Chapter 5 Biosynthesis 3. Biosynthesis of O-Glycans of the N-Acetylgalactosamine-α-Ser/Thr Linkage Type

Strategies for analysis of the glycosylation of proteins: current status and future perspectives

More than half of human proteins are glycosylated by a bewildering array of complex and heterogeneous N- and O-linked glycans. They function in myriad biological processes, including cell adhesion and signalling and influence the physical characteristics, stability, function, activity and immunogenicity of soluble glycoproteins. A single protein may be glycosylated differently to yield heterogenous glycoforms. Glycosylation analysis is of increasing interest in biomedical and biological research, the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry and biotechnology. This is because it is increasingly apparent that glycosylation changes in diseases, such as cancer, making it a promising target for development of clinically useful biomarkers and therapeutics. Furthermore, as the non-human cells employed in expression systems glycosylate their proteins very differently to human cells, and as glycosylation changes unpredictably under changing environmental conditions, glycans analysis for quality control, optimum efficacy and safety of recombinant glycoproteins destined for human therapeutic use is paramount. The complexities of carbohydrate chemistry make analysis challenging and while there are a variety of robust methodologies available for glycan analysis, there is currently a pressing need for the development of new, streamlined, high throughput approaches accessible to non-specialist laboratories.

Archaeal flagella, bacterial flagella and type IV pili: a comparison of genes and posttranslational modifications

The archaeal flagellum is a unique motility organelle. While superficially similar to the bacterial flagellum, several similarities have been reported between the archaeal flagellum and the bacterial type IV pilus system. These include the multiflagellin nature of the flagellar filament, N-terminal sequence similarities between archaeal flagellins and bacterial type IV pilins, as well as the presence of homologous proteins in the two systems. Recent advances in archaeal flagella research add to the growing list of similarities. First, the preflagellin peptidase that is responsible for processing the N-terminal signal peptide in preflagellins has been identified. The preflagellin peptidase is a membrane-bound enzyme topologically similar to its counterpart in the type IV pilus system (prepilin peptidase); the two enzymes are demonstrated to utilize the same catalytic mechanism. Second, it has been suggested that the archaeal flagellum and the bacterial type IV pilus share a similar mode of assembly. While bacterial flagellins and type IV pilins can be modified with O-linked glycans, N-linked glycans have recently been reported on archaeal flagellins. This mode of glycosylation, as well as the observation that the archaeal flagellum lacks a central channel, are both consistent with the proposed assembly model. On the other hand, the failure to identify other genes involved in archaeal flagellation by homology searches likely implies a novel aspect of the archaeal flagellar system. These interesting features remain to be deciphered through continued research. Such knowledge would be invaluable to motility and protein export studies in the Archaea.

Electron capture dissociation of O-glycosylated peptides: radical site-induced fragmentation of glycosidic bonds

Glycosylation of proteins represents one of the most important post-translational modifications. The structural characterisation of glycoproteins--especially with respect to the determination of the glycosylation site--by direct mass spectrometric methods still remains an elusive goal. We have applied the low energy dissociation method electron capture dissociation (ECD) in a 9.4 T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer to the structural elucidation of mucin-derived peptides glycosylated with glycans of different core types. Capture of an electron by multiply protonated precursor ions [M + nH](n+) resulted in the formation of reduced odd electron radical cations [M + nH](n-1)+*. Subsequent cleavage of the N-Calpha bonds of the peptide chain, mostly without loss of the labile sugar moiety, represents a major fragmentation pathway allowing unambiguous assignment of the glycosylation site. In addition to peptide backbone cleavages, loss of acetyl radicals from the N-acetyl group of the HexNAc glycans is observed. Radical site induced elimination processes of the glycan moieties initiated by hydrogen transfer, from the glycan to the peptide backbone and vice versa give rise to signals in the ECD spectra. The different sugar core types exhibit different fragmentation patterns driven by the stability of the resulting fragments allowing the discrimination of isomeric glycans.

O-mannosylation precedes and potentially controls the N-glycosylation of a yeast cell wall glycoprotein

Secretory proteins in yeast are N- and O-glycosylated while they enter the endoplasmic reticulum. N-glycosylation is initiated by the oligosaccharyl transferase complex and O-mannosylation is initiated by distinct O-mannosyltransferase complexes of the protein mannosyl transferase Pmt1/Pmt2 and Pmt4 families. Using covalently linked cell-wall protein 5 (Ccw5) as a model, we show that the Pmt4 and Pmt1/Pmt2 mannosyltransferases glycosylate different domains of the Ccw5 protein, thereby mannosylating several consecutive serine and threonine residues. In addition, it is shown that O-mannosylation by Pmt4 prevents N-glycosylation by blocking the hydroxy amino acid of the single N-glycosylation site present in Ccw5. These data prove that the O- and N-glycosylation machineries compete for Ccw5; therefore O-mannosylation by Pmt4 precedes N-glycosylation.

