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M R Wormald

Publications and source records attributed to M R Wormald.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The glycosylation and structure of human serum IgA1, Fab, and Fc regions and the role of N-glycosylation on Fcα receptor interactions.

The human serum immunoglobulins IgG and IgA1 are produced in bone marrow and both interact with specific cellular receptors that mediate biological events. In contrast to IgA1, the glycosylation of IgG has been well characterized, and its interaction with various Fc receptors (Fc Rs) has been well studied. In this paper, we have analyzed the glycosylation of IgA1 and IgA1 Fab and Fc as well as three recombinant IgA1 molecules, including two N-glycosylation mutants. Amino acid sequencing data of the IgA1 Fc O-glycosylated hinge region indicated that O-glycans are located at Thr228, Ser230, and Ser232, while O-glycan sites at Thr225 and Thr236 are partially occupied. Over 90% of the N-glycans in IgA1 were sialylated, in contrast to IgG, where < 10% contain sialic acid. This paper contains the first report of Fab glycosylation in IgA1, and (in contrast to IgG Fab, which contains only N-linked glycans) both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides were identified. Analysis of the N-glycans attached to recombinant IgA1 indicated that the Cα 2 N-glycosylation site contained mostly biantennary glycans, while the tailpiece site, absent in IgG, contained mostly triantennary structures. Further analysis of these data suggested that processing at one Fc N-glycosylation site affects the other. Neutrophil Fcα R binding studies, using recombinant IgA1, indicated that neither the tailpiece region nor the N-glycans in the C alpha 2 domain contribute to IgA1-neutrophil Fcα R binding. This contrasts with IgG, where removal of the Fc N-glycans reduces binding to the Fcγ R. The primary sequence and disulfide bond pattern of IgA1, together with the crystal structures of IgG1 Fc and mouse IgA Fab and the glycan sequencing data, were used to generate a molecular model of IgA1. As a consequence of both the primary sequence and S-S bond pattern, the N-glycans in IgA1 Fc are not confined within the inter-α-chain space. The accessibility of the Cα 2 N-glycans provides an explanation for the increased sialylation and galactosylation of IgA1 Fc over that of IgG Fc N-glycans, which are confined in the space between the two Cγ 2 domains. This also suggests why in contrast to IgG Fc, the IgA1 N-glycans are not undergalactosylated in rheumatoid arthritis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The solution NMR structure of glucosylated N-glycans involved in the early stages of glycoprotein biosynthesis and folding.

Glucosylated oligomannose N-linked oligosaccharides (Glc(x)Man9GlcNAc2 where x = 1-3) are not normally found on mature glycoproteins but are involved in the early stages of glycoprotein biosynthesis and folding as (i) recognition elements during protein N-glycosylation and chaperone recognition and (ii) substrates in the initial steps of N-glycan processing. By inhibiting the first steps of glycan processing in CHO cells using the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor N-butyl-deoxynojirimycin, we have produced sufficient Glc3Man7GlcNAc2 for structural analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Our results show the glucosyl cap to have a single, well-defined conformation independent of the rest of the saccharide. Comparison with the conformation of Man9GlcNAc2, previously determined by NMR and molecular dynamics, shows the mannose residues to be largely unaffected by the presence of the glucosyl cap. Sequential enzymatic cleavage of the glucose residues does not affect the conformation of the remaining saccharide. Modelling of the Glc3Man9GlcNAc2, Glc2Man9GlcNAc2 and Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 conformations shows the glucose residues to be fully accessible for recognition. A more detailed analysis of the conformations allows potential recognition epitopes on the glycans to be identified and can form the basis for understanding the specificity of the glucosidases and chaperones (such as calnexin) that recognize these glycans, with implications for their mechanisms of action.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗

The glycosylation of the complement regulatory protein, human erythrocyte CD59.

