Enzyme replacement therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis VI from 8 weeks of age--a sibling control study.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI) is a progressive, multisystem disorder caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulphatase (ASB). Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has been shown to clinically benefit affected individuals greater than 6 years of age. This case control study of affected siblings assessed the safety, efficacy and benefits of ERT in children less than 5 years of age. Siblings, aged 8 weeks and 3.6 years, were treated weekly with 1 mg/kg recombinant human N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulphatase (rhASB) with an end-point of 3.6 years. Clinical and biochemical parameters were monitored to assess the benefits of ERT. The treatment was well tolerated by both siblings. In the younger sibling, ERT was associated with the absence of the development of scoliosis and preserved joint movement, cardiac valves and facial morphology. The older sibling had a marked improvement in joint mobility and cardiac valve pathology and scoliosis slowed or stabilized. Corneal clouding and progressive skeletal changes were observed despite treatment. This study demonstrated a clear benefit of early initiation of ERT to slow or prevent the development of significant pathological changes of MPS VI. These results indicate that the earlier ERT is started, the greater the response.

Intracellular transport of membrane glycoproteins: two closely related histocompatibility antigens differ in their rates of transit to the cell surface.

The intracellular transport of two closely related membrane glycoproteins was studied in the murine B cell lymphoma line, AKTB-1b. Using pulse-chase radiolabeling, the kinetics of appearance of the class I histocompatibility antigens, H-2Kk and H-2Dk, at the cell surface were compared and found to be remarkably different. Newly synthesized H-2Kk is transported rapidly such that all radiolabeled molecules reach the surface within 1 h. In contrast, the H-2Dk antigen is transported slowly with a half-time of 4-5 h. The rates of surface appearance for the two antigens closely resemble the rates at which their Asn-linked oligosaccharides mature from endoglucosaminidase H (endo H)-sensitive to endo H-resistant forms, a process that occurs in the Golgi apparatus. This suggests that the rate-limiting step in the transport of H-2Dk to the cell surface occurs before the formation of endo H-resistant oligosaccharides in the Golgi apparatus. Subcellular fractionation experiments confirmed this conclusion by identifying the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as the site where the H-2Dk antigen accumulates. The retention of this glycoprotein in the ER does not appear to be due to a lack of solubility or an inability of the H-2Dk heavy chain to associate with beta 2-microglobulin. Our data is inconsistent with a passive membrane flow mechanism for the intracellular transport of membrane glycoproteins. Rather, it suggests that one or more receptors localized to the ER membrane may mediate the selective transport of membrane glycoproteins out of the ER to the Golgi apparatus. The fact that H-2Kk and H-2Dk are highly homologous (greater than or equal to 80%) indicates that this process can be strongly influenced by limited alterations in protein structure.

Pharmacokinetic profile of recombinant human N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulphatase enzyme replacement therapy in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis VI (Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome): a phase I/II study.

AIM: Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme-N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulphatase (ASB). Enzyme replacement therapy with recombinant human ASB (rhASB) has been studied in a randomized, double-blind, two-dose (0.2 and 1.0 mg/kg/week) phase I/II study (n = 7) followed by an open-label single dose (1.0 mg/kg/week) extension study. We report the pharmacokinetic profile of rhASB and the impact of antibody development. METHODS: Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed at weeks 1, 2, 12, 24, 83, 84 and 96. Infusions were administered over 4 hours using a ramp-up protocol. Plasma ASB and rhASB antibody concentrations and urine glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentrations were determined. RESULTS: The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC(0-t)) for the high-dose group increased from week 1 to week 2, but remained unchanged at weeks 12 and 24. A large difference in mean AUC(0-t) was observed between the low- and high-dose groups. Pharmacokinetic results at weeks 83, 84 and 96 were similar to those at week 24. Six patients developed antibodies to rhASB. One patient developed high antibody levels in combination with a high ASB concentration, while a second patient also developed high antibody levels with undetectable ASB concentrations. Antibodies from the second patient blocked detection of ASB. By week 72, antibody levels had decreased in all patients. The high-dose rhASB produced a more rapid and greater percentage reduction in urinary GAG concentrations than the lower dose (70% versus 55% at 24 weeks). Antibody levels did not appear to influence urinary GAG concentrations. CONCLUSION: Pharmacokinetic parameters appear to be independent of the duration of treatment and are not linear between the 0.2 and 1.0 mg/kg/week doses. Antibodies to rhASB develop in most patients, but their concentration decreases over time. Antibody formation may influence pharmacokinetic parameters during the early phases of treatment, although it appears to have limited impact on biochemical efficacy.

