Structural and immunological studies of keratan sulphates from mature bovine articular cartilage

Separation of keratan-sulfate-derived disaccharides by high-performance liquid chromatography and postcolumn derivatization with 2-cyanoacetamide and fluorimetric detection

In this paper, we report a rapid, sensitive, and quantitative procedure to conduct disaccharide compositional analyses of keratan sulfates (KS) by means of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation and postcolumn derivatization with 2-cyanoacetamide and fluorimetric detection of products generated by hydrolysis of this glycosaminoglycan with Bacillus sp. keratanase II or Escherichia freundii endo-beta-galactosidase. Following E. freundii endo-beta-galactosidase digestion of bovine corneal KS, the monosulfated disaccharide glcNAc6sbeta(1-->3)gal, accounting for approximately equals 95% nmol and 50% yield products, is produced. On the contrary, bovine corneal KS treated with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (keratanase II) from Bacillus sp. generates two major products, the monosulfated disaccharide galbeta(1-->4)glcNAc6s ( approximately equals 50% nmol product) and the disulfated disaccharide gal6sbeta(1-->4)glcNAc6s ( approximately equals 40% nmol product) for over 90% nmol products. These disaccharides are separated and readily determined within 30 min by using a linear-gradient strong anion-exchange separation. A linear relationship was found for the two purified disaccharides over a wide range of concentrations, from approximately equals 108 pmol, 50 ng, to 2,160 pmol, 1,000 ng, for the disaccharide galbeta(1-->4)glcNAc6s, and from 92 pmol, 50 ng, to 1,840 pmol, 1,000 ng, for the disaccharide gal6sbeta(1-->4)glcNAc6s. HPLC analysis was applied to the quantitative and qualitative determination of KS produced by 3T3-J2 murine fibroblasts in the cell medium. The amount of KS was found to be 2.80+/-0.34 microg/ml/10(6) cells and composed of approximately equals 71% nmol of disaccharide galbeta(1-->4)glcNAc6s and 18% nmol of the disulfated disaccharide gal6sbeta(1-->4)glcNAc6s having approximately equals 1.20 sulfate groups/disaccharide. Our data illustrate that the HPLC procedure reported represents an improved approach for the quantitative and compositional microanalyses of KS, especially applicable to experimentation involving small amounts ( approximately 50 ng) of this glycosaminoglycan and in relation to its biological function and pathological importance.

Keratan sulfate disaccharide composition determined by FACE analysis of keratanase II and endo-beta-galactosidase digestion products

Many tissues contain glycoproteins and proteoglycans, which are substituted with N-or O-linked keratan sulfate, a glycosaminoglycan in which the lactosamine (-galbeta1,4glcNAc-) disaccharide backbone is variably modified by sulfation, fucosylation, and sialylation. We report here a rapid, sensitive, and quantitative procedure for obtaining a complete disaccharide compositional analyses for keratan sulfates after FACE separation of products generated by hydrolysis of the glycosaminoglycans with B. fragillis keratanase II and E. freundii endo-beta-galactosidase. Seven digestion end products are separable in a single electrophoretic step using Monosaccharide composition gels. These are: the unsulfated disaccharide, glcNAcbeta1,3gal, the fucosylated trisaccharide, galbeta1,2[fucalpha1,3]glcNAc6S, the mono- and disulfated disaccharides, galbeta1,4glcNAc6S or gal6Sbeta1,4glcNAc6S from the chain interior, and the sialylated mono- and disulfated trisaccharides neuAalpha2,3galbeta1,4glcNAc6S or neuAalpha2,3gal6Sbeta1,4glcNAc6S from the nonreducing terminus. FACE analyses also revealed the presence of a contaminant beta-galactosidase activity in keratanase II enzyme preparations which cleaves the disaccharide, galbeta1,4glcNAc6S to its constituent monosaccharides, gal and glcNAc6S. It was particularly prominent at enzyme concentrations > 2 mU per nmole substrate glcNH(2) or after prolonged digestion times (> 12 h), and was not inhibitable by thiogalactosides or N-acetyl-lactosamine. As these monosaccharide products would not be detectable using the commonly described analytical methods for KS hydrolase products, such as (1)H-NMR and HPLC analyses, our data illustrate that the FACE procedure represents an improved approach for accurate compositional microanalyses of corneal and skeletal keratan sulfates, especially applicable to experimentation involving small amounts (1-2 microg) of this glycosaminoglycan.