Sialylation analysis of O-glycosylated sialylated peptides from urine of patients suffering from Schindler's disease by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation

A strategy based on Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) for screening of complex glycoconjugate mixtures containing O-linked glycopeptides and O-glycosylated amino acids with alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyl residues is presented. To detect and identify O-glycoforms present in urine of patients suffering from hereditary N-acetylhexosaminidase deficiency (known as Schindler's disease), present at 100 times higher concentrations than in urine of healthy controls, new accurate methods for mapping and sequencing were required. In the mass spectrometric analysis particular attention has to be paid to original sialylation patterns, because of the potential lability of the sialic acid moiety during the desorption/ionization process. Negative ion nanoelectrospray ionization (nanoESI) FTICR-MS at 9.4 T is shown here to represent a method of choice for identification of single components in such complex glycomixtures due to high resolution and mass accuracy. By optimization of sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (SORI-CID-MS(2)) in the negative ion mode, the type and sequence of the sialylated glycopeptide components were determined from their fragmentation patterns. Additionally, implementation of SORI-CID-MS(3) provides detailed information for sialylation analysis. The potential diagnostic value of this approach is discussed.

Glycodynamics of Mucin Biosynthesis in Gastrointestinal Tumor Cells

Glycoproteins found in the secretions and on the surfaces of cancer cells include mucins and mucin-like glycoproteins. These molecules have been shown to carry antigens that are characteristically expressed on cancer cells, including Tn and T antigens and Lewis epitopes. The structures of O-glycans are often abnormal in gastrointestinal tumors, or else are present in abnormal amounts, and these structures greatly contribute to the phenotype and biology of cancer cells. It has been shown that glycans of cancer cells have functional importance in cell adhesion, invasion and metastasis. The possible mechanisms leading to these cancer-specific changes in carbohydrate structures (termed glycodynamics) involve altered mRNA expression and catalytic activities of glycosyltransferases and sulfotransferases found in tissues and cells of gastrointestinal tumors. In a number of cases it has been possible to correlate enzyme changes with oligosaccharide structures. Different mechanisms have been suggested leading to the synthesis of cancer-specific Lewis, T and Tn antigens, but the regulation of cancer mucin antigens generally appears to be very complex and is poorly understood. The expression levels of specific mucin antigens and enzymes in gastro-intestinal tumors have diagnostic as well as prognostic value. These antigens also have potential for cancer immunotherapy. However, we first need to unravel the complexity of the control of glycosylation in cancer cells. Most importantly, studies of the functional implications of the glycodynamics in cancer cells, as related to cell adhesion and impact on the immune system will provide promising directions for future research.

Optimization of the enzymatic synthesis of O-glycan core 2 structure by use of a genetic algorithm

The enzymatic synthesis of Gal-beta 1,3[GlcNAc-beta 1,6]-GalNAc-alpha 1-OBn (core 2-Bn) using a multi-enzyme system consisting of a beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) from bovine testes and a recombinant core 2 beta 1,6-GlcNAc transferase (C2GnT, EC 2.4.1.102) was empirically optimized by the use of a genetic algorithm. After variation of seven relevant parameters and performance of 56 experiments, two local maxima regarding the selection criteria could be found after four generations of optimization. The selectivity of core 2-Bn formation showed values up to 90%.

Selective organic precipitation/extraction of released N-glycans following large-scale enzymatic deglycosylation of glycoproteins

A major difficulty with isolating enzymatically or chemically released oligosaccharides from large-scale glycoprotein deglycosylation reactions is the time-consuming chromatography, desalting, and concentration steps required to prepare a glycan fraction of manageable proportions. To overcome these time and preparative chromatography equipment requirements, we have developed a rapid organic solvent precipitation/extraction procedure that allows sequential isolation of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (EC 3.2.1.96)-released high-mannose and hybrid, peptide-N(4)-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asn amidase (EC 3.5.1. 52)-released complex, and beta-eliminated O-linked glycans without the need for intermediate chromatography, desalting, or concentration steps. The method involves precipitation of protein and released glycans at -20 degrees C in 80% acetone and extraction of the glycans from the pellet with 60% aqueous methanol after each deglycosylation step. Three pools of essentially salt- and detergent-free oligosaccharides (high-mannose/hybrid, complex, and O-linked) can be isolated in a high yield in 4 days with this protocol, which has been extensively tested using bovine RNase B, human bile salt-stimulated lipase expressed in Pichia pastoris, hen ovalbumin, bovine fetuin, bovine thyroglobulin, and several invertase preparations from wild-type and mutant yeast strains.

