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Biomedical subjects

J Finne

Publications and source records attributed to J Finne.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

An IgG monoclonal antibody to group B meningococci cross-reacts with developmentally regulated polysialic acid units of glycoproteins in neural and extraneural tissues.

The structurally similar polysialic acid capsules of group B meningococci and Escherichia coli K1 are poor immunogens, and attempts are currently being made to improve their immunogenicity by chemical modifications. An IgG monoclonal antibody to these polysialic acid capsules was used for the study of the presence of structurally similar components in tissue glycoproteins to investigate the reasons for the poor immunogenicity and to evaluate potential dangers in active or passive immunization. By immunoblotting polysialic acid was detected outside the brain in newborn rat kidney, heart, and muscle. It appeared in immunoblots as one component and with similar mobility to the neural cell adhesion molecule N-CAM. Specificity studies of the antibody and endosialidase treatment showed that the polysialic acid glycans detected were composed of chains as long as eight sialic acid residues or more. The polysialic acid was not detected in the corresponding tissues of the adult animal. These results indicate that polysialic acid units are developmentally regulated components of both neural and extraneural tissues, and are bound to components with properties similar to a known cell-adhesion molecule. This together with the presence of low amounts of polysialic acid even in the adult brain, suggests potential hazards in vaccination trials and suggested immunotherapy of meningitis caused by group B meningococci or E. coli K1, which should be carefully assessed.

Animals↗

Involvement of carbohydrates as multiple low affinity interaction sites in the self-association of the aggregation factor from the marine sponge Microciona prolifera.

Cell aggregation in the marine sponge Microciona prolifera is mediated by a multimillion molecular weight aggregation factor (MAF) and is based on two functional properties, a Ca2+-independent cell binding activity and a Ca2+-dependent factor-factor self-interaction. Monoclonal antibodies were prepared against purified MAF, and one clone was characterized which selectively inhibited the MAF-MAF association activity. Binding of the blocking antibody (Block 1) to MAF demonstrated that this epitope structure was present in 1100 copies per one MAF molecule of Mr = 2 X 10(7). Such blocking antibodies precipitated a small molecular weight protein-free glycan fraction prepared from MAF by Pronase digestion, thus indicating that the highly repetitive epitope is located in the carbohydrate portion of the molecule. Since the inhibitory activity of the Block 1 antibody could only be achieved when most of the sites were occupied by Fab fragments of this antibody, the self-association of MAF seemed to be based on the polyvalency of the carbohydrate determinants. The affinity of the protein-free glycans was very low as shown by the fact that they did not display any measurable self or MAT binding activity in their monomeric form. After cross-linking them with glutaraldehyde into polymers of the size of MAF, however, the self-interaction could be reconstituted. Thus, the MAF-MAF association activity, which is needed for cell aggregation in sponges, seems to be based on multiple low affinity carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions, which is different from most interactions mediated by adhesion molecules characterized so far.

Amino Acids↗

Polysialic acid units are spatially and temporally expressed in developing postnatal rat kidney.

We report the presence of alpha(2----8)-linked polysialic acid as detected with a monoclonal antibody outside the nervous tissue in the postnatal developing rat kidney. By immunoblot analysis, the reactivity was confined to a broad band of apparent molecular mass 200-250 kDa. By immunohistochemistry, the polysialic acid units were found throughout the ureteric bud-derived collecting duct system. In developing nephrons derived from the metanephrogenic mesenchyme, polysialic acid units were only regionally and transiently expressed. Furthermore, the expression of polysialic acid units was developmentally regulated, as evidenced by their gradual disappearance concomitant with postnatal kidney maturation. These findings suggest a possible role for polysialic acid units in cell-cell contact-mediated renal differentiation processes.

Aging↗

Biosynthesis, membrane association, and release of N-CAM-120, a phosphatidylinositol-linked form of the neural cell adhesion molecule.

The neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) of rodents comprises three distinct proteins of Mr 180,000, 140,000, and 120,000 (designated N-CAM-180, -140, and -120). They are expressed in different proportions by different tissues and cell types. but the individual contribution of each form to cell adhesion is presently unknown. Previous studies have shown that the two N-CAM species of higher relative molecular mass span the membrane whereas N-CAM-120 lacks a transmembrane domain and can be released from the cell surface by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. In this report, we provided evidence that N-CAM-120 contained covalently bound phosphatidylinositol and studied N-CAM-120 from its biosynthesis to its membrane insertion and finally to its release from the cell surface. Evidence was presented showing that the lipid tail of N-CAM-120 contained ethanolamine as is the case for other lipid-linked molecules. The phospholipid anchor was attached to the protein during the first minutes after completion of the polypeptide chain. This process took place in the endoplasmic reticulum as judged from endoglycosidase H digestion experiments. Immediately after a 2-min pulse with [35S]methionine, we detected also a short-lived precursor that had not yet acquired the lipid tail. Pulse-chase studies established that N-CAM-120 was transported to the cell surface from which it was slowly released into the extracellular milieu. The molecules recovered in the incubation medium appeared to have lost all of their bound fatty acid but only around half of the ethanolamine. Upon fractionation of brain tissue, approximately 75% of N-CAM-120 was recovered with a membrane fraction and approximately 25% in a membrane-free supernatant. A small proportion (approximately 6%) was found to be resistant to extraction by non-ionic detergent. A major posttranslational modification of N-CAM is polysialylation. Our results showed that also N-CAM-120 was polysialylated in the young postnatal brain and released in this form from cultured cerebellar cells. The presence of N-CAM in a form that can be released from the cell surface and accumulates in the extracellular fluid suggests a novel mechanism by which N-CAM-mediated adhesion may be modulated.

Animals↗

Poly-N-acetyllactosamine glycans of cellular glycoproteins: predominance of linear chains in mouse neuroblastoma and rat pheochromocytoma cell lines.

To study the properties of protein-bound oligosaccharides in neuronally differentiating cells, two model systems were used: murine N1E-115 and N-18 neuroblastoma cells inducible by serum starvation and rat PC12 pheochromocytoma cells inducible by nerve growth factor. Glycopeptides were prepared from cells metabolically labeled with [3H]glucosamine and analyzed by gel filtration. The properties of the high-molecular-weight glycopeptides were studied using enzymatic digestion with neuraminidase and endo-beta-galactosidase. In contrast to other cell lines analyzed, the neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma lines contained predominantly glycopeptides completely cleavable with endo-beta-galactosidase, which indicated that they were linear-type poly-N-acetyllactosamine glycans. The proportion of these linear chains in the high-molecular-weight fraction increased during neuronal differentiation in both cell systems. The linear nature of the glycans was also correlated with positive anti-i and negative anti-I reactivity of the cells in immunofluorescence microscopy. Specific cell surface labeling for poly-N-acetyllactosamine glycans and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed several glycoprotein components, some of which showed changes during neuronal differentiation. The high proportion of linear poly-N-acetyllactosamine chains in these neuronal cell lines and its increase during neuronal differentiation suggests that these glycans may be a characteristic feature of neuronal or neuronally differentiating cells.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Identification of an O-glycosidic mannose-linked sialylated tetrasaccharide and keratan sulfate oligosaccharides in the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan of brain.

The chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan of rat brain was digested with Pronase, and after removal of glycosaminoglycans, the resulting glycopeptides were treated with alkaline borohydride to release O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides. These were fractionated by ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and preparative thin layer chromatography, and their structural properties were studied by specific enzymatic degradations, methylation analysis, and gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of disaccharides as their trimethylsilylated and permethylated derivatives. In addition to the previously characterized N-acetyl-galactosamine-linked oligosaccharides and neutral mannitol-containing oligosaccharides [GlcNAc(beta 1-3) Manol and Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]GlcNAc(beta 1-3)Manol] (where Fuc is fucose), we have now identified the sialylated tetrasaccharide NeuAc(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc (beta 1-3)Manol, which accounts for approximately 20% of the mannitol-containing oligosaccharides. The proteoglycan also contains mannose-linked keratan sulfate chains (with a molecular size of 3,000 to 10,000 Da) composed of disaccharide repeating units consisting of Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc-6-O-SO4(beta 1-3), with a small proportion of branch points at C-6 of galactose residues. There is approximately one keratan sulfate chain per four chondroitin sulfate chains of 18,000-19,000 Da. After alkaline borohydride treatment of the neutral and monosialyl glycopeptide fractions, the combined decrease in mannose and N-acetylgalactosamine was very close to the observed destruction of serine + threonine and was accompanied by an equimolar increase in alanine and alpha-aminobutyric acid. One half of the mannose was destroyed by alkaline borohydride treatment of the glycopeptides and stoichiometrically converted to mannitol, while there were only small changes in the relative amounts of the other sugars and amino acids. The data demonstrate that over half of the carbohydrate-peptide linkages in the proteoglycan are of the mannosyl-O-serine/threonine type.

