Mammalian lectin arrays for screening host-microbe interactions

Boltzmann Model Predicts Glycan Structures from Lectin Binding

Glycans are complex oligosaccharides that are involved in many diseases and biological processes. Unfortunately, current methods for determining glycan composition and structure (glycan sequencing) are laborious and require a high level of expertise. Here, we assess the feasibility of sequencing glycans based on their lectin binding fingerprints. By training a Boltzmann model on lectin binding data, we predict the approximate structures of 88 ± 7% of N-glycans and 87 ± 13% of O-glycans in our test set. We show that our model generalizes well to the pharmaceutically relevant case of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell glycans. We also analyze the motif specificity of a wide array of lectins and identify the most and least predictive lectins and glycan features. These results could help streamline glycoprotein research and be of use to anyone using lectins for glycobiology.

A Boltzmann model predicts glycan structures from lectin binding

Glycans are complex oligosaccharides involved in many diseases and biological processes. Unfortunately, current methods for determining glycan composition and structure (glycan sequencing) are laborious and require a high level of expertise. Here, we assess the feasibility of sequencing glycans based on their lectin binding fingerprints. By training a Boltzmann model on lectin binding data, we predict the approximate structures of 88 ± 7% of N-glycans and 87 ± 13% of O-glycans in our test set. We show that our model generalizes well to the pharmaceutically relevant case of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell glycans. We also analyze the motif specificity of a wide array of lectins and identify the most and least predictive lectins and glycan features. These results could help streamline glycoprotein research and be of use to anyone using lectins for glycobiology.

The unique 3D arrangement of macrophage galactose lectin enables Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide recognition through two distinct interfaces

Lipopolysaccharides are a hallmark of gram-negative bacteria, and their presence at the cell surface is key for bacterial integrity. As surface-exposed components, they are recognized by immunity C-type lectin receptors present on antigen-presenting cells. Human macrophage galactose lectin binds Escherichia coli surface that presents a specific glycan motif. Nevertheless, this high-affinity interaction occurs regardless of the integrity of its canonical calcium-dependent glycan-binding site. NMR of macrophage galactose-type lectin (MGL) carbohydrate recognition domain and complete extracellular domain revealed a glycan-binding site opposite to the canonical site. A model of trimeric macrophage galactose lectin was determined based on a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering and AlphaFold. A disulfide bond positions the carbohydrate recognition domain perpendicular to the coiled-coil domain. This unique configuration for a C-type lectin orients the six glycan sites of MGL in an ideal position to bind lipopolysaccharides at the bacterial surface with high avidity.

Simplifying the detection and monitoring of protein glycosylation during in vitro glycoengineering

The majority of mammalian proteins are glycosylated, with the glycans serving to modulate a wide range of biological activities. Variations in protein glycosylation can have dramatic effects on protein stability, immunogenicity, antibody effector function, pharmacological safety and potency, as well as serum half-life. The glycosylation of therapeutic biologicals is a critical quality attribute (CQA) that must be carefully monitored to ensure batch-to-batch consistency. Notably, many factors can affect the composition of the glycans during glycoprotein production, and variations in glycosylation are among the leading causes of pharmaceutical batch rejection. Currently, the characterization of protein glycosylation relies heavily on methods that employ chromatography and/or mass spectrometry, which require a high level of expertise, are time-consuming and costly and, because they are challenging to implement during in-process biologics production or during in vitro glycan modification, are generally performed only post-production. Here we report a simplified approach to assist in monitoring glycosylation features during glycoprotein engineering, that employs flow cytometry using fluorescent microspheres chemically coupled to high-specificity glycan binding reagents. In our GlycoSense method, a range of carbohydrate-sensing microspheres with distinct optical properties may be combined into a multiplex suspension array capable of detecting multiple orthogonal glycosylation features simultaneously, using commonplace instrumentation, without the need for glycan release. The GlycoSense method is not intended to replace more detailed post-production glycan profiling, but instead, to complement them by potentially providing a cost-effective, rapid, yet robust method for use at-line as a process analytic technology (PAT) in a biopharmaceutical workflow or at the research bench. The growing interest in using in vitro glycoengineering to generate glycoproteins with well-defined glycosylation, provides motivation to demonstrate the capabilities of the GlycoSense method, which we apply here to monitor changes in the protein glycosylation pattern (GlycoPrint) during the in vitro enzymatic modification of the glycans in model glycoproteins.

