Chemical modifications of alpha1,6-fucosyltransferase define amino acid residues of catalytic importance.

alpha1,6-Fucosyltransferase (alpha6FucT) of human platelets was subjected to the action of phenylglyoxal (PLG), pyridoxal-5'-phosphate/NaBH(4) (PLP), and diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) the reagents that selectively modify the structure of amino acids arginine, lysine and histidine, respectively, as well as to N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), mersalyl, p-chloromercuribenzoate (pCMB), iodoacetate, iodoacetamide, and methyl iodide that react with sulfhydryl group of cysteine. In addition, we treated the enzyme with beta-mercaptoethanol, a reagent that disrupts disulfide bonds. All reagents except NEM significantly inactivated alpha6FucT. Protection against the action of PLG, PLP and sulfhydryl modifying reagents was offered by GDP-fucose, GDP, and the acceptor substrate, a transferrin-derived biantennary glycopeptide with terminal GlcNAc residues. Neither donor nor acceptor substrate offered, however, any protection against inactivation by DEPC or beta-mercaptoethanol. We conclude that arginine, cysteine and probably lysine residues are present in, or closely by, the donor and acceptor substrate binding domains of the enzyme, whereas histidine may be a part of its catalytic domain. However, the primary structure of alpha6FucT does not show cysteine residues in proximity to the postulated GDP-fucose-binding site and acceptor substrate binding site of the enzyme that contains two neighboring arginine residues and one lysine residue (Glycobiol. 10 (2000) 503). To rationalize our results we postulate that platelet alpha6FucT is folded through disulfide bonds that bring together donor/acceptor-binding- and cysteine- and lysine-rich, presumably acceptor substrate binding sites, thus creating a catalytic center of the enzyme.

Band 3 glycoprotein and glycophorin A from erythrocytes of children with congenital disorder of glycosylation type-Ia are underglycosylated.

Band 3 and PAS-1 (a dimer of glycophorin A) from erythrocyte membranes of three children with congenital disorder of glycosylation, type Ia (CDG-Ia), aged 1 month, 3 years and 10 years respectively, were examined by a new technique that allowed determination of carbohydrate molar composition of glycoproteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In CDG children a single N-glycan of band 3 glycoprotein was hypoglycosylated and its mannose content was normal or elevated. Glycophorin A which is the major carrier of erythrocyte sialic acid, was deficient in N-acetylgalactosamine, and sialic acid residues. This finding indicated a partial unglycosylation of O-glycans in glycophorin A. In keeping with the results of PAS-1 analysis, total sialic acid in erythrocyte membranes from CDG children was reduced to 40-56% of normal values. A possible molecular mechanism of hypo- and unglycosylation of band 3 and glycophorin A, respectively, in CDG is discussed.

Neutrophils promote the release of alpha-6-fucosyltransferase from blood platelets through the action of cathepsin G and elastase.

Human blood platelets release alpha-6-fucosyltransferase during coagulation of blood or after stimulation with thrombin or other agonists that cause platelet activation (Antoniewicz et al., FEBS Lett. 244 (1989) 388-390). However, in the absence of neutrophils the thrombin-stimulated platelets release only a small fraction of alpha-6-fucosyltransferase activity (Koscielak et al., Acta Biochim. Polon. 42 (1995) 35-40). We show that the effect of neutrophils is reproduced by cathepsin G or (less efficiently) by elastase, the two enzymes that are released by neutrophils during coagulation of blood. We have also localized alpha-6-fucosyltransferase to membrane and alpha-granule fractions of platelets that had been disrupted by nitrogen cavitation. It is concluded that thrombin-activated neutrophils release cathepsin G and elastase that promote degranulation of platelets and hence the secretion of alpha-6-fucosyltransferase.

Glycoconjugate abnormalities in patients with congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia type I, II and III.

Congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia type II (CDA II) is well known for glycosylation abnormalities affecting erythrocyte membrane glycoconjugates that encompass hypoglycosylation of band 3 glycoprotein and accumulation of glycosphingolipids: lactotriaosylceramides, neolactotriaosylceramide and polyglycosylceramides. These abnormalities were not observed in erythrocytes from patients with CDA of either type I or III. Recently, however, we have described a CDA type I patient in Poland with identical, though less pronounced, glycoconjugate abnormalities to those observed in patients with CDA type II. The abnormalities included partial unglycosylation of O-linked glycosylation sites in glycophorin A. These abnormalities are now reported in three Bedouin patients from Israel with CDA type I. In addition, the erythrocyte membranes of these patients exhibited highly increased globotetraosylceramide content. Glycoconjugate abnormalities were also present in erythrocyte membranes from three patients from Northern Sweden with CDA type III but they almost exclusively affected glycosphingolipids. In erythrocytes of all patients examined including one with CDA type II, polyglycosylceramides were significantly hypoglycosylated although, on a molar basis, their contents in erythrocyte membranes were increased. Thus, glycoconjugate abnormalities of varying intensity occur in erythrocyte membranes from all patients with CDA that were investigated.

Short report: erythrocyte membranes from a patient with congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia type I (CDA-I) show identical, although less pronounced, glycoconjugate abnormalities to those from patients with CDA-II (HEMPAS).

Congenital dyserythropoietic anaemias (CDAs) are rare hereditary disorders characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis and multinuclearity of erythroblasts. Three main types of the disease have been described. Glycoconjugate abnormalities in erythrocyte membrane glycoconjugates, consisting of hypoglycosylation of band 3 and accumulation of certain glycosphingolipids including lactotriaosylceramide, neolactotriaosylceramide and polyglycosylceramides, have been described only in patients with CDA type II (CDA-II). We report on identical, although less pronounced, abnormalities in erythrocyte glycoconjugates from a patient with CDA-I. A low degree of hypoglycosylation of band 3 in our patient with CDA-I suggests that hypoglycosylation is not a cause, but, most probably, a consequence of dyserythropoiesis.

Glycophorin A in two patients with congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I and type II is partly unglycosylated.

Glycophorins A from erythrocyte membranes of two patients with congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I and type II (CDA type I and II) were analyzed for carbohydrate molar composition employing a modification of the recently published method that allowed simultaneous determination of carbohydrates and protein in electrophoretic bands of glycoproteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Zdebska & Koscielak, 1999, Anal Biochem., 275, 171-179). The modification involved a preliminary extraction of erythrocyte membranes with aqueous phenol, subsequent electrophoresis and analysis of the extracted glycophorins rather than electrophoresis and analysis of the glycophorin from intact erythrocyte membranes. The results showed a large deficit of N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose, and sialic acid residues in glycophorin A from patients with CDA type I and type II amounting to about 45% and 55%, respectively. The results strongly suggest that glycophorin A in these patients is partly unglycosylated with respect to O-linked glycans. In addition, glycophorin A from erythrocytes of a patient with CDA II but not CDA I exhibited a significant deficit of mannose and N-acetylglucosamine suggesting that its N-glycosylation site was also partly unglycosylated.

A single-sample method for determination of carbohydrate and protein contents glycoprotein bands separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

A method is described for determination of carbohydrate and protein contents of glycoproteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and then electroblotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes. Blots were stained, and appropriate pieces of PVDF membranes were excised, destained, and subjected to sequential hydrolysis with 0.2 M trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) for 1 h at 80 degrees C, then with 2 M TFA for 4 h at 100 degrees C, and finally with 6 M HCl at 100 degrees C for 24 h to release sialic acids, neutral sugars with hexosamines, and amino acids, respectively. In some instances preliminary methanolysis was used. Carbohydrates including sialic acids were quantitated by high pH anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. Protein content of the bands was determined as amino acids by the fluorescamine or ninhydrin method. In the calculation of results proper adjustments were made for small amounts of fucose released by hydrolysis with 0.2 M TFA at 80 degrees C, and for partial degradation of protein during hydrolysis with 2 M TFA at 100 degrees C. Recoveries of amino acids from hydrolysates of glycoproteins that had been electroblotted onto PVDF membranes equaled those of carbohydrates. This was possible because of preliminary hydrolysis of glycoproteins with TFA, as well as washing of wet, instead of dried, PVDF membranes after hydrolysis with 6 M HCl. The two modifications increased yields of amino acids by about 30%. The method was successfully applied to the determination of molar and weight percentage composition of human transferrin, band 3 protein, glycophorin A, and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein. In each case the results obtained for directly hydrolyzed and electrophoresed/electroblotted glycoproteins were practically identical. We also determined the glucosamine content of band 4.1 protein of erythrocytes.

Carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndromes.

Carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndromes are rare, multisystemic diseases, typically with major nervous system impairment, that are caused by hypo- and unglycosylation of N-linked glycoproteins. Hence, a biochemical evidence of this abnormality, like hypoglycosylation of serum transferrin is essential for diagnosis. Clinically and biochemically, six types of the disease have been delineated. Three of them are caused by deficiencies of the enzymes that are required for a proper glycosylation of lipid--(dolichol) linked oligosaccharide (phosphomannomutase or phosphomannose isomerase or alpha-glycosyltransferase), and one results from a deficiency of Golgi resident N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase II. In addition one variant of the disease has been reported as due to a defective biosynthesis of dolichol iself. The diseases are heritable but genetics has been established for only two types. Therapy, based on administration of mannose to patients is currently under investigation. It benefits patients with deficiency of phosphomannose isomerase. Taking into account the complexity of N-linked glycosylation of proteins more of the disease variants is expected to be found.

Triazine dyes as inhibitors and affinity ligands of glycosyltransferases.

The triazine dyes: Cibacron Blue 3GA, Reactive Red 120, Reactive Yellow 86, Reactive Green 19, Reactive Blue 4, Reactive Brown 10 inhibited the activity of a purified preparation of alpha1,6fucosyltransferase (GDP-L-fucose: N-acetyl beta-glucosaminide 6-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.68) from human blood platelets. Cibacron Blue 3GA and Reactive Red 120 were examined for the nature of the inhibition and both were found to be competitive inhibitors of the enzyme, with Ki = 11 microM and 2 microM, respectively. The two dyes inhibited also serum glycosyltransferases: alpha1,2fucosyltransferase (GDP-L-fucose: beta-D-galactosyl-R2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.69), beta1,4galactosyltransferase (UDP-galactose: N-acetyl-D-glucosamine 4-beta-D-galactosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.90) and beta1,3N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (UDP-GlcNAc: 4-beta-D-galactosyl-D-glucose). Cibacron Blue 3GA was a more effective inhibitor of the glycosyltransferases that use UDP-linked sugar donors than Reactive Red 120 while the latter was a stronger inhibitor of the fucosyltransferases that use GDP-linked donor. All four glycosyltransferases could be affinity purified on Cibacron Blue 3GA-Agarose columns. The order of elution of glycosyltransferases from the columns with solutions of 0.25-1.0 M potassium iodide also depended upon the structure of nucleotide sugar donor, i.e. whether it contained UDP or GDP. Thus, triazine dyes should interact with the sugar donor binding sites of glycosyltransferases. The main advantages of the use of triazine dyes as affinity ligands for isolation of glycosyltransferases are their universal applicability regardless of enzyme specificity, low cost, and insensitivity to high concentration of other proteins present in the solution.

Purification and characterization of GDP-L-Fuc: N-acetyl beta-D-glucosaminide alpha1-->6fucosyltransferase from human blood platelets.

c-6-L-Fucosyltransferase (alpha1,6FucT; EC 2.4.1.68) from human platelets, the enzyme that is released into serum during coagulation of blood, was purified 100,000-fold. The purification required three sequential chromatographic steps: chromatofocusing, affinity column chromatography on GnGn-Gp(asialo-aglacto-transferrin glycopeptide)-CH-Sepharose, and gel filtration of Sephadex G-200. The final preparation contained a protein that migrated as a single discrete band Mr of 58,000 in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under non-reducing conditions, and as a single enzymatically active peak Mr of 58,000 in gel filtration. Although the purified enzyme utilized the biantennary GnGn-Gp as substrate, it was twice as active with the triantennary oligosaccharide when the Man alpha1,3 antenna was substituted with GlcNacbeta1,4. On the other hand the tetraantennary oligosaccharide was not a preferred substrate. The Km values for the substrate asialo-agalactotransferrin-glycopeptide, and GDP-L-fucose were 29 and 28 microM, respectively. The optimum pH of the enzyme was 6.0. The activity of alpha1,6FucT was abolished in the presence of beta-mercaptoethanol. Divalent cations such as Mg2+ and Ca2+ activated, but Cu2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+ strongly inhibited the activity.

Contents of total and protein-bound carbohydrates are low in leukemic leukocytes from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia.

