N-glycosylation of the I-like domain of beta1 integrin is essential for beta1 integrin expression and biological function: identification of the minimal N-glycosylation requirement for alpha5beta1

The acetylglucosaminyltransferase GnT-Ⅲ regulates erythroid differentiation through ERK/MAPK signaling

Differentiation therapy is an alternative strategy used in treating chronic myelogenous leukemia to induce the differentiation of immature or cancerous cells toward mature cells and inhibit tumor cell proliferation. We aimed to explore N-glycans' roles in erythroid differentiation using the sodium butyrate (NaBu)-induced model of K562 cells (WT/NaBu cells). Here, using lectin blot, flow cytometry, real-time PCR, and mass spectrometry analyses, we demonstrated that the mRNA levels of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase Ⅲ ((encoded by the MGAT3 gene) and its product (bisected N-glycans) were significantly increased during erythroid differentiation. To address the importance of GnTN-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-Ⅲ in this progress, we established a stable MGAT3 KO K562 cell line using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Compared to WT/NaBu cells, MGAT3 KO significantly impeded the progression of erythroid differentiation, as shown in decreased cell color and levels of erythroid markers, glycophorin A (CD235a), and β-globin. Consistently, MGAT3 KO mitigated the inhibitory impact of NaBu on cell proliferation. During induction, MGAT3 KO suppressed the cellular phosphorylated tyrosine and phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 levels. Inhibition of the ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway using U0126 blocked erythroid differentiation while concurrently suppressing the expression levels of MGAT3 and bisected N-glycans. Furthermore, the lack of bisecting GlcNAc modification on c-Kit and transferrin receptor 1 (CD71) suppressed cellular signaling and accelerated the degradation of the CD71 protein, respectively. Our study highlights the critical role of MGAT3 in regulating erythroid differentiation associated with the ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, which may shed light on identifying new differentiation therapy in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Metabolic Control of Glycosylation Forms for Establishing Glycan-Dependent Protein Interaction Networks

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) provide essential insights into the complex molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways within cells that regulate development and disease-related phenotypes. However, for membrane proteins, the impact of various forms of glycosylation has often been overlooked in PPI studies. In this study, we introduce a novel approach, glycan-dependent affinity purification followed by mass spectrometry (GAP-MS), to assess variations in PPIs for any glycoprotein of interest under different glycosylation conditions. As a proof of principle, we selected four glycoproteins-BSG, CD44, EGFR, and SLC3A2-as baits to compare their co-purified partners across five metabolically controlled glycan conditions. The findings demonstrate the capability of GAP-MS to identify PPIs influenced by altered glycosylation states, establishing a foundation for systematically exploring the Glycan-Dependent Protein Interactome (GDPI) for other glycoproteins of interest.

Exploration into Galectin-3 Driven Endocytosis and Lattices

Essentially all plasma membrane proteins are glycosylated, and their activity is regulated by tuning their cell surface dynamics. This is achieved by glycan-binding proteins of the galectin family that either retain glycoproteins within lattices or drive their endocytic uptake via the clathrin-independent glycolipid-lectin (GL-Lect) mechanism. Here, we have used immunofluorescence-based assays to analyze how lattice and GL-Lect mechanisms affect the internalization of the cell adhesion and migration glycoprotein α5β1 integrin. In retinal pigment epithelial (RPE-1) cells, internalized α5β1 integrin is found in small peripheral endosomes under unperturbed conditions. Pharmacological compounds were used to competitively inhibit one of the galectin family members, galectin-3 (Gal3), or to inhibit the expression of glycosphingolipids, both of which are the fabric of the GL-Lect mechanism. We found that under acute inhibition conditions, endocytic uptake of α5β1 integrin was strongly reduced, in agreement with previous studies on the GL-Lect driven internalization of the protein. In contrast, upon prolonged inhibitor treatment, the uptake of α5β1 integrin was increased, and the protein was now internalized by alternative pathways into large perinuclear endosomes. Our findings suggest that under these prolonged inhibitor treatment conditions, α5β1 integrin containing galectin lattices are dissociated, leading to an altered endocytic compartmentalization.

Defining the mechanism of galectin-3-mediated TGF-β1 activation and its role in lung fibrosis

Integrin-mediated activation of the profibrotic mediator transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), plays a critical role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) pathogenesis. Galectin-3 is believed to contribute to the pathological wound healing seen in IPF, although its mechanism of action is not precisely defined. We hypothesized that galectin-3 potentiates TGF-β1 activation and/or signaling in the lung to promote fibrogenesis. We show that galectin-3 induces TGF-β1 activation in human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) and specifically that extracellular galectin-3 promotes oleoyl-L-α-lysophosphatidic acid sodium salt-induced integrin-mediated TGF-β1 activation. Surface plasmon resonance analysis confirmed that galectin-3 binds to αv integrins, αvβ1, αvβ5, and αvβ6, and to the TGFβRII subunit in a glycosylation-dependent manner. This binding is heterogeneous and not a 1:1 binding stoichiometry. Binding interactions were blocked by small molecule inhibitors of galectin-3, which target the carbohydrate recognition domain. Galectin-3 binding to β1 integrin was validated in vitro by coimmunoprecipitation in HLFs. Proximity ligation assays indicated that galectin-3 and β1 integrin colocalize closely (≤40 nm) on the cell surface and that colocalization is increased by TGF-β1 treatment and blocked by galectin-3 inhibitors. In the absence of TGF-β1 stimulation, colocalization was detectable only in HLFs from IPF patients, suggesting the proteins are inherently more closely associated in the disease state. Galectin-3 inhibitor treatment of precision cut lung slices from IPF patients' reduced Col1a1, TIMP1, and hyaluronan secretion to a similar degree as TGF-β type I receptor inhibitor. These data suggest that galectin-3 promotes TGF-β1 signaling and may induce fibrogenesis by interacting directly with components of the TGF-β1 signaling cascade.

Integrated proteomic, phosphoproteomic, and N-glycoproteomic analyses of small extracellular vesicles from C2C12 myoblasts identify specific PTM patterns in ligand-receptor interactions

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are important mediators of intercellular communication by transferring of functional components (proteins, RNAs, and lipids) to recipient cells. Some PTMs, including phosphorylation and N-glycosylation, have been reported to play important role in EV biology, such as biogenesis, protein sorting and uptake of sEVs. MS-based proteomic technology has been applied to identify proteins and PTM modifications in sEVs. Previous proteomic studies of sEVs from C2C12 myoblasts, an important skeletal muscle cell line, focused on identification of proteins, but no PTM information on sEVs proteins is available.In this study, we systematically analyzed the proteome, phosphoproteome, and N-glycoproteome of sEVs from C2C12 myoblasts with LC-MS/MS. In-depth analyses of the three proteomic datasets revealed that the three proteomes identified different catalogues of proteins, and PTMomic analysis could expand the identification of cargos in sEVs. At the proteomic level, a high percentage of membrane proteins, especially tetraspanins, was identified. The sEVs-derived phosphoproteome had a remarkably high level of tyrosine-phosphorylated sites. The tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins might be involved with EPH-Ephrin signaling pathway. At the level of N-glycoproteomics, several glycoforms, such as complex N-linked glycans and sialic acids on glycans, were enriched in sEVs. Retrieving of the ligand-receptor interaction in sEVs revealed that extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell adhesion molecule (CAM) represented the most abundant ligand-receptor pairs in sEVs. Mapping the PTM information on the ligands and receptors revealed that N-glycosylation mainly occurred on ECM and CAM proteins, while phosphorylation occurred on different categories of receptors and ligands. A comprehensive PTM map of ECM-receptor interaction and their components is also provided.In summary, we conducted a comprehensive proteomic and PTMomic analysis of sEVs of C2C12 myoblasts. Integrated proteomic, phosphoproteomic, and N-glycoproteomic analysis of sEVs might provide some insights about their specific uptake mechanism.

Sialylation on vesicular integrin β1 determined endocytic entry of small extracellular vesicles into recipient cells

BACKGROUND

Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) are closely associated with the development and metastasis of many types of mammalian cancer. Glycoconjugates are highly expressed on sEV and play important roles in sEV biogenesis and their interaction with other cells. However, the study on vesicular glycoconjugates are far behind proteins and nucleic acids. Especially, the functions of sialic acids which are the terminal components of glycoconjugates, are poorly understood in sEV.

