Lactose synthase components in milk: concentrations of alpha-lactalbumin and beta1,4-galactosyltransferase in milk of cows from several breeds at various stages of lactation.

It is believed that milk production is determined by the number and activity of mammary secretory cells. Secretory activity, as assessed by milk volume, depends on secretion of the major osmole in milk, lactose, which is produced by lactose synthase. The amount of either of the two proteins in lactose synthase may regulate milk production. The objective of this study was to determine whether the concentrations in milk of the two components of lactose synthase, alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) and beta1,4-galactosyltransferase (B4GALT), were related to genetic background, stage of lactation, breed or parity of dairy cows. alpha-Lactalbumin and B4GALT concentrations were measured by ELISA and by enzyme assays, respectively, from single milk samples. Two herds with a total of 279 cows were used in the analysis. One herd contained Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Holstein and Jersey cows; the second herd contained two groups of cows; Holsteins selected for high milk production and Holsteins with 1960s genetics. The alpha-LA concentration in milk was greater in Jerseys and Ayrshires than in Holsteins and Brown Swiss. However, no difference in alpha-LA concentration was observed in milk from high and low genetic merit cows in the Minnesota herd or among different genetic backgrounds in the Illinois herd. beta1,4-Galactosyltransferase concentrations were similar for all groups that were analyzed. alpha-Lactalbumin concentrations were positively correlated with milk protein concentration, milk fat concentration and lactose concentration. beta1,4-Galactosyltransferase concentration in milk exhibited a strong positive correlation with number of days in milk. Although the concentration of B4GALT increased as lactation progressed, the values did not show any correlation with persistency of lactation or late lactation milk production. In conclusion, this survey shows that the two components of lactose synthase are each correlated to protein concentration and individually correlated to the concentration of other milk components and stage of lactation.

Measurement of beta-galactosyltransferase activity in cell extracts with an ELISA-based assay.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based glycosyltransferase assay has been used to measure UDP-Gal:N-acetylglucosamine beta-1,4-galactosyl-transferase (EC 2.4.1.38) activity in detergent extracts of chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. LEC11 cells (a mutant of the CHO cell line, Pro -5), which are known to express a complex array of carbohydrate structures, were used to develop the assay for use with whole cell extracts. A detergent-solubilized preparation of the enzyme from whole cells was used to convert the substrate, lactotriglycosylceramide, to the product, neolactotetraglycosylceramide. The monoclonal antibody, 1B2, which specifically binds to the Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc epitope, was used in an ELISA to identify and quantify the product. The enzyme activity in the preparations was found to be similar to that obtained by conventional radioactive assay methods. The beta-galactosyltransferase found in LEC11 cell detergent extracts exhibited an absolute requirement for the nucleotide sugar and MnCl2. The activity of the enzyme was also strictly dependent on the presence of exogenous glycolipid acceptor. When Triton X-114 was used to solubilize the LEC11 beta-galactosyltransferase, activity was found in both the hydrophilic and the hydrophobic phases, suggesting the presence of two forms of the enzyme. The ELISA-based assay was used to compare beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase activity in detergent extracts of four CHO cell lines: Pro-5, Lec1, LEC11, and LEC12 and in detergent-solubilized microsomes from human leukemia cells. The results from this study demonstrate the utility of the ELISA-based assay for measuring glycosyltransferase activity in detergent-solubilized whole cells and microsome preparations.

Light microscopic localization of glycosyltransferase activities in cells and tissues.

We describe an assay for light microscopic visualization of specific glycosyltransferases on tissue sections or on cells. The assay uses a sequence of enzyme reactions that yields two moles of NADH for each mole of the uridine-5'-diphosphate (UDP) released during transfer of a monosaccharide from a UDP sugar to an acceptor. When diaphorase and tetrazolium salts are present in the incubation mixture, the tetrazolium salts are reduced to colored diformazans, which precipitate at the sites of glycosyltransferase activity. The validity of the assay was established by applying the technique to spermatozoa and liver, in which some glycosyltransferases have previously been localized. When suspensions of mouse spermatozoa were assayed for galactosyltransferase (GalTase) activity, diformazan precipitates appeared on the plasma membranes overlying the anterior heads of the spermatozoa, in agreement with immunochemical localizations. In mouse liver slices assayed with bilirubin as acceptor for glucuronyltransferase (GluTase) activity, dense diformazan deposits appeared on the hepatocytes but not on endothelial cells, also in agreement with immunochemical data. In the absence of acceptor or UDP sugar donor, diformazan deposits were minimal and random in all tissues tested. The assay's versatility was tested by incubating tissues with different sugar donors and acceptors to localize other sites of transferase activity. In mouse frozen liver sections, GalTase activity occurred in both hepatocytes and endothelial cells; in sections of rat submaxillary glands, GalTase activity was detected in mast cells. In liver sections, GlcuTase activity with o-aminophenol as acceptor was located primarily on the endothelial cells. With the appropriate sugar donor and acceptor, this assay should detect any transferase, other than the glucosyltransferases, that utilizes UDP sugars.