Age-related changes in the sulphation of the chondroitin sulphate linkage region from human articular cartilage aggrecan

The chondroitin sulphate (CS) linkage regions have been isolated from human articular cartilage aggrecan (from 10- to 72-year-olds) by chondroitin ABC endolyase digestion and size-exclusion chromatography. Linkage region hexasaccharides have been characterized and their abundance estimated by high-pH anion-exchange chromatography. The basic structure for the CS linkage region oligosaccharides identified from human aggrecan is as follows: DeltaUA(beta1-3)GalNAc[0S/4S/6S](beta1-4)GlcA(beta1-3)Gal[0S/6S](beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Xyl, where DeltaUA represents 4,5-unsaturated hexuronic acid, 4S and 6S represent an O-ester sulphate group on C-4 and C-6 respectively, and 0S represents zero sulphation. There are significant age-related changes in the abundance of the various N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) sulphation forms identified, occurring up to approx. 20 years old. During the period from 10 to 20 years old the level of GalNAc 6-sulphation at the linkage region increases from approx. 43% to approx. 75%, while there is a corresponding reduction in unsulphated (approx. 30% to approx. 20%) and 4-sulphated (approx. 25% to approx. 6%) GalNAc residues. There is also an increase in the incidence of linkage region galactose 6-sulphation (approx. 2% to approx. 10%) which was only observed in linkage regions with GalNAc 6-sulphation. Beyond 20 years old there are few changes in the relative abundance of these GalNAc sulphation variants; however, there is a slight increase in the abundance of 6-sulphation between approx. 20 years old and approx. 40 years old and a slight decrease in its abundance beyond approx. 40 years old. Our data show that in the majority of chains from tissues of all ages the GalNAc residue closest to the linkage region is 6-sulphated, but the level of GalNAc 6-sulphation within the linkage region is lower than the average level observed within the repeat region.

Keratan sulfates from bovine tracheal cartilage structural studies of intact polymer chains using H and 13C NMR spectroscopy

Intact keratan sulfate chains derived from bovine tracheal cartilage have been examined using both one-dimensional methods and the two-dimensional experiments COSY-45 and TOCSY for homonuclear shift correlations and a modified COLOC (correlated spectroscopy for long-range couplings) approach for 13C-1H shift correlations. Partial 1H and 13C NMR signal assignments for residues within the intact polymer chain are reported; data derived from the repeat region signals and from chain cap residues are assigned by comparison with published data derived from oligosaccharides obtained through cleavage of keratan sulfate polymer chains using keratanase and keratanase II and are discussed in detail. The one-dimensional spectra for both 1H and 13C nuclei contain highly crowded signal clusters for which data analysis is not directly possible. COSY-45 analysis allow the correlation and assignment of many proton resonances located within the 3.4-4.8 p.p.m. chemical shift region while from the C/H correlation spectrum data are assignable for some signals within the complex set of carbon resonances which fall in the region between 68 and 86 p.p.m., This work using material from tracheal cartilage has permitted the first detailed combined 1H and 13C NMR examination of the primary keratan sulfate polymer structure; this sequence forms the basis for the more complex members of the keratan sulfate family present in other tissues such as articular cartilage and cornea where further residues such as (alpha1-3)-linked fucose and (alpha2-6)-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid are also present. This nondestructive method of analysis complements the currently available degradative methods for structure determination which may then subsequently be utilized.

Increased incidence of unsulphated and 4-sulphated residues in the chondroitin sulphate linkage region observed by high-pH anion-exchange chromatography

We report the isolation, characterization and quantification of five octasaccharides, four hexasaccharides and two tetrasaccharides, derived from the chondroitin sulphate (CS) linkage region of 6-8-year-old bovine articular cartilage aggrecan, following digestion with chondroitin ABC endolyase. Using a novel high-pH anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) method, in conjunction with one- and two-dimensional (1)H-NMR spectroscopy, we have identified the following basic structure for the CS linkage region of aggrecan: DeltaUA(beta1-3)GalNAc[0S/4S/6S](beta1-4)GlcA(beta1-3)GalNAc[0S/4S/6S](beta1-4)GlcA(beta1-3)Gal[0S/6S](beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Xyl, where DeltaUA represents 4,5-unsaturated hexuronic acid, and 4S and 6S represent an O-ester sulphate group on C-4 and C-6 respectively. The octa-, hexa- and tetra-saccharide linkage region fragments were used to develop a HPAEC fingerprinting method, with detection at A(232 nm), and a linear response to approx. 0.1 nmol of substance. The sulphation patterns of CS linkage regions, of up to octasaccharide in size, from articular and tracheal cartilage aggrecan were examined. The results show that in articular cartilage, for the majority (53%) of octasaccharides the 2-deoxy-2-N-acetyl amino-D-galactose (GalNAc) residues closest to the linkage region are both 6-sulphated; however, in a significant portion (34%), one or more of these GalNAc residues are unsulphated, and in 8% both are unsulphated. Approximately 10-18% of the chains have a 4-sulphated GalNAc in the first disaccharide, and 12% have a sulphated linkage region Gal residue. No evidence was found for uronic acid sulphation. These data show that there is a significant increase in the incidence of unsulphated and 4-sulphated GalNAc residues adjacent to the linkage region compared with the rest of the chain. Bovine tracheal cartilage linkage regions displayed very similar sulphation profiles to those from articular cartilage, despite the presence of a higher level of GalNAc 4-sulphation within the repeat region of the main CS chain.