METHODS

Sialic acid levels on sEV from plasma and bladder cancer cells were determined by ELISA and lectin blotting. Effects of sialylation on sEV uptake were determined by flow cytometry. Vesicular glycoproteins bearing sialic acids responsible for sEV uptake was identified by proteomics and density gradient centrifugation, and their site-specific sialylation functions were assayed by N-glycosylation site mutation. Effects of integrin β1 bearing sialic acids on the pro-metastatic function of sEV in vivo were explored using Balb/c nu/nu mice.

RESULTS

(1) Increased sialic acid levels were observed in sEV from malignant bladder cancer cells. (2) Elimination of sialic acids on sEV impaired sEV uptake by recipient cells. (3) Vesicular integrin β1 bearing sialic acids was identified to play a key role in sEV uptake. (4) Desialylation of the hybrid domain of vesicular integrin β1 inhibited its binding to matrix fibronectin, and reduced sEV entry into recipient cells. (5) Sialylation on integrin β1 affected pro-metastatic function of sEV in Balb/c nu/nu mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our findings indicate important functional roles of sialic acids in sEV uptake and reprogramming plasticity of surrounding normal epithelial cells.

Decreased B4GALT1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell invasiveness by regulating the laminin-integrin pathway

Beta1,4-galactosyltransferases (B4GALTs) play a crucial role in several diseases, including cancer. B4GALT1 is highly expressed in the liver, and patients with mutations in B4GALT1 exhibit hepatopathy. However, the role of B4GALT1 in liver cancer remains unclear. Here, we found that B4GALT1 was significantly downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue compared with the adjacent liver tissue, and low B4GALT1 expression was associated with vascular invasion and poor overall survival in patients with HCC. Additionally, silencing or loss of B4GALT1 enhanced HCC cell migration and invasion in vitro and promoted lung metastasis of HCC in NOD/SCID mice. Moreover, B4GALT1 knockdown or knockout increased cell adhesion to laminin, whereas B4GALT1 overexpression decreased the adhesion. Through a mass spectrometry-based approach and Griffonia simplicifolia lectin II (GSL-II) pull-down assays, we identified integrins α6 and β1 as the main protein substrates of B4GALT1 and their N-glycans were modified by B4GALT1. Further, the increased cell migration and invasion induced by B4GALT1 knockdown or knockout were significantly reversed using a blocking antibody against integrin α6 or integrin β1. These results suggest that B4GALT1 downregulation alters N-glycosylation and enhances the laminin-binding activity of integrin α6 and integrin β1 to promote invasiveness of HCC cells. Our findings provide novel insights into the role of B4GALT1 in HCC metastasis and highlight targeting the laminin-integrin axis as a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC with low B4GALT1 expression.

N-glycosylation by N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase IVa enhances the interaction of integrin β1 with vimentin and promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell motility

N-glycosylation has been revealed to be tightly associated with cancer metastasis. As a key transferase that catalyzes the formation of β1,4 N-acetylglucosamine (β1,4GlcNAc) branches on the mannose core of N-glycans, N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase IVa (GnT-IVa) has been reported to be involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis by forming N-glycans; however, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In the current study, we found that GnT-IVa was upregulated in HCC tissues and positively correlated with worse outcomes in HCC patients. We found that GnT-IVa could promote tumor growth in mice; notably, this effect was attenuated after mutating the enzymatic site (D445A) of GnT-IVa, suggesting that GnT-IVa regulated HCC progression by forming β1,4GlcNAc branches. To mechanistically investigate the role of GnT-IVa in HCC, we conducted GSEA and GO functional analysis as well as in vitro experiments. The results showed that GnT-IVa could enhance HCC cell migration, invasion and adhesion ability and increase β1,4GlcNAc branch glycans on integrin β1 (ITGB1), a tumor-associated glycoprotein that is closely involved in cell motility by interacting with vimentin. Interruption of β1,4GlcNAc branch glycan modification on ITGB1 could suppress the interaction of ITGB1 with vimentin and inhibit cell motility. These results revealed that GnT-IVa could promote HCC cell motility by affecting the biological functions of ITGB1 through N-glycosylation. In summary, our results revealed that GnT-IVa is highly expressed in HCC and can form β1,4GlcNAc branches on ITGB1, which are essential for interactions with vimentin to promote HCC cell motility. These findings not only proposed a novel mechanism for GnT-IVa in HCC progression but also revealed the significance of N-glycosylation on ITGB1 during the process, which may provide a novel target for future HCC therapy.

Roles of N-linked glycosylation and glycan-binding proteins in placentation: trophoblast infiltration, immunomodulation, angiogenesis, and pathophysiology

Protein N-linked glycosylation is a structurally diverse post-translational modification that stores biological information in a larger order of magnitude than other post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination and acetylation. This gives N-glycosylated proteins a diverse range of properties and allows glyco-codes (glycan-related information) to be deciphered by glycan-binding proteins (GBPs). The intervillous space of the placenta is richly populated with membrane-bound and secreted glycoproteins. Evidence exists to suggest that altering the structural nature of their N-glycans can impact several trophoblast functions, which include those related to interactions with decidual cells. This review summarizes trophoblast-related activities influenced by N-glycan-GBP recognition, exploring how different subtypes of trophoblasts actively adapt to characteristics of the decidualized endometrium through cell-specific expression of N-glycosylated proteins, and how these cells receive decidua-derived signals via N-glycan-GBP interactions. We highlight work on how changes in N-glycosylation relates to the success of trophoblast infiltration, interactions of immunomodulators, and uterine angiogenesis. We also discuss studies that suggest aberrant N-glycosylation of trophoblasts may contribute to the pathogenesis of pregnancy complications (e.g. pre-eclampsia, early spontaneous miscarriages and hydatidiform mole). We propose that a more in-depth understanding of how N-glycosylation shapes trophoblast phenotype during early pregnancy has the potential to improve our approach to predicting, diagnosing and alleviating poor maternal/fetal outcomes associated with placental dysfunction.

Expression of GnT-III decreases chemoresistance via negatively regulating P-glycoprotein expression: Involvement of the TNFR2-NF-κB signaling pathway

The phenomenon of multidrug resistance (MDR) is called chemoresistance with respect to the treatment of cancer, and it continues to be a major challenge. The role of N-glycosylation in chemoresistance, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we established a traditional model for adriamycin resistance in K562 cells, which are also known as K562/adriamycin-resistant (ADR) cells. Lectin blot, mass spectrometry, and RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III) mRNA and its products, bisected N-glycans, are significantly decreased in K562/ADR cells, compared with the levels in parent K562 cells. By contrast, the expression levels of both P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and its intracellular key regulator, NF-κB signaling, are significantly increased in K562/ADR cells. These upregulations were sufficiently suppressed by the overexpression of GnT-III in K562/ADR cells. We found that the expression of GnT-III consistently decreased chemoresistance for doxorubicin and dasatinib, as well as activation of the NF-κB pathway by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, which binds to two structurally distinct glycoproteins, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2), on the cell surface. Interestingly, our immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that only TNFR2, but not TNFR1, contains bisected N-glycans. The lack of GnT-III strongly induced TNFR2's autotrimerization without ligand stimulation, which was rescued by the overexpression of GnT-III in K562/ADR cells. Furthermore, the deficiency of TNFR2 suppressed P-gp expression while it increased GnT-III expression. Taken together, these results clearly show that GnT-III negatively regulates chemoresistance via the suppression of P-gp expression, which is regulated by the TNFR2-NF/κB signaling pathway.

The Interaction between DNMT1 and High-Mannose CD133 Maintains the Slow-Cycling State and Tumorigenic Potential of Glioma Stem Cell

The quiescent/slow-cycling state preserves the self-renewal capacity of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and leads to the therapy resistance of CSCs. The mechanisms maintaining CSCs quiescence remain largely unknown. Here, it is demonstrated that lower expression of MAN1A1 in glioma stem cell (GSC) resulted in the formation of high-mannose type N-glycan on CD133. Furthermore, the high-mannose type N-glycan of CD133 is necessary for its interaction with DNMT1. Activation of p21 and p27 by the CD133-DNMT1 interaction maintains the slow-cycling state of GSC, and promotes chemotherapy resistance and tumorigenesis of GSCs. Elimination of the CD133-DNMT1 interaction by a cell-penetrating peptide or MAN1A1 overexpression inhibits the tumorigenesis of GSCs and increases the sensitivity of GSCs to temozolomide. Analysis of glioma samples reveals that the levels of high-mannose type N-glycan are correlated with glioma recurrence. Collectively, the high mannose CD133-DNMT1 interaction maintains the slow-cycling state and tumorigenic potential of GSC, providing a potential strategy to eliminate quiescent GSCs.