Purification and properties of N-acetylglucosaminide beta 1----4 galactosyltransferase from embryonal carcinoma cells.

N-Acetylglucosaminide beta 1----4 galactosyltransferase was chromatographically purified about 1,700-fold from F9 embryonal carcinoma cells after solubilization with Triton X-100, using N-acetylglucosamine as the acceptor. As the last step of the purification, affinity chromatography was performed either on N-acetylglucosamine-Sepharose or on alpha-lactalbumin-Sepharose: in both cases, two protein bands with molecular weights of around 68,000 and 59,000 were detected by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified preparations. The enzymological properties including behavior toward alpha-lactalbumin were very similar to those of the enzyme from other sources. The specificity of the enzyme was confirmed by determining the structure of the product; it was mostly Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc. beta-Galactosidase-treated embryoglycan (poly-N-acetyllactosamine) and asialo-agalactofetuin could serve as acceptors with the purified enzyme. Thus, the embryonic enzyme, apparently involved in the synthesis of poly-N-acetyllactosamines, has properties similar in several respects to those of the beta-galactosyltransferases so far studied.

Isolation of galactosyltransferase from human milk and the determination of its N-terminal amino acid sequence.

Galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.22), purified to homogeneity from human milk by affinity chromatography, had an apparent molecular weight of 53,000 as determined by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Subtraction of the estimated contribution of the oligosaccharide portion of the molecule leaves a Mr of 47,000. An N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the isolated protein revealed a sequence similar to that found near the 5' end of a cDNA clone isolated by Shaper et al, which encodes a 35,000 molecular weight protein. Either the molecular weight of galactosyltransferase, has been overestimated, or a discrepancy exists between the actual molecular weight of galactosyltransferase and that predicted by the bovine cDNA clone isolated by Shaper et al.

Effect of estrogen and placental lactogen on lactogenesis in pregnant rats.

The removal of the corpora lutea or ovariectomy on Day 18 of pregnancy induced a rise in serum prolactin 24 h after surgery with a rapid decline to control values 4 h after the surge, only in the ovariectomized group. When hysterectomy was performed in addition to luteectomy or ovariectomy a similar rise in prolactin was obtained. Lactose synthetase activity in mammary tissue was significantly higher in the luteectomized and luteectohysterectomized rats when compared with ovariectomized, ovariohysterectomized rats and the sham-operated group. Estrogen treatment 12 h after ovariectomy increased serum prolactin and lactose synthetase activity to values similar to those measured in luteectomized rats, but this increase was significantly greater when compared with the ovariectomized-nontreated group. Treatment with Tamoxifen did not decrease serum prolactin in the luteectomized rats but lactose synthetase was reduced to values similar to that obtained in ovariectomized rats. Treatment with 2 bromo-alpha-ergocryptine-mesylate (CB-154) prevented the rise in serum prolactin in the ovariectomized, luteectomized and luteectohysterectomized groups, but lactose synthetase activity was lowered to control values (sham-operated rats) only in the luteectohysterectomized rats. According to these findings, rat placental lactogen in the absence of prolactin and progesterone induces lactose synthesis. Estrogen facilitates prolactin but not placental lactogen action on lactose synthetase activity.

Prolactin-like activity of antiprolactin receptor antibodies in rat mammary tumor explants.

The effects of prolactin and a serum containing antiprolactin receptor antibodies on some lactogenic and mammogenic responses were investigated in nitrosomethylurea-induced mammary tumors in organ cultures. Prolactin was able to induce an increase in lactose synthetase activity, DNA synthesis, and prolactin-binding sites at moderate (i.e., physiological) concentrations of prolactin; at higher concentrations, desensitization of the tissues was observed for DNA synthesis and lactose synthetase activity, whereas the "down-regulation" of prolactin receptors occurred. Prolactin had no effect on casein synthesis. Antiprolactin receptor serum was capable of inducing an increase in lactose synthetase activity, DNA synthesis, and prolactin-binding sites, however, lower than that observed with prolactin, thus mimicking prolactin action. The antiserum did not induce any change in casein synthesis. These findings suggest that, in rat mammary tumors, as it has been observed in the normal mammary gland, the prolactin molecule is not required beyond the initial binding to its receptor for its action to be attained. It appears also that a differentiated function has lost its hormonal dependence in these tumors, although their hormonal dependence for other functions and growth is maintained.

