Study of circadian correlations between acetylcholine muscarinic receptor and brain glycosyltransferases by multivariate analysis.

Circadian variations of the acetylcholine muscarinic receptor and some glycosyltransferases were studied in brain using multivariate analysis. Highly significant correlations exist between fucosyltransferase, sialyltransferase and galactosyltransferase and to a lesser extent between both of these enzymes and acetylcholine receptor. No correlation appeared between these enzymes and dolichol phosphate mannose synthase.

Different reactivity to lysophosphatidylcholine, DIDS and trypsin of two brain sialyltransferases specific for O-glycans: a consequence of their topography in the endoplasmic membranes.

Some properties of two distinct rat brain sialyltransferases, acting on fetuin and asialofetuin, respectively, were investigated. These two membrane-bound enzymes were both strongly inhibited by charged phospholipids. Neutral phospholipids were without effect except lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) which modulated these two enzymes in a different way. At 5 mM lysoPC, the fetuin sialyltransferase was solubilized and highly activated while the asialofetuin sialyltransferase was inhibited. Preincubation of brain microsomes with 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), known as a specific anion inhibitor and a non-penetrating probe, led to a moderate inhibition of the asialofetuin sialyltransferase just as in the case of the ovomucoid galactosyltransferase (used here as a marker for the luminal side of the Golgi membrane); under similar conditions, the fetuin sialyltransferase was strongly inhibited. In the presence of Triton X-100, which induced a disruption of membranes, all three enzymes were strongly inhibited by DIDS. Trypsin action on intact membranes showed that asialofetuin sialyltransferase, galactosyltransferase and fetuin sialyltransferase were all slightly inhibited. After membrane disruption by Triton X-100, the first two enzymes were completely inactivated by trypsin while the fetuin sialyltransferase was quite insensitive to trypsin treatment. From these data, we suggest that the fetuin sialyltransferase, accessible to DIDS, is an external enzyme, oriented closely towards the cytoplasmic side of the brain microsomal vesicles (endoplasmic and Golgi membranes), whereas the asialofetuin sialyltransferase is an internal enzyme, oriented in a similar manner to the galactosyltransferase. Moreover, the anion site (nucleotide sugar binding site) of the fetuin sialyltransferase must be different from its active site, as this enzyme, when solubilized, is strongly inhibited by DIDS while no degradation is observed in the presence of trypsin.

A brain sialyltransferase having a narrow specificity for O-glycosyl-linked oligosaccharide chains.

The existence of a brain sialyltransferase catalyzing the specific transfer of NeuAc on native fetuin was demonstrated. This enzyme was not able to sialylate either asialofetuin or desialylated and nondesialylated orosomucoid, transferrin, and bovine submaxillary mucin. It required the presence of Mn2+ for optimal activity. Moreover, in fetuin, this activity was closely related to the proportion of NeuAc residues, but in liver tissue sialylation occurred only onto asialofetuin. In native fetuin, sialylation took place on O-glycan chains to give an O-disialyltetrasaccharidic structure. The Gal----GalNAc----protein was not an acceptor, but alpha-NeuAc-(2----3)-Gal----GalNAc----protein was, suggesting a specific transfer alpha-(2----6) to the GalNAc residue.

Modifications involved in brain glycoconjugate metabolism induced by neonatal capsaicin treatment.

Neonatal capsaicin treatment induces significant changes in rat brain glycoconjugate metabolism. All glycosyltransferase activity involved either in glycoprotein or glycolipid biosynthesis was strongly enhanced. Higher enzymatic activities were obtained when capsaicin-treated rats (T1) had received an additional capsaicin dose (T2). In this case, the fucosyl and galactosyltransferase activities were markedly increased. However, the enhancement of sialyltransferase activity only affects the biosynthesis of glycoproteins and is not correlated with a significant change in ganglioside content. The present results suggest that the modulation of the microsomal glycosyltransferase activity, after capsaicin treatment, could not be stated up through a direct lipid interaction or a change in membrane properties because the phospholipid brain content is not significantly modified.

