Molecular cloning and characterization of an 1,3 fucosyltransferase, CEFT-1, from Caenorhabditis elegans
作者:R. A. DeBose-Boyd、A. K. Nyame、R. D. Cummings
DOI:10.1093/glycob/8.9.905
日期:1998.9.1
We report on the identification, molecular cloning, and characterization of an α1,3 fucosyltransferase (α1,3FT) expressed by the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. Although C.elegans glycoconjugates do not express the Lewis x antigen Galβ1→4[Fucα1→3]GlcNAcβ→R, detergent extracts of adult C.elegans contain an α1,3FT that can fucosylate both nonsialylated and sialylated acceptor glycans to generate the Lex and sialyl Lex antigens, as well as the lacdiNAc-containing acceptor GalNAcβ1→4GlcNAcβ1→R to generate GalNAcβ1→4 [Fucα1→3]GlcNAcβ1→R. A search of the C.elegans genome database revealed the existence of a gene with 20–23% overall identity to all five cloned human α1,3FTs. The putative cDNA for the C.elegans α1,3FT (CEFT-1) was amplified by PCR from a cDNA λZAP library, cloned, and sequenced. COS7 cells transiently transfected with cDNA encoding CEFT-1 express the Lex, but not sLex antigen. The CEFT-1 in the transfected cell extracts can synthesize Lex, but not sialyl Lex, using exogenous acceptors. A second fucosyltransferase activity was detected in extracts of C.elegans that transfers Fuc in α1,2 linkage to Gal specifically on type-1 chains. The discovery of α-fucosyltransferases in C.elegans opens the possibility of using this well-characterized nematode as a model system for studying the role of fucosylated glycans in the development and survival of C.elegans and possibly other helminths.
我们报告了线虫秀丽隐杆线虫表达的α1,3岩藻糖基转移酶(α1,3FT)的鉴定、分子克隆和特征描述。虽然秀丽隐杆线虫的聚糖不表达 Lewis x 抗原 Galβ1→4[Fucα1→3]GlcNAcβ→R,但成年秀丽隐杆线虫的洗涤剂提取物中含有α1,3FT。秀丽隐杆线虫含有一种 α1,3FT,它能对非硅烷基化和硅烷基化的受体聚糖进行岩藻糖基化,生成 Lex 和硅烷基 Lex 抗原,还能对含 lacdiNAc 的受体 GalNAcβ1→4GlcNAcβ1→R 进行岩藻糖基化,生成 GalNAcβ1→4[Fucα1→3]GlcNAcβ1→R 。通过对 elegans 基因组数据库的搜索,发现了一个与所有五个克隆的人类 α1,3FTs具有 20-23% 相同度的基因。通过 PCR 从 cDNA λZAP 文库中扩增出了 elegans α1,3FT(CEFT-1)的推定 cDNA,并对其进行了克隆和测序。瞬时转染了编码 CEFT-1 的 cDNA 的 COS7 细胞能表达 Lex 抗原,但不能表达 sLex 抗原。转染细胞提取物中的 CEFT-1 能利用外源受体合成 Lex,但不能合成 sialyl Lex。在秀丽隐杆线虫的提取物中检测到了第二种岩藻糖基转移酶活性,它能将α1,2连接的岩藻糖转移到1型链上的Gal上。在秀丽隐杆线虫中发现α-岩藻糖基转移酶为研究岩藻糖基化聚糖在秀丽隐杆线虫以及其他蠕虫的发育和生存过程中的作用提供了可能。