600 MHz NMR studies of human articular cartilage keratan sulfates

The use of high-field two-dimensional 1H-correlation data is described for the detailed comparison of intact keratan sulfate polymer chains derived from human articular cartilage sources as a function of age. For fetal material the nonreducing chain termini are shown to be sparsely capped by sialyl groups which, if present, are exclusively (alpha2-3)-linked to an unsulfated galactose residue. The asialo capping segment has the structure: Gal-GlcNAc6S-Gal-GlcNAc6S-. Examination of keratan sulfate from 10-year-old cartilage shows that capping by sialyl groups is complete, with (alpha2-3)-linkages predominant; for both this and the 38-year-old cartilage the three capping structures: NeuAc(alpha2-3)-Gal-GlcNAc6S-Gal-GlcNAc6S-, NeuAc(alpha2-3)-Gal-GlcNAc6S-Gal6S-GlcNAc6S-, and NeuAc(alpha2-3)-Gal6S-GlcNAc6S-Gal6S-GlcNAc6S- are clearly recognizable. The level of (alpha2-6)-linked chain capping sialyl groups is significant for 38-year-old cartilage keratan sulfate. Structural information concerning the linkage region to protein and the distribution of galactose environments is readily obtained from the spectra. Signal complexities severely limit the usefulness of two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy at 600 MHz for the examination of N-acetylglucosamine residues within the poly(N-acetyllactosamine) repeat sequence and signals representing fucose placements remain undifferentiated. This nondestructive approach complements current degradative methods for the structural examination of keratan sulfates.

Human aggrecan keratan sulfate undergoes structural changes during adolescent development

Alkaline borohydride-reduced keratan sulfate chains were isolated from human articular cartilage aggrecan from individuals of various ages (0-85 years old). The chains were structurally characterized using 1H NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and oligosaccharide profiling (after digestion with the enzymes keratanase and keratanase II). The results show that from birth to early adolescence (0-9 years) the levels of alpha(1-3)-fucosylation, alpha(2-3)-sialylation, and galactose sulfation increase. Also, the weight-average molecular weight of the chains increases. During maturation (9-18 years) the levels of fucosylation and galactose sulfation continue to increase and alpha(2-6)-sialylation of the chains occurs. In adult life (18-85 years) there is little change in the weight-average molecular weight of the chains, and the levels of fucosylation, sialylation, and sulfation remain fairly constant.

Multiple non-reducing chain termini isolated from bovine corneal keratan sulfates

