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Aberrant O-glycosylation in the collagenous domain of pro alpha2(I) procollagen subunits synthesized by chemically transformed hamster fibroblasts.

Chemically transformed Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts (NQT-SHE) do not synthesize the pro alpha1(I) subunit of type I collagen, but they secrete two forms of the pro alpha2(I) subunit (N33 and N50) with abnormal post-translational modifications localized in the alpha2CB3,5 cyanogen bromide peptide of the collagenous domain (B. Peterkofsky and W. Prather (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267 5388-5395). Isoelectric focusing and treatment of the modified chains with glycosidases and biotinylated Jacalin lectin identified the modifications as Gal beta1,3-GalNAc-O-Ser/Thr with or without a terminal sialic acid in an alpha2,6 linkage. Unhydroxylated N33 alpha-chains also reacted with Jacalin, confirming that the abnormal modification was O-glycosylation and not hyperhydroxylation of proline or lysine. Cells were treated with benzyl GalNAc, a competitive inhibitor of galactosyl transferase that prevents addition of Gal to GalNAc-O-Ser/Thr and thus blocks elongation of O-glycosyl chains. Treated cells secreted pro alpha2(I) chains containing GalNAc-O-Ser/Thr but no galactose or sialic acid, which suggested that Gal addition takes place before sialylation. Treatment of NQT-SHE cells with monensin and brefeldin A inhibited secretion and led to intracellular accumulation of pro alpha2(I) chains that contained only GalNAc. Therefore, it appears that GalNAc addition to pro alpha2(I) chains in NQT-SHE cells occurs in the cis-Golgi, while sialic acid and galactose are added in the trans-Golgi network. The pro alpha2(I) chains produced by NQT-SHE cells most likely are modified because they are in the denatured state, and thus potential O-glycosylation sites become available that would not be exposed in normal triple helical procollagen.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

Analysis of uracil in DNA by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A sensitive method using gas chromatography and negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry for the detection of uracil in DNA is described. Uracil DNA glycosylase is used to specifically cleave uracil from DNA. Once removed, uracil is derivatized with 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl bromide and the sample components are separated with gas chromatography. Negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry is used to quantitatively detect as little as 1 pg of uracil per 100 micrograms DNA. This assay is 10 times more sensitive than previously described quantitative methods for the detection of uracil in DNA. We apply this method as part of a project to determine why folic acid deficiency causes DNA breaks. We demonstrate that inhibition of folic acid metabolism induces an accumulation of uracil in DNA.

Animals↗

Flavor constituents in cola drinks induce hepatic DNA adducts in adult and fetal mice.

Mice given one of several widely consumed cola drinks in place of drinking water for up to 8 weeks developed significant levels of covalent liver DNA adducts in a time dependent manner, as measured by 32P-postlabeling. These adducts were not detected in mice given tap water or one of 3 non-cola beverages. Adducts chromatographically identical to those induced by cola drinks were detected in mice treated with extracts of nutmeg or mace, spices from the nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans Houttuyn), or with myristicin (1-allyl-5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene), the major spice constituent of nutmeg. In addition, small amounts of adducts derived from the hepatocarcinogen safrole (1-allyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene), a minor constituent of nutmeg, were observed. Liver DNA adducts were also detected in fetal liver when pregnant mice were intubated with myristicin. Possible implications of these findings for human health are discussed.

Allylbenzene Derivatives↗

Biphasic effect of cell surface sialic acids on pancreatic cancer cell adhesiveness.

Partial removal of cell surface sialic acids, by enzymatic hydrolysis or by reducing sialylation, increased both adhesion to Matrigel and cellular aggregation in the pancreatic cancer cell line, SW1990. In contrast, a greater reduction in cell surface sialic acids decreased cellular adhesiveness below that of untreated cells. Cellular adhesion and homotypic cellular aggregation were enhanced by reducing O-linked glycosylation. Addition of purified SW1990 mucins reversed the effect of the inhibition of O-glycosylation. Both adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins and cellular aggregation were generally unaffected or decreased by inhibition of N-linked glycosylation. These results suggest that although certain sialic acids are required for the adhesion, sialic acids on oligosaccharides O-linked to surface glycoproteins inhibit SW1990 cellular aggregation and adhesion to the substratum.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

Induction of rat hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes by myristicin.

The effect of myristicin on the expression of liver cytochrome P450s and its mRNA levels was examined in rats. Treatment of rats with myristicin (i.p., 500 mumol/kg) caused 2-20 fold increases in liver P450 1A1/2, 2B1/2, and 2E1 enzyme activities relative to controls. Immunoblot analysis using anti-rat liver P450 1A, 2B, and 2E1 showed that the increases in each of P450 protein levels by myristicin were consistent with those in enzyme activity levels. When increased levels of P450 mRNA by myristicin were examined by Northern blot analysis, levels of mRNA of P450 1A1/2 and 2B1/2 also increased. However, the level of P4502E1 mRNA did not increase. The total amount of spectrally detectable P450, also increased about 1.5-fold following treatment of myristicin. These results demonstrate that myristicin is an inducer of rat liver P450 1A1/2, 2B1/2, and 2E1, and that the induction involves increases in mRNA levels except in the case of P4502E1.

