Identification and expression of NEU3, a novel human sialidase associated to the plasma membrane

GM1 structural requirements to mediate neuronal functions

Since the 1980s, it has been known that the administration of ganglioside GM1 to cultured cells induced or enhanced neuronal differentiation. GM1 mechanism of action relies on its direct interaction and subsequent activation of the membrane tyrosine kinase receptor, TrkA, which naturally serves as NGF receptor. This process is mediated by the sole oligosaccharide portion of GM1, the pentasaccharide β-Gal-(1-3)-β-GalNAc-(1-4)-[α-Neu5Ac-(2-3)]-β-Gal-(1-4)-β-Glc. Here we detailed the minimum structural requirements of the oligosaccharide portion of GM1 for mediating the TrkA dependent neuritogenic processing. By in vitro and in silico biochemical approaches, we demonstrated that the minimal portion of GM1 required for the TrkA activation is the inner core of the ganglioside's oligosaccharide β-Gal-(1-3)-β-GalNAc-(1-4)-[α-Neu5Ac-(2-3)]-β-Gal. The addition of a sialic acid residue at position 3 of the outer galactose of the GM1 oligosaccharide, which forms the oligosaccharide of GD1a, prevented the interaction with TrkA and the resulting neuritogenesis. On the contrary, the addition of a fucose residue at position 2 of the outer galactose, forming the Fucosyl-GM1 oligosaccharide, did not prevent the TrkA-mediated neuritogenesis.

The role of neuraminidase in TLR4-MAPK signalling and the release of cytokines by lupus serum-stimulated mesangial cells

Previously, we demonstrated neuraminidase (NEU) activity or NEU1 expression, specifically, is increased in the kidneys of lupus mice and urine of human patients with nephritis. Additionally, NEU activity mediates IL-6 secretion from lupus-prone MRL/lpr primary mouse mesangial cells (MCs) in response to an IgG mimic. IL-6 mediates glomerular inflammation and promotes tissue damage in patients and mouse strains with lupus nephritis. This study further elucidates the mechanisms by which NEU activity and NEU1 specifically mediates the release of IL-6 and other cytokines from lupus-prone MCs. We demonstrate significantly increased release of multiple cytokines and NEU activity in MRL/lpr MCs in response to serum from MRL/lpr mice (lupus serum). Inhibiting NEU activity significantly reduced secretion of three of those cytokines: IL-6, GM-CSF and MIP1α. Message levels of Il-6 and Gm-csf were also increased in response to lupus serum and reduced when NEU activity was inhibited. Neutralizing antibodies to cell-surface receptors and MAPK inhibitors in lupus serum- or LPS-stimulated MCs indicate TLR4 and p38 or ERK MAP kinase signalling play key roles in the NEU-mediated secretion of IL-6. Significantly reduced IL-6 release was observed in C57BL/6 (B6) Neu1+/+ primary MCs compared with wild-type (Neu1+/+) B6 MCs in response to lupus serum. Additional results show inhibiting NEU activity significantly increases sialic acid-containing N-glycan levels. Together, our novel observations support a role for NEU activity, and specifically NEU1, in mediating release of IL-6 from lupus-prone MCs in response to lupus serum through a TLR4-p38/ERK MAPK signalling pathway that likely includes desialylation of glycoproteins.

Role of NEU3 Overexpression in the Prediction of Efficacy of EGFR-Targeted Therapies in Colon Cancer Cell Lines

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), through the MAP kinase and PI3K-Akt-mTOR axis, plays a pivotal role in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis. The membrane-associated NEU3 sialidase interacts with and desialylates EGFR by promoting its dimerization and downstream effectors’ activation. Among the targeted therapies against EGFR, the monoclonal antibody cetuximab is active only in a subgroup of patients not carrying mutations in the MAP kinase pathway. In order to better understand the EGFR-NEU3 interplay and the mechanisms of pharmacological resistance, we investigated the role of NEU3 deregulation in cetuximab-treated CRC cell lines transiently transfected with NEU3 using Western blot analysis. Our results indicate that NEU3 overexpression can enhance EGFR activation only if EGFR is overexpressed, indicating the existence of a threshold for NEU3-mediated EGFR activation. This enhancement mainly leads to the constitutive activation of the MAP kinase pathway. Consequently, we suggest that the evaluation of NEU3 expression cannot entirely substitute the evaluation of EGFR because EGFR-negative cases cannot be stimulated by NEU3. Furthermore, NEU3-mediated hyperactivation of EGFR is counterbalanced by the administration of cetuximab, hypothesizing that a combined treatment of NEU3- and EGFR-targeted therapies may represent a valid option for CRC patients, which must be investigated in the future.

Transcriptomic analysis of glycan-processing genes in the dorsal root ganglia of diabetic mice and functional characterization on Cav3.2 channels

Ca_v3.2 T-type calcium channels play an essential role in the transmission of peripheral nociception in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and alteration of Ca_v3.2 expression is associated with the development of peripheral painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN). Several studies have previously documented the role of glycosylation in the expression and functioning of Ca_v3.2 and suggested that altered glycosylation of the channel may contribute to the aberrant expression of the channel in diabetic conditions. In this study, we aimed to analyze the expression of glycan-processing genes in DRG neurons from a leptin-deficient genetic mouse model of diabetes (db/db). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that several glycan-processing genes encoding for glycosyltransferases and sialic acid-modifying enzymes were upregulated in diabetic conditions. Functional analysis of these enzymes on recombinant Ca_v3.2 revealed an unexpected loss-of-function of the channel. Collectively, our data indicate that diabetes is associated with an alteration of the glycosylation machinery in DRG neurons. However, individual action of these enzymes when tested on recombinant Ca_v3.2 cannot explain the observed upregulation of T-type channels under diabetic conditions.

Abbreviations: Galnt16: Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 16; B3gnt8: UDP-GlcNAc:betaGal beta-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 8; B4galt1: Beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase 1; St6gal1: Beta-galactoside alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase 1; Neu3: Sialidase-3

A mutation map for human glycoside hydrolase genes

Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) are found in all domains of life, and at least 87 distinct genes encoding proteins related to GHs are found in the human genome. GHs serve diverse functions from digestion of dietary polysaccharides to breakdown of intracellular oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, proteoglycans and glycolipids. Congenital disorders of GHs (CDGHs) represent more than 30 rare diseases caused by mutations in one of the GH genes. We previously used whole-exome sequencing of a homogenous Danish population of almost 2000 individuals to probe the incidence of deleterious mutations in the human glycosyltransferases (GTs) and developed a mutation map of human GT genes (GlyMAP-I). While deleterious disease-causing mutations in the GT genes were very rare, and in many cases lethal, we predicted deleterious mutations in GH genes to be less rare and less severe given the higher incidence of CDGHs reported worldwide. To probe the incidence of GH mutations, we constructed a mutation map of human GH-related genes (GlyMAP-II) using the Danish WES data, and correlating this with reported disease-causing mutations confirmed the higher prevalence of disease-causing mutations in several GH genes compared to GT genes. We identified 76 novel nonsynonymous single-nucleotide variations (nsSNVs) in 32 GH genes that have not been associated with a CDGH phenotype, and we experimentally validated two novel potentially damaging nsSNVs in the congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency gene, SI. Our study provides a global view of human GH genes and disease-causing mutations and serves as a discovery tool for novel damaging nsSNVs in CDGHs.