Electrophoretic comparison of cellular and soluble galactosyltransferase (lactose synthetase A protein) using specific antibodies.

Rabbit antisera against soluble human milk galactosyltransferase (GT) having anti-GT activity, as demonstrated by inhibition of enzyme activity were used for a comparative study of the molecular sizes of galactosyltransferase. For this purpose, affinity-purified antibodies were used for the identification of milk, serum and effusion galactosyltransferase from native or partially purified preparations resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) by the immune replica technique. Milk galactosyltransferase migrated as a 55-kilodalton (kD) protein, serum and effusion GT slightly faster. Cross-reactive enzyme forms of 110 kD and 20 kD were detected in milk only. In order to establish a relationship between intracellular and soluble galactosyltransferase, HeLa cells were metabolically labeled by [35S]-methionine, cells lysed, subjected to immunoprecipitation and the precipitate analyzed by SDS-PAGE/fluorography: a single band corresponding to the intracellular form of GT have similar mobility as the milk enzyme was detected. These results indicate a close structural similarity between soluble and cellular galactosyltransferase as judged by immunological cross-reactivity and electrophoretic mobility.

Immunohistochemical evidence for cell surface and Golgi localization of galactosyltransferase in human stomach, jejunum, liver and pancreas.

Immunohistochemical localization of galactosyltransferase (UDP-galactose: 2-acetamido-2-deoxy beta-D-glucopyranose beta (1-4) transferase) in human tissue specimens of gastric and jejunal mucosa, exocrine pancreas, and liver was carried out at the light microscopic level using affinity purified rabbit anti-human milk galactosyltransferase antibodies. Intracellular localization of galactosyltransferase in epithelial cells appeared as a triangular compact structure close to the apical pole of the nucleus. In hepatocytes, the enzyme was found in discrete spots in the cytoplasm between the nuclei and the bile canaliculi. In addition to the intracellular, juxtanuclear location an intense reaction at the luminal part of the cell surface was found in the lining epithelium of the stomach, in enterocytes of the jejunal villus tips, and in ductular cells of the pancreas. Enterocytes located in the middle portion along the cryptvillus gradient exhibited cytoplasmic staining adjacent to the brush borders. Basolateral membranes appeared negative. Little or no enzyme could be demonstrated in cells belonging to the connective tissue. These results show that secretory cells contain a Golgi apparatus which can be visualized at the light microscopic level by virtue of its content in galactosyltransferase. Presence of galactosyltransferase antigen on the surface of certain cells supports the assumption that ectoglycosyltransferases do exist, at sites, however, apparently not involved in cell contact and adhesion.

Increased activity of a beta-galactosyltransferase in tissues of rats bearing prostate and mammary adenocarcinomas.

The levels of UDP-galactose: N-acetylglucosamine(beta 1-4)galactosyltransferase activity (GalT-4) were determined in the sera, in solid tumors, and in corresponding cell cultures of rats bearing two lines of prostate adenocarcinomas (PA-2 and PA-3), and in the sera of rats bearing other transplanted and autochthonous adenocarcinomas. Sera and tissues from normal (tumor-free) rats were used as controls. Prostate adenocarcinoma cell cultures had five times greater levels of enzyme activity than did tumor cell infiltrated lymph nodes from animals bearing the prostate adenocarcinomas. The levels of activity in the cells of both prostate tumor lines were equivalent, even though they metastasize through different routes. Serum levels of galactosyltransferase activity were detected in the blood, and in rats bearing a mammary adenocarcinoma with extensive necrosis of the tumor mass (tumor mass greater than 22.0 g/200 g body weight). The increase was three times the control value. The sera of L-W rats bearing prostate tumors (PA-2 and PA-3) were inactive with the GalNAc-containing acceptor, Gm2 (GalNAc beta 1-4(NeuAc alpha 2-3)Gal beta 1-4Glc-Cer) but active with either free GlcNAc (Km = 0.25 mM) or LcOse3Cer (GlcNAc beta 1-3 Gal beta 1-4Glc--Cer; GlcNAc--R).

Lactose and major milk proteins are present in secretory vesicle-rich fractions from lactating mammary gland.