Genome-wide CRISPR screen identified a role for commander complex mediated ITGB1 recycling in basal insulin secretion

OBJECTIVES

Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin postprandially and during fasting to maintain glucose homeostasis. Although glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) has been extensively studied, much less is known about basal insulin secretion. Here, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen to identify novel regulators of insulin secretion.

METHODS

To identify genes that cell autonomously regulate insulin secretion, we engineered a Cas9-expressing MIN6 subclone that permits irreversible fluorescence labeling of exocytic insulin granules. Using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting assay of exocytosis in low glucose and high glucose conditions in individual cells, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen.

RESULTS

We identified several members of the COMMD family, a conserved family of proteins with central roles in intracellular membrane trafficking, as positive regulators of basal insulin secretion, but not GSIS. Mechanistically, we show that the Commander complex promotes insulin granules docking in basal state. This is mediated, at least in part, by its function in ITGB1 recycling. Defective ITGB1 recycling reduces its membrane distribution, the number of focal adhesions and cortical ELKS-containing complexes.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated a previously unknown function of the Commander complex in basal insulin secretion. We showed that by ITGB1 recycling, Commander complex increases cortical adhesions, which enhances the assembly of the ELKS-containing complexes. The resulting increase in the number of insulin granules near the plasma membrane strengthens basal insulin secretion.

Tenascin-C fibronectin D domain is involved in the fine-tuning of glial response to CNS injury in vitro

Understanding processes that occur after injuries to the central nervous system is essential in order to gain insight into how the restoration of function can be improved. Extracellular glycoprotein tenascin-C (TnC) has numerous functions in wound healing process depending on the expression time, location, isoform and binding partners which makes it interesting to study in this context. We used an in vitro injury model, the mixed culture of cortical astrocytes and microglia, and observed that without TnC microglial cells tend to populate gap area in greater numbers and proliferate more, whereas astrocytes build up in the border region to promote faster gap closure. Alternatively spliced domain of TnC, fibronectin type III-like repeat D (FnD) strongly affected physiological properties and morphology of both astrocytes and microglia in this injury model. The rate of microglial proliferation in the injury region decreased significantly with the addition of FnD. Additionally, density of microglia also decreased, in part due to reduced proliferation, and possibly due to reduced migration and increased contact inhibition between enlarged FnD-treated cells. Overall morphology of FnD-treated microglia resembled the activated pro-inflammatory cells, and elevated expression of iNOS was in accordance with this phenotype. The effect of FnD on astrocytes was different, as it did not affect their proliferation, but stimulated migration of reactivated astrocytes into the scratched area 48 h after the lesion. Elevated expression and secretion of TNF-α and IL-1β upon FnD treatment indicated the onset of inflammation. Furthermore, on Western blots we observed increased intensity of precursor bands of β1 integrin and appearance of monomeric bands of P2Y12R after FnD treatment which substantiates and clarifies its role in cellular shape and motility changes. Our results show versatile functions of TnC and in particular FnD after injury, mostly contributing to ongoing inflammation in the injury region. Based on our findings, FnD might be instrumental in limiting immune cell infiltration, and promoting astrocyte migration within the injury region, thus influencing spaciotemporal organization of the wound and surrounding area.

Integrin β1 in Pancreatic Cancer: Expressions, Functions, and Clinical Implications

Simple Summary

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor with an extremely poor prognosis. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to improving the survival rate of PC patients. Emerging studies show that integrins might contribute to the pathogenesis of PC. This review presents the various signaling pathways that are mediated by integrins in PC and emphasizes the multiple functions of integrin β1 in malignant behaviors of PC. It also discusses the clinical significance of integrin β1 as well as integrin β1-based therapy in PC patients.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is characterized by rapid progression and a high mortality rate. The current treatment is still based on surgical treatment, supplemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and new methods of combining immune and molecular biological treatments are being explored. Despite this, the survival rate of PC patients is still very disappointing. Therefore, clarifying the molecular mechanism of PC pathogenesis and developing precisely targeted drugs are key to improving PC prognosis. As the most common β subunit of the integrin family, integrin β1 has been proved to be closely related to the vascular invasion, distant metastasis, and survival of PC patients, and treatment targeting integrin β1 in PC has gained initial success in animal models. In this review, we summarize the various signaling pathways by which integrins are involved in PC, focusing on the roles of integrin β1 in the malignant behaviors of PC. Additionally, recent studies regarding the feasibility of integrin β1 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in PC are also discussed. Finally, we present the progress of several integrin β1-based clinical trials to highlight the potential of integrin β1 as a target for personalized therapy in PC.

Identification of proteins and N-glycosylation sites of knee cartilage in Kashin-Beck disease compared with osteoarthritis

The aim of this study was to identify crucial proteins and N-glycosylated sites in the pathological mechanism of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) compared with osteoarthritis (OA). Nine KBD knee subjects and nine OA knee subjects were selected for the study. Quantitative proteomics and N-glycoproteomics data of KBD and OA were obtained by protein and N-glycoprotein enrichment and LC-MS/MS analysis. Differentially expressed proteins or N-glycosylation sites were examined with a comparative analysis between KBD and OA. Total 2205 proteins were identified in proteomic analysis, of which 375 were significantly different. Among these, 121 proteins were up-regulated and 254 were down-regulated. In N-glycoproteomic analysis, 278 different N-glycosylated sites that were related to 187 N-glycoproteins were identified. Proteins and their N-glycosylated sites are associated with KBD pathological process including ITGB1, LRP1, ANO6, COL1A1, MXRA5, DPP4, and CSPG4. CRLF1 and GLG1 are proposed to associate with both KBD and OA pathological processes. Key pathways in KBD vs. OA proteomic and N-glycoproteomic analysis contained extracellular matrix receptor interaction, focal adhesion, phagosome, protein digestion, and absorption. N-glycosylation may influence the pathological process by affecting the integrity of chondrocytes or cartilage. It regulated the intercellular signal transduction pathway, which contributes to cartilage destruction in KBD.

Site-specific N-glycan profiles of α5 β1 integrin from rat liver

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Like most other cell surface proteins, α₅ β₁ integrin is glycosylated, which is required for its various activities in ways that mostly remain to be determined.

RESULTS

Here, we have established the first comprehensive site-specific glycan map of α₅ β₁ integrin that was purified from a natural source, i.e., rat liver. This analysis revealed striking site selective variations in glycan composition. Complex bi, tri or tetraantennary N-glycans were predominant at various proportions at most potential N-glycosylation sites. A few of these sites were non-glycosylated or contained high mannose or hybrid glycans, indicating that early N-glycan processing was hindered. Almost all complex N-glycans had fully galactosylated and sialylated antennae. Moderate levels of core fucosylation and high levels of O-acetylation of NeuAc residues were observed at certain sites. An O-linked HexNAc was found in an EGF-like domain of β₁ integrin. The extensive glycan information that results from our study was projected onto a map of α₅ β₁ integrin that was obtained by homology modeling. We have used this model for the discussion of how glycosylation might be used in the functional cycle of α₅ β₁ integrin. A striking example concerns the involvement of glycan-binding galectins in the regulation of the molecular homeostasis of glycoproteins at the cell surface through the formation of lattices or endocytic pits according to the glycolipid-lectin (GL-Lect) hypothesis.

CONCLUSION

We expect that the glycoproteomics data of the current study will serve as a resource for the exploration of structural mechanisms by which glycans control α₅ β₁ integrin activity and endocytic trafficking.