CUPRA-ZYME: An Assay for Measuring Carbohydrate-Active Enzyme Activities, Pathways, and Substrate Specificities

Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes) are involved in the synthesis, degradation, and modification of carbohydrates. They play critical roles in diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes, have important industrial and biotechnological applications, are important drug targets, and represent promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of a variety of diseases. Measurements of their activities, catalytic pathway, and substrate specificities are essential to a comprehensive understanding of the biological functions of CAZymes and exploiting these enzymes for industrial and biomedical applications. For glycosyl hydrolases a variety of sensitive and quantitative spectrophotometric techniques are available. However, measuring the activity of glycosyltransferases is considerably more challenging. Here, we introduce CUPRA-ZYME, a versatile and quantitative electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) assay for measuring the kinetic parameters of CAZymes, monitoring reaction pathways, and profiling substrate specificities. The method employs the recently developed competitive universal proxy receptor assay (CUPRA), implemented in a time-resolved manner. Measurements of the hydrolysis kinetics of CUPRA substrates containing ganglioside oligosaccharides by the glycosyl hydrolase human neuraminidase 3 served to validate the reliability of kinetic parameters measured by CUPRA-ZYME and highlight its use in establishing catalytic pathways. Applications to libraries of substrates demonstrate the potential of the assay for quantitative profiling of the substrate specificities glycosidases and glycosyltransferases. Finally, we show how the comparison of the reactivity of CUPRA substrates and glycan substrates present on glycoproteins, measured simultaneously, affords a unique opportunity to quantitatively study how the structure and protein environment of natural glycoconjugate substrates influences CAZyme activity.

Neuraminidase-3 Is a Negative Regulator of LFA-1 Adhesion

Within the plasma membrane environment, glycoconjugate-receptor interactions play an important role in the regulation of cell-cell interactions. We have investigated the mechanism and activity of the human neuraminidase (NEU) isoenzyme, NEU3, on T cell adhesion receptors. The enzyme is known to prefer glycolipid substrates, and we confirmed that exogenous enzyme altered the glycolipid composition of cells. NEU3 was able to modify the sialic acid content of purified LFA-1 in vitro. Enzymatic activity of NEU3 resulted in re-organization of LFA-1 into large clusters on the membrane. This change was facilitated by an increase in the lateral mobility of LFA-1 upon NEU3 treatment. Changes to the lateral mobility of LFA-1 were specific for NEU3 activity, and we observed no significant change in diffusion when cells were treated with a bacterial NEU (NanI). Furthermore, we found that NEU3 treatment of cells increased surface expression levels of LFA-1. We observed that NEU3-treated cells had suppressed LFA-1 adhesion to an ICAM-1 coated surface using an in vitro static adhesion assay. These results establish that NEU3 can modulate glycoconjugate composition and contribute to the regulation of integrin activity. We propose that NEU3 should be investigated to determine its role on LFA-1 within the inflammatory cascade.

Ganglioside GQ1b ameliorates cognitive impairments in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model, and causes reduction of amyloid precursor protein

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays crucial roles in memory impairments including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previous studies have reported that tetrasialoganglioside GQ1b is involved in long-term potentiation and cognitive functions as well as BDNF expression. However, in vitro and in vivo functions of GQ1b against AD has not investigated yet. Consequently, treatment of oligomeric Aβ followed by GQ1b significantly restores Aβ_1–42-induced cell death through BDNF up-regulation in primary cortical neurons. Bilateral infusion of GQ1b into the hippocampus ameliorates cognitive deficits in the triple-transgenic AD mouse model (3xTg-AD). GQ1b-infused 3xTg-AD mice had substantially increased BDNF levels compared with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF)-treated 3xTg-AD mice. Interestingly, we also found that GQ1b administration into hippocampus of 3xTg-AD mice reduces Aβ plaque deposition and tau phosphorylation, which correlate with APP protein reduction and phospho-GSK3β level increase, respectively. These findings demonstrate that the tetrasialoganglioside GQ1b may contribute to a potential strategy of AD treatment.

Keeping it trim: roles of neuraminidases in CNS function

The sialylated glyconjugates (SGC) are found in abundance on the surface of brain cells, where they form a dense array of glycans mediating cell/cell and cell/protein recognition in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Metabolic genetic blocks in processing and catabolism of SGC result in development of severe storage disorders, dominated by CNS involvement including marked neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, the pathophysiological mechanisms of which are still discussed. SGC patterns in the brain are cell and organelle-specific, dynamic and maintained by highly coordinated processes of their biosynthesis, trafficking, processing and catabolism. The changes in the composition of SGC during development and aging of the brain cannot be explained based solely on the regulation of the SGC-synthesizing enzymes, sialyltransferases, suggesting that neuraminidases (sialidases) hydrolysing the removal of terminal sialic acid residues also play an essential role. In the current review we summarize the roles of three mammalian neuraminidases: neuraminidase 1, neuraminidase 3 and neuraminidase 4 in processing brain SGC. Emerging data demonstrate that these enzymes with different, yet overlapping expression patterns, intracellular localization and substrate specificity play essential roles in the physiology of the CNS.

Neuraminidase activity mediates IL-6 production by activated lupus-prone mesangial cells

The development of nephritis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in lupus patients. Although the general pathophysiological progression of lupus nephritis is known, the molecular mediators and mechanisms are incompletely understood. Previously, we demonstrated that the glycosphingolipid (GSL) catabolic pathway is elevated in the kidneys of MRL/lpr lupus mice and human lupus patients with nephritis. Specifically, the activity of neuraminidase (NEU) and expression of Neu1, an enzyme in the GSL catabolic pathway is significantly increased. To better understand the role and mechanisms by which this pathway contributes to the progression of LN, we analyzed the expression and effects of NEU activity on the function of MRL/lpr lupus-prone mesangial cells (MCs). We demonstrate that NEU1 and NEU3 promote IL-6 production in MES13 MCs. Neu1 expression, NEU activity, and IL-6 production are significantly increased in stimulated primary MRL/lpr lupus-prone MCs, and blocking NEU activity inhibits IL-6 production. NEU1 and NEU3 expression overlaps IgG deposits in MCs in vitro and in renal sections from nephritic MRL/lpr mice. Together, our results suggest that NEU activity mediates IL-6 production in lupus-prone MCs possibly through an IgG-receptor complex signaling pathway.

Evaluation of the potential defensive strategy against Influenza A in cell line models

Background: Influenza virus can cause both seasonal infections and unpredictable pandemics. Rapidly evolving avian H5N1 and  H7N9 viruses have a potential pandemic threat for humans. Since avian Influenza can be transmitted by domestic birds, serving as a key link between wild birds and humans, an effective measure to control the influenza transmission would be eradication of the infection in poultry. It is known that the virus penetrates into the cell through binding with the terminal oligosaccharides - sialic acids (SA) - on the cell surfaces. Removal of SA might be a potential antiviral strategy. An approach to developing chicken lines that are resistant to influenza viruses could be the creation of genetically modified birds. Thus it is necessary to select a gene that provides defense to influenza. Here we have expressed in cells a range of exogenous sialidases and estimated their activity and specificity towards SA residues. Methods: Several bacterial, viral and human sialidases were tested. We adopted bacterial sialidases from Salmonella and Actinomyces for expression on the cell surface by fusing catalytic domains with transmembrane domains. We also selected Influenza A/PuertoRico/8/34/H1N1 neuraminidase and human membrane sialidase ( hNeu3) genes. Lectin binding assay was used for estimation of a α (2,3)-sialylation level by fluorescent microscopy and FACS.   Results: We compared sialidases from bacteria, Influenza virus and human. Sialidases from Salmonella and Influenza A neuraminidase effectively cleaved α (2-3)-SA receptors. Viral neuraminidase demonstrated a higher activity. Sialidases from Actinomyces and hNeu3 did not show any activity against α (2-3) SA under physiological conditions. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that sialidases with different specificity and activity can be selected as genes providing antiviral defence. Combining chosen sialidases with different activity together with tissue-specific promoters would provide an optimal level of desialylation. Tissue specific expression of the sialidases could protect domestic birds from infection.

