Sulfation of LH does not affect intracellular trafficking

Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2009 Oct 15;309(1-2):76-81. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2009.03.004. Epub 2009 Mar 20.

Abstract

LH and FSH are produced by the same gonadotrope cells of the anterior pituitary but differ in their mode of secretion. LH secretion is primarily episodic, or regulated, while FSH secretion is primarily basal, or constitutive. The asparagine (N)-linked oligosaccharides of LH and FSH terminate with sulfate and sialic acid, respectively. TSH also contains sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides and is secreted through the regulated pathway. It has been hypothesized that sulfate plays a role in segregating LH to the regulated pathway. Using a mouse pituitary model, we tested this hypothesis by examining the secretory fate of LH from pituitaries treated with sodium chlorate, a known inhibitor of sulfation. Here we show that mouse LH is sulfated and secreted through the regulated pathway, while FSH is secreted constitutively. LH secretion from chlorate-treated pituitaries, which showed complete inhibition of sulfation, was similar to untreated pituitaries. These data suggest that the metabolic role for sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides is not for intracellular trafficking but for the extracellular bioactivity of LH.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chlorates / pharmacology
  • Cysteine / metabolism
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / metabolism
  • Intracellular Space / drug effects
  • Intracellular Space / metabolism*
  • Luteinizing Hormone / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Pituitary Gland / drug effects
  • Pituitary Gland / metabolism
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Sulfur / metabolism*

Substances

  • Chlorates
  • Sulfur
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  • Cysteine
  • sodium chlorate