Molecular and functional characterization of a ladderlectin-like molecule from ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis)

Ladderlectin is a member of C-type lectins (CTLs) in teleost fish and involved in innate immune defense. In this study, ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) ladderlecin-like (PaLL-like) sequence was cloned, which encodes a polypeptide of 172 amino acids that includes a signal peptide and characteristic C-type lectin-like domains (CTLDs). Phylogenetically, PaLL-like was most closely related to its teleost counterpart from shishamo smelt (Spirinchus lanceolatus). Expression analysis revealed a ubiquitous expression profile, with highest expression detected in liver and its expression was up-regulated following Vibiro anguillarum infection. Similar to canonical CTLs, PaLL-like exhibited carbohydrate-binidng capacities to a wide range of well-defined mono-/di-saccharides and likely confer PaLL-like the ability to agglutinate all tested bacterial, including three Gram-positive species (i.e., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus iniae) and eight Gram-negative species (i.e., Edwardsiella tarda, Aeromonas (A.) hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Vibrio (V.) harveyi, V. anguillarum, V. parahemolyticus, A. versoni and V. vulnificus), in a calcium-dependent manner. Further functional studies revealed that PaLL-like displayed immunomodulatory activities leading to enhanced bactericidal activity of serum, pathogen opsonization and macrophage activation with increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., PaIL-1β and PaTNF-α). Collectively, these immunomodulatory activities of PaLL-like suppressed proliferations of V. anguillarum in targeted tissued in vivo and likely contributed to the increased survival rate of infected-fish. Overall, our results demonstrated PaLL-like is a critical component of innate immunity and provides protective effects against bacterial infection.

High sensitivity glycomics in biomedicine

Many analytical challenges in biomedicine arise from the generally high heterogeneity and complexity of glycan- and glycoconjugate-containing samples, which are often only available in minute amounts. Therefore, highly sensitive workflows and detection methods are required. In this review mass spectrometric workflows and detection methods are evaluated for glycans and glycoproteins. Furthermore, glycomic methodologies and innovations that are tailored for enzymatic treatments, chemical derivatization, purification, separation, and detection at high sensitivity are highlighted. The discussion is focused on the analysis of mammalian N-linked and GalNAc-type O-linked glycans.

Dismantling the bacterial glycocalyx: Chemical tools to probe, perturb, and image bacterial glycans

The bacterial glycocalyx is a quintessential drug target comprised of structurally distinct glycans. Bacterial glycans bear unusual monosaccharide building blocks whose proper construction is critical for bacterial fitness, survival, and colonization in the human host. Despite their appeal as therapeutic targets, bacterial glycans are difficult to study due to the presence of rare bacterial monosaccharides that are linked and modified in atypical manners. Their structural complexity ultimately hampers their analytical characterization. This review highlights recent advances in bacterial chemical glycobiology and focuses on the development of chemical tools to probe, perturb, and image bacterial glycans and their biosynthesis. Current technologies have enabled the study of bacterial glycosylation machinery even in the absence of detailed structural information.

C-Type Lectins in Veterinary Species: Recent Advancements and Applications

C-type lectins (CTLs), a superfamily of glycan-binding receptors, play a pivotal role in the host defense against pathogens and the maintenance of immune homeostasis of higher animals and humans. CTLs in innate immunity serve as pattern recognition receptors and often bind to glycan structures in damage- and pathogen-associated molecular patterns. While CTLs are found throughout the whole animal kingdom, their ligand specificities and downstream signaling have mainly been studied in humans and in model organisms such as mice. In this review, recent advancements in CTL research in veterinary species as well as potential applications of CTL targeting in veterinary medicine are outlined.