Keratan sulfate-containing proteoglycans were isolated from bovine cornea (15-month-old to 3-year-old animals) and digested with the enzyme, keratanase II. The released oligosaccharides, which included non-reducing termini and repeat region oligosaccharides but not linkage regions, were reduced with alkaline borohydride and fractionated on a Spherisorb column. These oligosaccharides were examined by 600-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy using one- and two-dimensional methods and, in addition to some oligosaccharide alditols previously recovered from skeletal keratan sulfate, the following new capping structures were identified: NeuAcalpha2-6Galbeta1-4GlcNAc(S)-ol, NeuAcalpha2-3Gal(S)beta1-4GlcNAc(S)beta1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc(S )-ol, NeuGcalpha2-6Galbeta1-4GlcNAc(S)beta1-3Galbeta1-4Gl cNA c(S)-ol, NeuGcalpha2-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc(S)beta1-3Galbeta1-4Gl cNA c(S)-ol, NeuGcalpha2-3Gal(S)beta1-4GlcNAc(S)beta1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc(S )-ol, NeuGcalpha2-3Gal(S)beta1-4GlcNAc(S)beta1-3Gal(S)beta1-4GlcNAc(S)-o l, Galalpha1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc(S)beta1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc( S)-ol, Galalpha1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc(S)beta1-3Gal(S)beta1-4GlcNAc(S)- ol, GlcNAc(S)beta1-3Gal(S)beta1-4GlcNAc(S)-ol, and GalNAc(S)beta1-3Gal(S)beta1-4GlcNAc(S)-ol. These structures represent seven families of capping residues, whose relative molar proportions are given in parentheses: NeuAcalpha(2-3)- (12%), NeuAcalpha(2-6)- (41%), NeuGcalpha(2-3)- and NeuGcalpha(2-6)- families (12%), Galalpha(1-3)- (26%), GalNAc(S)beta(1-3)- (5%), and GlcNAc(S)beta(1-3)- (4%). It is not clear, at present, where each of these structures occurs on the bi-antennary N-linked corneal keratan sulfate chains, which themselves occur within three keratan sulfate proteoglycan species. However, examination of the relative proportions of the capping to the repeat structures and knowledge of the average molecular size suggests that the sum of these non-reducing termini represents the caps of two antennae.

A novel keratan sulphate domain preferentially expressed on the large aggregating proteoglycan from human articular cartilage is recognized by the monoclonal antibody 3D12/H7

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were prepared against aggrecan which has been isolated from human articular cartilage and purified by several chromatographic steps. One of these mAbs, the aggrecan-specific mAb 3D12/H7, was selected for further characterization. The data presented indicate that this mAb recognizes a novel domain of keratan sulphate chains from aggrecan: (1) immunochemical staining of aggrecan is abolished by treatment with keratanase/keratanase II, but not with keratanase or chondroitin sulphate lyase AC/ABC; (2) after chemical deglycosylation of aggrecan no staining of the core-protein was observed; (3) different immunochemical reactivity was observed against keratan sulphates from articular cartilage, intervertebral disc and cornea for the mAbs 3D12/H7 and 5D4. For further characterization of the epitope, reduced and 3H-labelled keratan sulphate chains were prepared. In an IEF-gel-shift assay it was shown that the 3H-labelled oligosaccharides obtained after keratanase digestion of reduced and 3H-labelled keratan sulphate chains were recognized by the mAb 3D12/H7. Thus it can be concluded that the mAb 3D12/H7 recognizes an epitope in the linkage region present in, at least some, keratan sulphate chains of the large aggregating proteoglycan from human articular cartilage. Moreover, this domain seems to be expressed preferentially on those keratan sulphate chains which occur in the chondroitin sulphate-rich region of aggrecan, since the antibody does not recognize the keratan sulphate-rich region obtained after combined chondroitinase AC/ABC and trypsin digestion of aggrecan.

N- and O-linked keratan sulfate on the hyaluronan binding region of aggrecan from mature and immature bovine cartilage

In the hyaluronan binding region (HABR) peptide of aggrecan, there is a marked increase in the level of keratan sulfate (KS) during aging. To determine the sites of KS attachment, KS-containing peptides were prepared from HABRs from immature and mature bovine articular cartilage by digestion with trypsin or papain followed by carbohydrate analysis and peptide sequencing. KS is attached to Thr42 within loop A in mature, but not in immature, HABR. Within loop B KS is N-linked to Asn220 in both HABRs, but in the immature HABR the chains are shorter. Asn314 in loop B' of mature HABR is substituted either with a KS chain or with an oligosaccharide of the complex type. In immature HABR this site does not carry KS. In the interglobular domain, 2 threonine residues within the sequence TIQTVT are substituted in both calf and steer, and in steer further substitution occurs within the sequence NITEGEA, which contains a major catabolic cleavage site (Sandy, J., Neame, P.J., Boynton, R., and Flannery, C.R. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 8683-8685). The extreme polydispersity of mature HABR was investigated by preparing four subfractions of increasing molecular size which had essentially the same protein core, i.e. Val1-Arg367 or Val1-Arg375. The smaller species lacked the KS chains attached to loop A. These results show that KS substitution occurs within each of the disulfide-bonded loops of the HABR, that the KS may be either N- or O-linked, and that variations in the addition of KS are responsible for the polydispersity of mature HABR.

