Galactosylated fucose epitopes in nematodes: increased expression in a Caenorhabditis mutant associated with altered lectin sensitivity and occurrence in parasitic species

J Biol Chem. 2012 Aug 17;287(34):28276-90. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.353128. Epub 2012 Jun 25.

Abstract

The modification of α1,6-linked fucose residues attached to the proximal (reducing-terminal) core N-acetylglucosamine residue of N-glycans by β1,4-linked galactose ("GalFuc" epitope) is a feature of a number of invertebrate species including the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. A pre-requisite for both core α1,6-fucosylation and β1,4-galactosylation is the presence of a nonreducing terminal N-acetylglucosamine; however, this residue is normally absent from the final glycan structure in invertebrates due to the action of specific hexosaminidases. Previously, we have identified two hexosaminidases (HEX-2 and HEX-3) in C. elegans, which process N-glycans. In the present study, we have prepared a hex-2;hex-3 double mutant, which possesses a radically altered N-glycomic profile. Whereas in the double mutant core α1,3-fucosylation of the proximal N-acetylglucosamine was abolished, the degree of galactosylation of core α1,6-fucose increased, and a novel Galα1,2Fucα1,3 moiety attached to the distal core N-acetylglucosamine residue was detected. Both galactosylated fucose moieties were also found in two parasitic nematodes, Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum dentatum. As core modifications of N-glycans are known targets for fungal nematotoxic lectins, the sensitivity of the C. elegans double hexosaminidase mutant was assessed. Although this mutant displayed hypersensitivity to the GalFuc-binding lectin CGL2 and the N-acetylglucosamine-binding lectin XCL, the mutant was resistant to CCL2, which binds core α1,3-fucose. Thus, the use of C. elegans mutants aids the identification of novel N-glycan modifications and the definition of in vivo specificities of nematotoxic lectins with potential as anthelmintic agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / genetics
  • Acetylglucosamine / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / pharmacology
  • Ascaris suum / genetics
  • Ascaris suum / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drug Design
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Epitopes / metabolism*
  • Fucose / genetics
  • Fucose / metabolism*
  • Galectin 2 / pharmacology
  • Glycosylation
  • Hexosaminidases / genetics
  • Hexosaminidases / metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Oesophagostomum / genetics
  • Oesophagostomum / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides / genetics
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Epitopes
  • Galectin 2
  • Polysaccharides
  • Fucose
  • Hexosaminidases
  • Acetylglucosamine