SIGNIFICANCE

Glycosylation of α₅ β₁ integrin has been implicated in multiple aspects of integrin function and structure. Yet, detailed knowledge of its glycosylation, notably the specific sites of glycosylation, is lacking. Furthermore, the α₅ β₁ integrin preparation that was analyzed here is from a natural source, which is of importance as there is not a lot of literature in the field about the glycosylation of 'native' glycoproteins. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Characterization of Glycoproteoforms of Integrins α2 and β1 in Megakaryocytes in the Occurrence of JAK2V617F Mutation-Induced Primary Myelofibrosis

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a neoplasm prone to leukemic transformation, for which limited treatment is available. Among individuals diagnosed with PMF, the most prevalent mutation is the JAK2V617F somatic point mutation that activates the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) enzyme. Our earlier reports on hyperactivity of β1 integrin and enhanced adhesion activity of the α2β1 complex in JAK2V617F megakaryocytes (MKs) led us to examine the new hypothesis that this mutation leads to posttranslational modification via changes in glycosylation. Samples were derived from immunoprecipitation of MKs obtained from Vav1-hJAK2^V617F and WT mice. Immunoprecipitated fractions were separated by SDS-PAGE and analyzed using LC-MS/MS techniques in a bottom-up glycoproteomics workflow. In the immunoprecipitate, glycopeptiforms corresponding to 11 out of the 12 potential N-glycosylation sites of integrin β1 and to all nine potential glycosylation sites of integrin α2 were observed. Glycopeptiforms were compared across WT and JAK2V617F phenotypes for both integrins. The overall trend observed is that JAK2V617F mutation in PMF MKs leads to changes in β1 glycosylation; in most cases, it results in an increase in the integrated area of glycopeptiforms. We also observed that in mutated MKs, changes in integrin α2 glycosylation were more substantial than those observed for integrin β1 glycosylation, a finding that suggests that altered integrin α2 glycosylation may also affect activation. Additionally, the identification of proteins associated to the cytoskeleton that were co-immunoprecipitated with integrins α2 and β1 demonstrated the potential of the methodology employed in this study to provide some insight, at the peptide level, into the consequences of integrin activation in MKs. The extensive and detailed glycosylation patterns we uncovered provide a basis for future functional studies of each site in control cells as compared to JAK2V617F-mutated cells. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD030550.

ALFY localizes to early endosomes and cellular protrusions to facilitate directional cell migration

Cell migration is a complex process underlying physiological and pathological processes such as brain development and cancer metastasis. The autophagy-linked FYVE protein (ALFY; also known as WDFY3), an autophagy adaptor protein known to promote clearance of protein aggregates, has been implicated in brain development and neural migration during cerebral cortical neurogenesis in mice. However, a specific role of ALFY in cell motility and extracellular matrix adhesion during migration has not been investigated. Here, we reveal a novel role for ALFY in the endocytic pathway and in cell migration. We show that ALFY localizes to RAB5- and EEA1-positive early endosomes in a PtdIns(3)P-dependent manner and is highly enriched in cellular protrusions at the leading and lagging edge of migrating cells. We find that cells lacking ALFY have reduced attachment and altered protein levels and glycosylation of integrins, resulting in the inability to form a proper leading edge and loss of directional cell motility.

Site-specific N-glycosylation of integrin α2 mediates collagen-dependent cell survival

Integrin alpha 2 (ITGA2) promotes cancer metastasis through selective adhesion to ECM proteins; however, the specific contribution of integrin glycosylation remains uncertain. We provide evidence that ITGA2 is a highly glycosylated transmembrane protein expressed in ovarian cancer tissue and cell lines. In-depth glycoproteomics identified predominant N- and O-glycosylation sites harboring substantially divergent ITGA2 glycosylation profiles. Generated putative ITGA2 N-glycosite mutants halted collagen and laminin binding and cells lacking N-glycosylated ITGA2 were marginally adherent to collagen, likely associated with its enhanced proteasome degradation through poly-ubiquitination. Proteomic and enrichment pathway analysis revealed increased cellular apoptosis and collagen organization in non-glycosylated ITGA2 mutant cells. Moreover, we provide evidence that ITGA2-specific sialylation is involved in selective cell-ECM binding. These results highlight the importance of glycans in regulating ITGA2 stability and ligand binding capacity which in turn modulates downstream focal adhesion and promotes cell survival in a collagen environment.

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In-depth glycoproteomics reveal divergent ITGA2 glycosylation

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Site-specific N-glycans regulate protein stability and ECM ligand binding affinity

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Loss of N-glycosylation induces proteasome degradation through poly-ubiquitination

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N-glycosylation mediates collagen-dependent cell survival through focal adhesion

Identification of SYS1 as a Host Factor Required for Shiga Toxin-Mediated Cytotoxicity in Vero Cells

Shiga toxin (STx) or Vero toxin is a virulence factor produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. The toxin binds to the glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) for its entry, and causes cell death by inhibiting ribosome function. Previously, we performed a loss-of-function screen in HeLa cells using a human CRISPR knockout (KO) library and identified various host genes required for STx-induced cell death. To determine whether this library targeted to the human genome is applicable to non-human primate cells and to identify previously unrecognized factors crucial for STx-induced cell death, we herein performed a similar screen in the African green monkey kidney-derived Vero C1008 subline. Many genes relevant to metabolic enzymes and membrane trafficking were enriched, although the number of enriched genes was less than that obtained in the screening for HeLa cells. Of note, several genes that had not been enriched in the previous screening were enriched: one of these genes was SYS1, which encodes a multi-spanning membrane protein in the Golgi apparatus. In SYS1 KO Vero cells, expression of Gb3 and sphingomyelin was decreased, while that of glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide was increased. In addition, loss of SYS1 inhibited the biosynthesis of protein glycans, deformed the Golgi apparatus, and perturbed the localization of trans-Golgi network protein (TGN) 46. These results indicate that the human CRISPR KO library is applicable to Vero cell lines, and SYS1 has a widespread effect on glycan biosynthesis via regulation of intra-Golgi and endosome–TGN retrograde transports.

Structural insights into integrin α5β1 opening by fibronectin ligand

Integrin α₅β₁ is a major fibronectin receptor critical for cell migration. Upon complex formation, fibronectin and α₅β₁ undergo conformational changes. While this is key for cell-tissue connections, its mechanism is unknown. Here, we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of native human α₅β₁ with fibronectin to 3.1-angstrom resolution, and in its resting state to 4.6-angstrom resolution. The α₅β₁-fibronectin complex revealed simultaneous interactions at the arginine-glycine-aspartate loop, the synergy site, and a newly identified binding site proximal to adjacent to metal ion-dependent adhesion site, inducing the translocation of helix α1 to secure integrin opening. Resting α₅β₁ adopts an incompletely bent conformation, challenging the model of integrin sharp bending inhibiting ligand binding. Our biochemical and structural analyses showed that affinity of α₅β₁ for fibronectin is increased with manganese ions (Mn²⁺) while adopting the half-bent conformation, indicating that ligand-binding affinity does not depend on conformation, and α₅β₁ opening is induced by ligand-binding.

Role of Site-Specific Glycosylation in the I-Like Domain of Integrin β1 in Small Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Malignant Behavior and FAK Activation

Integrin β1 plays an essential role in the crosstalk between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Aberrant N-glycosylation of integrin β1 was documented to alter integrin β1 expression, dimerization, and biological function. However, the biological function of site-specific N-glycosylation of integrin β1 on extracellular vesicles is not fully understood. In this study, we mutated putative N-glycosylation sites in different domains of integrin β1. Removal of the N-glycosylation sites on the I-like domain of integrin β1 (termed the Δ4–6 β1 mutant) suppressed focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling, cell migration, and adhesion compared with other β1 mutants. Cell adhesion, migration, and activation of FAK were suppressed in recipient MCF7 cells co-cultured with Δ4–6 mutant cells and treated with small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from Δ4–6 mutant cells. Notably, the wild-type and β1 mutant were both present in sEVs, and could be transferred to recipient cells via sEVs, resulting in changes of cell behavior. Our findings demonstrate the important roles of N-glycosylation of the I-like domain of integrin β1. Moreover, the vesicular Δ4–6 β1 mutant can regulate integrin-mediated functions in recipient cells via sEVs.

Glycosylation and raft endocytosis in cancer

Changes in glycosylation on proteins or lipids are one of the hallmarks of tumorigenesis. In many cases, it is still not understood how glycan information is translated into biological function. In this review, we discuss at the example of specific cancer-related glycoproteins how their endocytic uptake into eukaryotic cells is tuned by carbohydrate modifications. For this, we not only focus on overall uptake rates, but also illustrate how different uptake processes-dependent or not on the conventional clathrin machinery-are used under given glycosylation conditions. Furthermore, we discuss the role of certain sugar-binding proteins, termed galectins, to tune glycoprotein uptake by inducing their crosslinking into lattices, or by co-clustering them with glycolipids into raft-type membrane nanodomains from which the so-called clathrin-independent carriers (CLICs) are formed for glycoprotein internalization into cells. The latter process has been termed glycolipid-lectin (GL-Lect) hypothesis, which operates in a complementary manner to the clathrin pathway and galectin lattices.

