Highly oriented recombinant glycosyltransferases: site-specific immobilization of unstable membrane proteins by using Staphylococcus aureus sortase A.

Recombinant glycosyltransferases are potential biocatalysts for the construction of a compound library of oligosaccharides, glycosphingolipids, glycopeptides, and various artificial glycoconjugates on the basis of combined chemical and enzymatic synthetic procedures. The structurally defined glycan-related compound library is a key resource both in the basic studies of their functional roles in various biological processes and in the discovery research of new diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic reagents. Therefore, it is clear that the immobilization of extremely unstable membrane-bound glycosyltransferases on some suitable supporting materials should enhance the operational stability and activity of recombinant enzymes and makes facile separation of products and recycling use of enzymes possible. Until now, however, it seems that no standardized protocol preventing a significant loss of enzyme activity is available due to the lack of a general method of site-selective anchoring between glycosyltransferases and scaffold materials through a stable covalent bond. Here we communicate a versatile and efficient method for the immobilization of recombinant glycosyltransferases onto commercially available solid supports by means of transpeptidase reaction by Staphylococcus aureus sortase A. This protocol allowed for the first time highly specific conjugation at the designated C-terminal signal peptide moiety of recombinant human beta1,4-galactosyltransferase or recombinant Helicobacter pylori alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase with simple aliphatic amino groups displayed on the surface of solid materials. Site-specifically immobilized enzymes exhibited the desired sugar transfer activity, an improved stability, and a practical reusability required for rapid and large-scale synthesis of glycoconjugates. Considering that most mammalian enzymes responsible for the posttranslational modifications, including the protein kinase family, as well as glycosyltransferases are unstable and highly oriented membrane proteins, the merit of our strategy based on "site-specific" transpeptidation is evident because the reaction proceeds only at an engineered C-terminus without any conformational influence around the active sites of both enzymes as well as heptad repeats of rHFucT required to maintain native secondary and quaternary structures during the dimerization on cell surfaces.

Artificial Golgi apparatus: globular protein-like dendrimer facilitates fully automated enzymatic glycan synthesis.

Despite the growing importance of synthetic glycans as tools for biological studies and drug discovery, a lack of common methods for the routine synthesis remains a major obstacle. We have developed a new method for automated glycan synthesis that employs the enzymatic approach and a dendrimer as an ideal support within the chemical process. Recovery tests using a hollow fiber ultrafiltration module have revealed that monodisperse G6 (MW = 58 kDa) and G7 (MW = 116 kDa) poly(amidoamine) dendrimers exhibit a similar profile to BSA (MW = 66 kDa). Characteristics of the globular protein-like G7 dendrimer with high solubility and low viscosity in water greatly enhanced throughput and efficiency in automated synthesis while random polyacrylamide-based supports entail significant loss during the repetitive reaction/separation step. The present protocol allowed for the fully automated enzymatic synthesis of sialyl Lewis X tetrasaccharide derivatives over a period of 4 days in 16% overall yield from a simple N-acetyl-d-glucosamine linked to an aminooxy-functionalized G7 dendrimer.

Functional neoglycopeptides: synthesis and characterization of a new class of MUC1 glycoprotein models having core 2-based O-glycan and complex-type N-glycan chains.

An efficient protocol for the construction of MUC1-related glycopeptide analogues having complex O-glycan and N-glycan chains was established by integrating chemical and enzymatic approaches on the functional polymer platforms. We demonstrated the feasibility of sortase A-mediated ligation between two glycopeptide segments by tagging with signal peptides, LPKTGLR and GG, at each C- or N-terminal position. Structural analysis of the macromolecular N,O-glycopeptides was performed by means of ESI-TOFMS (MS/MS) equipped with an electron-captured dissociation device. Immunological assay using MUC1 glycopeptides synthesized in this study revealed that N-glycosylation near the antigenic O-glycosylated PDTR motif did not disturb the interaction between the anti-MUC1 monoclonal antibody and this crucial O-glycopeptide moiety. NMR study indicated that the N-terminal immunodominant region [Ala-Pro-Asp-Thr(O-glycan)-Arg] forms an inverse gamma-turn-like structure, while the C-terminal region composed of N-glycopeptide and linker SrtA-peptide was proved to be an independently random structure. These results indicate that the bulky O- and N-glycan chains can function independently as disease-relevant epitopes and ligands for carbohydrate-binding proteins, when both are combined by an artificial intervening peptide having a possible effect of separating N- and C-terminal regions. The present strategy will greatly facilitate rapid synthesis of multiply functionalized complex neoglycopeptides as new types of convenient tools or models for the investigation of thhe structure-function relationship of various glycoproteins and development of novel class glycopeptide-based biopharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems, and biomedical materials.