Tn-syndrome

The idiopathic Tn-syndrome, formerly called 'permanent mixed-field polyagglutinability', is a rare hematological disorder characterized by the expression of the Tn-antigen on all blood cell lineages. The immunodominant epitope of the Tn-antigen is terminal alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine, O-glycosidically linked to protein. Normally this residue is 3'-substituted by 5-galactose thereby forming the core 1 structure known as the Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen (Galbeta1 ==> 3GalNAcalpha1 ==> Thr/Ser). The cause of the exposure of the Tn-antigen appears to be due to the silencing of the gene expression of beta1,3galactosyltransferase, since treatment of deficient Tn(+) lymphocyte T clones with 5'azacytidine or Na butyrate leads to reexpression of enzyme activity and the sialylated TF-antigen. The Tn-syndrome is acquired and permanent and affects both sexes at any age. Its origin is unknown. Pluripotent stem cells are affected since all lineages are involved but each one to a variable extent. Therefore, normal cells co-exist with Tn-transformed cells. Clinically, patients suffering from the Tn-syndrome appear healthy. Laboratory findings usually reveal moderate thrombocyto- and leukopenia and some signs of hemolytic anemia not warranting any treatment.

Molecular cloning of a human UDP-galactose:GlcNAcbeta1,3GalNAc beta1, 3 galactosyltransferase gene encoding an O-linked core3-elongation enzyme

Using the full-length amino-acid sequences of the human beta1,3 galactosyltransferase (beta3GalT)-I, -II and III enzymes as query, we have identified an additional member of the beta3GalT gene family within a sequenced region of the human chromosome 21 as found in GenBank. The novel human beta3GalT-V gene included an open reading frame of 933 bp encoding a protein of 310 amino acids with a short N-terminal cytoplasmic tail, a single predicted transmembrane domain and a large lumenal catalytic domain. The human beta3GalT-V protein showed 34%, 27%, 31% and 23% sequence identity with the human beta3GalT-I, -II, -III and -IV enzymes, respectively. The expression of beta3GalT-V as a recombinant protein in Sf9 insect cells confirmed the galactosyltransferase activity catalyzed by this enzyme. Similarly to beta3GalT-I, -II and -III, the beta3GalT-V enzyme used beta-linked GlcNAc as an acceptor, but unlike the former enzymes beta3GalT-V exhibited a marked preference for the O-linked core3 GlcNAcbeta1,3GalNAc substrate. The beta3GalT-V gene was mainly expressed in human small intestine and to a lesser extent in pancreas and testis. Although beta3GalT-V transcripts were not detected in normal colon tissue, based on Northern analysis, beta3GalT-V mRNA was found in the adenocarcinoma cell line Colo 205.

Core 2 oligosaccharide biosynthesis distinguishes between selectin ligands essential for leukocyte homing and inflammation

Mammalian serine/threonine-linked oligosaccharides (O-glycans) are commonly synthesized with the Golgi enzyme core 2 beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (C2 GlcNAcT). Core 2 O-glycans have been hypothesized to be essential for mucin production and selectin ligand biosynthesis. We report that mice lacking C2 GlcNAcT exhibit a restricted phenotype with neutrophilia and a partial deficiency of selectin ligands. Loss of core 2 oligosaccharides reduces neutrophil rolling on substrata bearing E-, L-, and P-selectins and neutrophil recruitment to sites of inflammation. However, the diminished presence of L-selectin ligands on lymph node high endothelial venules does not affect lymphocyte homing. These studies indicate that core 2 oligosaccharide biosynthesis segregates the physiologic roles of selectins and reveal a function for the C2 GlcNAcT in myeloid homeostasis and inflammation.

