氧化石墨烯固定化凝集素的制备及在糖蛋白/糖肽富集中的应用

生物体内蛋白质的糖基化修饰调控着细胞识别、细胞黏附和迁移以及免疫应答等多种生理过程,并与多种人类重大疾病的发生、发展密切相关。因此对蛋白质糖基化修饰的鉴定,不仅能够为生物学机理研究提供重要信息,对疾病诊断标志物和治疗靶标的发现也至关重要。然而在复杂生物体系中,大多数糖蛋白为低丰度蛋白质,其含量与现有质谱仪器的检测灵敏度之间存在较大差距,所以对含有不同糖型结构的糖蛋白进行全面/高效的富集,是实现高灵敏度糖蛋白鉴定的必由之路。凝集素富集作为一种有效的糖蛋白富集方法,已在糖蛋白质组学研究中得到了广泛的应用。针对现有凝集素功能化材料存在负载量偏低以及富集效率有限等问题,我们制备了两种以氧化石墨烯(GO)为载体的新型固定化凝集素,利用GO比表面积大,功能基团含量高,分散性、化学稳定性好等特点,实现了高负载量的凝集素固定(GO-ConA 2.073 mg/mg, RSD=1.0%; GO-WGA 1.908 mg/mg, RSD=0.14%)。同时考察了材料的可重复使用性与稳定性:每隔3天测一次同一GO-lectin材料对对应糖蛋白的富集效果,可以看出材料合成两周内富集效果都>200 μg/mg。将该GO-lectin成功应用于糖蛋白、糖肽的选择性富集,在糖蛋白质组学研究中体现出良好的应用潜力。     

Partial Characterization of Lectins Purified from the Surco and Vara (Furrow and Rod) Varieties of Black Phaseolus vulgaris

As they manifest specifically and reversibly, lectins are proteins or glycoproteins with the characteristic of agglutinating erythrocytes. Given that grain legume lectins can represent 10% of protein content and can have various biological functions, they are extensively studied. The objective of this work was to purify and partially characterize the lectins of Phaseolus vulgaris black, var surco and vara (LBBS and LBBV). Both lectin types were purified by affinity chromatography on stroma matrix, which agglutinated human erythrocytes type A, B, and O, as well as rabbit, hamster, pig, and chicken erythrocytes. Native-PAGE was employed for molecular mass determination, yielding 109.36 and 112.68 kDa for BBS and BBV, respectively. Further analyses revealed that these lectins are tetrameric glycoproteins that require Ca⁺², Mn⁺² and Mg⁺² ions for exhibiting their hemagglutinating function, which can be inhibited by fetuin. Moreover, optimal pH was established for both lectins (10.5 for LBBS and 7−9 for LBBV), while their activity was temperature-dependent and ceased above 70 °C. Finally, the observed differences in the biochemical characteristics and bioactive functions were ascribed to the different physiological characteristics of each seed, as well as the protein itself.     

Supramolecular Binding with Lectins: A New Route for Non-Covalent Functionalization of Polysaccharide Matrices

The chemical functionalization of polysaccharides to obtain functional materials has been of great interest in the last decades. This traditional synthetic approach has drawbacks, such as changing the crystallinity of the material or altering its morphology or texture. These modifications are crucial when a biogenic matrix is exploited for its hierarchical structure. In this work, the use of lectins and carbohydrate-binding proteins as supramolecular linkers for polysaccharide functionalization is proposed. As proof of concept, a deproteinized squid pen, a hierarchically-organized β-chitin matrix, was functionalized using a dye (FITC) labeled lectin; the lectin used was the wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). It has been observed that the binding of this functionalized protein homogenously introduces a new property (fluorescence) into the β-chitin matrix without altering its crystallographic and hierarchical structure. The supramolecular functionalization of polysaccharides with protein/lectin molecules opens up new routes for the chemical modification of polysaccharides. This novel approach can be of interest in various scientific fields, overcoming the synthetic limits that have hitherto hindered the technological exploitation of polysaccharides-based materials.     

Obtaining biologically active substances from Amaranthus caudatus L. seeds in one technological cycle

Nowadays, amaranth is a valuable multipurpose crop and a source of a number of very important biologically active substances. The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive scheme for obtaining fatty oil, triterpenoids and lectin from the seeds of Amaranthus caudatus L. in one technological cycle. Two variants of the lectin and triterpene compound purification method from amaranth seeds were tested. It was determined that the extraction of triterpene compounds should be carried out after purification of the lectin from degreased seeds. The rationality of this sequence of technological operations is explained by the lability of the lectin and the insolubility in water of triterpene compounds from amaranth seeds. The study also presents a scheme for obtaining squalene from amaranth oil by chromatography on silica gel and proposes a more effective affinity sorbent for purification of the lectin. The use of such a sorbent also opens up the possibility of preserving other water-soluble substances from amaranth seeds. The physicochemical characteristics and carbohydrate specificity of the lectin are described and new data on the results of the interaction of lectin with human and animal erythrocytes are given. The obtained results are discussed in the light of the complex use of raw materials.     

