Novel glycosidic linkage in Aedes aegypti chorion peroxidase: N-mannosyl tryptophan

J Biol Chem. 2005 Nov 18;280(46):38513-21. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M508449200. Epub 2005 Sep 2.

Abstract

Aedes aegypti chorion peroxidase (CPO) plays a crucial role in chorion hardening by catalyzing chorion protein cross-linking through dityrosine formation. The enzyme is extremely resistant to denaturing conditions, which seem intimately related to its post-translational modifications, including disulfide bond formation and glycosylation. In this report, we have provided data that describe a new type of glycosylation in CPO, where a mannose is linked to the N-1 atom of the indole ring of Trp residue. Through liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry and de novo sequencing of CPO tryptic peptides, we determined that three of the seven available Trp residues in mature CPO are partially (40-50%) or completely mannosylated. This conclusion is based on the following properties of the electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry spectra and the enzymatic reaction of these peptides: 1) the presence of a 162-Da substituent in each Trp residue; 2) the presence of abundant fragments of m/z 163 ([Hex + H]) and [M + H - 162] (typical for N-glycosides); 3) the absence of a loss of 120 Da (this loss is typical for aromatic C-glycosides); and 4) the cleavage of the glycosidic linkage by PNGase A or F (typical for N-glycans). These results establish that a C-N bond is formed between the anomeric carbon of a mannose residue and the N-1 atom of the indole ring of Trp. This is the first report that provides definitive evidence for N-mannosylation of Trp residues in a protein. In addition, our data demonstrate that PNGase can hydrolyze Trp N-linked mannose in peptides, which is unusual because no typical beta-amide bond is present in the Trp-mannosyl moiety. Results of this study should stimulate research toward a comprehensive understanding of physiology and biochemistry of Trp N-mannosylation in proteins and the overall biochemical mechanisms of PNGase-catalyzed reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / enzymology*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Buffers
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Citric Acid / chemistry
  • Disulfides / chemistry
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Glycosides / chemistry
  • Glycosylation
  • Hydrolysis
  • Insect Proteins
  • Mannose / chemistry*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase / chemistry
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peroxidases / chemistry*
  • Peroxidases / metabolism
  • Phosphates / chemistry
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Trypsin / chemistry
  • Trypsin / pharmacology
  • Tryptophan / chemistry

Substances

  • Buffers
  • Disulfides
  • Glycosides
  • Insect Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Phosphates
  • Citric Acid
  • Tryptophan
  • Peroxidases
  • chorion peroxidase, Aedes aegypti
  • Trypsin
  • Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase
  • Mannose