Human erythrocyte CD59 contains N- and O-glycans and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, all of which have been analyzed in this study. The anchor consists principally of the minimum core glycan sequence Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-6Manalpha1-4GlcN-linked to a phosphatidylinositol moiety with the structure sn-1-O-alkyl(C18:0 and C18:1)-2-O-acyl(C20:4)glycerol-3-phospho-1-(2-O-palmitoyl(C16:0))myo- inositol. This structure is essentially identical to that of human erythrocyte cholinesterase (Deeg, M. A., Humphrey, D. R., Yang, S. H. , Ferguson, T. R., Reinhold, V. N., and Rosenberry, T. L. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 18573-18580). This first comparison of GPI anchors from different proteins expressed in the same tissue suggests that human reticulocytes produce only one type of anchor structure. The N- and O-glycans were sequenced using a novel approach involving digestion of the total glycan pool with multiple enzyme arrays. The N-glycan pool contained families of bi-antennary complex-type structures with and without lactosamine extensions and outer arm fucose residues. The predominant O-glycans were NeuNAcalpha2-3Galbeta1-3GalNAc and Galbeta1-3[NeuNAcalpha2-3]GalNAc. Inspection of a molecular model of CD59, based on the NMR solution structure of the extracellular domain and the structural data from this study, suggested several roles for the glycans, including spacing and orienting CD59 on the cell surface and protecting the molecule from proteases. This work completes the initial structural analysis of CD59, providing the most complete view of any cell surface glycoprotein studied to date.

CD59 Antigens↗

Variations in oligosaccharide-protein interactions in immunoglobulin G determine the site-specific glycosylation profiles and modulate the dynamic motion of the Fc oligosaccharides.

Glycoproteins, such as immunoglobulin G (IgG), consist of an ensemble of glycosylated variants, or glycoforms, which have different oligosaccharides attached to a common peptide. Alterations in the normal glycoform populations of IgG are associated with certain disease states, notably rheumatoid arthritis and its remission during pregnancy. In this paper, we show that two sets of IgG Fc glycoforms have quite different physical properties. The first set has 1,6 arm terminal galactose residues which interact with the protein, resulting in glycan binding to the protein surface, in agreement with the crystal structure. In contrast, the second set of glycoforms which lack galactose does not bind to the protein surface. Recently developed HPLC techniques combined with enzymatic digestion and mass spectrometry have been used to assign the glycan structures on IgG, Fab, and Fc. Comparison of Fab with Fc shows that glycosylation is site-specific. Two major glycan structures are present on Fab (fucosylated digalacto-bianntenary with and without bisect) and three on Fc (fucosylated agalacto-, 1,6 arm monogalacto-, and digalacto-bianntenary). In comparison to Fab, Fc glycans contain (i) lower levels of bisecting GlcNAc, (ii) lower levels of galactose, (iii) higher than expected levels of 1,6 arm galactose relative to 1,3 arm, and (iv) no 1,6 arm sialylation. We interpret these differences to indicate a role for both the protein quaternary structure and specific protein-glycan interactions in determining the glycoform populations. NMR relaxation measurements have been used to probe the mobility of the glycans in the Fc. By comparing two samples with different glycoform populations, we conclude that this mobility is dependent on the primary sequence of the glycan. Glycans carrying a galactose residue on the 1,6 arm have relaxation properties very similar to those of the peptide backbone and thus do not have independent motion. Glycans lacking galactose have relaxation rates 30 times slower than that of the peptide and thus a higher degree of mobility. These agalactosyl glycans do not interact with the protein, resulting in exposure of previously covered regions of the peptide surface and making the glycan more accessible. This implies that at the early stages of glycan processing the Fc glycans are mobile and only partially protected by the protein quaternary structure. Immobilization of the glycans occurs as a consequence of addition of galactose to the 1,6 arm and results in increased protection.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

The effects of variable glycosylation on the functional activities of ribonuclease, plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator.