Animals↗

Physicochemical characteristics of human sex hormone binding globulin: evidence for two identical subunits.

We have developed a rapid protocol for the purification of human sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) which allows the protein to be purified from pregnancy serum within 48 h. This minimizes any possible degradation of the protein by serum proteases, and has enabled us to re-examine some important and controversial aspects of its structural composition. Our physicochemical data are consistent with the hypothesis that SHBG is a dimeric glycoprotein composed of 2 protomers that exhibit size heterogeneity (approximately 50 and approximately 52 K daltons). The dimeric SHBG molecule appears to contain only approximately 8% carbohydrate, and sequence information indicates that an N-linked oligosaccharide chain may be attached to residue 7 (asparagine) from the NH2-terminal amino acid (leucine). When compared with earlier reports, differences in the relative amounts of heavy (approximately 52 K) and light (approximately 50 K) protomers, and the microheterogeneity of NH2-terminal amino acids, have led us to conclude that they may be caused by proteolytic degradation in vivo as well as during the storage of blood samples prior to protein purification. However, the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence data indicate that the primary structures of the heavy protomers, which evidently interact to form the majority of SHBG dimer in serum, are similar and may even be identical. Evidence to support this is provided by the observation that a monoclonal antibody, which recognises a configurational epitope, interacts with two epitopes per native dimeric form of human SHBG.

Amino Acids↗

Identification of the O-linked sialyloligosaccharides of glycophorin A as the erythrocyte receptors for S-fimbriated Escherichia coli.

The erythrocyte receptors for S-fimbriated Escherichia coli, which causes sepsis and meningitis in newborn infants, were investigated. Neuraminidase and trypsin treatments of erythrocytes abolished the hemagglutination ability of the bacteria. To identify the receptor glycoproteins, we separated erythrocyte membrane proteins by gel electrophoresis, blotted them to nitrocellulose, and incubated them with 125I-labeled bacteria. The only bacterium-binding bands identified corresponded to glycophorin A dimer and monomer, and the binding was abolished by neuraminidase treatment of the blot. Radiolabeled bacteria also bound to purified glycophorin A adsorbed to polyvinyl chloride microwells, and the binding was inhibited by other sialoglycoproteins and isolated sialyloligosaccharides containing the NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal sequence. Oligosaccharides which contain the NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GalNAc and NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3(NeuAc alpha 2-6)GalNAc sequence and which are identical to the O-linked saccharides of glycophorin A were twofold more effective inhibitors of binding than were other oligosaccharides containing the NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal sequence. The replacement of sialic acid in asialoerythrocytes with a purified Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha 2-3 sialyltransferase, which forms the O-linked NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GalNAc sequence in asialoglycophorins, restored bacterial hemagglutination. These results indicated that the major erythrocyte receptor for S-fimbriated E. coli is the NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GalNAc sequence of the O-linked oligosaccharide chains of glycophorin A.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Binding of Escherichia coli S fimbriae to human kidney epithelium.

Purified S fimbriae and an Escherichia coli strain carrying the recombinant plasmid pANN801-4 that encodes S fimbriae were tested for adhesion to frozen sections of human kidney. The fimbriae and the bacteria bound to the same tissue domains, and in both cases the binding was specifically inhibited by the receptor analog of S fimbria, sialyl(alpha 2-3)lactose. S fimbriae bound specifically to the epithelial elements in the kidneys; to the epithelial cells of proximal and distal tubules as well as of the collecting ducts and to the visceral and parietal glomerular epithelium. In addition, they bound to the vascular endothelium of glomeruli and of the renal interstitium. No binding to connective tissue elements was observed. The results suggest that the biological function of S fimbriae is to mediate the adhesion of E. coli to human epithelial and vascular endothelial cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Differential expression of mouse neural cell-adhesion molecule (N-CAM) mRNA species during brain development and in neural cell lines.