Dengue virus NS1 cytokine-independent vascular leak is dependent on endothelial glycocalyx components

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most prevalent, medically important mosquito-borne virus. Disease ranges from uncomplicated dengue to life-threatening disease, characterized by endothelial dysfunction and vascular leakage. Previously, we demonstrated that DENV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) induces endothelial hyperpermeability in a systemic mouse model and human pulmonary endothelial cells, where NS1 disrupts the endothelial glycocalyx-like layer. NS1 also triggers release of inflammatory cytokines from PBMCs via TLR4. Here, we examined the relative contributions of inflammatory mediators and endothelial cell-intrinsic pathways. In vivo, we demonstrated that DENV NS1 but not the closely-related West Nile virus NS1 triggers localized vascular leak in the dorsal dermis of wild-type C57BL/6 mice. In vitro, we showed that human dermal endothelial cells exposed to DENV NS1 do not produce inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8) and that blocking these cytokines does not affect DENV NS1-induced endothelial hyperpermeability. Further, we demonstrated that DENV NS1 induces vascular leak in TLR4- or TNF-α receptor-deficient mice at similar levels to wild-type animals. Finally, we blocked DENV NS1-induced vascular leak in vivo using inhibitors targeting molecules involved in glycocalyx disruption. Taken together, these data indicate that DENV NS1-induced endothelial cell-intrinsic vascular leak is independent of inflammatory cytokines but dependent on endothelial glycocalyx components.

Dengue is the most prevalent mosquito-transmitted disease in humans and a significant public health issue worldwide. Severe dengue disease is characterized by vascular leak, which can lead to shock and potentially death. We previously demonstrated that nonstructural protein 1 (NS1), the only protein secreted from dengue virus (DENV)-infected cells, can both trigger vascular leak in mice when given systemically and increase permeability in human pulmonary endothelial cells via disruption of the endothelial glycocalyx-like layer, the molecular barrier that lines blood vessels. NS1 also triggers release of inflammatory cytokines from immune cells through activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Here, we explored the relative contributions of inflammatory molecules and the endothelial glycocalyx-like layer to NS1-mediated pathogenesis. Using cultured human dermal endothelial cells and mice genetically deficient for TLR4 or TNF-α receptor, we showed inflammatory signaling is not required for direct DENV NS1-mediated vascular leak. In contrast, inhibition of molecules involved in glycocalyx disruption blocked DENV NS1-induced vascular leak both in mice and in vitro. Altogether, our results indicate that disruption of endothelial glycocalyx components but not production of inflammatory cytokines is required for the direct action of DENV NS1 on endothelial cells and suggest potential molecular targets for treatment of severe dengue disease.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), EGFR downstream pathway activation and TKI targeted therapies sensitivity: Effect of the plasma membrane-associated NEU3

Adenocarcinoma of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is a severe disease. Patients carrying EGFR mutations may benefit from EGFR targeted therapies (e.g.: gefitinib). Recently, it has been shown that sialidase NEU3 directly interacts and regulates EGFR. In this work, we investigate the effect of sialidase NEU3 overexpression on EGFR pathways activation and EGFR targeted therapies sensitivity, in a series of lung cancer cell lines. NEU3 overexpression, forced after transfection, does not affect NSCLC cell viability. We demonstrate that NEU3 overexpression stimulates the ERK pathway but this activation is completely abolished by gefitinib treatment. The Akt pathway is also hyper-activated upon NEU3 overexpression, but gefitinib is able only to decrease, and not to abolish, such activation. These findings indicate that NEU3 can act directly on the ERK pathway through EGFR and both directly and indirectly with respect to EGFR on the Akt pathway. Furthermore, we provide evidence that a healthy mucosa cell line (with EGFR wild-type gene sequence) is slightly sensitive to gefitinib, especially in the presence of NEU3 overexpression, thus hypothesizing that NEU3 overexpressing patients may benefit from EGFR targeted therapies also in absence of EGFR point mutations. Overall, the expression of NEU3 may be a novel diagnostic marker in NSCLC because, by its ability to stimulate EGFR downstream pathways with direct and indirect mechanisms, it may help in the identification of patients who can profit from EGFR targeted therapies in absence of EGFR activating mutations or from new combinations of EGFR and Akt inhibitors.

Antibody against Microbial Neuraminidases Recognizes Human Sialidase 3 (NEU3): the Neuraminidase/Sialidase Superfamily Revisited

Neuraminidases (NAs) are critical virulence factors for several microbial pathogens. With a highly conserved catalytic domain, a microbial NA "superfamily" has been proposed. We previously reported that murine polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) sialidase activity was important in leukocyte trafficking to inflamed sites and that antibodies to Clostridium perfringens NA recognized a cell surface molecule(s), presumed to be a sialidase of eukaryotic origin on interleukin-8-stimulated human and murine PMNs. These antibodies also inhibited cell sialidase activity both in vitro and, in the latter instance, in vivo We therefore hypothesized that mammalian sialidases share structural homology and epitopes with microbial NAs. We now report that antibodies to one of the isoforms of C. perfringens NA, as well as anti-influenza virus NA serum, recognize human NEU3 but not NEU1 and that antibodies to C. perfringens NA inhibit NEU3 enzymatic activity. We conclude that the previously described microbial NA superfamily extends to human sialidases. Strategies designed to therapeutically inhibit microbial NA may need to consider potential compromising effects on human sialidases, particularly those expressed in cells of the immune system.IMPORTANCE We previously reported that sialidase activity of human neutrophils plays a critical role in the host inflammatory response. Since the catalytic domains of microbial neuraminidases are highly conserved, we hypothesized that antibodies against Clostridium perfringens neuraminidase might inhibit mammalian sialidase activity. Before the recognition of four mammalian sialidase (Neu) isoforms, we demonstrated that anti-C. perfringens neuraminidase antibodies inhibited human and murine sialidase activity in vivo and in vitro We now show that the antibodies to microbial neuraminidase (C. perfringens and influenza virus) recognize human NEU3, which is important for neural development and cell signaling. Since many microbes that infect mucosal surfaces express neuraminidase, it is possible that the use of sialidase inhibitors (e.g., zanamivir), might also compromise human sialidase activity critical to the human immune response. Alternatively, sialidase inhibitors may prove useful in the treatment of hyperinflammatory conditions.

Enhanced Cross-Linking of Diazirine-Modified Sialylated Glycoproteins Enabled through Profiling of Sialidase Specificities

Sialic-acid-mediated interactions play critical roles on the cell surface, providing an impetus for the development of methods to study this important monosaccharide. In particular, photo-cross-linking sialic acids incorporated onto cell surfaces have allowed covalent capture of transient interactions between sialic acids and sialic-acid-recognizing proteins via cross-linking. However, natural sialic acids also present on the cell surface compete with photo-cross-linking sialic acids in binding events, limiting cross-linking yields. In order to improve the utility of one such photo-cross-linking sialic acid, SiaDAz, we examined a number of sialidases, enzymes that remove sialic acids from glycoconjugates, to find one that would cleave natural sialic acids but remain inactive toward SiaDAz. Using this sialidase, we improved SiaDAz-mediated cross-linking of an antisialyl Lewis X antibody and of endoglin. This protocol can be applied generally to sialic-acid-mediated interactions and will facilitate identification of sialic acid binding partners.