13C-NMR spectroscopy of keratan sulphates. Assignments for four poly(N-acetyllactosamine)-repeat-sequence tetrasaccharides derived from bovine articular cartilage keratan sulphate by keratanase II digestion

Skeletal keratan sulphate has been fragmented using the enzyme keratanase II, and the complete 13C chemical shift data are reported for the four tetrasaccharides which derived from the repeat region. They have the structures: Gal beta(1-4)GlcNAc(6S)beta(1-3)Gal beta(1-4)GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal(6S)beta(1-4)GlcNAc(6S)beta(1-3)Gal(1-4)GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal beta(1-4)GlcNAc(6S)beta(1-3)Gal(6S)beta(1-4)GlcNAc(6S)-ol, and Gal(6S)beta(1-4)GlcNAc(6S)(1-3)Gal(6S)beta(1-4)GlcNAc(6S)-ol, where GlcNAc(6S)-ol represents N-acetyl-glucosaminitol-6-O-sulphate. The value of these data for microstructural analysis of undegraded keratan sulphate samples using 13C-NMR spectroscopy is discussed with respect to galactose sulphation levels and the block sulphation structure.

Keratanase digestion of keratan sulphates: characterization of large oligosaccharides from the N-acetyllactosamine repeat sequence and from the non-reducing terminal chain caps

Keratan sulfate (KS) chains prepared from both bovine tracheal rings and bovine femoral head cartilage were digested with the enzyme keratanase from Pseudomonas species; large repeat-sequence and non-reducing terminal oligosaccharides were fractionated and purified using high-performance ion-exchange chromatography. The main beta-linked pentasulfated hexasaccharide repeat segment, [R6], GlcNAc(6S)1-1-3Gal(6S)1-4GlcNAc(6S)1-3Gal(6S)1-4GlcNAc(6S)1-3Gal-ol and the asialo beta-linked capping pentasulfated heptasaccharide, [C7], Gal1-4GlcNAc(6S)1-3Gal(6S)1-4GlcNAc(6S)1-3Gal(6S)1-4GlcNAc(6S) 1-3Gal-ol have been completely characterized by high-field NMR spectroscopy using one- and two-dimensional methods. Partial 1H assignments are summarized for three homologous series of higher oligosaccharides: GlcNAc(6S)[1-3Gal(6S)1-4GlcNAc(6S)]2-5(1-3)Gal-0l [R8,R10,R12] Gal1-4GlcNAc(6S)[1-3Gal(6S)1-4GlcNAc(6S)]3-5(1-3)Gal-ol [C9,C11,C13] NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal1-4GlcNAc(6S)[1-3Gal(6S)1-4GlcNAc(6S)]2-4(1-3)Gal-ol [C8,C10,C12] obtained from keratan sulfate by keratanase cleavage. The first shows that the unsulfated galactose residues within the repeat sequence region of KS may be separated by fully sulfated segments which have a wide distribution of lengths. The others, viz. those with sialylated caps, and the related galactose capped asialo-segments (derived from a KS digestion in which the keratanase also exhibited sialidase activity) represent an homologous series of epitopes in which the first internal unsulfated galactose is located at a position which may be up to five or more fully sulfated N-acetyllactosamine disaccharide repeat units along from the non-reducing terminus of the KS polymer.

Spectroscopic characterisation of disaccharides derived from keratan sulfates

Skeletal keratan sulfates have been degraded by three independent techniques and the resultant, borohydride-reduced, disaccharides have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy. The 1H and 13C (where available) chemical shifts are reported for the following substances, where GalNAc-ol represents N-acetyl-galactosaminitol, GlcNAc-ol represents N-acetyl-glucosaminitol, GlcNAc(6S)-ol represents N-acetyl-glucosaminitol 6-O-sulfate and 2,5AnMan(6S)-ol represents 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol 6-O-sulfate. (a) GlcNAc(6S)beta(1-3)Gal-ol, isolated after keratanase (from Pseudomonas sp.) digestion. (b) Gal beta(1-4)GlcNAc(6S)-ol and Gal(6S)beta(1-4) GlcNAc(6S)-ol, the 1H chemical shifts have been reported previously [Brown, G. M., Huckerby, T. N., Morris, H. G., Abram, B. L. & Nieduszynski, I. A. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 4836-4846; Brown, G. M., Huckerby, T. N. & Nieduszynski, I. A. (1994) Eur. J. Biochem. 224, 281-308], GlcNAc(6S)beta(1-6)GalNAc-ol, [formula: see text], [formula: see text], all isolated after keratanase II digestion. (c) Gal beta(1-4)2,5AnMan(6S)-ol and Gal(6S)beta(1-4)2,5AnMan(6S)-ol, isolated after hydrazinolysis and nitrous acid digestion. In addition, the model compounds Gal beta(1-4)GlcNAc-ol and Gal beta(1-6)GlcNAc-ol have also been examined by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The value of these data for microstructural analysis of keratan sulfate samples is discussed.