The cell-adhesion molecules N-CAM (neural cell-adhesion molecule) are ligands in the formation of cell-cell bonds and have been shown to play important roles during neuro-ontogenesis. They exist in several molecular forms which differ at the protein and carbohydrate levels. The regulation of the expression of these different forms is an important issue that bears on such questions as to how adhesive interactions between cells are modulated during morphogenesis. In the present study we have used N-CAM cDNA clones to investigate the expression of the cognate mRNAs in the mouse and rat brain and in 2 neural cell lines. The results were compared with the levels of the different N-CAM proteins. We made the following observations. A complex set of 5 size classes of mRNAs--which show developmental, regional, and cell-type-dependent variations in their expression--hybridize to 1 of our cDNA probes. While embryonic brain contains N-CAM gene transcripts 7.4, 6.7, and 4.3 kilobases (kb) in length, 2 additional mRNAs of 5.2 and 2.9 kb appear postnatally. Transformed brain cells of an astrocytic character express predominantly mRNAs of 6.7, 4.3, and 2.9 kb and a neuroblastoma line those of 7.4, 6.7, 4.3, and 2.9 kb. There are important quantitative changes in the amount of N-CAM message expressed during brain development, with a peak around birth, suggesting that N-CAM synthesis is controlled at the transcriptional level. A comparison of N-CAM protein and mRNA levels reveals a striking correlation between the relative concentrations of the Mr 120,000 N-CAM protein (N-CAM120) and the 5.2 kb transcript.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Occurrence of N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate in complex carbohydrates. Characterization of a phosphorylated sialyl oligosaccharide from bovine colostrum.

The occurrence of phosphate-containing sialyl oligosaccharides in bovine colostrum was investigated. Two major sialyl oligosaccharide phosphates were identified, one of which was structurally similar to the previously characterized sialyl oligosaccharide 1-phosphates of human urine. The second sialyl oligosaccharide phosphate of bovine colostrum was found to be of a novel type. Structural studies including monosaccharide and phosphate analysis, glycosidase and phosphatase treatments, methylation analysis, and periodate treatment indicated the structure of this compound to be NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc-6-P. This provides the first evidence for the occurrence of N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate as an integral component in complex carbohydrates.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Hyperexcretion of free N-acetylneuraminic acid--a novel type of sialuria.

A 26-yr-old female with increased urinary excretion of free N-acetylneuraminic acid is described. Her early history was normal but she had difficulties at school and developed epilepsy at 14. She is mildly retarded, has slight changes in the spine, but no hepato- or splenomegaly. Cerebrospinal fluid leucocytes and IgG are elevated. Liver and skin biopsies disclosed no morphological abnormality. The daily excretion of free N-acetylneuraminic acid is ca. 0.5 g, intermediate to that found in other known types of sialuria. The clinical and morphological findings are also different suggesting a novel type of sialuria.

Adult↗

Cleavage of the polysialosyl units of brain glycoproteins by a bacteriophage endosialidase. Involvement of a long oligosaccharide segment in molecular interactions of polysialic acid.

Polysialosyl chains containing alpha 2-8-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid have been suggested to modulate the biological activity of a neural cell adhesion molecule. Polysialosyl glycopeptides isolated from developing brain were incubated with a bacteriophage containing endosialidase. Sialic acid oligomers up to 7 residues long were liberated both from the glycopeptides and colominic acid. The substrate specificity of the endosialidase was studied with sialic acid oligomers of different sizes prepared from colominic acid. It was found that the endosialidase required the simultaneous presence adjacent to the site of cleavage a minimum of 3 sialic acid residues on the distal side and a minimum of 5 sialic acid residues on the proximal (reducing end) side. From the fragments liberated by the enzyme the existence of polysialic acid chains up to at least 12 residues long in the glycopeptides were concluded. This was also supported by the interaction of the glycopeptides with a meningococcal group B polysaccharide antiserum, which was found to require 10 residues or more for binding. The results indicate that the brain polysialosyl glycopeptides contain a long polysialic acid segment, which is also specifically needed for certain molecular interactions. The implications of the findings for the biological properties of the neural cell adhesion molecule are discussed.

Animals↗

The large sialoglycoprotein of human lymphocytes. II. Biochemical features.