The molecular biology of heparan sulfate fibroblast growth factor receptors.

Two distinct classes of cell surface FGF-binding proteins have been identified. These receptors differ in both mode of interaction and in affinity for the FGFs. cDNAs that encode the low-affinity receptor were isolated from a hamster kidney cell line cDNA library by expression cloning. Transfected cells that contained these heparan sulfate proteoglycan FGF receptor cDNAs were enriched for by panning on basic FGF-coated plates. The analogous human cDNA was isolated from a hepatoma cell line cDNA library. The homology of our hamster cDNAs to the previously described murine integral membrane proteoglycan syndecan, together with an exact amino acid sequence match of our human-cDNA-encoded product to human syndecan, clearly indicates the identity of these independently isolated proteoglycans. Further confirmation that the expressed molecule serves as a proteoglycan core protein was achieved by immunoprecipitation of 35SO4-labeled material from solubilized transfected cells. Nitrous acid treatment and chondroitinase digestion revealed that 77% of the label was associated with heparan sulfate chains and 22% with chondroitin sulfate chains. These heparan sulfate chains contributed to the fivefold increase in the total heparan sulfate found to be present on the surface of the transfected cells compared with cells transfected with a vector lacking the cDNA insert.

Recognition of synthetic analogues of the acceptor, beta-D-Gal p-OR, by the blood-group H gene-specified glycosyltransferase.

The acceptor-substrate specificity of a cloned alpha-(1-->2) fucosyltransferase has been explored using structural analogues of octyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (4). This monosaccharide is the minimum acceptor-substrate for the H-transferase, one of two enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of the O blood-group antigen, which terminates in the sequence alpha-L-Fuc p-(1-->2)-beta-D-Galp. Galactoside 4 has a Km of 6 mM with this enzyme. Eighteen analogues of 4 have been prepared, including those where the hydroxyl groups at C-3, C-4, and C-6 have been replaced, independently, with deoxy, fluoro, O-methyl, amino, and acetamido functionalities. The C-3 and C-4 epimers have been prepared as has the C-5 de(hydroxymethyl)ated derivative. These compounds were screened as potential acceptors and inhibitors of the fucosyltransferase. The C-6 analogues that do not possess a charge show substrate activity with relative rates in the range of 27-316% that of 4. The C-3 modified analogues are inhibitors with estimated Ki values of 0.9-43 mM. Those analogues with modifications at C-4 were both poor inhibitors and acceptors.

Functional analysis of conserved cysteines in heparan sulfate N-deacetylase-N-sulfotransferases.

N-Deacetylase-N-sulfotransferases (NDANST) catalyze the two initial modifications of the polysaccharide precursor in the biosynthesis of heparin and heparan sulfate. These modifications are the gating steps in establishing growth factor protein-binding domains of these glycosaminoglycans. We have undertaken a structure-activity analysis of the 841-amino acid Golgi-luminal portion of the rat liver NDANST to localize the two enzymatic functions. Each activity can be assayed in vitro independently of the other when provided with the appropriate substrate, and N-ethylmaleimide treatment selectively inactivates the deacetylase activity. In this study, dithiothreitol treatment of the rat liver NDANST was shown to inactivate the sulfotransferase function, while stimulating deacetylase activity 2-3-fold over the native protein. Site-directed mutagenesis of the eight cysteine (Cys) residues in the rat liver NDANST that are conserved in the mouse mastocytoma protein produced three important findings regarding the localization of each enzymatic function: 1) derivatization of Cys486 with N-ethylmaleimide resulted in total inactivation of the deacetylase activity based on steric hindrance of the active site (this residue was shown not to be involved in enzymatic catalysis), 2) substitution of either Cys159 or Cys486 with alanine resulted in enhanced activity of the deacetylase to the level obtained by dithiothreitol treatment, and 3) alanine substitution of Cys818 or Cys828 completely inactivated the sulfotransferase activity, while substitution of Cys586 or Cys601 resulted in a 90% loss in activity. These findings suggest that the two enzymatic domains within the NDANST localize to different portions of the protein, with two disulfide pairs toward the COOH-terminal half of the protein necessary for the sulfotransferase activity, and Cys residues within the NH2-terminal half influencing or located near the active site of the deacetylase functionality.