Allylbenzene Derivatives↗

Effect of O-glycosylated mucin on invasion and metastasis of HM7 human colon cancer cells.

Mucinous colorectal cancers have a poorer prognosis than colorectal cancers which produce a low amount of mucin, but the exact mechanism is not well understood. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the possible mechanisms of invasion and metastasis of colon cancer cells producing high levels of mucin using mucin glycosylation inhibitor, benzyl-alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine. The binding activity of treated HM7 cells to endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule (ELAM-1) was significantly decreased and fixed cell binding of MoAb SNH-3 and 19-9 (specific for sialyl Le(x) and sialyl Le(a), respectively) was also significantly decreased. Metalloproteinase activity in conditioned medium and invasion of matrigel-coated porous filters by treated HM7 cells were decreased. However, there was no difference between control and treated HM7 cells in terms of matrix protein binding. These results suggest that O-glycosylated mucin is important in the invasive and metastatic properties of HM7 human colon cancer cells.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

Murine Cyp1a-1 induction in mouse hepatoma Hepa-1C1C7 cells by myristicin.

Mouse hepatoma Hepa-1c1c7 (Hepa-1) cells were treated with myristicin to assess the role of myristicin in the process of Cyp1a-1 induction. Treatment of Hepa-1 cells with myristicin increased Cyp1a-1 transcription in a dose-dependent manner as shown by analysis of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity, Cyp1a-1 protein level, and Cyp1a-1 mRNA. Myristicin, however, did not competitively displace [3H]2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin from the Hepa-1 cytosolic aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor in a competitive Ah receptor binding analysis using sucrose density gradient sedimentation and did not affect formation of DNA-protein complexes between the Ah receptor and its DRE target in a gel mobility shift assay using oligonucleotides corresponding to DRE 3 of the Cyp1a-1. These results suggest that the induction of Cyp1a-1 gene expression by myristicin in Hepa-1 cells might occur through an Ah receptor-independent pathway.

Allylbenzene Derivatives↗

Preferential overexpression of a class MU glutathione S-transferase subunit in mouse liver by myristicin.

The present studies were undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of induction of glutathione S-transferase (GST) in mouse liver by myristicin, an active constituent of parsley leaf. A/J albino mice, given 5 to 50 mg doses of myristicin, showed 4- to 14-fold increase in liver GST specific activity over the control. GST purified from equal amounts of control and myristicin-treated livers indicated a marked increase in the GST activity. A relatively higher increase in GST activity towards 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene and a profound increase in the levels of GST mu on Western blot analysis of the myristicin-treated mouse liver suggest a preferential induction of GST mu. Results of the study also indicate that out of the two mu class GST subunits (Mr. 26,500 and Mr. 25,000) expressed in liver only one (Mr. 26,500) is significantly elevated. Myristicin treatment caused a slight change in the GST pi levels while the levels of GST alpha showed a modest increase. These results suggest that myristicin could be an effective chemopreventive agent, particularly for carcinogens that are detoxified by the mu class GST.

Allylbenzene Derivatives↗

From hormone signal, via the cytoskeleton, to cell growth in single cells of tobacco.

Cultured mesophyll protoplasts of Nicotiana tabacum L. can be hormonally induced into different developmental pathways. In a medium containing auxins (NAA) and cytokinins (BAP) cells divide and eventually give rise to calli. When only auxins are present cells elongate and finally differentiate into very long tubular cells. We focused on the sequence of events leading to elongation. When cultured in a high (1 mg/l) auxin concentration elongating cells seem to pass a certain threshold and increase their nuclear DNA up to about 16C. Cells cultured in a low (0.065 mg/l) auxin concentration only have C-values up to 4C, are unable to pass this threshold and finally fail to elongate. Besides the concentration dependence of the auxin signal, the efflux of auxin seems to be necessary for elongation since addition of TIBA drastically reduces the amount of elongating cells. Concomitant with the changes in nuclear physiology, auxin-induced axiality is seen as sequential rearrangements of microtubules and actin-filaments and of cell wall cellulose microfibrils from 'randomly' arranged in spherical cells to an orientation perpendicular to the long axis of elongating cells.

Adenine↗

Role of cell surface O-linked oligosaccharides in adhesion of HL60 cells to fibronectin: regulation of integrin-dependent cell adhesion by O-linked oligosaccharide elongation.

