Correlating Glycoforms of DC-SIGN with Stability Using a Combination of Enzymatic Digestion and Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

The immune scavenger protein DC-SIGN interacts with glycosylated proteins and has a putative role in facilitating viral infection. How these recognition events take place with different viruses is not clear and the effects of glycosylation on the folding and stability of DC-SIGN have not been reported. Herein, we report the development and application of a mass-spectrometry-based approach to both uncover and characterise the effects of O-glycans on the stability of DC-SIGN. We first quantify the Core 1 and 2 O-glycan structures on the carbohydrate recognition and extracellular domains of the protein using sequential exoglycosidase sequencing. Using ion mobility mass spectrometry, we show how specific O-glycans, and/or single monosaccharide substitutions, alter both the overall collision cross section and the gas-phase stability of the DC-SIGN isoforms. We find that rather than the mass or length of glycoprotein modifications, the stability of DC-SIGN is better correlated with the number of glycosylation sites.     

Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-Associated Phenotypes in Mammals

Mucin-type O-glycosylation involves the attachment of glycans to an initial O-linked N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) on serine and threonine residues on proteins. This process in mammals is initiated and regulated by a large family of 20 UDP-GalNAc: polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (GalNAc-Ts) (EC 2.4.1.41). The enzymes are encoded by a large gene family (GALNTs). Two of these genes, GALNT2 and GALNT3, are known as monogenic autosomal recessive inherited disease genes with well characterized phenotypes, whereas a broad spectrum of phenotypes is associated with the remaining 18 genes. Until recently, the overlapping functionality of the 20 members of the enzyme family has hindered characterizing the specific biological roles of individual enzymes. However, recent evidence suggests that these enzymes do not have full functional redundancy and may serve specific purposes that are found in the different phenotypes described. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of GALNT and associated phenotypes.     

Synthesis of Floridoside

Floridoside (2-O-glycerol-α-D-galactopyranoside) is a natural glycerol glycoside found in red algae and is believed to play important roles in carbon storage, transport, and assimilation and in the regulation of osmotic balance. We describe here a rapid, high-yield, and high-stereoselectivity synthesis of floridoside in which the key step involves the 1,2-cis O-glycosylation of 1,3-dibenzylglycerol with ethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-1-thio-β-D-galactopyranoside using iodonium dicollidine perchlorate (IDCP) or N-iodosuccinimide/trimethylsilyl triflate (NIS/TMSOTf) as promoters.     

Modified Coumarins. 17. Synthesis and Anticoagulant Activity of 3,4-Cycloannelated Coumarin D-Glycopyranosides

3,4-Cyclocondensed coumarin O-glycopyranosides containing glucose, galactose, xylose, and arabinose were synthesized by condensation of potassium salts of hydroxycoumarins and acetobromosugars. 7-(β-D-Galactopyranosyloxy)-2,3-dihydrocyclopenta[c]chromen-4-one, 3-(β-D-xylopyranosyloxy)-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[c]chromen-6-one, and 3-(α-D-arabinopyranosyloxy)benzo[c]chromen-6-one exhibited distinct anticoagulant activity. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 416–419, September–October, 2005.     

Combination of β-elimination and liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the determination of O-glycosylation sites

Determination of O-glycosylation sites in glycopeptides was developed by using two model compounds designed from mucin2 tandem repeat motif and erythropoietin. β-Elimination/addition reaction using dimethylamine on glycosylated site through a Michael-type condensation produced efficient deglycosylation with appropriate chemical modification. The use of dimethylamine was efficient to release the O-linked glycan in a reaction time period of 2-6 h at 55 °C. Peptide sequencing was then performed using the liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and MS-MS experiments. Interpretation of fragmentation pathways of the β-elimination/addition products enabled straightforward recognition of glycosylation site. Compared to the fragmentation of corresponding native peptides, mass shift of −18 Da or +27 Da was clearly observed for the two kinds of β-elimination/addition products of the glycosylated threonine. Dimethylamine was found to provide higher efficiency of β-elimination/addition than methylamine and ammonia.     