The relatively large size and dynamics of oligosaccharides can result in substantial shielding of functionally important areas of proteins to which they are attached, modulate the interactions of glycoconjugates with other molecules and affect the rate of processes which involve conformational changes. This review focuses on the occupancy of N-linked glycosylation sites on three enzymes, ribonuclease, plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator. Each of these proteins occurs naturally as two populations of molecules, distinguished from each other only by the presence or absence of an oligosaccharide at one glycosylation site. The presence of an oligomannose sugar on ribonuclease (at Asn-34) alters its overall dynamics, increases its stability towards proteinases and decreases its functional activity towards double-stranded RNA. The N-linked sugar on plasminogen (at Asn-288) within kringle 3 reduces the rate of the beta- to alpha-conformational change, modulates the transport of plasminogen into the extravascular compartment, decreases plasminogen binding to U937 cells and downregulates the activation of plasminogen by both urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator. Additionally, in fibrinolysis, within a ternary complex of fibrin, plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator, the N-linked sugar of plasminogen hinders the initial interaction with tissue plasminogen activator (i.e., it alters Km). The presence of an N-linked glycan (at Asn-184) in the kringle 2 domain of tissue plasminogen activator hinders the rearrangement of this ternary complex, decreasing the turnover rate (Kcat).

Animals↗

Short communication: selective placental transport of maternal IgG to the fetus.

During pregnancy there is a dramatic reduction in the serum levels of agalactosyl IgG (G0IgG) in both normal women and those with rheumatoid arthritis. In order to determine if a similar reduction in G0IgG were apparent in fetal serum, a comparison of the galactose content of IgG from nine paired samples of umbilical vein or fetal blood and peripheral maternal serum, at gestational ages ranging from 16-41 weeks was performed. The full-term maternal IgG samples were highly galactosylated, so confirming previous observations of reduced G0IgG levels during pregnancy. In addition every paired sample of fetal IgG had a higher level of galactosylation than the corresponding maternal IgG. Therefore, during pregnancy there is both a reduced biosynthesis of the G0IgG glycoform by the mother, and a restriction of its transport across the placenta. The ratio of estimated G0IgG in fetal and maternal serum was found to be related to changes in IgG transport, and in particular the active transport of IgG1 across the placenta during gestation. Our data suggest that the placental IgG transport mechanism is either carbohydrate independent by discriminating for IgG1, or is carbohydrate dependent selecting for highly galactosylated IgG glycoforms. This study emphasizes the need for further investigations on the biological function of G0IgG in normal physiological states, in addition to disease states, such as juvenile and adult rheumatoid arthritis, where elevated G0IgG levels correlate with disease activity.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Glycosylation changes of IgG associated with rheumatoid arthritis can activate complement via the mannose-binding protein.

The glycosylation of the circulating immunoglobulin-gamma (IgG) antibody molecules changes in rheumatoid arthritis. The extent of the changes correlates with the disease severity and reverses in remission. We demonstrate here that the alteration in glycosylation associated with rheumatoid arthritis can create a new mode for the interaction of IgG with complement through binding to the collagenous lectin mannose-binding protein (MBP). Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a marked increases in IgG glycoforms that lack galactose (referred to as G0 glycoforms) in the Fc region of the molecule and that terminate in N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc). We show, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray data, that these terminal GlcNAc residues become accessible for MBP binding. We further demonstrate that multiple presentation of IgG-G0 glycoforms to MBP results in activation of the complement. This suggests that a contribution to the chronic inflammation of the synovial membrane could arise from the localization of the IgG-G0 glycoforms in the affected joint and from resulting activation of complement.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Glycobiology: 'the function of sugar in the IgG molecule'.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is glycosylated in both the Fc and the Fab regions of the protein with a heterogeneous ensemble of structures (glycoforms) that is both highly reproducible (i.e. nonrandom) and site specific. In normal IgG, the 2 highly conserved oligosaccharides of the Fc region are found buried between the CH2 domains, forming specific protein-saccharide interactions with the Fc protein surface. One of the functions attributed to the Fc oligosaccharides of normal IgG is to maintain the conformational arrangements of the Fc domains as well as the hinge regions. These structural features are necessary for Fc effector functions such as Clq and monocyte binding. A hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is a dramatic increase in the presence of serum IgG containing Fc oligosaccharides lacking an outer arm galactose residue (termed 'G0' glycoforms). The increased level of G0 has been shown to be directly related to the pathogenesis of RA. Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation studies of the Fc region from normal and RA IgG, as well as examination of x-ray structures, show that the G0 oligosaccharides have an increased mobility resulting from the loss of binding between the G0 oligosaccharide and the Fc protein surface. From these observations it follows that regions of the protein surface that are normally covered by the oligosaccharide are revealed. The newly accessible protein surface could have lectin-like activity and also be inherently antigenic. In addition, the more mobile G0 oligosaccharide can be recognised by mannose binding protein. As the mannose binding protein can activate complement, and the Fc oligosaccharide would not normally be accessible to protein recognition, this finding might suggest a specific role for the G0 glycoform in inflammation when the appropriate IgG glycoforms are clustered.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Binding of sugar ligands to Ca(2+)-dependent animal lectins. I. Analysis of mannose binding by site-directed mutagenesis and NMR.