Rab11-mediated post-Golgi transport of the sialyltransferase ST3GAL4 suggests a new mechanism for regulating glycosylation

Glycosylation, the most common posttranslational modification of proteins, is a stepwise process that relies on tight regulation of subcellular glycosyltransferase location to control the addition of each monosaccharide. Glycosyltransferases primarily reside and function in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus; whether and how they traffic beyond the Golgi, how this trafficking is controlled, and how it impacts glycosylation remain unclear. Our previous work identified a connection between N-glycosylation and Rab11, a key player in the post-Golgi transport that connects recycling endosomes and other compartments. To learn more about the specific role of Rab11, we knocked down Rab11 in HeLa cells. Our findings indicate that Rab11 knockdown results in a dramatic enhancement in the sialylation of N-glycans. Structural analyses of glycans using lectins and LC-MS revealed that α2,3-sialylation is selectively enhanced, suggesting that an α2,3-sialyltransferase that catalyzes the sialyation of glycoproteins is activated or upregulated as the result of Rab11 knockdown. ST3GAL4 is the major α2,3-sialyltransferase that acts on N-glycans; we demonstrated that the localization of ST3GAL4, but not the levels of its mRNA, protein, or donor substrate, was altered by Rab11 depletion. In knockdown cells, ST3GAL4 is densely distributed in the trans-Golgi network, compared with the wider distribution in the Golgi and in other peripheral puncta in control cells, whereas the α2,6-sialyltransferase ST6GAL1 is predominantly localized to the Golgi regardless of Rab11 knockdown. This indicates that Rab11 may negatively regulate α2,3-sialylation by transporting ST3GAL4 to post-Golgi compartments (PGCs), which is a novel mechanism of glycosyltransferase regulation.

The Roles of Integrin α5β1 in Human Cancer

Cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix has important roles in tissue integrity and human health. Integrins are heterodimeric cell surface receptors that are composed by two non-covalently linked alpha and beta subunits that mainly participate in the interaction of cell-cell adhesion and cell-extracellular matrix and regulate cell motility, adhesion, differentiation, migration, proliferation, etc. In mammals, there have been eighteen α subunits and 8 β subunits and so far 24 distinct types of αβ integrin heterodimers have been identified in humans. Integrin α5β1, also known as the fibronectin receptor, is a heterodimer with α5 and β1 subunits and has emerged as an essential mediator in many human carcinomas. Integrin α5β1 alteration is closely linked to the progression of several types of human cancers, including cell proliferation, angiogenesis, tumor metastasis, and cancerogenesis. In this review, we will introduce the functions of integrin α5β1 in cancer progression and also explore its regulatory mechanisms. Additionally, the potential clinical applications as a target for cancer imaging and therapy are discussed. Collectively, the information reviewed here may increase the understanding of integrin α5β1 as a potential therapeutic target for cancer.

N-glycosylation of the CmeABC multidrug efflux pump is needed for optimal function in Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is a prevalent gastrointestinal pathogen associated with increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance development. It was also the first bacterium demonstrated to possess a general N-linked protein glycosylation pathway capable of modifying > 80 different proteins, including the primary Campylobacter multidrug efflux pump, CmeABC. Here we demonstrate that N-glycosylation is necessary for the function of the efflux pump and may, in part, explain the evolutionary pressure to maintain this protein modification system. Mutants of cmeA in two common wildtype (WT) strains are highly susceptible to erythromycin (EM), ciprofloxacin and bile salts when compared to the isogenic parental strains. Complementation of the cmeA mutants with the native cmeA allele restores the WT phenotype, whereas expression of a cmeA allele with point mutations in both N-glycosylation sites is comparable to the cmeA mutants. Moreover, loss of CmeA glycosylation leads to reduced chicken colonization levels similar to the cmeA knock-out strain, while complementation fully restores colonization. Reconstitution of C. jejuni CmeABC into Escherichia coli together with the C. jejuni N-glycosylation pathway increases the EM minimum inhibitory concentration and decreases ethidium bromide accumulation when compared to cells lacking the pathway. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the protein structures of the glycosylated and non-glycosylated CmeA models do not vary from one another, and in vitro studies show no change in CmeA multimerization or peptidoglycan association. Therefore, we conclude that N-glycosylation has a broader influence on CmeABC function most likely playing a role in complex stability.

The molecular mechanisms of celecoxib in tumor development

BACKGROUND

Clinical studies have shown that celecoxib can significantly inhibit the development of tumors, and basic experiments and in vitro experiments also provide a certain basis, but it is not clear how celecoxib inhibits tumor development in detail.

METHODS

A literature search of all major academic databases was conducted (PubMed, China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), Wan-fang, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), including the main research on the mechanisms of celecoxib on tumors.

RESULTS

Celecoxib can intervene in tumor development and reduce the formation of drug resistance through multiple molecular mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

Celecoxib mainly regulates the proliferation, migration, and invasion of tumor cells by inhibiting the cyclooxygenases-2/prostaglandin E2 signal axis and thereby inhibiting the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κ-gene binding, Akt, signal transducer and activator of transcription and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and matrix metalloproteinase 9. Meanwhile, it was found that celecoxib could promote the apoptosis of tumor cells by enhancing mitochondrial oxidation, activating mitochondrial apoptosis process, promoting endoplasmic reticulum stress process, and autophagy. Celecoxib can also reduce the occurrence of drug resistance by increasing the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs.

A Chimeric Signal Peptide-Galectin-3 Conjugate Induces Glycosylation-Dependent Cancer Cell-Specific Apoptosis

PURPOSE

Exploitation of altered glycosylation in cancer is a major goal for the design of new cancer therapy. Here, we designed a novel secreted chimeric signal peptide-Galectin-3 conjugate (sGal-3) and investigated its ability to induce cancer-specific cell death by targeting aberrantly N-glycosylated cell surface receptors on cancer cells.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

sGal-3 was genetically engineered from Gal-3 by extending its N-terminus with a noncleavable signal peptide from tissue plasminogen activator. sGal-3 killing ability was tested on normal and tumor cells in vitro and its antitumor activity was evaluated in subcutaneous lung cancer and orthotopic malignant glioma models. The mechanism of killing was investigated through assays detecting sGal-3 interaction with specific glycans on the surface of tumor cells and the elicited downstream proapoptotic signaling.

RESULTS

We found sGal-3 preferentially binds to β1 integrin on the surface of tumor cells due to aberrant N-glycosylation resulting from cancer-associated upregulation of several glycosyltransferases. This interaction induces potent cancer-specific death by triggering an oncoglycan-β1/calpain/caspase-9 proapoptotic signaling cascade. sGal-3 could reduce the growth of subcutaneous lung cancers and malignant gliomas in brain, leading to increased animal survival.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate that sGal-3 kills aberrantly glycosylated tumor cells and antagonizes tumor growth through a novel integrin β1-dependent cell-extrinsic apoptotic pathway. These findings provide proof-of-principle that aberrant N-oncoglycans represent valid cancer targets and support further translation of the chimeric sGal-3 peptide conjugate for cancer therapy.

Enhancement of aberrantly modified integrin‑mediated cell motility in multicellular tumor spheroids

Multicellular tumor spheroids (MTSs) of malignant cells can display cell‑cell and cell‑matrix interactions, different from monolayer cultures. The objective of the present study was to examine difference in intercellular and cell‑matrix interaction between monolayered cultures and spheroid cultures. Expression levels of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling molecules in monolayered cells and MTS cells were compared. The motility of single cells dispersed from each culture was evaluated using a live‑cell imaging device. The effect of an E‑cadherin neutralizing antibody, DECMA, was also compared between the two cultures. Among various CAMs, only E‑cadherin was increased in MTSs. The motility of single cells dispersed from MTSs was higher than that from monolayered cells. Compared with monolayered cells, the molecular weight (MW) of β1 integrin was decreased during MTS formation, particularly during the early stage. This notable reduction was maintained when DECMA was used to treat MTSs. Additionally, the expression levels of the EMT signaling molecules Snail and ILK increased more in MTSs than in monolayered cells. The blocking of E‑cadherin elicited increased expression levels of EMT molecules and cellular motility only in MTSs. In conclusion, the alteration of E‑cadherin expression and presence of low‑MW β1 integrin in MTS may enhance cell motility via the upregulation of EMT signaling molecules that may be intensified by blocking E‑cadherin.