Structure and glycosylation patterns of surface proteins from woodchuck hepatitis virus

Woodchucks chronically infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) are a valuable model for human hepatitis B virus (HBV) in studies of pathogenesis, immunity, and antiviral therapy. For this reason, substantial efforts to characterize both the similarities and the differences between HBV and WHV are being made. The structure of the WHV surface proteins (WHs proteins) has not yet been adequately elucidated. The bands that would be expected for glycosylated and nonglycosylated small (S) WHs protein are found by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis of purified WHs protein, but the bands corresponding to the middle (M) and large (L) WHs proteins of HBV are not seen at the expected sizes, even though the sequences of the WHV and HBV surface protein genes are 60% homologous. By amino-terminal sequencing we have identified two bands at 41 and 45 kDa as the MWHs proteins, 8 kDa larger than expected. We have also confirmed that two bands at 24 and 27 kDa are SWHs proteins. A protein of 49 kDa was blocked at the N terminus, which using immunoblotting with an antiserum against WHV pre-S1 (positions 126 to 146) was identified, together with a part of the 45-kDa protein, as glycosylated and nonglycosylated LWHs protein of the expected size. Sialidase and O-glycosidase digestion showed that the larger size of MWHs protein results from the presence of O glycoside groups which are probably in the pre-S2 domain of MWHs protein. Since the pre-S2 domains of HBV and WHV have similar numbers of potential O glycosylation sites, it appears to be likely that the glycosyltransferases act differently on the viral proteins in woodchucks and humans.

Vicia villosa B4 lectin inhibits nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity toward UDP-GalNAc specifically

Plant seed lectins play a defense role against plant-eating animals. Here, GalNAc-specific Vicia villosa B4 lectin was found to inhibit hydrolysis of UDP-GalNAc by animal nucleotide pyrophosphatases, which are suggested to regulate local levels of nucleotide sugars in cells. Inhibition was marked at low concentrations of UDP-GalNAc, and was reversed largely by the addition of GalNAc to the reaction mixture. In contrast, lectin inhibited enzymatic hydrolysis of other nucleotide sugars, such as UDP-Gal and UDP-GlcNAc, only to a small extent, and GalNAc did not affect such an inhibition. The binding constant of the lectin for UDP-GalNAc was as high as 2.8 x 10(5) M-1 at 4 degrees C, whereas that for GalNAcalpha-1-phosphate was 1.3 x 10(5) M-1. These findings indicate that lectin inhibition of pyrophosphatase activity toward low concentrations of UDP-GalNAc arises mainly from competition between lectin and enzyme molecules for UDP-GalNAc. This type of inhibition was also observed to a lesser extent with GalNAc-specific Wistaria floribunda lectin, but not apparently with GalNAc-specific soybean or Dolichos biflorus lectin. Thus, V. villosa B4 lectin shows unique binding specificity for UDP-GalNAc and has the capacity to modulate UDP-GalNAc metabolism in animal cells.

Expression and purification of His-tagged beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase in yeast and in COS cells

His6-tag technology has been introduced for easy purification of recombinant proteins expressed in Escherichia coli. Aiming at extending this technology to purification of glycoproteins expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae or in animal cells, respectively, we adapted this protocol to recombinant soluble beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase (rgal-T). A His6-tag was introduced to the N-terminus of the protein (hisGal-T). The Histagged enzyme expressed in yeast S. cerevisiae was enzymically active but could not be purified from the cell extract by virtue of the His6-tag. Binding efficiency of hisGal-T was found to be impaired by a bulky N-glycan close to the His-tag. Removal of the unique site of N-glycosylation using site-directed mutagenesis restored binding of hisGal-T to the Ni-NTA resin. In comparison N-glycosylated hisGal-T transiently expressed in COS cells was secreted as a soluble active enzyme and could be purified in one single step by virtue of the His6-tag.

The sequence of a cDNA encoding functional murine C1-inhibitor protein

The murine C1-inhibitor protein is 482 amino acids long. It consists of an N-terminal domain of 118 amino acids rich in proline and threonine and a serpin domain. The N-terminal domain has 39% identity with the corresponding regions of human and bovine C1 inhibitor.

Multiple column synthesis of a library of T-cell stimulating Tn-antigenic glycopeptide analogues for the molecular characterization of T-cell-glycan specificity

A series of peptides and glycopeptides derived by amino acid and glycosyl amino acid scans through the self peptide from CBA/J mouse haemoglobin Hb (67-76). VITAFNEGLK, was synthesized by multiple column peptide synthesis (MCPS). Investigation of glycopeptide binding to the mouse major histocompatibility class II molecule Ek showed that glycans in position 72 did not interfere with the binding to Ek. Immunization experiments revealed that glycopeptides with the glycan in position 72 were immunogenic. Therefore a series of N-linked and O-linked glycopeptides with the glycan attached in the position 72 either to serine, threonine or asparagine was synthesized by MCPS. The glycan structure was furthermore varied with respect to monosaccharide component, size of oligosaccharide, anomer configuration and stereochemistry of essential hydroxyl groups in order to investigate the specificity of the interaction with the T-cell receptor. Easy synthesis of ready to use Ser and Thr building blocks corresponding to mucin core 1, the Tn-antigen and its beta-anomer were developed using trichloroacetimidates as glycosyl donors and reduction with in situ acetylation of the azide containing glycosylation products. Synthesis of an alpha-linked GlcNAc-Thr building block was achieved by glycosylation of Fmoc-Thr-OPip with 2-azido-2-deoxy-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-glycopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate as a glycosyl donor. Other building blocks were obtained by previously described procedures.

