O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation of ß-actin Ser199 in diabetic nephropathy.

The function of actin is regulated by various posttranslational modifications. We have previously shown that in the kidneys of nonobese type 2 diabetes model Goto-Kakizaki rats, increased O-GlcNAcylation of ß-actin protein is observed. It has also been reported that both O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation occur on Ser199 of ß-actin. However, their roles are not known. To elucidate their roles in diabetic nephropathy, we examined the rat kidney for changes in O-GlcNAcylation of Ser199 (gS199)-actin and in the phosphorylation of Ser199 (pS199)-actin. Both gS199- and pS199-actin molecules had an apparent molecular weight of 40 kDa and were localized as nonfilamentous actin in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Compared with the normal kidney, the immunostaining intensity of gS199-actin increased in podocytes of the glomeruli and in proximal tubules of the diabetic kidney, whereas that of pS199-actin did not change in podocytes but decreased in proximal tubules. We confirmed that the same results could be observed in the glomeruli of the human diabetic kidney. In podocytes of glomeruli cultured in the presence of the O-GlcNAcase inhibitor Thiamet G, increased O-GlcNAcylation was accompanied by a concomitant decrease in the amount of filamentous actin and in morphological changes. Our present results demonstrate that dysregulation of O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation of Ser199 occurred in diabetes, which may contribute partially to the causes of the morphological changes in the glomeruli and tubules. gS199- and pS199-actin will thus be useful for the pathological evaluation of diabetic nephropathy.

Mouse intestinal niche cells express a distinct α1,2-fucosylated glycan recognized by a lectin from Burkholderia cenocepacia.

In this study, we examined the distribution of fucosylated glycans in mouse intestines using a lectin, BC2LCN (N-terminal domain of the lectin BC2L-C from Burkholderia cenocepacia), as a probe. BC2LCN is specific for glycans with a terminal Fucα1,2Galß1,3-motif and it is a useful marker for discriminating the undifferentiated status of human induced/embryonic stem cells. Apparent BC2LCN reactivity was detected in the secretory granules of goblet cells in the ileum but not those in the colon. We also found distinctive reactivity in the crypt bottom, which is known as the stem cell zone, of the colon and the ileum. Other lectins for fucosylated glycans, including Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I, Pholiota squarrosa lectin and Aleuria aurantia lectin, did not exhibit similar reactivity in the crypt bottom. Remarkably, BC2LCN-positive epithelial cells could be labeled with a niche cell marker, c-Kit/CD117. Overall, our results indicate that intestinal niche cells express distinct fucosylated glycans recognized by BC2LCN. Increasing evidence suggests that the self-renewal and proliferation of stem cells depend on specific signals derived from niche cells. Our results highlight novel molecular properties of intestinal niche cells in terms of their glycosylation, which may help to understand the regulation of intestinal stem cells. The distinct expression of glycans may reflect the functional roles of niche cells. BC2LCN is a valuable tool for investigating the functional significance of protein glycosylation in stem cell regulation.

Large-scale identification of secretome glycoproteins recognized by Wisteria floribunda agglutinin: A glycoproteomic approach to biomarker discovery.

One of the promising approaches to the development of cancer diagnostic systems is quantification of a specific protein carrying cancerous glycans. Potential utility of Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) for such assays has been suggested for several cancer types. To develop such diagnostic systems, identification of WFA-recognized glycoproteins is essential. Here, we successfully identified 504 WFA-recognized glycoproteins from the secretome of HEK293T cells. Most of the identified proteins were likely soluble or single-pass transmembrane proteins, which may serve as specific proteins for the diagnosis using biological fluids. Our method may help to discover marker glycoproteins for various cancers generating WFA-recognized glycans.

Large-scale identification of target proteins of a glycosyltransferase isozyme by Lectin-IGOT-LC/MS, an LC/MS-based glycoproteomic approach.

Model organisms containing deletion or mutation in a glycosyltransferase-gene exhibit various physiological abnormalities, suggesting that specific glycan motifs on certain proteins play important roles in vivo. Identification of the target proteins of glycosyltransferase isozymes is the key to understand the roles of glycans. Here, we demonstrated the proteome-scale identification of the target proteins specific for a glycosyltransferase isozyme, ß1,4-galactosyltransferase-I (ß4GalT-I). Although ß4GalT-I is the most characterized glycosyltransferase, its distinctive contribution to ß1,4-galactosylation has been hardly described so far. We identified a large number of candidates for the target proteins specific to ß4GalT-I by comparative analysis of ß4GalT-I-deleted and wild-type mice using the LC/MS-based technique with the isotope-coded glycosylation site-specific tagging (IGOT) of lectin-captured N-glycopeptides. Our approach to identify the target proteins in a proteome-scale offers common features and trends in the target proteins, which facilitate understanding of the mechanism that controls assembly of a particular glycan motif on specific proteins.