Selective impairment of the synthesis of basic fibroblast growth factor binding domains of heparan sulphate in a COS cell mutant defective in N-sulphotransferase.

N-Sulphation is a key step in the overall sulphation of heparan sulphate. We have isolated a COS cell-derived mutant, CM-15, that is impaired in its ability to bind to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and has a 2- to 3-fold reduction in N-sulphotransferase activity [Ishihara et al., (1992a) Anal. Biochem., 206, 400-407]. We now provide structural evidence that CM-15 is selectively impaired in the synthesis of highly sulphated regions or 'blocks' that display high-affinity binding to bFGF; these are completely N-sulphated blocks of decasaccharide or greater length that are enriched in O-sulphate groups. The synthesis of sulphated blocks that did not show high affinity to the growth factor was relatively unimpaired in the mutant cells; this included fully N-sulphated octamer (or smaller) blocks and, unexpectedly, decasaccharide or larger blocks that were poorly O-sulphated. In the latter fraction, the failure to form high-affinity binding regions was the result of a failure to stimulate O-sulphation rather than N-sulphation in CM-15 cells. In agreement with other studies, disaccharide analysis of the wild-type-derived sulphated blocks suggested that 2-O-sulphation of iduronate residues in the polymer was a necessary element to produce a high-affinity binding sequence once N-sulphation was completed in the decasaccharide or larger fraction. These results suggest that a selective reduction in both N- and O-sulphation in the larger blocks produced by CM-15 cells is a consequence of the reduction of N-sulphotransferase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of the oligosaccharides from the invariant chain associated with murine Ia antigens.

The oligosaccharide side chains of the murine invariant chain (Ii) glycoprotein associated with the Ia antigens have been characterized. Affinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody column was employed to purify the I-Ak antigen from lysates of the AKTB-1b B cell lymphoma. The invariant chain isolated by this procedure was subsequently digested with proteases, and the resulting glycopeptides were fractionated by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The invariant chain appears to contain two glycosylation sites, both of which carry high-mannose oligosaccharides, each with a restricted size distribution and an average composition of Man6GlcNAc2 as judged by gel filtration and alpha-mannosidase digestion. These data, together with the observation that the invariant chain cannot be labeled metabolically with 3H-glucosamine, 3H-fucose, or 3H-galactose, allow the conclusion that the murine invariant chain does not contain complex oligosaccharides and is not O-glycosylated during its association with the Ia antigens.

A single protein catalyzes both N-deacetylation and N-sulfation during the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate.

Heparan sulfate is a highly sulfated carbohydrate polymer that binds to and modulates the activities of numerous proteins. The formation of these protein-binding domains in heparan sulfate is dependent on a series of biosynthetic reactions that modify the polysaccharide backbone; the initiating and rate-limiting steps of this process are the N-deacetylation and N-sulfation of N-acetylglucosamine residues in the polymer. We now report that in the rat liver, biosynthesis of heparan sulfate utilizes a single protein that possesses both N-deacetylase and N-sulfotransferase activities. This was accomplished by demonstrating that both activities resided in a purified soluble fusion protein containing the Golgi-lumenal portion of the enzyme. We propose that this protein be renamed the rat liver Golgi heparan sulfate N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase.

Selection of COS cell mutants defective in the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate proteoglycan.

A simple procedure using human basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) was utilized for the selection of COS cell mutants with defects in the biosynthesis or expression of heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG). Our approach was based on the strong binding affinity exhibited by COS cells to human basic FGF that had been adsorbed to plastic dishes. Cell binding to basic FGF could be inhibited by heparin and heparan sulfate (HS), but not by chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, or hyaluronic acid, suggesting that the cell binding involved an interaction between basic FGF and cell surface heparin-like molecules. COS cells were treated with ethyl methanesulfonate and four stable mutants were subsequently isolated that did not bind strongly to basic FGF adsorbed to plastic. These mutants cell lines (CM-2, CM-8, CM-9, and CM-15) exhibited significantly reduced 35SO4 incorporation into HS (40-70% depending on the cellular pool analyzed). In one of these cell lines, CM-15, the incorporation of [6-3H]glucosamine into HS was unaltered, suggesting that the extent of oligosaccharide polymerization was equivalent to that observed for the wild-type cells. Structural analysis revealed that N-sulfated glucosamine residues were present much less frequently in HS derived from these cells as compared with that derived from wild-type cells. Furthermore, CM-15 was found to be three-fold deficient in HS N-sulfotransferase activity, but contained wild-type levels of HS O-sulfotransferase activities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A cell-based assay for evaluating the interaction of heparin-like molecules and basic fibroblast growth factor.