Enzymatic degradation of glycosaminoglycans

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play an intricate role in the extracellular matrix (ECM), not only as soluble components and polyelectrolytes, but also by specific interactions with growth factors and other transient components of the ECM. Modifications of GAG chains, such as isomerization, sulfation, and acetylation, generate the chemical specificity of GAGs. GAGs can be depolymerized enzymatically either by eliminative cleavage with lyases (EC 4.2.2.-) or by hydrolytic cleavage with hydrolases (EC 3.2.1.-). Often, these enzymes are specific for residues in the polysaccharide chain with certain modifications. As such, the enzymes can serve as tools for studying the physiological effect of residue modifications and as models at the molecular level of protein-GAG recognition. This review examines the structure of the substrates, the properties of enzymatic degradation, and the enzyme substrate-interactions at a molecular level. The primary structure of several GAGs is organized macroscopically by segregation into alternating blocks of specific sulfation patterns and microscopically by formation of oligosaccharide sequences with specific binding functions. Among GAGs, considerable dermatan sulfate, heparin and heparan sulfate show conformational flexibility in solution. They elicit sequence-specific interactions with enzymes that degrade them, as well as with other proteins, however, the effect of conformational flexibility on protein-GAG interactions is not clear. Recent findings have established empirical rules of substrate specificity and elucidated molecular mechanisms of enzyme-substrate interactions for enzymes that degrade GAGs. Here we propose that local formation of polysaccharide secondary structure is determined by the immediate sequence environment within the GAG polymer, and that this secondary structure, in turn, governs the binding and catalytic interactions between proteins and GAGs.

Oligosaccharides derived by keratanase II digestion of bovine articular cartilage keratan sulphates

Alkaline borohydride-reduced keratan sulphate chains from bovine articular cartilage (6-8-year-old animals) were subjected to a limit digest with the enzyme keratanase II. Using 1H-NMR spectroscopy, 25 reduced oligosaccharides deriving from keratan sulphate were shown to have the following structures [GlcNAc(6S)-ol represents N-acetylglucosaminitol 6-O-sulphate]: Gal beta 1-4-GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal(6S)beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal-(6S)beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S) beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal(6S)beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal(6S)beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal(6S)1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal beta 1-4-(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc(6S)beta1-3Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)-GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal(6S) beta 1-4GlcNAc-(6S)beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal(6S)1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-6(Gal beta 1-3)GalNAc-ol, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S) beta1-6(NeuAc2-3Gal beta 1-3)Gal-NAc-ol, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-6(Gal beta 1-3) GalNAc-ol, Gal(6S)beta 1-4GlcNAc-(6S)beta 1-6(Gal beta 1-3)GalNAc-ol, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-6(NeuAc2-3Gal beta 1-3)-GalNAc-ol, Gal(6S)beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-6(NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3)GalNAc-ol, Gal(6S) beta 1-4GlcNAc-(6S)beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-6(Gal beta 1-3)GalNAc- ol, Gal(6S)beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc-(6S)beta 1-6(NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3)GalNAc-ol, NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol, NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol, NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal-(6S)beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol, NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal(6S)beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol and Neu-Ac alpha 2-3Gal(6S)beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S)beta 1-3Gal(6S beta)1-4GlcNAc(6S)-ol. Proton chemical shifts for these oligosaccharides were assigned using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic methods. These results confirm the findings of Nakazawa et al. [Nakazawa, K., Ito, M., Yamagata, T. and Suzuki, S. (1989) in Keratan sulphate: chemistry, biology and chemical pathology (Greiling, H. and Scott, J.E., eds) pp. 99-110, The Biochemical Society, London], namely that keratanase II cleaves the O-glycosidic bond of a beta(1-3)-linked 6-O-sulphated N-acetylglucosamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Articular cartilage and osteoarthrosis. The role of molecular markers to monitor breakdown, repair and disease

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A sub-population of keratan sulphates derived from bovine articular cartilage is capped with alpha(2-6)-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid residues. Affinity chromatography using immobilized Sambucus nigra lectin and characterization using 1H n.m.r. spectroscopy

