Characterization of a UDP-Gal:Galbeta1-3GalNAc alpha1, 4-galactosyltransferase activity in a Mamestra brassicae cell line

J Biol Chem. 1998 Dec 11;273(50):33644-51. doi: 10.1074/jbc.273.50.33644.

Abstract

The binding of Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin-I isolectin B4 on the endogenous glycoproteins of different insect cell lines led us to characterize for the first time a UDP-Gal:Galbeta1-3GalNAc alpha1, 4-galactosyltransferase in a Mamestra brassicae cell line (Mb). The study of the acceptor specificity indicated that the Mb alpha-galactosyltransferase prefers Galbeta1-3-R as acceptor, and among such glycans, the relative substrate activity Vmax/Km was equal to 20 microliters.mg-1.h-1 for Galbetal-3GlcNAcbeta1-O-octyl and to 330 microliters.mg-1.h-1 for Galbeta1-3GalNAcalpha-1-O-benzyl, showing clearly that Galbeta1-3GalNAc disaccharide was the more suitable acceptor substrate for Mb alpha-galactosyltransferase activity. Nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry data allowed us to establish that the Mb alpha-galactosyltransferase synthesizes one unique product, Galalpha1-4Galbeta1-3GalNAcalpha1-O-benzyl. The Galbeta1-3GalNAc disaccharide is usually present on O-glycosylation sites of numerous asialoglycoproteins and at the nonreducing end of some glycolipids. We observed that Mb alpha1,4-galactosyltransferase catalyzed the transfer of galactose onto both natural acceptors. Finally, we demonstrated that the trisaccharide Galalpha1-4Galbeta1-3GalNAcalpha1-O-benzyl was able to inhibit anti-PK monoclonal antibody-mediated hemagglutination of human blood group PK1 and PK2 erythrocytes.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asialoglycoproteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Galactose / metabolism
  • Galactosyltransferases / chemistry
  • Galactosyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Glycolipids / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lectins / metabolism
  • Moths / cytology
  • Moths / enzymology*
  • Plant Lectins*
  • Protein Binding
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Spodoptera / cytology
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Asialoglycoproteins
  • Glycolipids
  • Griffonia simplicifolia lectins
  • Lectins
  • Plant Lectins
  • GalNAc beta1-4 GlcNAc-R beta1-3-galactosyltransferase
  • Galactosyltransferases
  • Galactose