The Ca(2+)-dependent carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) of rat serum mannose-binding protein has been subjected to site-directed mutagenesis to determine the importance of individual residues in ligation of mannose and related sugars. The effects of the mutations were assessed by direct binding assays, competition binding studies, partial proteolysis, and NMR analysis of sugar-CRD titrations. As suggested by the crystal structure of the mannose-binding CRD complexed with oligosaccharide ligand, asparagine and glutamic acid residues that interact with hydroxyl groups 3 and 4 of the sugar, as well as with one of the two bound Ca2+, are critical for ligand binding. In addition, the beta-carbon of His189 contributes substantially to the binding affinity, apparently through a van der Waals contact with C-4 of the sugar ligand. van der Waals contacts between the imidazole ring of His189 and the 2 hydroxyl group of mannose, and between Ile207 and C-6 of mannose, observed in the crystal structure, contribute less to stability of the ligand complex. The effects of changes at positions 189 and 207 on the ability of the CRD to distinguish between alpha-and beta-methyl L-fucosides suggest that fucose may bind in an alternative orientation compared to the arrangement originally proposed based on the mannose-CRD complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fast sequencing of oligosaccharides: the reagent-array analysis method.

A method of oligosaccharide analysis involving controlled fragmentation resulting from enzymatic digestion is presented. The principle involves generating a set of fragments from the original oligosaccharides, characterizing them in terms of their hydrodynamic volumes, determining their molar proportions, and identifying the oligosaccharides by comparison with a computer-generated data base. Experimentally, this technique involves incubation of aliquots of a sample with a set of defined mixtures of exoglycosidases followed by pooling of the products and a single analysis on the product pool. This method has several practical advantages over current techniques, including speed and the ability to use smaller amounts of starting material. The detection of the intensity-versus-hydrodynamic volume profile is limited only by the specific activity of the labeling method. The ability to perform the enzyme digestions is limited by the individual Km values of the enzymes.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

The solution conformation of the Le chi group.

The solution conformation of the non-reducing terminal Gal beta 1----4 (Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc (Lewis X or Le chi) group in the oligosaccharide Lacto-N-fucopentaose (LNFP) III has been determined by high resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy and semi-empirical quantum mechanical calculations. The two methods give the same single conformer for the Le chi group showing close packing of the Gal and Fuc rings. The metal binding properties and homotypic oligomer formation of LNFP III have also been investigated by NMR spectroscopy. No evidence for metal binding or high-affinity homotypic oligomer formation has been found.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Characterisation of oligosaccharides from Drosophila melanogaster glycoproteins.

An analysis of the released oligosaccharides from a membrane glycoprotein preparation of third instar larvae (3rdIL), and purified larval serum protein 2 (LSP2) from Drosophila melanogaster was performed. Sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with high-resolution gel permeation chromatography and partial acetolysis indicated the presence of two series of oligomannosides; one of these series was unusual and characterized by the presence of a core alpha 1-6 linked fucose, the other was a typical mammalian oligomannose series containing the following isomers -D1, -D2, -D12, -D123 and -CD123 as well as the unprocessed Man9GlcNAc2 structure. Conventional oligomannose could only be detected in the LSP2 sample. This study opens the way to use powerful molecular and classical genetic techniques to analyse the control and functional significance of glycosylation in higher organisms.

Animals↗