Alkaline borohydride-reduced keratan sulphate (KS) chains derived from bovine femoral head cartilage were fractionated by lectin affinity chromatography with Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) into binding and non-binding populations. Analysis of the SNA-binding and non-binding KS chains using 600 MHz 1H n.m.r. spectroscopy showed that the former population contained alpha(2-6)-N-acetylneuraminic acid residues and the latter contained primarily alpha(2-3)-N-acetylneuraminic acid residues as chain terminators. Both populations contained a similar proportion of alpha(2-3)-N-acetylneuraminic acid residues within their protein-linkage regions, and similar sulphation and fucosylation levels. Analysis of these two fractions by gel-permeation chromatography (g.p.c.) on a TSK-30 XL column showed them to have the same size distributions. It was concluded from the n.m.r. spectra and g.p.c. data that the populations differed primarily in the mode of linkage of the chain-terminating sialic acids.

Antigenic properties of keratan sulfate: influence of antigen structure, monoclonal antibodies, and antibody valency

The influence of (a) antigen structure, (b) type of monoclonal antibody, and (c) antibody bivalency on the immunochemical detection and quantification of keratan sulfate (KS) from aggrecan has been studied. Apparent KS epitope levels were determined by immunoglobulin G (IgG)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in preparations of human aggrecan and in a defined series of lower molecular weight proteoglycan preparations generated by proteolytic and alkali treatment of aggrecan. Gel filtration chromatography showed KS epitope to be preferentially detected in the higher molecular weight fragments of the preparations. In single KS chains the epitope was detected in the chains of higher M(r). The ability of the proteoglycan to inhibit in the IgG-ELISA decreased with a reduction in proteoglycan fragment size, ranging between 6- and 260-fold, depending on the antibody used. This was considered to be a cooperative binding effect. With most antibodies, the sensitivity of the IgG-ELISA (represented by the steepness of the inhibition slope) was also reduced with smaller inhibitor sizes. The lowest limit of detectability (the amount of KS required to generate 20% inhibition) varied by up to 60-fold depending on the antibody used. The use of monovalent Fab fragments instead of the whole IgG anti-KS antibody in the ELISA showed that the bivalency of the antibody also affected the quantitation of the assay. In the Fab-ELISA the assay was found to have an increased detectability (by 9.5-fold with aggrecan as the inhibitor), and the proteoglycan fragments and aggrecan all generated parallel inhibition curves. Although the Fab-ELISA was somewhat influenced by the structural presentation of the KS, this was not apparent for small fragments and single chains. Thus the effects of cooperative binding and antibody valency could be overcome and quantitative data could be obtained for all samples, using papain-digested samples and the Fab-ELISA. Application of this assay to analysis of body fluids showed the KS-containing fragments in synovial fluid, serum, and urine were of different sizes and could be quantified.

A non-reducing terminal fragment from tracheal cartilage keratan sulphate chains contains alpha (2-3)-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid

Keratan sulphate chains were isolated from bovine tracheal ring cartilage (15-18-month-old animals) after papain digestion of the tissue followed by ethanol fractionation, chondroitinase ABC digestion and alkaline borohydride reduction. The keratan sulphate chains were further purified by anion-exchange chromatography on a Pharmacia Mono-Q column in order to remove any contaminating chondroitin sulphate and O-linked oligosaccharides. The chains were then treated with keratanase and the digest was subjected to alkaline borohydride reduction, producing oligosaccharides with galactitol at their reducing ends. The reduced digest was chromatographed on a Nucleosil 5 SB anion-exchange column and individual oligosaccharides were isolated. One of these, oligosaccharide (I), was shown by 500 MHz 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy to have the following structure: NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6SO4) beta 1-3Gal-ol (I) The structure of this oligosaccharide shows that keratan sulphate chains from bovine tracheal ring cartilage may be terminated with N-acetylneuraminic acid linked alpha (2-3) to an unsulphated galactose. Keratan sulphate chains were also isolated from bovine femoral head cartilage (15-18-month-old animals) using an identical protocol, but with keratanase which was subsequently shown to have sialidase activity. This yielded oligosaccharide (II), the unsialyated version of (I): Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6SO4) beta 1-3Gal-ol (II).

A full assignment of proton resonances for an alpha(1-3)-linked fucose residue in keratan sulphate from bovine articular cartilage

Full proton NMR assignments have been achieved for the alpha(1-3)-linked fucose residues contained in alkaline borohydride reduced keratan sulphate chains derived from bovine articular cartilage. This involved 500 MHz spectroscopy at 60 degrees C and included COSY and RELAYED-COSY determinations.