The adhesion of the myelogenous leukemia cell line, HL60, to fibronectin and its fragments, heparin binding fragment (40 kDa) and cell attachment fragment (120 kDa), was enhanced by culturing with benzyl-alpha-GalNAc (BZ alpha GalNAc). Enhancement of cell adhesion to fibronectin was also observed on treatment of HL60 cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). However, an additive effect of BZ alpha GalNAc and TPA treatments was not observed. The expression of VLA4 and VLA5 did not change during treatment with BZ alpha GalNAc or TPA. Cell adhesion to fibronectin before and after treatment with BZ alpha GalNAc or TPA was inhibited by anti-VLA4 and anti-VLA5 monoclonal antibodies. Staining of the cells with Helix pomatia lectin demonstrated that culturing of the cells with BZ alpha GalNAc blocked elongation of O-linked oligosaccharides on the cell surface and led to accumulation of GalNAc-O-Ser/Thr. Labeling of cell surface carbohydrates with [3H]-glucosamine followed by treatment with TPA revealed that O-glycosylated glycoproteins including CD43 were released from the cell surface during this treatment. These findings indicate that integrin-dependent cell adhesion, particularly VLA4- or VLA5-dependent cell adhesion, of HL60 cells is prevented with the extension of O-linked oligosaccharides and recovers with the disappearance of O-linked oligosaccharides from the cell surface.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

Apical secretion and sialylation of soluble dipeptidyl peptidase IV are two related events.

The role of glycans in the apical targeting of proteins in epithelial cells remains a debated question. We have expressed the mouse soluble dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV ectodomain) in kidney (MDCK) and in intestinal (Caco-2) epithelial cell lines, as a model to study the role of glycosylation in apical targeting. The mouse DPP IV ectodomain was secreted mainly into the apical medium by MDCK cells. Exposure of MDCK cells to GalNac-alpha-O-benzyl, a drug previously described as an inhibitor of mucin O-glycosylation, produced a protein with a lower molecular weight. In addition this treatment resulted in a decreased apical secretion and an increased basolateral secretion of mouse DPP IV ectodomain. When expressed in Caco-2 cells, the mouse DPP IV ectodomain was secreted mainly into the basolateral medium. However, BGN was still able to decrease the amount of apically secreted protein and to increase its basolateral secretion. Neuraminidase digestion showed that the most striking effect of BGN was a blockade of DPP IV sialylation in both MDCK and Caco-2 cells. These results indicate that a specific glycosylation step, namely, sialylation, plays a key role in the control of the apical targeting of a secreted DPP IV both in MDCK and Caco-2 cells.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

N-acetyllactosamine and the CT carbohydrate antigen mediate agrin-dependent activation of MuSK and acetylcholine receptor clustering in skeletal muscle.

Galbeta1,3GalNAc and Galbeta1,4GIcNAc are the subterminal saccharide structures present on the CT carbohydrate antigen GalNAcbeta1,4[NeuAcalpha2,3]-Galbeta1-(3GalNAc or 4GIcNAc)-R, which is localized at the mammalian neuromuscular junction. Here we show that Galbeta1,3GalNAc, Galbeta1,4GIcNAc, and the CT carbohydrate antigen affect postsynaptic assembly in cultured muscle cells. Treatment of C2C12 myotubes with benzyl-O-alpha-GalNAc or neuraminidase increased peanut agglutinin (PNA) expression and AChR clustering. Induction of AChR clustering was blocked by PNA and by muscle agrin. Addition of Galbeta1,4GIcNAc or Galbeta1,3GalNAc increased AChR clustering in myotubes and muscle-specific kinase (MUSK) autophosphorylation in vitro, while NeuAcalpha2,3Galbeta1,4GIcNAc and Galbeta1,4GIc did not. Neural agrin activated MuSK in vitro if the lactosamine-containing mucin domain was present, and this activation was blocked in large part by Galbeta1,3GalNAc and Galbeta1,4GIcNAc. Agrin fragments and MuSK bound to these disaccharides with differing specificities. Overexpression of the CT carbohydrate antigen also increased AChR clustering and MuSK autophosphorylation in the presence of neural agrin. These data suggest a model in which different portions of the CT carbohydrate structure contribute to agrin-dependent signal transduction.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

Implication of ligand modified spectra of cytochrome P-450 associated with pregnenolone synthesis in mitochondria from corpus luteum.

The implications of ligand modified spectra of cytochrome P-450 in mitochondria from corpus luteum are considered. Mitochondria from bovine corpus luteum contain a single cytochrome P-450 which oxidizes cholesterol to pregnenolone and isocaproaldehyde. These mitochondria and the cytochrome P-450 purified from these mitochondria yield Type I spectral changes with substrates, reverse Type I spectral changes with certain steroid substrates, steroid products and unrelated steroid ligands. Nitrogenous ligands yield Type II spectral changes. Mitochondrial and purified cytochrome P-450 preparations are equivalent in this study. The inhibitory effects on the cholesterol monooxygenase are directly related to the spectral changes induced by Type II ligands. Lastly, it is suggested that a similar relationship exists with reverse Type I ligands.

Aminoglutethimide↗