Structural basis for substrate specificity of mammalian neuraminidases

The removal of sialic acid (Sia) residues from glycoconjugates in vertebrates is mediated by a family of neuraminidases (sialidases) consisting of Neu1, Neu2, Neu3 and Neu4 enzymes. The enzymes play distinct physiological roles, but their ability to discriminate between the types of linkages connecting Sia and adjacent residues and between the identity and arrangement of the underlying sugars has never been systematically studied. Here we analyzed the specificity of neuraminidases by studying the kinetics of hydrolysis of BODIPY-labeled substrates containing common mammalian sialylated oligosaccharides: 3′Sia-LacNAc, 3′SiaLac, SiaLe_x, SiaLe_a, SiaLe_c, 6′SiaLac, and 6′SiaLacNAc. We found significant differences in substrate specificity of the enzymes towards the substrates containing α2,6-linked Sia, which were readily cleaved by Neu3 and Neu1 but not by Neu4 and Neu2. The presence of a branching 2-Fuc inhibited Neu2 and Neu4, but had almost no effect on Neu1 or Neu3. The nature of the sugar residue at the reducing end, either glucose (Glc) or N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) had only a minor effect on all neuraminidases, whereas core structure (1,3 or 1,4 bond between D-galactose (Gal) and GlcNAc) was found to be important for Neu4 strongly preferring β3 (core 1) to β4 (core 2) isomer. Neu3 and Neu4 were in general more active than Neu1 and Neu2, likely due to their preference for hydrophobic substrates. Neu2 and Neu3 were examined by molecular dynamics to identify favorable substrate orientations in the binding sites and interpret the differences in their specificities. Finally, using knockout mouse models, we confirmed that the substrate specificities observed in vitro were recapitulated in enzymes found in mouse brain tissues. Our data for the first time provide evidence for the characteristic substrate preferences of neuraminidases and their ability to discriminate between distinct sialoside targets.

Sialidase NEU3 dynamically associates to different membrane domains specifically modifying their ganglioside pattern and triggering Akt phosphorylation

Lipid rafts are known to regulate several membrane functions such as signaling, trafficking and cellular adhesion. The local enrichment in sphingolipids and cholesterol together with the low protein content allows their separation by density gradient flotation after extraction with non-ionic detergent at low temperature. These structures are also referred to as detergent resistant membranes (DRM). Among sphingolipids, gangliosides play important roles in different biological events, including signal transduction and tumorigenesis. Sialidase NEU3 shows high enzymatic specificity toward gangliosides. Moreover, the enzyme is present both at the cell surface and in endosomal structures and cofractionates with caveolin. Although changes in the expression level of NEU3 have been correlated to different tumors, little is known about the precise distribution of the protein and its ability in modifying the ganglioside composition of DRM and non-DRM, thus regulating intracellular events. By means of inducible expression cell system we found that i) newly synthesized NEU3 is initially associated to non-DRM; ii) at steady state the protein is equally distributed between the two membrane subcompartments, i.e., DRM and non-DRM; iii) NEU3 is degraded via the proteasomal pathway; iv) the enzyme specifically modifies the ganglioside composition of the membrane areas where it resides; and v) NEU3 triggers phosphorylation of Akt, even in absence of exogenously administered EGF. Taken together our data demonstrate that NEU3 regulates the DRM ganglioside content and it can be considered as a modulator of Akt phosphorylation, further supporting the role of this enzyme in cancer and tumorigenesis.

Human airway epithelia express catalytically active NEU3 sialidase

Sialic acids on glycoconjugates play a pivotal role in many biological processes. In the airways, sialylated glycoproteins and glycolipids are strategically positioned on the plasma membranes of epithelia to regulate receptor-ligand, cell-cell, and host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level. We now demonstrate, for the first time, sialidase activity for ganglioside substrates in human airway epithelia. Of the four known mammalian sialidases, NEU3 has a substrate preference for gangliosides and is expressed at mRNA and protein levels at comparable abundance in epithelia derived from human trachea, bronchi, small airways, and alveoli. In small airway and alveolar epithelia, NEU3 protein was immunolocalized to the plasma membrane, cytosolic, and nuclear subcellular fractions. Small interfering RNA-induced silencing of NEU3 expression diminished sialidase activity for a ganglioside substrate by >70%. NEU3 immunostaining of intact human lung tissue could be localized to the superficial epithelia, including the ciliated brush border, as well as to nuclei. However, NEU3 was reduced in subepithelial tissues. These results indicate that human airway epithelia express catalytically active NEU3 sialidase.

Desialylation of surface receptors as a new dimension in cell signaling

Terminal sialic acid residues are found in abundance in glycan chains of glycoproteins and glycolipids on the surface of all live cells forming an outer layer of the cell originally known as glycocalyx. Their presence affects the molecular properties and structure of glycoconjugates, modifying their function and interactions with other molecules. Consequently, the sialylation state of glycoproteins and glycolipids has been recognized as a critical factor modulating molecular recognitions inside the cell, between the cells, between the cells and the extracellular matrix, and between the cells and certain exogenous pathogens. Until recently sialyltransferases that catalyze transfer of sialic acid residues to the glycan chains in the process of their biosynthesis were thought to be mainly responsible for the creation and maintenance of a temporal and spatial diversity of sialylated moieties. However, the growing evidence suggests that in mammalian cells, at least equally important roles belong to sialidases/neuraminidases, which are located on the cell surface and in intracellular compartments, and may either initiate the catabolism of sialoglycoconjugates or just cleave their sialic acid residues, and thereby contribute to temporal changes in their structure and functions. The current review summarizes emerging data demonstrating that mammalian neuraminidase 1, well known for its lysosomal catabolic function, is also targeted to the cell surface and assumes the previously unrecognized role as a structural and functional modulator of cellular receptors.

Lysosomal multienzyme complex: pros and cons of working together

The ubiquitous distribution of lysosomes and their heterogeneous protein composition reflects the versatility of these organelles in maintaining cell homeostasis and their importance in tissue differentiation and remodeling. In lysosomes, the degradation of complex, macromolecular substrates requires the synergistic action of multiple hydrolases that usually work in a stepwise fashion. This catalytic machinery explains the existence of lysosomal enzyme complexes that can be dynamically assembled and disassembled to efficiently and quickly adapt to the pool of substrates to be processed or degraded, adding extra tiers to the regulation of the individual protein components. An example of such a complex is the one composed of three hydrolases that are ubiquitously but differentially expressed: the serine carboxypeptidase, protective protein/cathepsin A (PPCA), the sialidase, neuraminidase-1 (NEU1), and the glycosidase β-galactosidase (β-GAL). Next to this 'core' complex, the existence of sub-complexes, which may contain additional components, and function at the cell surface or extracellularly, suggests as yet unexplored functions of these enzymes. Here we review how studies of basic biological processes in the mouse models of three lysosomal storage disorders, galactosialidosis, sialidosis, and GM1-gangliosidosis, revealed new and unexpected roles for the three respective affected enzymes, Ppca, Neu1, and β-Gal, that go beyond their canonical degradative activities. These findings have broadened our perspective on their functions and may pave the way for the development of new therapies for these lysosomal storage disorders.

Ganglioside biochemistry

Gangliosides are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids. They occur especially on the cellular surfaces of neuronal cells, where they form a complex pattern, but are also found in many other cell types. The paper provides a general overview on their structures, occurrence, and metabolism. Key functional, biochemical, and pathobiochemical aspects are summarized.