Comparison of systematically functionalized heterogeneous and homogenous glycopolymers as toxin inhibitors

Multivalent glycosylated polymers and particles display enhanced binding affinity toward lectins compared to individual glycans. The design of glycopolymers with selectivity toward pathogen‐associated lectins (toxins) for sensing or in antiadhesion therapy is complicated due to lectins having promiscuous binding profiles and can be considered to be pattern recognition “readers,” with the capability to bind to several different glycans. Here, heterogeneous glycopolymers bearing variable densities of two different monosaccharides are synthesized by a three‐step postpolymerization modification approach, enabling systematic control over composition. It is found that heterogeneous polymers displayed increased inhibitory activity, compared to homogeneous polymers, against a RCA₁₂₀ and the cholera toxin. This demonstrates that embracing heterogeneity in glycomaterials could result in improved performance or emergent properties. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 40–47     

Diverse Localization Patterns of an R-Type Lectin in Marine Annelids

Lectins facilitate cell–cell contact and are critical in many cellular processes. Studying lectins may help us understand the mechanisms underlying tissue regeneration. We investigated the localization of an R-type lectin in a marine annelid (Perinereis sp.) with remarkable tissue regeneration abilities. Perinereis nuntia lectin (PnL), a galactose-binding lectin with repeating Gln-X-Trp motifs, is derived from the ricin B-chain. An antiserum was raised against PnL to specifically detect a 32-kDa lectin in the crude extracts from homogenized lugworms. The antiserum detected PnL in the epidermis, setae, oblique muscle, acicula, nerve cord, and nephridium of the annelid. Some of these tissues and organs also produced Galactose (Gal) or N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), which was detected by fluorescent-labeled plant lectin. These results indicated that the PnL was produced in the tissues originating from the endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. Besides, the localizing pattern of PnL partially merged with the binding pattern of a fluorescent-labeled mushroom lectin that binds to Gal and GalNAc. It suggested that PnL co-localized with galactose-containing glycans in Annelid tissue; this might be the reason PnL needed to be extracted with haptenic sugar, such as d-galactose, in the buffer. Furthermore, we found that a fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled Gal/GalNAc-binding mushroom lectin binding pattern in the annelid tissue overlapped with the localizing pattern of PnL. These findings suggest that lectin functions by interacting with Gal-containing glycoconjugates in the tissues.     

Protecting‐group‐free synthesis of glycopolymers bearing thioglycosides via one‐pot monomer synthesis from free saccharides

Polyacrylamides having pendant thioglycosides were successfully synthesized from thioglycosidic monomers that were readily prepared by one‐pot method without any protection of the hydroxy groups on the starting free saccharides. The glycomonomers were synthesized by the direct synthesis of thioglycosides using 2‐chloro‐1,3‐dimethylimidazolinium chloride and 4‐aminobenzentiol, and the following acrylamidation. They were co‐polymerized with acrylamide into glycopolymers by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization using a trithiocarbonate derivative as a chain transfer agent. The gold nanoparticles and gold‐coated quartz crystal microbalance sensor immobilized with the thiol‐terminated glycopolymers exhibited high affinity for the corresponding lectins due to multivalent interaction between saccharides and protein in aqueous solution. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3513–3520     

Inhibitory Effect of Multivalent Rhamnobiosides on Recombinant Horseshoe Crab Plasma Lectin Interactions with Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

To evaluate the molecular interaction of recombinant horseshoe crab plasma lectin (rHPL) with Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, multivalent rhamnobioside derivatives were designed. Eight rhamnoclusters with three or four α(1–3)‐rhamnobiosides attached to different central cores, such as methyl gallate, pentaerythritol, and N‐Boc Tris, through either an ethylene glycol or a tetraethylene glycol linker, were assembled in two consecutive azide–alkyne cycloaddition click reactions. The synthetic method embraced the preparation of two α(1–3)‐rhamnobiosides with different linker arms and their conjugation, in stoichiometric or substoichiometric amounts, to propargyl ether‐functionalized tri‐ or tetravalent scaffolds. A divalent derivative and two self‐assembling rhamnobiosides were also prepared. The different architectures and valences of the rhamnoclusters provided an opportunity to evaluate the impact of topology and valency on the binding properties toward rHPL. Inhibitory ELISA data showed that all covalently linked rhamnoclusters could inhibit P. aeruginosa PAO1 recognition activity of rHPL with high efficacy. Trivalent rhamnobiosides showed a stronger inhibitory effect on P. aeruginosa PAO1 binding, and the more flexible clusters on a pentaerythritol or a Tris core were superior to the less flexible methyl gallate‐based clusters. Interestingly, the length of the linker arms had a very low impact on the binding ability of the rhamnoclusters. Herein, the two trivalent derivatives on an N‐Boc protected Tris central core were the best inhibitors. The self‐assembling amphiphilic rhamnobioside derivatives were found to display no multivalent effect.     

Rational Design and Synthesis of Optimized Glycoclusters for Multivalent Lectin–Carbohydrate Interactions: Influence of the Linker Arm

The design of multivalent glycoclusters requires the conjugation of biologically relevant carbohydrate epitopes functionalized with linker arms to multivalent core scaffolds. The multigram‐scale syntheses of three structurally modified triethyleneglycol analogues that incorporate amide moiety(ies) and/or a phenyl ring offer convenient access to a series of carbohydrate probes with different water solubilities and rigidities. Evaluation of flexibility and determination of preferred conformations were performed by conformational analysis. Conjugation of the azido‐functionalized carbohydrates with tetra‐propargylated core scaffolds afforded a library of 18 tetravalent glycoclusters, in high yields, by Cu^I‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The compounds were evaluated for their ability to bind to PA‐IL (the LecA lectin from the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Biochemical evaluation through inhibition of hemagglutination assays (HIA), enzyme‐linked lectin assays (ELLA), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC) revealed improved and unprecedented affinities for one of the monovalent probes (K_d=5.8 μM ) and also for a number of the tetravalent compounds that provide several new nanomolar ligands for this tetrameric lectin.