A simple panning procedure that allows for the evaluation of interactions between various heparin-like molecules and basic FGF has been developed. This assay measures the ability of compounds to inhibit the interaction of transfected human lymphoblastoid cells, UC 729-6 (UC cells), expressing hamster syndecan and basic FGF-coated plastic plates. The transfected cells bind rapidly to basic FGF-coated plates while the control cells do not bind well. Binding of the transfected cells to basic FGF was inhibited by heparin and heparin sulfate (HS), but not by chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, and hyaluronic acid. There was little inhibition of binding by chemically modified heparin such as completely desulfated, N-acetylated heparin, completely desulfated, N-sulfated heparin, and N-desulfated, N-acetylated heparin. These results suggested that both the N-sulfate and O-sulfate groups of heparin are required for binding to basic FGF. In addition, inhibition by oligosaccharides derived from depolymerized heparin increased with fragment size; partial inhibition was observed with oligosaccharides as small as hexamers. The biochemical basis for the binding of transfected cells to basic FGF was established by showing a significant increase of 35SO4 incorporation into HS. In particular, the level of 35SO4-HS in the trypsin-releasable (cell surface) pool increased fivefold. This increase was accounted for by demonstration of the presence of HS on immunoprecipitated syndecan from the transfected cells.

Molecular cloning and expression of a glycosaminoglycan N-acetylglucosaminyl N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase from a heparin-producing cell line.

Heparin has a higher content of N-sulfated glucosamine and L-iduronic acid than heparan sulfate. Deacetylation of N-acetylglucosamine followed by N-sulfation may be important steps differentiating the biosynthesis of these glycosaminoglycans. We have cloned, by cross-hybridization with the cDNA from rat liver heparan sulfate N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase, a protein from a heparin synthesizing mastocytoma derived cell line called MST. This protein, which has both N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase activities, has a predicted amino acid sequence homology of 70% with the above rat liver enzyme and is unique for the following reasons. 1) It was found to be encoded by a 3.8-kilobase mRNA that was unique to heparin-producing cells; an 8.5-kilobase mRNA encoding the rat liver enzymes has been found to occur in all mammalian cells tested on the basis of nucleic acid cross-hybridization; 2) the protein overexpressed in COS cells in its full-length transmembrane form or as a soluble secreted protein A chimera displayed ratios of N-deacetylase to N-sulfotransferase activities that were 4-8-fold higher than that observed for the enzyme found in liver that is involved in the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate. These results suggest that the MST-derived enzyme is probably unique to the production of heparin in mast cells.

Murine Ia-associated invariant chain's processing to complex oligosaccharide forms and its dissociation from the I-Ak complex.

The processing of murine invariant chain (Ii) to a cell surface form bearing complex N-linked oligosaccharides has been demonstrated in the B cell lymphoma, AKTB-1b. In addition, the rate of processing of pulse-labeled Ii has been determined relative to its rate of dissociation from the alpha/beta complex of I-Ak. Ii, alpha-, and beta-chains were immunoprecipitated with anti-I-Ak or anti-Ii monoclonal antibodies. The heretofore uncharacterized complex oligosaccharide form of Ii (Ii-c) was identified in gel-purified immunoprecipitates by peptide mapping with reverse-phase HPLC. Ii-c is resistant to deglycosylation by Endo H, which is specific for high-mannose N-linkages, but can be digested with Endo F, a glycosidase capable of cleaving both complex and high-mannose N-linked oligosaccharides. Immunoprecipitation of surface iodinated cells indicates that Ii-c is expressed on the plasma membrane. Pulse-chase metabolic labeling data show that the processing of Ii to Ii-c occurs with a t1/2 of about 120 min. In contrast, the processing of both alpha- and beta-chains of I-Ak to complex forms occurs with a t1/2 of 15 to 20 min. Our data show that Ii-hm begins to dissociate rapidly from the I-Ak complex after 100 to 120 min of chase. Only a small amount (less than 5% on a per mole basis) of Ii-c was found associated with the I-Ak complexes after 300 min of continuous metabolic labeling. These results are consistent with Ii serving as a carrier for Ia antigens as they are transported to the cell surface. In addition, they suggest that the processing of Ii to Ii-c, or a late processing event of the alpha- and beta-chains, such as their sialylation, may be a possible mechanism for inducing the dissociation of Ii from the I-Ak complex.