Leukemic leukocytes from 12 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and two patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) were isolated by centrifugations in Percoll gradients, and examined for total carbohydrates. In leukemic leukocytes from 10 of these patients ceramide-bound carbohydrates were also determined. Protein-bound carbohydrates were calculated by subtraction of ceramide-bound carbohydrates from total carbohydrates. In all samples analysed the contents of total and protein-bound carbohydrates were much lower in leukemic leukocytes than in normal neutrophils, irrespective whether the results were expressed relative to protein, DNA, cell number or dry mass. For immature leukemic cells of M0-M1 phenotype differences up to 10-fold were observed. Contents of ceramide-bound carbohydrates, i.e. those of neutral and acidic glycosphingolipids (GSLs) were also low in leukemic cells. However, when GSL carbohydrates were calculated as percentage of total carbohydrates, GSLs in leukemic leukocytes were elevated in half of the AML patients but depressed in the other half. The results are discussed in the light of the hypothesis on GSL function by one of us (Koscielak J., 1986, Glycoconjugate J. 3, 95-108). According to one element of the hypothesis, during cell differentiation newly synthesized glycoproteins (GPs) that perform specific functions are added to house-keeping GPs that are present in plasma membranes of all types of cells. Thus, during differentiation, the GP content of the cell membrane should increase and that of the so called "membrane packing" glycosphingolipids should decrease.

In comparison to progenitor platelets, microparticles are deficient in GpIb, GpIb-derived carbohydrates, glycerophospholipids, glycosphingolipids, and ceramides.

Activated blood platelets shed microparticles with procoagulant activity that probably participate in normal hemostasis. We have isolated spontaneously formed microparticles from human blood and analysed them for ultrastructure, antigenic profile, and biochemical composition. In transmission electron microscopy microparticles appeared as regular vesicles with a mean diameter of 300 nm (50-600 nm). In flow cytometry almost all microparticles reacted with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled antibody to platelet glycoprotein complex IIb-IIIa (GpIIb-IIIa) and with FITC-annexin V but only 40-50% of microparticles reacted with FITC-antibody to platelet glycoprotein Ib (GpIb). The latter result was confirmed by double labeling of microparticles with FITC-antibody to GpIIb-IIIa and phycoerythrin (PE) labeled antibody to GpIb. Large microparticles reacted better with anti-GpIb than the small ones. A decreased level of GpIb was also demonstrated by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of microparticles. Compositional studies indicated, that in terms of cholesterol and protein contents, microparticles resembled platelets rather than platelet membranes as previously thought. They are, however, deficient in certain components. Thus, in comparison to platelets, microparticles had reduced contents of sialic acid (by 56.4%), galactosamine (by 48.2%), glucosamine (by 22.4%), galactose by (11.8%) and fucose (by 21.6%). Mannose content was increased by 11.8%. Total phospholipids in microplatelets were lower by 17.8%. Glycerophospholipids only were affected with phosphatidylserine being decreased as much as by 43.2%. Neutral glycosphingolipids, gangliosides and ceramides in microparticles were reduced by half.

The levels of glycosphingolipids, ceramides, sialic acid and glycogen are changed in plasma membranes of rat platelets harvested during recovery from immune-mediated thrombocytopenia.

Plasma membranes of rat platelets produced at normal platelet counts and during early recovery from immune-mediated thrombocytopenia were examined for the contents of carbohydrates, lipids and glycosphingolipids. Glucosylceramide, two monosialo-gangliosides and one disialo-ganglioside were found to be the major glycosphingolipids of platelets. During thrombocytopenia the contents of these glycosphingolipids as well as of ceramides were several fold elevated. Among carbohydrate constituents of platelets and platelet plasma membranes, glycogen content was increased and that of sialic acid decreased. These results are discussed in the light of literature data on relevant biochemical characteristics of megakaryocytes at different stages of maturation and on thrombopoiesis during acute experimental thrombocytopenia.

[Diagnosis of hemophilia A carrier state using analysis of intergenic and intergenic polymorphism of factor VIII gene]. / Diagnostyka nosicielstwa hemofilii a na podstawie analizy wewnatrzgenowego i okologenowego polimorfizmu genu czynnika VIII.