基于质谱的蛋白质O-糖基化分析研究进展

蛋白质的O-糖基化是一种重要的蛋白质翻译后修饰,它和N-糖基化一样是蛋白质糖基化修饰的主要形式。蛋白质的O-糖基化对蛋白质的结构功能有重要的影响,因此分析蛋白质的O-糖基化具有重要的生物学意义。蛋白质O-糖基化分析包含4个方面的内容:(1)鉴定O-糖基化蛋白质的种类; (2)鉴定糖基化位点; (3)鉴定糖链结构; (4)糖链的定量分析。由于缺少保守的O-糖基化氨基酸特征序列,缺乏通用的糖苷酶以及O-糖链结构的复杂性等原因,基于质谱的蛋白质O-糖基化的分析目前仍处于方法开发阶段。本文主要介绍基于质谱的O-糖基化蛋白质的分析方法学在近期取得的一些进展,包括以下4个方面:O-糖蛋白/多肽的富集、O-糖链的解离、O-糖链的结构分析及O-糖基化定量分析。     

Correlating Glycoforms of DC‐SIGN with Stability Using a Combination of Enzymatic Digestion and Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

The immune scavenger protein DC‐SIGN interacts with glycosylated proteins and has a putative role in facilitating viral infection. How these recognition events take place with different viruses is not clear and the effects of glycosylation on the folding and stability of DC‐SIGN have not been reported. Herein, we report the development and application of a mass‐spectrometry‐based approach to both uncover and characterise the effects of O‐glycans on the stability of DC‐SIGN. We first quantify the Core 1 and 2 O‐glycan structures on the carbohydrate recognition and extracellular domains of the protein using sequential exoglycosidase sequencing. Using ion mobility mass spectrometry, we show how specific O‐glycans, and/or single monosaccharide substitutions, alter both the overall collision cross section and the gas‐phase stability of the DC‐SIGN isoforms. We find that rather than the mass or length of glycoprotein modifications, the stability of DC‐SIGN is better correlated with the number of glycosylation sites.     

Significant Roles of Notch O-Glycosylation in Cancer

Notch signaling, which was initially identified in Drosophila wing morphogenesis, plays pivotal roles in cell development and differentiation. Optimal Notch pathway activity is essential for normal development and dysregulation of Notch signaling leads to various human diseases, including many types of cancers. In hematopoietic cancers, such as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Notch plays an oncogenic role, while in acute myeloid leukemia, it has a tumor-suppressive role. In solid tumors, such as hepatocellular carcinoma and medulloblastoma, Notch may have either an oncogenic or tumor-suppressive role, depending on the context. Aberrant expression of Notch receptors or ligands can alter the ligand-dependent Notch signaling and changes in trafficking can lead to ligand-independent signaling. Defects in any of the two signaling pathways can lead to tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Strikingly, O-glycosylation is one such process that modulates ligand–receptor binding and trafficking. Three types of O-linked modifications on the extracellular epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) repeats of Notch receptors are observed, namely O-glucosylation, O-fucosylation, and O-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) modifications. In addition, O-GalNAc mucin-type O-glycosylation outside the EGF repeats also appears to occur in Notch receptors. In this review, we first briefly summarize the basics of Notch signaling, describe the latest information on O-glycosylation of Notch receptors classified on a structural basis, and finally describe the regulation of Notch signaling by O-glycosylation in cancer.     

3,5-Dinitrobenzoic acid catalyzed synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated O- and S-glycosides and tetrahydropyranylation of alcohols and phenols

A simple procedure for the synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated glycosides in acetonitrile and tetrahydropyranylation of alcohols and phenols in dichloromethane in the presence of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid is described. A variety of alcohols and thiols are reacted with glycals to give the desired products in high yields with high α-selectivity.