Regulation of biosynthesis of the basic fibroblast growth factor binding domains of heparan sulfate by heparan sulfate-N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase expression.

Heparan sulfate-N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase catalyzes both the N-deacetylation and N-sulfation reactions that initiate the modification of the oligosaccharide backbone of heparan sulfate (HS). The glycosaminoglycan polymer appears to modulate the activity of growth factors by mediating their initial binding. To understand how the biosynthesis of these binding sites is regulated, a rat liver-derived cDNA encoding the above activities was overexpressed in a COS cell mutant (CM-15) that has reduced levels of the enzyme and binds poorly to immobilized basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). This resulted in increased synthesis of sulfated blocks of decasaccharide size or longer. These blocks exhibited high affinity binding to bFGF and contained a high content of 2-O-sulfated iduronate and at least five consecutive N-sulfated disaccharides. An increase in the synthesis of these high affinity blocks was not seen in transfected wild-type COS cells even though they showed a 4-fold increase of both enzyme activities, suggesting that once sufficient levels of highly sulfated blocks of saccharides with high affinity for bFGF are attained, no further synthesis of these domains occurs.

The binding specificity of normal and variant rat Kupffer cell (lectin) receptors expressed in COS cells.

A receptor uniquely found on the surface of rat Kupffer cells was shown previously to bind oligosaccharides terminating in galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine, and fucose. To analyze further the binding specificity of the receptor, receptor-mediated adhesion of transfected COS cells to immobilized glycolipids of known structure was measured. The glycolipid Gb4Cer (GalNAc beta 1-3Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1Cer) was the best ligand. Gb5Cer (GalNAc alpha 1-3GalNAc beta 1-3Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1Cer) and LacCer (Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1Cer) bound more weakly (five times less than Gb4Cer) and Gb3Cer (Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1Cer), and g3Cer(GalNAc beta 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1Cer) bound even more weakly (60 times less than Gb4Cer). Gangliosides did not support adhesion of transfected cells. The adhesion of COS cells transfected with plasmids encoding variants of the receptor was also examined. In each variant, either tryptophan 498 or 523, which are conserved in most C-type lectins, was replaced by one of several amino acids. Variants that retained binding activity had the same specificity as the normal receptor. Differences between variants were noted, however, in maximal levels of adhesion and these differences correlated with altered expression of the receptor variants in COS cells.

Stable oligosaccharide microheterogeneity at individual glycosylation sites of a murine major histocompatibility antigen derived from a B-cell lymphoma.

The H-2Kk glycoprotein has been isolated by monoclonal antibody affinity chromatography, and an analysis of the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides present at the two major glycosylation sites has been performed. Antigen obtained from the AKTB-1b B-cell lymphoma that had been labeled with [2,6-3H]mannose for 5 or 21 h or for 5 h followed by a 5-h chase was digested exhaustively with trypsin. Each glycosylation site was then isolated by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography using a C18 column. After removal from the peptide backbone by the almond emulsin peptide: N-glycosidase, the oligosaccharides from each isolated site were analyzed by gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography, concanavalin A affinity chromatography, and glycosidase treatment to assess the contribution of sialic acid and branching patterns of the oligosaccharide backbones to the overall microheterogeneity. The glycosylation of the H-2Kk antigen derived from several different AKTB-1b tumor preparations was examined during a period covering 1 year, during which time the tumor was passaged continuously in vivo in 2-week cycles. Our results conclusively demonstrate that the pattern of oligosaccharide microheterogeneity at the two glycosylation sites of the H-2Kk antigen derived from AKTB-1b cells is stable and that each site differs as to the specific array of oligosaccharide types found on the fully processed glycoprotein. In addition, this report describes an analytical scheme employing reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography to follow oligosaccharide processing and hydrolysis of the N-glycosidic bond by the peptide: N-glycosidase.

Carbohydrate ligands for endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule 1.