Definition of the full extent of glycosylation of the 45-kilodalton glycoprotein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Chemical evidence for the true glycosylation of mycobacterial proteins was recently provided in the context of the 45-kDa MPT 32 secreted protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (K. Dobos, K. Swiderek, K.-H. Khoo, P. J. Brennan, and J. T. Belisle, Infect. Immun. 63:2846-2853, 1995). However, the full extent and nature of glycosylation as well as the location of glycosylated amino acids remained undefined. First, to examine the nature of the covalently attached sugars, the 45-kDa protein was obtained from cells metabolically labeled with D-[U-14C] glucose and subjected to compositional analysis, which revealed mannose as the only covalently bound sugar. Digestion of the protein with the endoproteinase subtilisin and analysis of products by liquid chromatography-electrospray-mass spectrometry on the basis of fragments demonstrating neutral losses of hexose (m/z 162) or pentose (m/z 132) revealed five glycopeptides, S7, S18, S22, S29, and S41 among a total of 50 peptides, all of which produced only m/z 162 fragmentation ion deletions. Fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, N-terminal amino acid sequencing, and alpha-mannosidase digestion demonstrated universal O glycosylation of Thr residues with a single alpha-D-Man, mannobiose, or mannotriose unit. Linkages within the mannobiose and mannotriose were all alpha 1-2, as proven by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of oligosaccharides released by beta-elimination. Total sequences of many of the glycosylated and nonglycosylated peptides combined with published information on the deduced amino acid sequence of the entire 45-kDa protein demonstrated that the sites of glycosylation were located in Pro-rich domains near the N terminus and C terminus of the polypeptide backbone. Specifically, the Thr residues at positions 10 and 18 were substituted with alpha-D-Manp(1-->2)alpha-D-Manp, the Thr residue at position 27 was substituted with a single alpha-D-Manp, and Thr-277 was substituted with either alpha-D-Manp, alpha-D-Manp(1-->2)alpha-D-Manp, or alpha-D-Manp(1--> 2)alpha-D-Manp(1-->2)alpha-D-Manp. This report further corroborates the existence of true prokaryotic glycoproteins, defines the complete structure of a mycobacterial mannoprotein and the first complete structure of a mannosylated mycobacterial protein, and establishes the principles for the study of other mycobacterial glycoproteins.

Mechanisms underlying aberrant glycosylation of MUC1 mucin in breast cancer cells

The product of the MUC1 gene, the polymorphic epithelial mucin (PEM) is aberrantly glycosylated in breast and other carcinomas, resulting in exposure of normally cryptic peptide epitopes. PEM expressed by breast cancer cells contains more sialylated O-glycans and has a lower GlcNAc content than that expressed by normal cells. The exposure of peptide epitopes is thus thought to be due to the sugar side chains being shorter on the tumour-associated mucin. To investigate possible mechanisms underlying the different pattern of glycosylation in breast cancer cells, we analysed the pathways involved in the biosynthesis of O-glycan chains of mucins in normal and cancerous mammary epithelial cells. An immortalized mammary epithelial cells line originating from normal human milk. MTSV1-7, and three human breast cancer cell lines, BT20, MCF-7 and T47D, were studied. Glycosyltransferase activities assembling, elongating and terminating O-glycan core-1 [Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha-R] and core-2 [GlcNac beta 1-6 (Gal beta 1-3) GalNAc alpha-R] were present in the normal mammary cell line. Many of the glycosyltransferase activities were also expressed at variable levels in breast cancer cells. However, a sialyltransferase activity (CMP-sialic acid Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha 3-sialyltransferase) was increased several fold in all three cancer cell lines. Moreover, mammary cancer cell lines BT20 and T47D have lost the ability to synthesize core-2, as shown by the lack of UDP-GlcNAc: Gal beta 1-3GalNAc (GlcNAc to GalNAc) beta 6-GlcNAc-transferase activity, which corresponded to the absence of the mRNA transcript. However, MCF-7 breast cancer cells expressed this enzyme. Thus, the mechanism for the exposure of peptide epitopes in BT20 and T47D cells is proposed to be the loss of core-2 branching leading to shorter, sialylated O-glycan chains. A different mechanism is proposed for MCF-7 breast cancer cells.