Insight in Adhesion Protein Sialylation and Microgravity Dependent Cell Adhesion-An Omics Network Approach

The adhesion behavior of human tissue cells changes in vitro, when gravity forces affecting these cells are modified. To understand the mechanisms underlying these changes, proteins involved in cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix adhesion, their expression, accumulation, localization, and posttranslational modification (PTM) regarding changes during exposure to microgravity were investigated. As the sialylation of adhesion proteins is influencing cell adhesion on Earth in vitro and in vivo, we analyzed the sialylation of cell adhesion molecules detected by omics studies on cells, which change their adhesion behavior when exposed to microgravity. Using a knowledge graph created from experimental omics data and semantic searches across several reference databases, we studied the sialylation of adhesion proteins glycosylated at their extracellular domains with regards to its sensitivity to microgravity. This way, experimental omics data networked with the current knowledge about the binding of sialic acids to cell adhesion proteins, its regulation, and interactions in between those proteins provided insights into the mechanisms behind our experimental findings, suggesting that balancing the sialylation against the de-sialylation of the terminal ends of the adhesion proteins' glycans influences their binding activity. This sheds light on the transition from two- to three-dimensional growth observed in microgravity, mirroring cell migration and cancer metastasis in vivo.

Biological and Technical Challenges in Unraveling the Role of N-Glycans in Immune Receptor Regulation

N-glycosylation of membrane receptors is important for a wide variety of cellular processes. In the immune system, loss or alteration of receptor glycosylation can affect pathogen recognition, cell-cell interaction, and activation as well as migration. This is not only due to aberrant folding of the receptor, but also to altered lateral mobility or aggregation capacity. Despite increasing evidence of their biological relevance, glycosylation-dependent mechanisms of receptor regulation are hard to dissect at the molecular level. This is due to the intrinsic complexity of the glycosylation process and high diversity of glycan structures combined with the technical limitations of the current experimental tools. It is still challenging to precisely determine the localization and site-occupancy of glycosylation sites, glycan micro- and macro-heterogeneity at the individual receptor level as well as the biological function and specific interactome of receptor glycoforms. In addition, the tools available to manipulate N-glycans of a specific receptor are limited. Significant progress has however been made thanks to innovative approaches such as glycoproteomics, metabolic engineering, or chemoenzymatic labeling. By discussing examples of immune receptors involved in pathogen recognition, migration, antigen presentation, and cell signaling, this Mini Review will focus on the biological importance of N-glycosylation for receptor functions and highlight the technical challenges for examination and manipulation of receptor N-glycans.

Identification of the minimal N-glycosylation on integrin α5β1 required for its inhibitory effect on EGFR signaling and cell proliferation

The N-glycosylation of integrin α5β1 is involved in multiple cell biological functions. Our group previously reported that the N-glycosylation of the Calf-1,2 domain on α5 subunit (S3-5,10-14) was important for its inhibitory effect on EGFR signaling through regulating α5-EGFR complex formation. In this follow-up study, we provide evidence that the N-glycosylation on integrin β1 subunit suppress cell growth by promoting its association with EGFR under fibronectin (FN)-coated conditions. Expression of wild-type (WT) β1, but not the N-glycosylation mutant S4-6 β1, which contains fewer N-glycans, inhibited EGFR signaling and cell proliferation after cell adhesion to FN. Furthermore, consistent restoration of the N-glycans on sites 1-3 of β1 reinstated the inhibitory effects. Mechanistically, the N-glycosylation mutant of β1 (S4-6+1-3) inhibited the EGFR response upon EGF stimulation via facilitating the α5β1-EGFR complex formation. Moreover, we identified the N-glycosylation of sites 10-14 on α5 and 1-3 on β1 were most important for EGFR signaling. Taken together, these data indicate that α5^S3-5+10-14β1^S4-6+1-3 mutant represents the minimal N-glycosylation required for its regulation on EGFR signaling and cell proliferation, providing a plausible mechanism for the crosstalk between with α5β1 and EGFR.

Human UDP-galactose 4'-epimerase (GALE) is required for cell-surface glycome structure and function

Glycan biosynthesis relies on nucleotide sugars (NSs), abundant metabolites that serve as monosaccharide donors for glycosyltransferases. In vivo, signal-dependent fluctuations in NS levels are required to maintain normal cell physiology and are dysregulated in disease. However, how mammalian cells regulate NS levels and pathway flux remains largely uncharacterized. To address this knowledge gap, here we examined UDP-galactose 4'-epimerase (GALE), which interconverts two pairs of essential NSs. Using immunoblotting, flow cytometry, and LC-MS-based glycolipid and glycan profiling, we found that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated GALE deletion in human cells triggers major imbalances in NSs and dramatic changes in glycolipids and glycoproteins, including a subset of integrins and the cell-surface death receptor FS-7-associated surface antigen. In particular, we observed substantial decreases in total sialic acid, galactose, and GalNAc levels in glycans. These changes also directly impacted cell signaling, as GALE ^-/- cells exhibited FS-7-associated surface antigen ligand-induced apoptosis. Our results reveal a role of GALE-mediated NS regulation in death receptor signaling and may have implications for the molecular etiology of illnesses characterized by NS imbalances, including galactosemia and metabolic syndrome.

Group A Streptococcus NAD-Glycohydrolase Inhibits Caveolin 1-Mediated Internalization Into Human Epithelial Cells

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) invades epithelial cells causing persistent infection. GAS has a variety of effector proteins that modulate host systems to affect their survival in host environments. The main effector proteins of GAS are NAD-glycohydrolase (Nga) and streptolysin O (SLO). Although Nga has NADase activity and shows SLO-dependent cytotoxicity, some clinical isolates harbor NADase-inactive subtypes of Nga, and the function of NADase-inactive Nga is still unclear. In this study, we found that deletion of nga enhanced the internalization of GAS into HeLa and Ca9-22 cells. Amino acid substitution of Nga R289K/G330D (NADase-inactive) does not enhance GAS invasion, suggesting that Nga may inhibit the internalization of GAS into host cells in an NADase-independent manner. Moreover, double deletion of slo and nga showed similar invasion percentages compared with wild-type GAS, indicating the important role of SLO in the inhibition of GAS invasion by Nga. Furthermore, enhanced internalization of the nga deletion mutant was not observed in Cav1-knockout HeLa cells. Altogether, these findings demonstrate an unrecognized NADase-independent function of Nga as a negative regulator of CAV1-mediated internalization into epithelial cells.

ST3GAL3, ST3GAL4, and ST3GAL6 differ in their regulation of biological functions via the specificities for the α2,3-sialylation of target proteins

The α2,3-sialylation of N-glycans is considered important but complicated because the functions of the three β-galactoside α2,3-sialyltransferases, ST3GAL3, ST3GAL4, and ST3GAL6, could be compensating for one another. To distinguish their specific functions, we established each individual knockout (KO) cell line. Loss of either the ST3GAL3 or ST3GAL6 genes decreased cell proliferation and colony formation, as opposed to the effect in the ST3GAL4 KO cells. The phosphorylation levels of ERK and AKT were significantly suppressed in the ST3GAL6 KO and ST3GAL3 KO cells, respectively. The cell aggregations were clearly observed in the KO cells, particularly the ST3GAL3 KO and ST3GAL6 KO cells, and the expression levels of E-cadherin and claudin-1 were enhanced in both those cell lines, but were suppressed in the ST3GAL4 KO cells. Those alterations were reversed with an overexpression of each corresponding gene in rescued cells. Of particular interest, the α2,3-sialylation levels of β1 integrin were clearly suppressed in the ST3GAL4 KO cells, but these were increased in the ST3GAL3 KO and ST3GAL6 KO cells, whereas the α2,3-sialylation levels of EGFR were significantly decreased in the ST3GAL6 KO cells. The decrease in α2,3-sialylation increased the α2,6-sialylation on β1, but not EGFR. Furthermore, a cross-restoration of each of the three genes in ST3GAL6 KO cells showed that overexpression of ST3GAL6 sufficiently rescued the total α2,3-sialylation levels, cell morphology, and α2,3-sialylation of EGFR, whereas the α2,3-sialylation levels of β1 were greatly enhanced by an overexpression of ST3GAL4. These results clearly demonstrate that the three α2,3-sialyltransferases modify characteristic target proteins and regulate cell biological functions in different ways.