An essential epitope of anti-MUC1 monoclonal antibody KL-6 revealed by focused glycopeptide library.

Human serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) antigen, a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein classified as a polymorphic epithelial mucin (MUC1), is a biomarker of diseases such as interstitial pneumonia, lung adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, colorectal adenocarcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Anti-KL-6 monoclonal antibody (anti-KL-6 MAb) is therefore a potential diagnostic and therapeutic reagent. Although glycosylation at Thr/Ser residues of the tandem-repeating MUC1 peptides appears to determine the disease-associated antigenic structures of KL-6, an essential epitope structure recognized by anti-KL-6 MAb remains unclear. In the present study, a novel compound library of synthetic MUC1 glycopeptides allowed the first rapid and precise evaluation of the specific epitope structure of anti-KL-6 MAb by combined use of a tailored glycopeptides library and common ELISA protocol. We demonstrated that the minimal antigenic structure, an essential epitope, recognized by anti-KL-6 MAb is a heptapeptide sequence Pro-Asp-Thr-Arg-Pro-Ala-Pro (PDTRPAP), in which the Thr residue is modified by Neu5Ac alpha2,3Gal beta1,3GalNAc alpha (2,3-sialyl T antigen, core 1-type O-glycan). Anti-KL-6 MAb did not bind with other tumor-relevant antigens, such as GalNAc alpha (Tn), Neu5Ac alpha2,6GalNAc alpha (STn), and Gal beta1,3GalNAc alpha (T), except for Neu5Ac alpha2,3Gal beta1,3(Neu5Ac alpha2,6)GalNAc alpha (2,3/2,6-disialyl T). However, anti-KL-6 MAb could not differentiate the above minimal antigenic glycopeptide from some core 2-based glycopeptides involving this crucial epitope structure and showed a similar binding affinity toward these compounds, indicating that branching at the O-6 position of GalNAc residue does not influence the interaction of anti-KL-6 MAb with some MUC1 glycoproteins involving an essential epitope. Actually, anti-KL-6 MAb reacts with 2,3/2,6-disialyl T having a 2,3-sialyl T component. This is why anti-KL-6 MAb often reacts with various kinds of tumor-derived MUC1 glycoproteins as well as a clinically important MUC1 glycoprotein biomarker of interstitial pneumonia, namely KL-6, originally discovered as a circulating pulmonary adenocarcinoma-associated antigen. In other words, combined use of anti-KL-6 MAb and some probes that can differentiate the sugars substituted at the O-6 position of the GalNAc residue in MUC1 glycopeptides including the PDTRPAP sequence might be a promising diagnostic protocol for individual disease-specific biomarkers. It was also revealed that glycosylation at neighboring Thr/Ser residues outside the immunodominant PDTRPAP motif strongly influences the interaction between anti-KL-6 MAb and MUC1 glycopeptides involving the identified epitope. Our novel strategy will greatly facilitate the processes for the identification of the tumor-specific and strong epitopes of various known anti-MUC1 MAbs and allow for their practical application in the generation of improved antibody immunotherapeutics, diagnostics, and MUC1-based cancer vaccines.

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of glycosylated glucagon-like peptide 1: effect of glycosylation on proteolytic resistance and in vivo blood glucose-lowering activity.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (7-36) amide (GLP-1) has been attracting considerable attention as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we applied a glycoengineering strategy to GLP-1 to improve its proteolytic stability and in vivo blood glucose-lowering activity. Glycosylated analogues with N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), N-acetyllactosamine (LacNAc), and alpha2,6-sialyl N-acetyllactosamine (sialyl LacNAc) were prepared by chemoenzymatic approaches. We assessed the receptor binding affinity and cAMP production activity in vitro, the proteolytic resistance against dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and neutral endopeptidase (NEP) 24.11, and the blood glucose-lowering activity in diabetic db/db mice. Addition of sialyl LacNAc to GLP-1 greatly improved stability against DPP-IV and NEP 24.11 as compared to the native type. Also, the sialyl LacNAc moiety extended the blood glucose-lowering activity in vivo. Kinetic analysis of the degradation reactions suggested that the sialic acid component played an important role in decreasing the affinity of peptide to DPP-IV. In addition, the stability of GLP-1 against both DPP-IV and NEP24.11 incrementally improved with an increase in the content of sialyl LacNAc in the peptide. The di- and triglycosylated analogues with sialyl LacNAc showed greatly prolonged blood glucose-lowering activity of up to 5 h after administration (100 nmol/kg), although native GLP-1 showed only a brief duration. This study is the first attempt to thoroughly examine the effect of glycosylation on proteolytic resistance by using synthetic glycopeptides having homogeneous glycoforms. This information should be useful for the design of glycosylated analogues of other bioactive peptides as desirable pharmaceuticals.