Fucose content of keratan sulphates from bovine articular cartilage

Alkaline-borohydride-reduced keratan sulphate chains were isolated from bovine articular cartilage (6-8-year-old animals). Nine keratan sulphate fractions of increasing molecular weight were prepared by gel-permeation chromatography on a calibrated column of TSK 30 XL. The samples were analysed for fucose and galactose contents (% by wt. of keratan sulphate) and fucose/galactose ratio. The fucose content increased with molecular size, but the galactose content remained constant. It was concluded that the alpha(1----3)-linked fucose [Thornton, Morris, Cockin, Huckerby, Nieduszynski, Carlstedt, Hardingham & Ratcliffe (1989) Biochem. J. 260, 277-282] was located within the poly-N-acetyl-lactosamine repeat sequence of articular-cartilage keratan sulphate.

Assay of keratan sulfate as anion-exchanger bound hexose

An assay for keratan sulfate in papain digests of human intervertebral disc and other tissues has been developed. The digest is applied to the acetate form of a tertiary amine acrylic anion-exchange resin, the oligosaccharide hexose is removed by washing the resin with 0.2 M sodium acetate buffer pH 5.0, then the keratan sulfate is eluted quantitatively with 1.0 M pyridinium sulfate pH 2.5 and assayed for hexose by the anthrone reaction. The keratan sulfate content of human intervertebral disc tissues ranged from 7 to 78 mumole galactose equivalents/g fresh weight; the root mean square error was 2 mumole/g; 10-25 mg of tissue were required. The separation of oligosaccharides from keratan sulfate was confirmed by gel permeation chromatography, sugar composition, ester sulfate analysis, and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Skeletal keratan sulfate chain molecular weight calibration by high-performance gel-permeation chromatography

A method has been developed for the molecular sizing of skeletal keratan sulfate chains using an HPLC gel-permeation chromatography system. Keratan sulfate chains and keratanase-derived oligosaccharides were prepared from the nucleus pulposus of bovine intervertebral disc (6-year-old animals). A Bio-Gel TSK 30 XL column eluted in 0.2 M NaCl and at 30 degrees C was calibrated with keratan sulfate oligosaccharides of known size as well as 3H-end-labeled keratan sulfate chains to yield the relationship.

There are two major types of skeletal keratan sulphates

High-field 1H-n.m.r.-spectroscopic studies supported by chemical carbohydrate analyses show that skeletal keratan sulphates (KS-II) of bovine origin may be sub-classified into two groups. Keratan sulphate chains from articular and intervertebral-disc cartilage (KS-II-A) contain two structural features, namely alpha(1----3)-fucose and alpha(2----6)-linked N-acetyl-neuraminic acid residues, that are absent from keratan sulphates from tracheal or nasal-septum cartilage (KS-II-B).

Two linkage-region fragments isolated from skeletal keratan sulphate contain a sulphated N-acetylglucosamine residue

Peptido-keratan sulphate fragments were isolated from the nucleus pulposus of bovine intervertebral discs (6-year-old animals) after chondroitin ABC lyase digestion followed by digestion of A1D1 proteoglycans by diphenylcarbamoyl chloride-treated trypsin and gel-permeation chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B. Treatment of these peptido-keratan sulphate fragments with alkaline NaB3H4 yielded keratan sulphate chains with [3H]galactosaminitol end-labels, and these chains were further purified by gel-permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-50 and ion-exchange chromatography on a Pharmacia Mono-Q column in order to exclude any contamination with O-linked oligosaccharides. The chains were then treated with keratanase, and the digest was chromatographed on a Bio-Gel P-4 column followed by anion-exchange chromatography on a Nucleosil 5 SB column. Two oligosaccharides, each representing 18% of the recovered radiolabel, were examined by 500 MHz 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, and shown to have the following structures: [formula: see text] The structure of oligosaccharide (I) confirms the N-acetylneuraminylgalactose substitution at position 3 of N-acetylgalactosamine in the keratan sulphate-protein linkage region found by Hopwood & Robinson [(1974) Biochem. J. 141, 57-69] but additionally shows the presence of a 6-sulphated N-acetylglucosamine. Electron micro-probe analysis specifically confirmed the presence of sulphur in this sample. This sulphate ester group differentiates the keratan sulphate linkage region from similar structures derived from O-linked oligosaccharides [Lohmander, De Luca, Nilsson, Hascall, Caputo, Kimura & Heinegård (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 6084-6091].