The plasma membrane sialidase NEU3 regulates the malignancy of renal carcinoma cells by controlling β1 integrin internalization and recycling

The human plasma membrane sialidase NEU3 is a key enzyme in the catabolism of membrane gangliosides, is crucial in the regulation of cell surface processes, and has been demonstrated to be significantly up-regulated in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). In this report, we show that NEU3 regulates β1 integrin trafficking in RCC cells by controlling β1 integrin recycling to the plasma membrane and controlling activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling. NEU3 silencing in RCC cells increased the membrane ganglioside content, in particular the GD1a content, and changed the expression of key regulators of the integrin recycling pathway. In addition, NEU3 silencing up-regulated the Ras-related protein RAB25, which directs internalized integrins to lysosomes, and down-regulated the chloride intracellular channel protein 3 (CLIC3), which induces the recycling of internalized integrins to the plasma membrane. In this manner, NEU3 silencing enhanced the caveolar endocytosis of β1 integrin, blocked its recycling and reduced its levels at the plasma membrane, and, consequently, inhibited EGFR and FAK/AKT. These events had the following effects on the behavior of RCC cells: they (a) decreased drug resistance mediated by the block of autophagy and the induction of apoptosis; (b) decreased metastatic potential mediated by down-regulation of the metalloproteinases MMP1 and MMP7; and (c) decreased adhesion to collagen and fibronectin. Therefore, our data identify NEU3 as a key regulator of the β1 integrin-recycling pathway and FAK/AKT signaling and demonstrate its crucial role in RCC malignancy.

Cell surface associated glycohydrolases in normal and Gaucher disease fibroblasts

Gaucher disease (GD) is the most common lysosomal disorder and is caused by an inherited autosomal recessive deficiency in β-glucocerebrosidase. This enzyme, like other glycohydrolases involved in glycosphingolipid (GSL) metabolism, is present in both plasma membrane (PM) and intracellular fractions. We analyzed the activities of CBE-sensitive β-glucosidase (GBA1) and AMP-DNM-sensitive β-glucosidase (GBA2) in total cell lysates and PM of human fibroblast cell lines from control (normal) subjects and from patients with GD clinical types 1, 2, and 3. GBA1 activities in both total lysate and PM of GD fibroblasts were low, and their relative percentages were similar to those of control cells. In contrast, GBA2 activities were higher in GD cells than in control cells, and the degree of increase differed among the three GD types. The increase of GBA2 enzyme activity was correlated with increased expression of GBA2 protein as evaluated by QRT-PCR. Activities of β-galactosidase and β-hexosaminidase in PM were significantly higher for GD cells than for control cells and also showed significant differences among the three GD types, suggesting the occurrence of cross-talk among the enzymes involved in GSL metabolism. Our findings indicate that the profiles of glycohydrolase activities in PM may provide a valuable tool to refine the classification of GD into distinct clinical types.

Implications for the mammalian sialidases in the physiopathology of skeletal muscle

The family of mammalian sialidases is composed of four distinct versatile enzymes that remove negatively charged terminal sialic acid residues from gangliosides and glycoproteins in different subcellular areas and organelles, including lysosomes, cytosol, plasma membrane and mitochondria. In this review we summarize the growing body of data describing the important role of sialidases in skeletal muscle, a complex apparatus involved in numerous key functions and whose functional integrity can be affected by various conditions, such as aging, chronic diseases, cancer and neuromuscular disorders. In addition to supporting the proper catabolism of glycoconjugates, sialidases can affect different signaling pathways by desialylation of many receptors and modulation of ganglioside content in cell membranes, thus actively participating in myoblast proliferation, differentiation and hypertrophy, insulin responsiveness and skeletal muscle architecture.

The therapeutic potential of pharmacological chaperones and proteosomal inhibitors, Celastrol and MG132 in the treatment of sialidosis

Sialidosis is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a dysfunctional Sialidase enzyme. Categorised into two phenotypes, Sialidosis type I and II, Sialidosis is a highly heterogeneous disorder with varying ages of onset and pathologies. Currently, there is no viable therapy for the treatment of Sialidosis patients. At the molecular level, cells from Sialidosis patients with compound heterozygous mutations show improper enzyme folding, loss of Sialidase enzyme activity and subsequent accumulation of sialylconjugates within lysosomes. One promising treatment option is the use of small pharmacological molecules to increase the enzymatic activities of mutant proteins. In this study, we examined the efficacy of the immuno-suppressant (Celastrol) as well as a proteosomal inhibitor (MG132) to rescue mutant enzymes with altered conformation. Our results reveal that MG132 enhances enzyme activity and its localisation in cells expressing defective Sialidase. We also found that MG132 reduces accumulation of ganglioside products, GT1b, GD3, and GM3 in pre-loaded Sialidosis cells. Alternatively, Celastrol appears to reduce Sialidase expression and activity revealing a potentially novel effect of Celastrol on Sialidase. Interestingly, the combination of Celastrol and MG132 appears to amplify the beneficial impact of MG132 on both the endogenous and recombinant expression of defective Sialidase. This study explores a novel biological criteria to assess the efficacy of small molecules through accumulation analysis and points to a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Sialidosis.

Multifarious roles of sialic acids in immunity

Sialic acids are a diverse family of monosaccharides widely expressed on all cell surfaces of vertebrates and so-called "higher" invertebrates, and on certain bacteria that interact with vertebrates. This overview surveys examples of biological roles of sialic acids in immunity, with emphasis on an evolutionary perspective. Given the breadth of the subject, the treatment of individual topics is brief. Subjects discussed include biophysical effects regulation of factor H; modulation of leukocyte trafficking via selectins; Siglecs in immune cell activation; sialic acids as ligands for microbes; impact of microbial and endogenous sialidases on immune cell responses; pathogen molecular mimicry of host sialic acids; Siglec recognition of sialylated pathogens; bacteriophage recognition of microbial sialic acids; polysialic acid modulation of immune cells; sialic acids as pathogen decoys or biological masks; modulation of immunity by sialic acid O-acetylation; sialic acids as antigens and xeno-autoantigens; antisialoglycan antibodies in reproductive incompatibility; and sialic-acid-based blood groups.

Sialidase significance for cancer progression

Aberrant glycosylation is a characteristic feature of cancer cells. In particular, altered sialylation is closely associated with malignant properties, including invasiveness and metastatic potential. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the aberrancy, our studies have focused on mammalian sialidase, which catalyzes the removal of sialic acid residues from glycoproteins and glycolipids. The four types of mammalian sialidase identified to date show altered expression and behave in different manners during carcinogenesis. The present review briefly summarizes results on altered expression of sialidases and their possible roles in cancer progression. These enzymes are indeed factors defining cancer malignancy and thus potential targets for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Microglial activatory (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif)- and inhibitory (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif)-signaling receptors for recognition of the neuronal glycocalyx

Microglia sense intact or lesioned cells of the central nervous system (CNS) and respond accordingly. To fulfill this task, microglia express a whole set of recognition receptors. Fc receptors and DAP12 (TYROBP)-associated receptors such as microglial triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) and the complement receptor-3 (CR3, CD11b/CD18) trigger the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM)-signaling cascade, resulting in microglial activation, migration, and phagocytosis. Those receptors are counter-regulated by immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM)-signaling receptors, such as sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin superfamily lectins (Siglecs). Siglecs recognize the sialic acid cap of healthy neurons thus leading to an ITIM signaling that turns down microglial immune responses and phagocytosis. In contrast, desialylated neuronal processes are phagocytosed by microglial CR3 signaling via an adaptor protein containing an ITAM. Thus, the aberrant terminal glycosylation of neuronal surface glycoproteins and glycolipids could serve as a flag for microglia, which display a multitude of diverse carbohydrate-binding receptors that monitor the neuronal physical condition and respond via their ITIM- or ITAM-signaling cascade accordingly.