Anti-vRE and anti-MRSA activities of new quinolones and their synergism with commercial antibiotics. Part 2.

Anti-VRE and anti-MRSA activities of new quinolone derivatives [The two quinolone derivatives are 8- [3-[(ethylamino) methyl]-1-pyrrodinyl] -7-fluoro-9, 1-[(N-methylimino)methano]-5-oxo-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]quinolone-4-carboxylic acid (compound A) and 7-fluoro-8-morpholino-9,1-[(N-methylimino) methanol-5-oxo-5H-thiazolo [3,2-a] quinolone-4-carboxylic acid (compound B)] and their synergism with commercial antibiotics were investigated. Compound A exhibited potent antibacterial activity against VRE and MRSA among the five new quinolone compounds tested, and showed superior activity to pefloxacin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin, which are clinically in use these days. With respect to the anti-VRE activity, compound A showed synergism with fosfomycin (FOM), and partial synergism with ampicillin (ABPC), gentaicin (GM), minocycline (MINO) and vancomycin hydrochloride (VCM). Partial synergism in anti-VRE activity was also observed between compound B and GM, MINO, FOM and VCM. Compound A also showed synergism with MINO and FOM in anti-MASA activity. Partial synergism was observed with ABPC, GM and VCM. Synergism with ABPC was not detected in anti-MRSA activity. On the other hand, the synergism of compound B with FOM, and the partial synergisms with ABPC, GM and MINO were also found against MRSA. No synergism with ABPC was found against MRSA. These results suggested that compound A and B could possibly reduce the daily administration dose of these antibiotics in the treatment of nosocomial infections, and also reduce the possibility of the occurrence of nosocomial infections caused by VRE and/or MRSA.

A three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship study of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor shedding inhibitors using comparative molecular field analysis.

Despite the lack of structural information on the heparin-binding (HB) epidermal growth factor (EGF) shedding putative target enzyme, the design of potent HB-EGF shedding inhibitors has been attempted by means of comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA), a well-established 3D-QSAR technique. Two different binding modes, obtained by docking a flexible representative into the MMP-3 and TACE target enzymes, were considered as alignment rules for an in-house data set of 50 HB-EGF shedding inhibitors. CoMFA models were derived with the standard steric, electrostatic, and Bohacek and McMartin's H-bond molecular fields. These fields were used individually or in combination. For both alignments, the H-bond field alone yielded the best statistical models. From the analysis of the CoMFA contours, ideas for testing the size of the S1' pocket and suggestions for the design of new inhibitors came forward, resulting in the synthesis and testing of four new inhibitors. Three of four compounds turned out to possess from good (IC(50) = 0.56 and 0.60 microM) to excellent (IC(50) = 0.13 microM) inhibitory activity. The hypothesis that, upon binding, the S1' pocket in the vicinity of the R(1) benzene ring must be narrow in size was confirmed by the weak activity (IC(50) = 1.1 microM) of the fourth compound. The experimental profile of these new inhibitors does suggest the MMP-3 alignment as the most plausible one for HB-EGF shedding inhibitors.

Azasugar-based MMP/ADAM inhibitors as antipsoriatic agents.

As a part of synthetic studies on MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)/ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) inhibitors, we have preliminarily communicated that azasugar-based compound 1a exhibited a potential inhibitory activity on some metalloprotease-catalyzed proteolytic reactions. To find promising candidates for the topical treatment of psoriasis, we investigated stability in aqueous solution of compound 1a and its derivative 1b and then optimized the P1' substuent (2-5). In the present study, we synthesized novel derivatives of compound 1a and evaluated their inhibitory activity toward MMP-1, -3, and -9, TACE, and HB-EGF shedding, from a viewpoint of versatility of azasugars as a functional scaffold. As a result, it was found that compound 1b demonstrated desirable inhibitory activity as an antipsoriatic agent, and some of the derivatives showed selective inhibitory activity. In addition, it was found that compound 1b exhibited a significant therapeutic effect on a mouse TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasia model. Therefore, compound 1b could become a promising candidate as a practical antipsoriatic agent.

New strategy for antedrug application: development of metalloproteinase inhibitors as antipsoriatic drugs.