Carrier state of haemophilia A was assessed in women at risk by using Bcl I polymorphism of factor VIII gene in intron 18, CA repeating sequence polymorphism in intron 13, and intergenic polymorphism at DXS52 locus. Appropriate fragments of DNA in intron 18 and 13 were amplified by PCR. Polymorphism at DXS52 locus was determined by the method of Southern after digesting DNA with endonuclease Taq I and employing F814 and ST14-1 probes. The diagnosis of carrier state of haemophilia A was made in 12 women from 9 families.

Diseases of aberrant glycosylation.

Recently a defective glycosylation of glycoconjugates has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of heritable or acquired diseases of humans. Herein I discuss them under the name of diseases of aberrant glycosylation. These are: congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II, carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome, I-cell disease, galactosemia in subjects on galactose-free diet, variants of leukocyte adhesion deficiency, and of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, and Tn syndrome. Regarding the present views on the function of glycoconjugates it is probably significant that in most instances defective or missing glycoproteins (or proteoglycans) but not glycosphingolipids, are probably involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Activity of platelet alpha-6-fucosyltransferase is inversely related to blood platelet concentration.

The activity of serum alpha-6-fucosyltransferase, a platelet derived enzyme, determined in sera of 22 normal individuals and 86 patients with various disorders was positively correlated with platelet counts. When the enzyme activity in 1 microliters serum was calculated per 1000 of platelets in blood (coefficient F/P) an inverse correlation became evident in that F/P was proportionally the higher the lower was platelet count in blood. The F/P values were in a good agreement with the results of direct assays of enzyme activities in isolated platelets. Neither granulocytes, lymphocytes nor red cells significantly contributed to serum enzyme activity though granulocytes enhanced the thrombin-induced enzyme release from platelets. In platelets separated by centrifugation in density gradients the enzyme was shown to be present in platelets of intermediate and high density but missing from the light ones. It is suggested that alpha-6-fucosyltransferase of platelets may be a marker of the ploidy level of megakaryocytes.

Ganglioside binding proteins of calf brain with ubiquitin-like N-terminals.

Two ganglioside-associated protein components I and II have been isolated from crude ganglioside preparations of calf brain by DEAE-Sephadex ion-exchange chromatography. Both components exhibited binding capacity in aqueous media for gangliosides of the 'ganglio' series but not for neutral glycosphingolipids (polyglycosylceramides) and only a low capacity for sialosylparagloboside. Each protein bound individual gangliosides with different efficiency. Upon prolonged incubation of component I with gangliosides, complexes with high (30:1) and low (6:1) glycolipid/protein molar ratios were formed. The latter but not the former complex was able to penetrate Sephadex G-200 beads. Both components inhibited plating efficiency of cultured mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells. The molecular masses of components I and II were determined by SDS/PAGE to be 11-12 kDa and 28 kDa, respectively. Carbohydrates (fucose, mannose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, and some sialic acid) were found only in component II. When examined by reverse-phase HPLC each component separated into two major closely migrating peaks which were subsequently examined by Edman degradation. Amino acid sequences of the N-terminal portions of three of these peaks (one peak from component I and both peaks from component II) showed, as far as the sequences were established, identity with the sequence of ubiquitin. It is hypothesized that the proteins may be instrumental in intracellular trafficking of gangliosides.

Characterization and quantitation of fatty acids covalently bound to erythrocyte membrane proteins: anion transporter contains 1 mol of fatty acid thiol ester.

Human erythrocyte membranes which had been thoroughly extracted with organic solvents contained 20 nmol of fatty acids/mg dry wt. The major fatty acids were palmitic and stearic with their monoethenoic derivatives as minor constituents. No other fatty acids were detected. When solvent-extracted membranes were digested with Pronase about 90% of the original content of fatty acids was retained in the insoluble residue. Fatty acids were linked to membrane proteins through alkali-labile bonds of which 30% were of a thiol ester and the remainder of an O-ester type. This conclusion is based on differential liberation of fatty acids by hydroxylamine at pH 7.0 and pH 11.0. Two extracts of membranes enriched in peripheral proteins (bands 1, 2, 5 and 2.1, 4.1, 4.2, 6) were prepared and extracted with organic solvents but each contained about six times less fatty acids than the parent solvent-extracted membranes. Glycophorin A contains little if any covalently bound fatty acids. Anion transporter (band 3) contains about 1 mol of thiol ester of fatty acid. This accounts for about half of the thiol ester-linked fatty acids in the parent solvent-extracted membranes. Most of the O-ester-linked fatty acids are linked to an undisclosed membrane protein.