Sialic acid on the neuronal glycocalyx prevents complement C1 binding and complement receptor-3-mediated removal by microglia

Microglial cells are professional phagocytes of the CNS responsible for clearance of unwanted structures. Neuronal processes are marked by complement C1 before they are removed in development or during disease processes. Target molecules involved in C1 binding and mechanisms of clearance are still unclear. Here we show that the terminal sugar residue sialic acid of the mouse neuronal glycocalyx determines complement C1 binding and microglial-mediated clearance function. Several early components of the classical complement cascade including C1q, C1r, C1s, and C3 were produced by cultured mouse microglia. The opsonin C1q was binding to neurites after enzymatic removal of sialic acid residues from the neuronal glycocalyx. Desialylated neurites, but not neurites with intact sialic acid caps, were cleared and taken up by cocultured microglial cells. The removal of the desialylated neurites was mediated via the complement receptor-3 (CR3; CD11b/CD18). Data demonstrate that mouse microglial cells via CR3 recognize and remove neuronal structures with an altered neuronal glycocalyx lacking terminal sialic acid.

NEU1 and NEU3 sialidase activity expressed in human lung microvascular endothelia: NEU1 restrains endothelial cell migration, whereas NEU3 does not

The microvascular endothelial surface expresses multiple molecules whose sialylation state regulates multiple aspects of endothelial function. To better regulate these sialoproteins, we asked whether endothelial cells (ECs) might express one or more catalytically active sialidases. Human lung microvascular EC lysates contained heat-labile sialidase activity for a fluorogenic substrate, 2'-(4-methylumbelliferyl)-α-D-N-acetylneuraminic acid (4-MU-NANA), that was dose-dependently inhibited by the competitive sialidase inhibitor, 2,3-dehydro-2-deoxy-N-acetylneuraminic acid but not its negative control. The EC lysates also contained sialidase activity for a ganglioside mixture. Using real time RT-PCR to detect mRNAs for the four known mammalian sialidases, NEU1, -2, -3, and -4, NEU1 mRNA was expressed at levels 2700-fold higher that those found for NEU2, -3, or -4. Western analyses indicated NEU1 and -3 protein expression. Using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, NEU1 was immunolocalized to both the plasma membrane and the perinuclear region. NEU3 was detected both in the cytosol and nucleus. Prior siRNA-mediated knockdown of NEU1 and NEU3 each decreased EC sialidase activity for 4-MU-NANA by >65 and >17%, respectively, and for the ganglioside mixture by 0 and 40%, respectively. NEU1 overexpression in ECs reduced their migration into a wound by >40%, whereas NEU3 overexpression did not. Immunohistochemical studies of normal human tissues immunolocalized NEU1 and NEU3 proteins to both pulmonary and extrapulmonary vascular endothelia. These combined data indicate that human lung microvascular ECs as well as other endothelia express catalytically active NEU1 and NEU3. NEU1 restrains EC migration, whereas NEU3 does not.

Mammalian sialidases: physiological and pathological roles in cellular functions

Sialic acids are terminal acidic monosaccharides, which influence the chemical and biological features of glycoconjugates. Their removal catalyzed by a sialidase modulates various biological processes through change in conformation and creation or loss of binding sites of functional molecules. Sialidases exist widely in vertebrates and also in a variety of microorganisms. Recent research on mammalian sialidases has provided evidence for great importance of these enzymes in various cellular functions, including lysosomal catabolism, whereas microbial sialidases appear to play roles limited to nutrition and pathogenesis. Four types of mammalian sialidases have been identified and characterized to date, designated as NEU1, NEU2, NEU3 and NEU4. They are encoded by different genes and differ in major subcellular localization and enzymatic properties including substrate specificity, and each has been found to play a unique role depending on its particular properties. This review is an attempt to concisely summarize current knowledge concerning mammalian sialidases, with a special focus on their properties and physiological and pathological roles in cellular functions.

NEU1 sialidase expressed in human airway epithelia regulates epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and MUC1 protein signaling

Epithelial cells (ECs) lining the airways provide a protective barrier between the external environment and the internal host milieu. These same airway epithelia express receptors that respond to danger signals and initiate repair programs. Because the sialylation state of a receptor can influence its function and is dictated in part by sialidase activity, we asked whether airway epithelia express catalytically active sialidase(s). Human primary small airway and A549 ECs expressed NEU1 sialidase at the mRNA and protein levels, and NEU1 accounted for >70% of EC sialidase activity. Blotting with Maackia amurensis and peanut agglutinin lectins established epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and MUC1 as in vivo substrates for NEU1. NEU1 associated with EGFR and MUC1, and NEU1-EGFR association was regulated by EGF stimulation. NEU1 overexpression diminished EGF-stimulated EGFR Tyr-1068 autophosphorylation by up to 44% but enhanced MUC1-dependent Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion by 1.6-1.7-fold and flagellin-stimulated ERK1/2 activation by 1.7-1.9-fold. In contrast, NEU1 depletion increased EGFR activation (1.5-fold) and diminished MUC1-mediated bacterial adhesion (38-56%) and signaling (73%). These data indicate for the first time that human airway epithelia express catalytically active NEU1 sialidase that regulates EGFR- and MUC1-dependent signaling and bacterial adhesion. NEU1 catalytic activity may offer an additional level of regulation over the airway epithelial response to ligands, pathogens, and injurious stimuli.

Structure and Function of Mammalian Sialidases

The removal of sialic acids, catalyzed by sialidase, is the initial step in degradation of oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, and glycolipids. The catalytic reaction may greatly influence biological processes through changing the conformation of glycoproteins and create or mask binding sites of functional molecules. Recent progress in sialidase research has clarified that mammalian sialidases indeed contribute to the regulation of various cellular functions as well as lysosomal catabolism, unlike the sialidases of microbial origin that probably play roles limited to nutrition and pathogenesis. However, the mammalian enzymes contain consensus sequences in the six-blade β-propeller structural organization typical of microbial sialidases, despite the low degree of similarity to the amino acid sequences of the microbial enzymes. The present review briefly summarizes structural and functional features of mammalian sialidases.

Membrane sialidase NEU3 is highly expressed in human melanoma cells promoting cell growth with minimal changes in the composition of gangliosides

NEU3 is a membrane sialidase specific for gangliosides. Its increased expression and implication in some cancers have been reported. Here, we analyzed NEU3 expression in malignant melanoma cell lines and its roles in the cancer phenotypes. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that high levels of the NEU3 gene were expressed at almost equivalent levels with those in colon cancers. To examine the effects of overexpression of NEU3, NEU3 cDNA-transfectant cells were established using a melanoma cell line SK-MEL-28 and its mutant N1 lacking GD3. SK-MEL-28 sublines overexpressing both the NEU3 gene and NEU3 enzyme activity showed no changes in both cell growth and ganglioside expression, while N1 cells showed a mild increase in cell proliferation with increased phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and neo-synthesis of Gb3 after NEU3 transfection. In contrast, NEU3 silencing resulted in a definite reduction in cell growth in a melanoma line MeWo, while ganglioside patterns underwent minimal changes. Phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 with serum stimulation decreased in the NEU3-silenced cells. All these results suggest that NEU3 is highly expressed to enhance malignant phenotypes including apoptosis inhibition in malignant melanomas.

Where catabolism meets signalling: neuraminidase 1 as a modulator of cell receptors

Terminal sialic acid residues are found in abundance in glycan chains of glycoproteins and glycolipids on the surface of all live cells forming an outer layer of the cell originally known as glycocalyx. Their presence affects the molecular properties and structure of glycoconjugates, modifying their function and interactions with other molecules. Consequently, the sialylation state of glycoproteins and glycolipids has been recognized as a critical factor modulating molecular recognitions inside the cell, between the cells, between the cells and the extracellular matrix, and between the cells and certain exogenous pathogens. Sialyltransferases that attach sialic acid residues to the glycan chains in the process of their initial synthesis were thought to be mainly responsible for the creation and maintenance of a temporal and spatial diversity of sialylated moieties. However, the growing evidence also suggests that in mammalian cells, at least equally important roles belong to sialidases/neuraminidases, which are located on the cell surface and in intracellular compartments, and may either initiate the catabolism of sialoglycoconjugates or just cleave their sialic acid residues, and thereby contribute to temporal changes in their structure and functions. The current review summarizes emerging data demonstrating that neuraminidase 1 (NEU1), well known for its lysosomal catabolic function, can be also targeted to the cell surface and assume the previously unrecognized role as a structural and functional modulator of cellular receptors.