Phosphonamide-based inhibitors were synthesized and evaluated for the inhibitory activities against the shedding of epidermal growth factors, amphiregulin and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, that would participate in the development of psoriasis. All compounds exhibited excellent inhibitory activities for these EGF sheddings; however, they also inhibited matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). To avoid adverse effects reported by the clinical development of MMP inhibitors, the antedrug concept was introduced. Among the phosphonamide inhibitors, the 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ester 8d and 2,2-difluoroethyl ester 8c showed rapid decomposition in human plasma, which is an essential property for the antedrug. Topical applications of these compounds significantly suppressed TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasia in murin skin, a model of psoriasis. These results suggested that the phosphonamide-based inhibitors have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of psoriasis as an antedrug application.

New type of metalloproteinase inhibitor: design and synthesis of new phosphonamide-based hydroxamic acids.

A series of phosphonamide-based hydroxamate derivatives were synthesized, and the inhibitory activities were evaluated against various metalloproteinases in order to clarify its selectivity profile. Among the four diastereomeric isomers resulting from the chirality at the C-3 and P atoms, the compound with a (R,R)-configuration both at the C-3 position and the phosphorus atom was found to be potently active, while the other diastereomeric isomers were almost inactive. A number of (R,R)-compounds synthesized here exhibited broad spectrum activities with nanomolar K(i) values against MMP-1, -3, -9, and TACE and also showed nanomolar IC(50) values against HB-EGF shedding in a cell-based inhibition assay. The modeling study using X-ray structure of MMP-3 suggested the possible binding mode of the phosphonamide-based inhibitors.

An efficient approach to the discovery of potent inhibitors against glycosyltransferases.

We describe a standardized approach for searching potent and selective inhibitors of glycosyltransferases by high throughput quantitative MALDI-TOFMS-based screening of focused compound libraries constructed by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the desired azidosugar nucleotides with various alkynes. An aminooxy-functionalized reagent with a stable isotope was conjugated with oligosaccharides to afford glycopeptides as acceptor substrates with improved ion sensitivity. Enhanced ionization potency of new substrates allowed for MALDI-TOFMS-based facile and quantitative analysis of enzymatic glycosylation in the presence of glycosyl donor substrates. A non-natural synthetic sugar nucleotide was identified to be the first highly specific inhibitor for rat recombinant alpha2,3-(N)-sialyltransferase (alpha2,3ST, IC(50) = 8.2 microM), while this compound was proved to become a favorable substrate for rat recombinant alpha2,6-(N)-sialyltransferase (alpha2,6ST, K(m) = 125 microM). Versatility of this strategy was demonstrated by identification of two selective inhibitors for human recombinant alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase V (alpha1,3-FucT, K(i) = 293 nM) and alpha1,6-fucosyltransferase VIII (alpha1,6-FucT, K(i) = 13.8 microM).

Alterations in the glycoform of cisplatin-resistant human carcinoma cells are caused by defects in the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation system.

Cisplatin, cis-diamineplatinum-(II) dichloride (CDDP), is one of the most common and valuable chemotherapeutic reagents for various cancers. However, it is well known that tumor cells gain acquired or intrinsic resistance to treatment by this anti-cancer reagent. In spite of extensive efforts using genetic and proteomic approaches, the mechanism underlying CDDP resistance remains unclear. In the present study, we report drastic structural changes in the N-glycans of glycoproteins in CDDP-resistant tumor cells (the KCP-4 cell line obtained from KB-3-1 human carcinoma cells). It was suggested that the CDDP-resistant cells exhibited an increase in one of the high-mannose-type glycans, particularly M8.1. This N-glycan is well known as a tag for the transport of unfolded protein from the endoplasmic reticulum to the lysosome, a process known as endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) system. The revertant cells (KCP-4R) obtained from the KCP-4 cell line showed almost the same glycoform profile as that of the parental cells, suggesting that N-glycan biosynthesis in tumor cells clearly corresponds to the alteration in the sensitivity against CDDP. Gene expression analysis using a cDNA microarray showed a decrease in the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins in the resistant cells. MHC proteins form a complex with lysosome-degradated proteins and are presented on the cell surface. These results suggest that CDDP tolerance in KCP-4 cells is caused by a defect in the ERAD system.

Construction and structural characterization of versatile lactosaminoglycan-related compound library for the synthesis of complex glycopeptides and glycosphingolipids.