GRASP depletion-mediated Golgi destruction decreases cell adhesion and migration via the reduction of α5β1 integrin

The Golgi apparatus is a membrane-bound organelle that serves as the center for trafficking and processing of proteins and lipids. To perform these functions, the Golgi forms a multilayer stacked structure held by GRASP55 and GRASP65 trans-oligomers and perhaps their binding partners. Depletion of GRASP proteins disrupts Golgi stack formation and impairs critical functions of the Golgi, such as accurate protein glycosylation and sorting. However, how Golgi destruction affects other cellular activities is so far unknown. Here, we report that depletion of GRASP proteins reduces cell attachment and migration. Interestingly, GRASP depletion reduces the protein level of α5β1 integrin, the major cell adhesion molecule at the surface of HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells, due to decreased integrin protein synthesis. GRASP depletion also increases cell growth and total protein synthesis. These new findings enrich our understanding on the role of the Golgi in cell physiology and provide a potential target for treating protein-trafficking disorders.

A collagen IV-derived peptide disrupts α5β1 integrin and potentiates Ang2/Tie2 signaling

The angiopoietin (Ang)/Tie2 signaling pathway is essential for maintaining vascular homeostasis, and its dysregulation is associated with several diseases. Interactions between Tie2 and α5β1 integrin have emerged as part of this control; however, the mechanism is incompletely understood. AXT107, a collagen IV-derived peptide, has strong antipermeability activity and has enabled the elucidation of this previously undetermined mechanism. Previously, AXT107 was shown to inhibit VEGFR2 and other growth factor signaling via receptor tyrosine kinase association with specific integrins. AXT107 disrupts α5β1 and stimulates the relocation of Tie2 and α5 to cell junctions. In the presence of Ang2 and AXT107, junctional Tie2 is activated, downstream survival signals are upregulated, F-actin is rearranged to strengthen junctions, and, as a result, endothelial junctional permeability is reduced. These data suggest that α5β1 sequesters Tie2 in nonjunctional locations in endothelial cell membranes and that AXT107-induced disruption of α5β1 promotes clustering of Tie2 at junctions and converts Ang2 into a strong agonist, similar to responses observed when Ang1 levels greatly exceed those of Ang2. The potentiation of Tie2 activation by Ang2 even extended to mouse models in which AXT107 induced Tie2 phosphorylation in a model of hypoxia and inhibited vascular leakage in an Ang2-overexpression transgenic model and an LPS-induced inflammation model. Because Ang2 levels are very high in ischemic diseases, such as diabetic macular edema, neovascular age-related macular degeneration, uveitis, and cancer, targeting α5β1 with AXT107 provides a potentially more effective approach to treat these diseases.

SSeCKS promoted lipopolysaccharide-sensitized astrocytes migration via increasing β-1,4-galactosyltransferase-I activity

Astrocytes migration is essential in the formation of the glial scar during the injury response process of the central nervous system (CNS) especially during inflammation. Integrin β1 is part of the extracellular matrix receptors in the CNS and it has been reported that integrin β-deficient astrocytes randomly migrate into wounds. Previous studies have found that β-1,4 Galactosyltransferase-I (β-1,4-GalT-I) enhanced the β-1,4-galactosylation of integrin β1. Src-suppressed C kinase substrate (SSeCKS) is an inflammatory response protein which functionally interacts with β-1,4 Galactosyltransferase-I (β-1,4-GalT-I). In this study we aim to investigate the role of SSeCKS and β-1,4-GalT-I in the migration of astrocytes during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. Coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays have demonstrated that SSeCKS and β-1,4-GalT-I were significantly enhanced in LPS-treated astrocytes and their interactions may occur in the Trans-Golgi Network. Lectin blot showed that the knockdown of β-1,4-GalT-I could inhibit the β-1,4-galactosylation of glycoproteins including integrin β1 with and without LPS, and that SSeCKS knockdown inhibits the β-1,4-galactosylation of glycoproteins including integrin β1 only in LPS-induced astrocytes. Additionally, wound healing assays indicated that β-1,4-GalT-I knockdown could inhibit astrocytes migration with and without LPS but SSeCKS inhibited cell migration only when LPS was present. Therefore our findings suggest that SSeCKS affects astrocytes migration by regulating the β-1,4-galactosylation of glycoproteins including integrin β1, via β-1,4-GalT-I expression in LPS-sensitized astrocytes.

The role of N-glycosylation of CD200-CD200R1 interaction in classical microglial activation

Background

Microglial inflammatory activation is the common feature of the central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Microglia can be activated and particularly polarized toward a dual role in the injured CNS. The CD200 receptor 1 (CD200R1) inhibits inflammatory microglia activation as illustrated by studies. Publications show abnormal activation of microglia secondary to the deficient inhibit of CD200-CD200R interaction. In the present study, we established a neuronal-microglia co-culture system to investigate the association between CD200R1 engagement and classical microglial activation. We analyzed the glycosylation of CD200R1 and the CD200 binding. Secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured.

Results

CD200R1 was N-glycosylated at Asparagine 44 (Asn44, N44). Mutation of this site disrupted CD200-CD200R1 interaction and up-regulated the expression of cytokines iNOS, CD86, IL-1β and TNF-α.

Conclusion

N44 of CD200R1 is a significant binding site for CD200-CD200R1 interaction and play a critical role in the maintenance of microglia. The N-glycosylation of CD200R1 could serve as a therapeutic agent for CNS inflammation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12950-018-0205-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Role of glycosylation in hypoxia-driven cell migration and invasion

Hypoxia, a common condition of the tumor microenvironment, induces changes in the proteome of cancer cells, mainly via HIF-1, a transcription factor conformed by a constitutively expressed β-subunit and an oxygen-regulated α-subunit. In hypoxia, HIF-1α stabilizes, forms the heterodimeric complex with HIF-1β, and binds to Hypoxia Response Elements (HRE), activating gene expression to promote metabolic adaptation, cell invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, the focal adhesion kinase, FAK, is activated in hypoxia, promoting cell migration by mechanisms that remain unclear. In this context, integrins, which are glycoproteins required for cell migration, are possibly involved in hypoxia-induced FAK activation. Evidence suggests that cancer cells have an altered glycosylation metabolism, mostly by the expression of glycosyltransferases, however the relevance of glycosylation is poorly explored in the context of hypoxia. Here, we discuss the role of hypoxia in cancer, and its effects on protein glycosylation, with emphasis on integrins and cell migration.

Cell-matrix adhesion controls Golgi organization and function through Arf1 activation in anchorage-dependent cells

Cell-matrix adhesion regulates membrane trafficking controlling anchorage-dependent signaling. While a dynamic Golgi complex can contribute to this pathway, its regulation by adhesion remains unclear. Here we report that loss of adhesion dramatically disorganized the Golgi in mouse and human fibroblast cells. Golgi integrity is restored rapidly upon integrin-mediated re-adhesion to FN and is disrupted by integrin blocking antibody. In suspended cells, the cis, cis-medial and trans-Golgi networks differentially disorganize along the microtubule network but show no overlap with the ER, making this disorganization distinct from known Golgi fragmentation. This pathway is regulated by an adhesion-dependent reduction and recovery of Arf1 activation. Constitutively active Arf1 disrupts this regulation and prevents Golgi disorganization due to loss of adhesion. Adhesion-dependent Arf1 activation regulates its binding to the microtubule minus-end motor protein dynein to control Golgi reorganization, which is blocked by ciliobrevin. Adhesion-dependent Golgi organization controls its function, regulating cell surface glycosylation due to loss of adhesion, which is blocked by constitutively active Arf1. This study, hence, identified integrin-dependent cell-matrix adhesion to be a novel regulator of Arf1 activation, controlling Golgi organization and function in anchorage-dependent cells.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Summary: Integrin-dependent cell-matrix adhesion activates Arf1, which then recruits dynein to regulate Golgi organization and function along the microtubule network.