Large sialoglycoprotein of human lymphocytes (L-LSGP) from thymocytes and from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of normal donor and of B chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients was purified by affinity chromatography to Maclura pomifera agglutinin (MPA)-Sepharose followed by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). L-LSGP from the three different sources was very similar in amino acid composition. It contained a high proportion of acidic and hydroxy amino acids and also significant amounts of cysteine. No reduction in mobility in SDS-PAGE was noted for unreduced L-LSGP. The molecule may already in its native form have an extended conformation containing either free sulfhydryl groups or small S-S loops not affecting mobility in SDS-PAGE. L-LSGP was found to be highly glycosylated, the thymocyte glycoprotein containing somewhat less carbohydrate by weight (44%) than that of PBL (normal PBL 53% and B CLL 52%). This was due primarily to a lower content of sialic acid. The molecules contained mannose, galactose, N-acetyl galactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid in molar ratios 1.0:3.0:1.1:1.2:1.3 (thymocyte L-LSGP), 1.0:3.8:1.2:1.0:1.7 (PBL L-LSGP) and 1.0:3.5:2.2:1.3:2.8 (B CLL L-LSGP). The weak interaction of L-LSGP with lentil lectin, concanavalin A (Con A) and leucoagglutinin (La), its unchanged mobility in SDS-PAGE after tunicamycin treatment and its high amount of hydroxy amino acids suggest that most carbohydrate chains are O-glycosidically linked to the peptide chain. Native as well as Nase-treated L-LSGP show size microheterogeneity. This is probably due to small chemical differences in the L-LSGP molecules from different lymphocyte subsets.

Amino Acids↗

Serotypes, hemolysin production, and receptor recognition of Escherichia coli strains associated with neonatal sepsis and meningitis.

Sixty-three Escherichia coli strains isolated from neonatal sepsis or meningitis were studied and compared with previous data on fecal or urinary pyelonephritis-associated isolates from children. Characteristics significantly associated with neonatal infection were capsular type K1 (54%), O group 18 (27%), rough-type lipopolysaccharide together with K1 capsule (19%), and S fimbriae (29%). Within the neonatal infection group, the K1 capsule and rough lipopolysaccharide were most common among the youngest infants (0 to 21 days old) and in meningitis. Hemolysin production, P fimbriae, and X adhesions (adhesions not identifiable as type 1, P, or S) were significantly more common in the two materials from infections as compared with the fecal isolates. One large clone of 11 strains (O18:K1:H7, with both type 1 and S fimbriae) and three smaller ones (O7:K1:H1 and O6:K2:H1, both with type 1 and P fimbriae and X adhesions; and R:K1:H33 with no adhesions) were identified among the strains from neonatal infections. Only O6:K2:H1 strains were also common among the strains from pyelonephritis.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗

Exposure of the major human red-cell glycolipid, globoside, to galactose oxidase.

Plasma membrane glycolipids are localized at the outer leaflet of the lipid bilayer, and their carbohydrate portions are exposed to the environment. The efficiency of exposure has, however, not been known. We have been able to determine the availability of the major red cell glycolipid, globoside, to externally added galactose oxidase. Red cells were extensively treated with the enzyme and the oxidized cells reduced with NaBD4. After isolation the extent of exposed globoside was estimated by mass spectrometry. The results show that the exposure of globoside varies in red cells of different individuals from 37-66%. The fatty acid composition of externally available globoside was the same as that of non-oxidized globoside. The exposure was not influenced by protease treatment of intact cells and no correlation was found with different ABO blood groups.

Borohydrides↗

Isolation and characterization of novel phosphate-containing sialyloligosaccharides from normal human urine.

Three phosphate-containing sialyloligosaccharides were isolated from normal human urine using charcoal adsorption, gel-filtration chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography and paper chromatography. Studies including gas-liquid chromatography of monosaccharide and disaccharide derivatives, methylation analysis, phosphate determination, ion-exchange chromatography and glycosidase and phosphatase treatments indicated the following three structures for the compounds isolated: NeuAc(alpha 2-6)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(alpha)-P; NeuAc(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(alpha)-P; NeuAc(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-3)GalNAc(alpha)-P. These sialyloligosaccharide 1-phosphates represent a novel class of oligosaccharides. Their oligosaccharide chains are identical with the common sialyloligosaccharide end groups of glycoproteins and glycolipids. The excretion of these compounds in normal human urine may indicate the existence of a novel, as yet unrevealed pathway in the metabolism of complex carbohydrates.

Chemical Phenomena↗