The acute inflammatory response requires that circulating leukocytes bind to and penetrate the vascular wall to access the site of injury. Several receptors have been implicated in this interaction, including a family of putative carbohydrate-binding proteins. We report here the identification of an endogenous carbohydrate ligand for one of these receptors, endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 (ELAM-1). Radiolabeled COS cells transfected with a plasmid containing the cDNA for ELAM-1 were used as probes to screen glycolipids extracted from human leukocytes. COS cells transfected with this plasmid adhered to a subset of sialylated glycolipids resolved on TLC plates or adsorbed on polyvinyl chloride microtiter wells. Adhesion to these glycolipids required calcium but was not inhibited by heparin, chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate, or yeast phosphomannan. Monosaccharide composition, linkage analysis, and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of the glycolipids indicate that the ligands for ELAM-1 are terminally sialylated lactosylceramides with a variable number of N-acetyllactosamine repeats and at least one fucosylated N-acetylglucosamine residue.

Oligosaccharide microheterogeneity of the murine major histocompatibility antigens. Reproducible site-specific patterns of sialylation and branching in asparagine-linked oligosaccharides.

The influence of peptide structure of endogenous cell-surface glycoproteins on the branching and sialylation of their asparagine-linked oligosaccharides was evaluated in a murine B cell lymphoma, AKTB-1b. This cell line simultaneously synthesizes two classes of major histocompatibility antigens that, within each class, share a high degree of amino acid sequence homology and possess potential N-linked glycosylation sites at invariant positions. [3H]Mannose-labeled oligosaccharides were released from each of 11 purified glycosylation sites by the almond peptide:N-glycosidase and analyzed by a variety of chromatographic procedures and glycosidase treatments. The data indicate: 1) a unique distribution of oligosaccharide structures is present at each glycosylation site; 2) each site-specific oligosaccharide pattern is highly reproducible, independent of the number of in vivo tumor passages. The heavy chain of the class I antigens, H-2Kk and H-2Dk contain two and three sites, respectively, in which biantennary structures predominate. However, each site varies with respect to the extent of sialylation and the proportions of more highly branched structures present. The class II antigens, I-Ak and I-Ek, each contain an alpha-chain site toward the N terminus and a single beta-chain site where the overall extent of sialylation is similar, yet the distributions of antennary structures are dramatically different for each. The alpha-chains of each class II antigen also contain a more C-terminal underglycosylated site where sialylation and branching are reduced to differing degrees depending upon the site. The influence of peptide structure on oligosaccharide microheterogeneity is manifest at two levels. First, the overall distributions of oligosaccharides at corresponding sites on structurally related glycoproteins are similar. Second, the specific "fingerprint" of sialylation and branching patterns at a particular site are reproducibly unique. These data suggest that subtle changes in peptide structure are reflected in the extent of sialylation and branching of oligosaccharides found at corresponding glycosylation sites of structurally related glycoproteins.

Acceptor specificity of different length constructs of human recombinant alpha 1,3/4-fucosyltransferases. Replacement of the stem region and the transmembrane domain of fucosyltransferase V by protein A results in an enzyme with GDP-fucose hydrolyzing activity.

The acceptor specificity of recombinant full-length, membrane-bound fucosyltransferases, expressed in COS-7 cells, and soluble, protein-A chimeric forms of alpha 1,3-fucosyltransferase (Fuc-T) III, Fuc-TIV, and Fuc-TV was analyzed toward a broad panel of oligosaccharide, glycolipid, and glycoprotein substrates. Our results on the full-length enzymes confirm and extend previous studies. However, chimeric Fuc-Ts showed increased activity toward glycoproteins, whereas chimeric Fuc-TIII and Fuc-TV had a decreased activity with glycosphingolipids, compared to the full-length enzymes. Unexpectedly, chimeric Fuc-TV exhibited a GDP-fucose hydrolyzing activity. In substrates with multiple acceptor sites, the preferred site of fucosylation was identified. Fuc-TIII and Fuc-TV catalyzed fucose transfer exclusively to OH-3 of glucose in lacto-N-neotetraose and lacto-N-tetraose, respectively, as was demonstrated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Thin layer chromatography immunostaining revealed that FucT-IV preferred the distal GlcNAc residue in nLc6Cer, whereas Fuc-TV preferred the proximal Gl-cNAc residue. Incubation of Fuc-TIV or Fuc-TV with VI3NeuAcnLc6Cer resulted in products with the sialyl-LewisX epitope as well as the VIM-2 structure. To identify polar groups on acceptors that function in enzyme binding, deoxygenated substrate analogs were tested as acceptors. All three Fuc-Ts had an absolute requirement for a hydroxyl at C-6 of galactose in addition to the accepting hydroxyl at C-3 or C-4 of GlcNAc.