We have established a facile and efficient protocol for the preparative-scale synthesis of various compound libraries related to lactosaminoglycans: cell surface oligosaccharides composed of N-acetyllactosamine as a repeating disaccharide unit, based on chemical and enzymatic approaches. Substrate specificity and feasibility of a bacterial glycosyltransferase, Neisseria meningitidis beta1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (LgtA), were investigated in order to synthesize various key intermediates suited for the construction of mammalian O-glycopeptides and glycosphingolipids containing poly-N-acetyllactosamine structures. Recombinant LgtA exhibited the highest glycosyltransferase activity with strongly basic conditions (pH = 10, glycine-NaOH buffer) and a broad range of optimal temperatures from 20 to 30 degrees C. Interestingly, it was found that LgtA discriminates L-serine and L-threonine and functions both as a core-1 beta1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase and core-2 beta1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase toward Fmoc-Ser derivatives, while LgtA showed only core-2 beta1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity in the presence of Fmoc-Thr derivatives. Combined use of LgtA with human beta1,4-galactosyltransferase allowed for controlled sugar extension reactions from synthetic sugar amino acids and gave synthetic lactosaminoglycans, such as a decasaccharide derivative, Galbeta(1 --> 4)GlcNAcbeta(1 --> 3)Galbeta(1 --> 4)GlcNAcbeta(1 --> 3)Galbeta(1 --> 4)GlcNAcbeta(1 --> 3)Galbeta(1 --> 4)GlcNAcbeta(1 --> 6)[Galbeta(1 --> 3)]GalNAcalpha1 --> Fmoc-Ser-OH (6), and a dodecasaccharide derivative, Galbeta(1 --> 4)GlcNAcbeta(1 --> 3)Galbeta(1 --> 4)GlcNAcbeta(1 --> 3)Galbeta(1 --> 4)GlcNAcbeta(1 --> 6)[Galbeta(1 --> 4)GlcNAcbeta(1 --> 3)Galbeta(1 --> 4)GlcNAcbeta(1 --> 3)Galbeta(1 --> 3)]GalNAcalpha1 --> Fmoc-Ser-OH (9). A partially protected pentasaccharide intermediate, GlcNAcbeta(1 --> 3)Galbeta(1 --> 4)GlcNAcbeta(1 --> 6)[Galbeta(1 --> 3)]GalNAcalpha1 --> Fmoc-Thr-OH (11), was applied for the microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis of a MUC1-related glycopeptide 19 (MW = 2610.1). The findings suggest that this sugar extension strategy can be employed for the modification of lactosyl ceramide mimetic polymers to afford convenient precursors for the synthesis of various glycosphingolipids.

Molecular design of glycoprotein mimetics: glycoblotting by engineered proteins with an oxylamino-functionalized amino acid residue.

The general and efficient method for the site-directed glycosylation of proteins is a key step in order to understand the biological importance of the carbohydrate chains of proteins and to control functional roles of the engineered glycoproteins in terms of the development of improved glycoprotein therapeutics. We have developed a novel method for site-directed glycosylation of proteins based on chemoselective blotting of common reducing sugars by genetically encoded proteins. The oxylamino-functionalized L-homoserine residues, 2-amino-4-O-(N-methylaminooxy) butanoic acid and 2-amino-4-aminooxy butanoic acid, were efficiently incorporated into proteins by using the four-base codon/anticodon pair strategy in Escherichia coli in vitro translation. Direct and chemoselective coupling between unmodified simple sugars and N-methylaminooxy group displayed on the engineered streptavidin allowed for the combinatorial synthesis of novel glycoprotein mimetics.

Versatile glycoblotting nanoparticles for high-throughput protein glycomics.

We have developed an effective and practical trap-and-release method based on chemoselective ligation of carbohydrates with reactive aminooxyl groups attached to the surface of nanoparticles (referred to as glycoblotting nanoparticles). These glycoblotting nanoparticles were synthesized by UV irradiation of diacetylene-functionalized lipids that contain the aminooxyl group. The glycoblotting nanoparticles captured carbohydrates in aqueous solution under mild conditions and were collected by simple centrifugation. The trapped carbohydrates were effectively released from the nanoparticles under acidic conditions to give pure oligosaccharides. This glycoblotting process reduced the time required for the purification process of carbohydrates to less than 6 h, compared to the several days needed for conventional chromatographic techniques. The oligosaccharides (N-glycan) were released from ovalbumin (glycoprotein) by PNGase F after tryptic digestion. MALDI-TOF mass spectra before purification did not show any significant signals corresponding to N-glycans because these signals were hidden by the large signals of the abundant peptides. However, after purification with the glycoblotting nanoparticles, only signals corresponding to oligosaccharides appeared. We also demonstrated a clear analysis of the oligosaccharides contained in the mice dermis by means of glycoblotting.