Gallus gallus NEU3 sialidase as model to study protein evolution mechanism based on rapid evolving loops

BACKGROUND

Large surface loops contained within compact protein structures and not involved in catalytic process have been proposed as preferred regions for protein family evolution. These loops are subjected to lower sequence constraints and can evolve rapidly in novel structural variants. A good model to study this hypothesis is represented by sialidase enzymes. Indeed, the structure of sialidases is a β-propeller composed by anti-parallel β-sheets connected by loops that suit well with the rapid evolving loop hypothesis. These features prompted us to extend our studies on this protein family in birds, to get insights on the evolution of this class of glycohydrolases.

RESULTS

Gallus gallus (Gg) genome contains one NEU3 gene encoding a protein with a unique 188 amino acid sequence mainly constituted by a peptide motif repeated six times in tandem with no homology with any other known protein sequence. The repeat region is located at the same position as the roughly 80 amino acid loop characteristic of mammalian NEU4. Based on molecular modeling, all these sequences represent a connecting loop between the first two highly conserved β-strands of the fifth blade of the sialidase β-propeller. Moreover this loop is highly variable in sequence and size in NEU3 sialidases from other vertebrates. Finally, we found that the general enzymatic properties and subcellular localization of Gg NEU3 are not influenced by the deletion of the repeat sequence.

CONCLUSION

In this study we demonstrated that sialidase protein structure contains a surface loop, highly variable both in sequence and size, connecting two conserved β-sheets and emerging on the opposite site of the catalytic crevice. These data confirm that sialidase family can serve as suitable model for the study of the evolutionary process based on rapid evolving loops, which may had occurred in sialidases. Giving the peculiar organization of the loop region identified in Gg NEU3, this protein can be considered of particular interest in such evolutionary studies and to get deeper insights in sialidase evolution.

New findings on nuclear gangliosides: overview on metabolism and function

GM1 and GD1a gangliosides occur in both membranes of the nuclear envelope (NE) together with two isoforms of neuraminidase. The Neu3 isoform of neuraminidase occurs in the inner membrane of the NE and Neu1 in the outer membrane. Both isoforms convert GD1a to GM1 within the respective membranes. GM1 in the inner membrane is tightly associated with a Na(+) /Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) and potentiates the latter's activity. The NCX/GM1 complex mediates transfer of nucleoplasmic Ca(2+) to the NE lumen and hence to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with which it is continuous. Since cytoplasmic- and nucleoplasmic Ca(2+) are in homeostatic equilibrium (via nuclear pores), the nuclear NCX/GM1 complex acts to gate Ca(2+) transfer from cytosol to ER via nucleoplasm and NE. This constitutes an alternate route to the SERCA pump, indicating the influence of nuclear NCX/GM1 on whole cell Ca(2+) homeostasis. Use of cameleon-fluorescent Ca(2+) indicators (R. Tsien) demonstrated no Ca(2+) transfer from cytosol/nucleoplasm to ER in cells lacking nuclear NCX (Jurkat), and significantly reduced Ca(2+) transfer in cells lacking nuclear GM1 (NG-CR72). NCX/GM1 appears in the NE of neurons as they differentiate and serves a cytoprotective function, as seen in the high susceptibility of GalNAcT-/- knockout mice to kainate-induced seizure activity. This was alleviated by intraperitoneal injections of LIGA-20 a derivative of GM1 that is able (unlike GM1 itself) to traverse the blood brain barrier and neuronal plasma membrane and insert into the NE where it restores NCX exchanger activity. Absence or loss of nuclear GM1 renders cells vulnerable to apoptotic elimination.

Identifying selective inhibitors against the human cytosolic sialidase NEU2 by substrate specificity studies

Aberrant expression of human sialidases has been shown to associate with various pathological conditions. Despite the effort in the sialidase inhibitor design, less attention has been paid to designing specific inhibitors against human sialidases and characterizing the substrate specificity of different sialidases regarding diverse terminal sialic acid forms and sialyl linkages. This is mainly due to the lack of sialoside probes and efficient screening methods, as well as limited access to human sialidases. A low cellular expression level of the human sialidase NEU2 hampers its functional and inhibitory studies. Here we report the successful cloning and expression of the human sialidase NEU2 in E. coli. About 11 mg of soluble active NEU2 was routinely obtained from 1 L of E. coli cell culture. Substrate specificity studies of the recombinant human NEU2 using twenty p-nitrophenol (pNP)-tagged α2-3- or α2-6-linked sialyl galactosides containing different terminal sialic acid forms including common N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), non-human N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulosonic acid (Kdn), or their C5-derivatives in a microtiter plate-based high-throughput colorimetric assay identified a unique structural feature specifically recognized by the human NEU2 but not two bacterial sialidases. The results obtained from substrate specificity studies were used to guide the design of a sialidase inhibitor that was selective against human NEU2. The selectivity of the inhibitor was revealed by the comparison of sialidase crystal structures and inhibitor docking studies.

Antibody-mediated sialidase activity in blood serum of patients with multiple myeloma

Cell surface sialylation is known to be tightly connected with tumorigenicity, invasiveness, metastatic potential, clearance of aged cells, while the sialylation of IgG molecules determines their anti-inflammatory properties. Four sialidases - hydrolytic enzymes responsible for cleavage of sialic residues - were described in different cellular compartments. However, sialidases activity in body fluids, and specifically in blood serum, remains poorly studied. Here, we characterize first known IgG antibodies possessing sialidase-like activity in blood serum of multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Ig fractions were precipitated with ammonium sulfate (50% of saturation) from blood serum of 12 healthy donors and 14 MM patients, and screened for the presence of sialidase activity by using 4-MUNA (2'-(4-methylumbelliferyl)-α-D-N-acetylneuraminic acid) as substrate. High level of sialidase activity was detected in the MM patients, but not in healthy donors. Subsequent antibody purification by protein-G affinity chromatography and HPLC size exclusion chromatography at acidic conditions demonstrated that sialidase activity was attributable to IgG molecules. Sialidase activity was also specific for (Fab)(2) fragment of IgG and blocked by sialidase inhibitor DANA. Sialidase activity of IgG molecule was also confirmed by in gel assay for cleavage of sialidase substrate. Kinetic parameters of the catalysis reaction were described by Michaelis-Menten equation with K(m)  = 44.4-108 µM and k(cat) = 2.7-23.1 min(-1). The action of IgG possessing sialidase-like activity towards human red blood cells resulted in a subsequent increase in their agglutination by the peanut agglutinin, that confirms their desialylation by the studied IgG. This is the first demonstration of the intrinsic sialidase activity of IgG isolated from blood serum of MM patients.