Involvement of phospholipids in the modulation of a membrane-bound brain fucosyltransferase.

Microsomal fucosyltransferase isolated from sheep brain is strongly enhanced by charged lysophospholipids such as lysophosphatidylinositol and lysophosphatidic acid, while the corresponding phospholipids are inhibitive. Lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC) also greatly increases the enzymatic activity and leads to its solubilization. Its stimulatory effect is related to the length of the fatty acyl chain involved in the lyso-PC structure: fatty acids C18 and C20 are less activating than the fatty acids C14-C16. Stimulation is restored when C18 fatty acids are unsaturated (e.g., C18:1-C18:3). Enzymatic activity enhancement is decreased when phosphatidylcholine structures are reformed by the addition of lyso-PC and the corresponding fatty acid. The physical state of these structures has no influence. These data provide evidence that bilayer structures do not modify enzymatic activity, while micellar structures formed by detergents and lysophospholipids lead to a strong increase in fucosyltransferase activity. However, lyso-PC does not interact in exactly the same way as Triton X-100. Although they both enhance the maximal velocity of fucosyltransferase for its two substrates, GDP-fucose and asialofetuin, the effect with lyso-PC is greater, and it clearly enables a better affinity for GDP-fucose. Endogenous phospholipids are also able to modify enzymatic activity. Hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by phospholipase A2 leads to an enzymatic stimulation.

Rat brain glycosyltransferase activities during postnatal development.

Enzymatic activity of seven glycoprotein and glycolipid glycosyltransferases was studied in microsomal fractions during postnatal development of rat brain from 3 to 42 days after birth. Specific enzymatic variations were detected for some glycosyltransferases, i.d. a maxima was shown at 7 days post partum for the glycoprotein galactosyltransferase and another one at 21 days for galactosylceramide biosynthesis, this latter correlated to myelin synthesis. However, a regular and important activity maxima was always detected for six of the enzymes studied (asialofetuin fucosyltransferase, ovomucoid galactosyltransferase, dolichyl phosphate mannose synthase, ceramide, galactosylceramide and glucosylceramide galactosyltransferases) at the period from 35 to 40 days post partum. As this period corresponds to immediate post-puberty, an endocrinoneuronal control of the glycosyltransferases by sexual hormones is suggested.

Subcellular localisation of cerebral fucosyltransferase.

GDP-fucose: asialofetuin fucosyltransferase from sheep brain was fractionated on a sucrose gradient into two activity peaks. Using purification on Ficoll adapted from the proposed method [(1980) J. Neurochem. 35, 281-296], double localisation of cerebral fucosyltransferase was confirmed and the subcellular active fractions identified as light microsomes and mitochondria.

Modulation of solubilized brain fucosyltransferase activity by phospholipids.

Phospholipids interact on Triton X-100 solubilized GDP-fucose: asialofetuin fucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.68) isolated from sheep brain. This enzymatic activity is modulated by charged phospholipids. In particular, phosphatidic acid and analogues markedly inhibit the transfer of fucose from GDP-[14C]fucose. Kinetic studies show that phosphatidic acid interacts as a mixed inhibitor: the velocity and affinity of fucosyltransferase for the GDP-fucose and asialofetuin substrates are strongly decreased. However, this inhibitory effect is not related to stereospecificity, and the different parameters involved in the enzymatic reaction of glycosylation are not modified. The nature of fatty acids and chemical bond (ester or ether) occurring in the carbohydrate chain does not modify the behaviour of phosphatidic acid with respect to fucosyltransferase activity. Further, the physical state of phosphatidic acid (gel phase or liquid crystalline phase) has no influence. However, as the inhibition is closely pH-dependent, these data suggest that phosphatidic acid might directly interact with the active site of the enzyme and induce a conformational change.

Involvement of some amino acid residues in the enzymatic activity of solubilized cerebral fucosyltransferase.

We have checked the effect of some chemical reagents specific for amino acid residues on the activity of a solubilized cerebral glycoprotein:fucosyltransferase. Diethylpyrocarbonate, 2,3-butanedione and tetranitromethane specific for histidyl, arginyl, and tyrosyl residues respectively, were strong inhibitors of the enzymatic activity This led us to conclude that these amino acid residues are "essential residues" in the cerebral fucosyltransferase activity.