Large-scale identification of N-glycosylated proteins of mouse tissues and construction of a glycoprotein database, GlycoProtDB.

Protein glycosylation is a common post-translational modification that plays important roles in terms of protein function. However, analyzing the relationship between glycosylation and protein function remains technically challenging. This problem arises from the fact that the attached glycans possess diverse and heterogeneous structures. We believe that the first step to elucidate glycan function is to systematically determine the status of protein glycosylation under physiological conditions. Such studies involve analyzing differences in glycan structure on cell type (tissue), sex, and age, as well as changes associated with perturbations as a result of gene knockout of glycan biosynthesis-related enzyme, disease and drug treatment. Therefore, we analyzed a series of glycoproteomes in several mouse tissues to identify glycosylated proteins and their glycosylation sites. Comprehensive analysis was performed by lectin- or HILIC-capture of glycopeptide subsets followed by enzymatic deglycosylation in stable isotope-labeled water (H2¹8O, IGOT) and finally LC-MS analyses. In total, 5060 peptides derived from 2556 glycoproteins were identified. We then constructed a glycoprotein database, GlycoProtDB, using our experimental-based information to facilitate future studies in glycobiology.

Negative-ion MALDI-QIT-TOFMSn for structural determination of fucosylated and sialylated oligosaccharides labeled with a pyrene derivative.

Oligosaccharides have many isomers and MALDI-QIT-TOFMS(n) analysis is effective for determining their structures. However, it is difficult to elucidate in detail the structures of fucosylated and/or sialylated oligosaccharides that are known to be disease markers because fucose and sialic acid residues are easily released. We have introduced a technique of labeling oligosaccharides with a pyrene derivative prior to negative-ion MALDI-QIT-TOFMS(n), and we have established a reliable method using this technique for the analysis of neutral oligosaccharides, such as fucosylated oligosaccharides containing blood group antigens H, Le(a), and Le(x). Intense and stable ionization in both positive and negative modes was achieved by derivatization with pyrene. As little as 10 fmol of pyrene-labeled oligosaccharides gave sufficient signals for analysis. Specific A-, D- or Y-type ions that depend on the structures of branching antennae could be detected by MS(n) and were useful for rapid and easy structural determination. These specific fragmentations resulting from collision-induced dissociation can be used to elucidate the structures of unknown oligosaccharides even if authentic oligosaccharides are not available as standards. By using this method, we identified and quantitated isomeric oligosaccharides with different fucosyl linkages from their mixtures. Moreover, sialylated oligosaccharide was converted to the corresponding neutral oligosaccharide by amidation, and the negative-ion spectrum was shown to be more informative than that of the original acidic oligosaccharide. Structural determination of both fucosylated and sialylated isomers, such as sialylfucosyllacto-N-hexaose I and monosialyl monofucosyllacto-N-neohexaose, was successful because fragment ions bearing fucose or amidated sialic acid were obtained on negative-MS(n).

Structural determination by negative-ion MALDI-QIT-TOFMSn after pyrene derivatization of variously fucosylated oligosaccharides with branched decaose cores from human milk.

We prepared neutral oligosaccharide fraction from milk of a woman (blood type A, Le(b+)) by anion-exchange column chromatography after the removal of lipids and proteins. Further fractionation was performed by means of Aleuria aurantia lectin-Sepharose column chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC after labeling with a pyrene derivative. This pyrene labeling allowed identification by negative-MALDI-TOFMS(n) analysis of 22 oligosaccharides with decaose cores, among which 21 had novel structures. Negative ions could not be produced from neutral oligosaccharides without labeling on MALDI. Mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrafucosylated decaose fractions contained three, nine, six, and four isomers, respectively. Our method enables easy determination of fucosylated structures on the N-acetyllactosamine branches of these isomers. On negative-MS(n) the fragment ions included several A and D ions, from which fucosylation on the branches could be elucidated. Other characteristic ions were also detected. Y-type cleavage at the reducing side of -3GlcNAc indicated the occurrence of type 1 chain. Specific fragment ions were produced from H, Le(a), and Le(x) antigens. Linkage-specific exoglycosidase digestion confirmed the structures. The results indicate that the diversity of the oligosaccharides is due to combinations of type 1 H, Le(a), Le(x), and Le(b)/Le(y) on branched decaose cores. In typical oligosaccharides, 6-branches always consist of type 2 chain, while 3-branches, such as beta and gamma chains, are fucosylated type 1 chains. From the viewpoint of biosynthesis, the presence of fucosylation and type 1 chain may halt elongation of the N-acetyllactosamine and promote formation of branched structures.