Preparations enriched in apparently intact secretory vesicles were isolated from homogenates of lactating rat and bovine mammary tissue by differential and density gradient centrifugation in isoosmotic media. Morphologically these preparations consisted nearly entirely of vesicles of varying sizes, at least some of which contained casein micelles. Endoplasmic reticulum vesicles, Golgi apparatus cisterna and dictyosomes, mitochondria, peroxisomes, lysosomes, and nuclei were not observed in secretory vesicle-rich fractions. Vesicle preparations were enriched in lactose relative to total membrane fractions from mammary gland. The galactosyltransferase of lactose synthase (UDPgalactose: D-glucose 4 beta-galactosyl-transferase, EC 2.4.1.22) was also present in secretory vesicle preparations, alphas1- and beta-caseins, alpha-lactalbumin, and beta-lactoglobulin, the major secretory proteins of differentiated mammary epithelial cells, were identified as constituents of vesicle-rich fractions from bovine mammary gland. These observations suggest that the major carbohydrate and major proteins of milk are compartmentalized into secretory vesicles and are secreted by exocytotic fusion of secretory vesicles with the apical plasma membrane.

Heterogeneity in alpha-lactalbumins. I. Human alpha-lactalbumin.

alpha-Lactalbumin from human milk shows an heterogeneous behaviour when subjected to ion exchange chromatography with DEAE-Sephadex. Two components have been separated, showing identical patterns in the following studies: amino acid compositions, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectra, transition temperature of denaturation, antigenicity, lactose synthase specifying activity and hydrodynamic properties. After rechromatography of either peak, these two components appeared to be in equilibrium. This equilibrium varies with the temperature and the pH of chromatography. Moreover, an increase of n-alcohol concentration in the eluting buffer also induces an increase of the second protein peak eluting at higher ionic strength. These two peaks seem to be the result of some conformational change induced upon the binding of the protein to the solid anionic matrix.

Membranes of mammary gland. XI. Marker enzyme distribution profiles for membranous components from bovine mammary gland.

Enzyme distribution profiles of clarified bovine mammary homogenates separated by equilibrium centrifugation on linear sucrose gradients suggested that several of the commonly utilized marker enzymes for rat liver are also valid markers for mammary cellular components. These marker enzymes include: Succinate dehydrogenase (mitochondria), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate cytochrome c reductase and, to a lesser extent, retenone insensitive nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cytochrome c reductase (endoplasmic reticulum), galactosyl transferase (Golgi apparatus), 5'-nucleotidase (plasma membranes), uric acid oxidase (microbodies), and acid phosphatase (lysosomes). Rotenone sensitive nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cytochrome c reductase and sodium, potassium, magnesium-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase were widely distributed among subcellular fractions and are not valid marker enzymes. The boyant densities determined for the above fractions should aid in design of methods to obtain enriched sources of these components for analysis.

A fluorimetric study of the interactions of insolubilized human alpha-lactalbumin with galactosyl transferase (A-protein) and with anti-alpha-lactalbumin antibodies.

Intrinsic as well as extrinsic fluorescence of an immobilized protein was used for the study of the interactions between alpha-lactalbumin-Sepharose and protein ligands. The fluorescence peak of the human alpha-lactalbumin-agarose conjugate was shifted to the blue and quenched in the presence of the galactosyl transferase (A-protein), indicating the probable formation of a complex between both proteins. The natural fluorescence of human alpha-lactalbumin bound to Sepharose was specifically quenched in presence of antihuman alpha-lactalbumin antibodies. This change in fluorescence appears to be due to binding of the antibodies to the immobilized antigen. Furthermore, the extrinsic fluorescence of a bound dye such as 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate was used to confirm the existence of binding between antibodies and alpha-lactalbumin-agarose, and to obtain values for the association constant. A value of 5.6-10(+6) M(-1) for the binding constant was reported, which compares favorably with other data obtained by equilibrium dialysis.

Role of cell membrane galactosyltransferase in concanavalin A agglutination of erythrocytes.

It has been previously observed that rabbit erythrocyte cell surface galactosyltransferase appears to play a role in concanavalin A agglutination of these erythrocytes (Podolsky et al., 1974). Further, a correlation between the occurrence or level of cell surface galactosyltransferase and concanavalin A agglutinability of other cell types has also been observed. The mechanism by which rabbit erythrocyte galactosyltransferase participates in concanavalin A agglutination has now been further defined. The enzyme was solubilized and purified. Characterization of the enzyme properties has shown them to be similar to those reported for other purified galactosyltransferases. Amino acid and carbohydrate analysis showed a high asparagine content and the presence of D-mannose. Specific alpha-mannosidase treatment of the enzyme showed that some of these D-mannose residues were terminal sugars. The purified enzyme also conferred concanavalin A agglutinability to non-agglutinable human erythrocytes. However, the ability to confer concanavalin A agglutinability was unrelated to the enzyme activity per se (as measured with fetuin acceptor) but appeared to be entirely dependent on the presence of terminal alpha-linked D-mannosyl residues in the enzyme structure. These findings suggest that the presence of terminal alpha-mannosidyl residues on cell surface glycoproteins such as galactosyltransferase may be the determining factor in agglutination of cells by concanavalin A.