl phosphate hydrolysis required Mg2+ for maximum activity while the bulk of the phosphatase activity was not effected by the absence of this ion. Other differences were that the polyprenylphosphate phosphatase was relatively insensitive to inhibitors such as tartrate and vanadium oxide sulfate which had a pronounced effect on the rate of p-nitrophenyl phosphate hydrolysis. The two activities also appeared to have different subcellular distributions. The polyprenylphosphate phosphatase was markedly inhibited by ethoxy formic anhydride, a reagent which is active against enzymes containing a histidine residue at their active site, while p-nitrophenyl phosphate hydrolysis was unaffected. The polyprenylphosphate phosphatase may be important in regulating the level of dolichyl phosphate in T. pyriformis and thus the rate of glycoprotein synthesis. It is also a useful tool which is capable of liberating dolichol from dolichyl phosphate under mild conditions which will permit the further characterization of the polyprenols.

Mannosylation of endogenous proteins of rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and of Golgi membranes

Mannosylation of the proteins of microsomal and Golgi membranes was investigated both after incubation in vitro of the isolated subfractions with GDP-[14C]mannose and after injection of [3H]mannose into rats followed by separation of these subfractions. Mannosylation of endogenous and added exogenous dolichol phosphate and also of dolichol pyrophosphate-oligosaccharide occurs in all three fractions. It was essential to inhibit antagonistic enzymes during incubation and to centrifuge after incubation. The presence of detergent in the incubation mixture influences the incorporation pattern of the different fractions in very different ways. In a system in vitro predominantly membrane proteins and not secretory proteins are mannosylated. Trypsin treatment of intact vesicles removes components from the outer surface only; such treatment liberates about one third of the radioactive mannose associated with lipid, releases radioactivity from the protein acceptor to the same extent and causes some inactivation of the transferase activities. It appears that a part of the mannosyl transferase system in rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and in Golgi membranes is localized at the cytoplasmic side of these membranes. This activity is probably involved in the glycosylation of proteins localized at the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Enzymatic synthesis of polyprenol monophosphate mannose in insects

The microsomal fraction of insects was found to contain an enzyme which transfers mannose from guanosine diphosphate mannose to an endogenous or exogenous insect lipid and to other acceptors such as dolichol monophosphate or ficaprenol monophosphate. This activity depended on the presence of Triton X-100 and magnesium ions, the optimal concentration of the latter being 10mM. The optimal temperature of the reaction was 25 degrees C and the maximal activity was obtained at pH 7.9. The mannolipid formed behaved as a monophosphodiester when chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose. Weak acid treatment of the product liberated mannose. Its behaviour both on thin layer and Sephadex G-150 chromatography would indicate the presence of a number of isoprenyl units similar to the dolichol and different from the ficaprenol derivative. Stability to phenol treatment indicated that the lipid fraction of the mannolipid is an alpha-saturated polyprenol phosphate similar to dolichol monophosphate.

The biosynthesis of mannolipids and mannose-containing complex glycans by the retina

Large-scale incubations were carried out with homogenates of the retinas of the 15--16-day-old chick embryo in the presence of GDP[U-14C] mannose, from which there were isolated mannolipid (Lipid I), oligosaccharide-lipids (Lipid II), and glycoprotein (residue). These incubations were performed in the presence of endogenous acceptors as well as dolichyl phosphate. [14C] Mannolipid I was subjected to chromatography on DEAE cellulose and silicic acid. The response to these, as well as TLC, enzymatic, and chemical treatments, were consistent with the product being dolichyl phosphomannose. [14C] Lipid II was purified by DEAE cellulose chromatography and gel filtration on LH-20. Responses to these treatments, as well as TLC and paper chromatography, were consistent with this product being of the class of the oligosaccharide-pyrophosphate-lipids. The residue remaining after removal of the lipids was shown to contain glycoproteins by conversion of high-molecular-weight radioactive material to low-molecular-weight [14C] mannose-containing glycopeptides by the action of pronase. These reactions and their products are consistent with there being in the retina, the pathway for glycoprotein synthesis involving the participation of the lipid-activated carbohydrates. When the incubations were performed in the presence of ATP or ADP there was a decrease in the labeling of Lipid I, accompanied by an increase in the labeling of Lipid II and glycoprotein. When incubated in the presence of dolichyl phosphate and detergent, however, the stimulatory effect of ATP did not occur. The effect on these activities of a variety of other nucleotide phosphates was also examined.