LPS-induced cytokine production in human dendritic cells is regulated by sialidase activity

Removal of sialic acid from glycoconjugates on the surface of monocytes enhances their response to bacterial LPS. We tested the hypothesis that endogenous sialidase activity creates a permissive state for LPS-induced cytokine production in human monocyte-derived DCs. Of the four genetically distinct sialidases (Neu1-4), Neu1, Neu3, and Neu4 are expressed in human monocytes, but only Neu1 and Neu3 are up-regulated as cells differentiate into DCs. Neu1 and Neu3 are present on the surface of monocytes and DCs and are also present intracellularly. DCs contain a greater amount of sialic acid than monocytes, but the amount of sialic acid/mg total protein declines during differentiation to DCs. This relative hyposialylation of cells does not occur in mature DCs grown in the presence of zanamivir, a pharmacologic inhibitor of Neu3 but not Neu1, or DANA, an inhibitor of Neu1 and Neu3. Inhibition of sialidase activity during differentiation to DCs causes no detectable change in cell viability or expression of DC surface markers. Differentiation of monocytes into DCs in the presence of zanamivir results in reduced LPS- induced expression of IL-6, IL-12p40, and TNF-α by mature DCs, demonstrating a role for Neu3 in cytokine production. A role for Neu3 is supported by inhibition of cytokine production by DANA in DCs from Neu1⁻/⁻ and WT mice. We conclude that sialidase-mediated change in sialic acid content of specific cell surface glycoconjugates in DCs regulates LPS-induced cytokine production, thereby contributing to development of adaptive immune responses.

Cloning and characterization of a sialidase from the filamentous fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus

A gene encoding a putative sialidase was identified in the genome of the opportunistic fungal pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus. Computational analysis showed that this protein has Asp box and FRIP domains, it was predicted to have an extracellular localization, and a mass of 42 kDa, all of which are characteristics of sialidases. Structural modeling predicted a canonical 6-bladed beta-propeller structure with the model's highly conserved catalytic residues aligning well with those of an experimentally determined sialidase structure. The gene encoding the putative Af sialidase was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Enzymatic characterization found that the enzyme was able to cleave the synthetic sialic acid substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-D-N-acetylneuraminic acid (MUN), and had a pH optimum of 3.5. Further kinetic characterization using 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-D-N-acetylneuraminylgalactopyranoside revealed that Af sialidase preferred alpha2-3-linked sialic acids over the alpha2-6 isomers. No trans-sialidase activity was detected. qPCR studies showed that exposure to MEM plus human serum induced expression. Purified Af sialidase released sialic acid from diverse substrates such as mucin, fetuin, epithelial cell glycans and colominic acid, though A. fumigatus was unable to use either sialic acid or colominic acid as a sole source of carbon. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the fungal sialidases were more closely related to those of bacteria than to sialidases from other eukaryotes.

Thymoquinone from nutraceutical black cumin oil activates Neu4 sialidase in live macrophage, dendritic, and normal and type I sialidosis human fibroblast cells via GPCR Galphai proteins and matrix metalloproteinase-9

Anti-inflammatory activities of thymoquinone (TQ) have been demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo studies. However, the precise mechanism(s) of TQ in these anti-inflammatory activities is not well understood. Using a newly developed assay to detect sialidase activity in live macrophage cells (Glycoconj J doi: 10.1007/s10719-009-9239-8 ), here we show that TQ has no inhibitory effect on endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced sialidase activity in live BMC-2 macrophage cells. In contrast, the parent black seed oil (BSO) and another constituent of BSO para-cymene (p-CY) completely block LPS induced sialidase activity. All of these compounds had no effect on cell viability. On the other hand, TQ induces a vigorous sialidase activity in live BMC-2 macrophage cells in a dose dependent manner as well in live DC-2.4 dendritic cells, HEK-TLR4/MD2, HEK293, SP1 mammary adenocarcinoma cells, human WT and 1140F01 and WG0544 type I sialidosis fibroblast cells. Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) inhibits TQ-induced sialidase activity in live BMC-2 cells with an IC(50) of 0.0194 microM compared to an IC(50) of 19.1 microM for neuraminidase inhibitor DANA (2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid). Anti-Neu1, -2 and -3 antibodies have no inhibition of TQ-induced sialidase activity in live BMC-2 and human THP-1 macrophage cells but anti-Neu4 antibodies completely block this activity. There is a vigorous sialidase activity associated with TQ treated live primary bone marrow (BM) macrophage cells derived from WT and hypomorphic cathepsin A mice with a secondary Neu1 deficiency (NeuI KD), but not from Neu4 knockout (Neu4 KO) mice. Pertussis toxin (PTX), a specific inhibitor of Galphai proteins of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) and the broad range inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) galardin and piperazine applied to live BMC-2, THP-1 and primary BM macrophage cells completely block TQ-induced sialidase activity. These same inhibitory effects are not observed with the GM1 ganglioside specific cholera toxin subunit B (CTXB) as well as with CTX, tyrosine kinase inhibitor K252a, and the broad range GPCR inhibitor suramin. The specific inhibitor of MMP-9, anti-MMP-9 antibody and anti-Neu4 antibody, but not the specific inhibitor of MMP-3 completely block TQ-induced sialidase activity in live THP-1 cells, which express Neu4 and MMP-9 on the cell surface. Neu4 sialidase activity in cell lysates from TQ-treated live THP-1 cells desialylates natural gangliosides and mucin substrates. RT-PCR and western blot analyses reveal no correlation between mRNA and protein values for Neu3 and Neu4 in human monocytic THP-1 cells, suggesting for the first time a varied post-transcriptional mechanism for these two mammalian sialidases independent of TQ activation. Our findings establish an unprecedented activation of Neu4 sialidase on the cell surface by thymoquinone, which is derived from the nutraceutical black cumin oil. The potentiation of GPCR-signaling by TQ via membrane targeting of Galphai subunit proteins and matrix metalloproteinase-9 activation may be involved in the activation process of Neu4 sialidase on the cell surface.

Desialylation of insulin receptors and IGF-1 receptors by neuraminidase-1 controls the net proliferative response of L6 myoblasts to insulin

We recently established that the subunit of cell surface-residing elastin receptor, neuraminidase-1 (Neu1), can desialylate adjacent insulin-like growth factor 1 receptors (IGF-1R) of arterial smooth muscle cells, thereby quenching their proliferative response to insulin-like growth factor II. In this study, we explored whether Neu1 would also desialylate the insulin receptors (IR), as well as the IGF-1R on rat skeletal L6 myoblasts, and whether desialylation of IR and IGF-1R would affect a net proliferative effect of insulin. First, we found that physiological (0.5-1 nM) and high therapeutic (10 nM) insulin concentrations induced a modest increase in proliferation rate of cultured L6 myoblasts. While IR kinase inhibitor could abolish the mitogenic effect of these insulin concentrations, the observed more pronounced proliferative response to supraphysiological concentration (100 nM) of insulin could be eliminated only by specific inhibition of IGF-1R. Then, we found that treatment of L6 cells with mouse-derived Neu1 or with Clostridium perfringens neuraminidase caused desialylation of IR, which coincided with a significant increase of their proliferative response to lower (0.5-10 nM) concentrations of insulin. In contrast, experimental desialylation of IGF-1R coincided with elimination of the heightened proliferative response of L6 myoblasts to 100 nM insulin. Importantly, we also found that inhibition of endogenous Neu1 abolished the increase in proliferation of L6 cells induced by 1 and 10 nM of insulin, but amplified the proliferative effect of 100 nM insulin. We therefore conclude that desialylation of both IR and IGF-1R by Neu1 controls the net proliferative response of skeletal myoblasts to insulin.

Regulation of intracellular signaling by extracellular glycan remodeling

The plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells is coated with carbohydrates. By virtue of their extracellular position and recognizable chemical features, cell surface glycans mediate many receptor-ligand interactions. Recently, mammalian extracellular hydrolytic enzymes have been shown to modify the structure of cell surface glycans and consequently alter their binding properties. These cell surface glycan remodeling events can cause rapid changes in critical signal transduction phenomena. This Review highlights recent studies on the roles of eukaryotic extracellular sialidases, sulfatases, and a deacetylase in regulation of intracellular signaling. We also describe possible therapies that target extracellular glycan remodeling processes and discuss the potential for new discoveries in this area.