Overexpression of Golgi Phosphoprotein 2 Is Associated With Poor Prognosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between Golgi phosphoprotein 2 (GOLPH2) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and explore the clinical significance of GOLPH2 in OSCC.

METHODS

Tissue microarrays from human OSCC samples were stained for GOLPH2 expression and clinicopathologic features. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the survival of patients with high GOLPH2 expression and patients with low GOLPH2 expression.

RESULTS

We found GOLPH2 is highly expressed in OSCC tissue, and the GOLPH2 expression in metastatic lymph nodes is higher than in tumor tissue. Our data indicate that patients with higher GOLPH2 expression have poor overall survival compared with those with lower GOLPH2 expression. This study demonstrated that GOLPH2 was associated with CD44, SOX2, Slug, B7-H3, B7-H4, TIM3, and VISTA.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest GOLPH2 is a potential marker for estimating the patient's prognosis and may be a target for molecular-targeted therapy against OSCC.

Calreticulin Is Involved in Invasion of Human Extravillous Trophoblasts Through Functional Regulation of Integrin β1

Calreticulin (CRT), a molecular chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), plays a variety of roles in cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, immunity, and cancer biology. It has been reported that CRT is expressed in the human placenta, although its function in placental development is poorly understood. Appropriate invasion of extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) into the maternal decidua is necessary for successful pregnancy. The objective of the present study was to investigate the expression and functional role of CRT in EVTs using the human EVT cell line HTR8/SVneo, in which CRT gene expression was knocked down. We found that CRT was highly expressed in the human placenta in the early stage of pregnancy and localized to the EVTs. CRT knockdown markedly suppressed the invasion ability of HTR8/SVneo cells. Furthermore, the adhesion to fibronectin was suppressed in the CRT-knockdown cells via the dysfunction of integrin α5β1. In the CRT-knockdown cells, terminal sialylation and fucosylation were decreased, and the core galactose-containing structure was increased in the N-glycans of integrin β1. In addition, the expression levels of several critical glycosyltransferases were changed in the CRT-knockdown cells, consistent with the changes in the N-glycans. These results showed that CRT regulates the function of integrin β1 by affecting the synthesis of N-glycans in HTR8/SVneo cells. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrate that the ER chaperone CRT plays a regulatory role in the invasion of EVTs, suggesting the importance of CRT expression in placental development during early pregnancy.

Mutation of N-linked glycosylation in EpCAM affected cell adhesion in breast cancer cells

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression is elevated in breast cancer tissue, and correlates with the cancer metastasis and cell adhesion. Although EpCAM glycosylation is supposed to be associated with its function, the contribution of N-glycosylation to its function remains unclear. Here we analyzed cell adhesion ability of EpCAM in breast cancer cells. The results showed that EpCAM expression was associated with cell adhesion and N-glycosylation mutation of EpCAM decreased adhesion capacity. N-glycosylation mutation of EpCAM was correlated with lower levels of integrin β1 and fibronectin. We also found that effect of N-glycosylation of EpCAM on cell adhesion was regulated via FAK/Akt/Gsk-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway, which further adjusted MMP2/9 expression and activities. Our studies identified the characteristics and function of EpCAM glycosylation sites on breast cancer cell adhesion. These data could potentially clarify molecular regulation of EpCAM by N-glycosylation and intensify our understanding of the utility of glycosylated EpCAM as a target for breast cancer therapy.

Hypoxia-inducible ERO1α promotes cancer progression through modulation of integrin-β1 modification and signalling in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells

Endoplasmic reticulum disulphide oxidase 1α (ERO1α) is an oxidase localized in the endoplasmic reticulum that plays a role in the formation of disulphide bonds of secreted and cell-surface proteins. We previously showed that ERO1α is overexpressed in various types of cancer and we further identified ERO1α expression as a novel factor related to poor prognosis in cancer. However, the biological functions of ERO1α in cancer remain unclear. Here, we investigated the cell biological roles of ERO1α in the human colon-cancer cell line HCT116. ERO1α knockout (KO) by using CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in decreased tumourigenicity in vivo and reduced cell proliferation only under hypoxia in vitro, which suggested that ERO1α promotes cancer progression specifically in a low-oxygen environment. Thus, we evaluated the function of ERO1α in cell proliferation under hypoxia, and found that under hypoxic conditions, ERO1α KO resulted in a contact-inhibited morphology and diminished motility of cells. We further showed that ERO1α KO induced a change in integrin-β1 glycosylation and thus an attenuation of cell-surface integrin-β1 expression, which resulted in the aforementioned phenotype. Our study has established a previously unrecognized link between ERO1α expression and integrin activation, and thus provides new evidence for the effectiveness of ERO1α-targeted therapy for colorectal carcinoma.

The importance of N-glycosylation on β3 integrin ligand binding and conformational regulation

N-glycosylations can regulate the adhesive function of integrins. Great variations in both the number and distribution of N-glycosylation sites are found in the 18 α and 8 β integrin subunits. Crystal structures of α_IIbβ₃ and α_Vβ₃ have resolved the precise structural location of each N-glycan site, but the structural consequences of individual N-glycan site on integrin activation remain unclear. By site-directed mutagenesis and structure-guided analyses, we dissected the function of individual N-glycan sites in β₃ integrin activation. We found that the N-glycan site, β₃-N320 at the headpiece and leg domain interface positively regulates α_IIbβ₃ but not α_Vβ₃ activation. The β₃-N559 N-glycan at the β₃-I-EGF3 and α_IIb-calf-1 domain interface, and the β₃-N654 N-glycan at the β₃-β-tail and α_IIb-calf-2 domain interface positively regulate the activation of both α_IIbβ₃ and α_Vβ₃ integrins. In contrast, removal of the β₃-N371 N-glycan near the β₃ hybrid and I-EGF3 interface, or the β₃-N452 N-glycan at the I-EGF1 domain rendered β₃ integrin more active than the wild type. We identified one unique N-glycan at the βI domain of β₁ subunit that negatively regulates α₅β₁ activation. Our study suggests that the bulky N-glycans influence the large-scale conformational rearrangement by potentially stabilizing or destabilizing the domain interfaces of integrin.

Roles of Integrin α6β4 Glycosylation in Cancer

Malignant transformation is accompanied with aberrant glycosylation of proteins. Such changes in glycan structure also occur in the integrins, which are a large family of cell surface receptors for the extracellular matrix and play key roles in tumor progression. There is now increasing evidence that glycosylation of integrins affects cellular signaling and interaction with the extracellular matrix, receptor tyrosine kinases, and galectins, thereby regulating cell adhesion, motility, growth, and survival. Integrin α6β4 is a receptor for laminin-332 and the increased expression level is correlated with malignant progression and poor survival in various types of cancers. Recent studies have revealed that integrin α6β4 plays central roles in tumorigenesis and the metastatic process. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression driven by integrin α6β4 and also discuss the modification of glycans on integrin β4 subunit to address the important roles of glycan in integrin-mediated tumor progression.

A Key Regulator of Cell Adhesion: Identification and Characterization of Important N-Glycosylation Sites on Integrin α5 for Cell Migration

The N-glycosylation of integrin α5β1 is thought to control many fundamental aspects of cell behavior, including cell adhesion and migration. However, the mechanism of how N-glycans function remains largely obscure. Here, we used a loss-of-function approach. Wild-type (WT) integrin α5 and N-glycosylation mutant S3-5 (sites 3 to 5) integrin α5, which contains fewer N-glycans, were stably reconstituted in α5 knockout cancer cells. We found that the migration ability of S3-5 cells was decreased in comparison with that of the WT. Interestingly, the levels of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase and actin stress fiber formation were greatly enhanced in the S3-5 mutant. In a mechanistic manner, the internalization of active but not total integrin α5β1 was inhibited in S3-5 cells, which is a process that is related to the enhanced expression of active integrin α5β1 on the cell surface. Importantly, restoration of N-glycosylation on the β-propeller domain of α5 reinstated the cell migration ability, active α5β1 expression, and internalization. Moreover, these N-glycans are critical for α5-syndecan-4 complex formation. These findings indicate that N-glycosylation on the β-propeller domain functions as a molecular switch to control the dynamics of α5β1 on the cell surface that in turn is required for optimum adhesion for cell migration.