A-5021: a new acyclovir analogue inhibits murine herpetic keratitis.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of A-5021, a new analogue of acyclovir, on murine herpetic keratitis. METHODS: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (strain CHR3) was inoculated onto bilateral scarified BALB/c corneas. Clinical scores on the corneas treated with A-5021 eyedrops were compared with those obtained from the treatment with 3% acyclovir eye ointment by slit lamp microscopy. Virus titers of the trigeminal ganglia and eyeballs were quantitated on Vero cell monolayers. Mice treated with saline or a white petroleum jelly were used as controls. RESULTS: A-5021 eyedrops significantly suppressed both corneal epithelial and stromal lesions at all concentrations used. Clinical scores on the epithelium and stroma treated with 0.1% A-5021 were equivalent to those with 3% acyclovir treatment. When compared with the non-drug-treated control mice, virus titers in the eyeballs and trigeminal ganglia in A-5021- and acyclovir-treated mice were significantly less than those in controls. CONCLUSIONS: A-5021 eyedrops, which are easily applied onto the affected cornea, ameliorated clinical scores and suppressed virus growth. It is a promising alternative treatment of herpetic keratitis.

Identification of a protective CD4+ T-cell epitope in p15gag of Friend murine leukemia virus and role of the MA protein targeting the plasma membrane in immunogenicity.

Recent studies have demonstrated an essential role of Gag-specific CD4+ T-cell responses for viral control in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1. However, little is known about epitope specificities and functional roles of the Gag-specific helper T-cell responses in terms of vaccine-induced protection against a pathogenic retroviral challenge. We have previously demonstrated that immunization with Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) Gag proteins protects mice against the fatal Friend retrovirus (FV) infection. We report here the structure of a protective T helper cell (Th) epitope, (I)VTWEAIAVDPPP, identified in the p15 (MA) region of F-MuLV Gag. In mice immunized with the Th epitope-harboring peptide or a vaccinia virus-expressed native full-length MA protein, FV-induced early splenomegaly regressed rapidly. In these mice, FV-infected cells were eliminated within 4 weeks and the production of virus-neutralizing antibodies was induced rapidly after FV challenge, resulting in strong protection against the virus infection. Interestingly, mice immunized with the whole MA mounted strong CD4+ T-cell responses to the identified Th epitope, whereas mice immunized with mutant MA proteins that were not bound to the plasma membrane failed to mount efficient CD4+ T-cell responses, despite the presence of the Th epitope. These mutant MA proteins also failed to induce strong protection against FV challenge. These data indicate the importance of the properly processible MA molecule for CD4+ T-cell priming and for the resultant induction of an effective immune response against retrovirus infections.

Inducible costimulator-dependent IL-10 production by regulatory T cells specific for self-antigen.

In this study, we investigated the relationship between the expression levels of self-antigen and the function of self-reactive T cells in the periphery. To this end, we used two rat insulin promoter-ovalbumin (RIP-OVA) transgenic mice (RIP-OVA(high), RIP-OVA(low)) in which was produced only in pancreatic beta-islet cells. The OVA-producing transgenic mice were crossed to DO.11.10 (DO) mice expressing a T cell antigen receptor specific for OVA(323-339). The responsiveness of peripheral CD4(+) T cells in the double transgenic mice was examined. We demonstrated that hyporesponsive but highly IL-10-producing T cells were developed in DO x OVA(high) mice only, not in DO x OVA(low) mice. These IL-10-producing T cells exhibited regulatory activity both in in vitro and in vivo experiments. Moreover, these IL-10-producing regulatory T (Tr) cells expressed high levels of inducible costimulator (ICOS) before in vitro stimulation. Blockade of ICOS-signaling inhibited the production of IL-10 and abrogated the inhibitory function of these Tr cells. Thus, these results suggested that the development of IL-10-producing Tr cells depends on the expression levels of self-antigen in vivo and that ICOS signal plays a critical role in immune regulation by IL-10-producing Tr cells in self-tolerance.

Fluorescence labeling of oligosaccharides useful in the determination of molecular interactions.

A simple method to label oligosaccharides with a multifunctional fluorescent group was developed. Oligosaccharides were quantitatively labeled at their reducing termini with pyrene butanoic acid hydrazide. The pyrene-labeled oligosaccharides were successfully applied to fluorescence polarization measurements and ELISA at picomole quantity, which was not previously reached by other procedures. This labeling method should prove to be useful in a variety of aspects in glycobiology.