Effect of phospholipids on the regulation of a soluble galactosyltransferase in aortic wall.

A galactosyltransferase activity is located in the cell-sap of aortic intima-media cells. This enzymatic system calatyzes [14C]galactose transfer from UDP-[14C]galactose into endogenous and exogenous proteinic acceptors. Labelled products are isolated from the proteinic fraction obtained in 20% trichloroacetic acid pellet or from organic solvent extractions. Maximal [14C]galactose incorporation occurs at pH 7.8 in Tris-HCl buffer in the presence of 0.1 mM MnCl2 at 30 degrees C. The enzymatic activity is modified by phospholipids, particularly by phosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine, which behave as mixed inhibitors, while L-alpha-phosphatidylserine interacts as a competitive inhibitor. The effect of phospholipids is not stereospecific but appeared to be closely related to their polar headgroups, especially the acidic headgroups of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidic acid. The chain length and the unsaturation degree of fatty acids involved in phospholipid structures are not a main factor of regulation. The lysophosphatidylcholine effect could be explained by its solubilization properties, as non-ionic detergents interact in the same way with galactosyltransferase activity. Exogenous phospholipids probably interact with the enzymatic environment by their own molecular arrangement and so could exert a control on galactosyltransferase activity or lead to a conformation change of this enzyme.

Effect of phospholipids on membrane-bound and solubilized mannosyltransferase activity from aortic wall.

Phospholipids interact on the membrane-bound and solubilized mannosyltransferase activity. The biosynthesis of Dol-P-Man is strongly inhibited by phosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine. The effect of phospholipids is not related to stereospecificity. Chemical properties of phospholipids (ester or ether bond, length of fatty acids and polarity of head groups) are not an essential factor for inhibition. The different parameters involved in enzymatic reaction of glycosylation are not modified by phospholipids, in particular the integrity of GDP-[14C]mannose. The inhibitory effect of lysophosphatidylcholine and phosphatidic acid on mannosyltransferase activities is related to their possible formation of micellar structures which definitely induce a conformation change of this enzyme.

[Biosynthesis of glycoconjugates in the arterial wall. The role of derivatives of isoprenic pathways and of complex lipids in the glycolization of macromolecules of the intima media]. / Biosynthèse des glycoconjugués dans la paroi artérielle. Etude du rôle des dérivés de la voie isoprénique et des lipides complexes dans la glycosylation des macromolécules de l'intima-media.

Previous investigation have shown the occurrence of glycosyl-transferases in the intima-media cells of aortic wall. Some of these enzymes have been isolated from cell-sap as xylosyl-transferase and galactosyl-transferase involved in glycoproteins and glycosamino-glycurono-glycans biosynthesis. Others are located in microsomal fraction as mannosyl-transferase which catalysed polyprenic glycoconjugates biosynthesis. Study of linear and cyclic isoprenic compounds such as squalene and cholesterol, lipidic compounds as sphingolipids and glycerophospholipids and shows their important role as effectors in glycoconjugates biosynthesis regulation; while none of them are intermediates in glycosylation reaction. These lipidic effectors have no effect on substrate-stability nor on ionic reactional parameters. At the opposite, they seem to act in a similar way as non ionic detergents.

[Biosynthesis of glycoconjugates in the arterial intima. VII. Isolation and purification of fucosyl-transferase from the aorta]. / Biosynthèse des glycoconjugués dans la paroi artérielle. VII. Isolement et purification de la fucosyl-transférase de l'aorte.

A fucosyl-transferase, catalysing the transfer of fucose, from GDP-fucose to proteinic or polyprenic acceptors, exists in microsomes of intima-media from aorta. Solubilization and purification of this enzyme is obtained by treatment of microsomes with Cemulsol NPT 12, column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Dowex 1 X 8 and electrofocusing. Only one molecular species is detected at pHi = 4.7.