Synthesis of fluorescent glycosphingolipids and neoglycoconjugates which contain 6-gala oligosaccharides using the transglycosylation reaction of a novel endoglycoceramidase (EGALC)

J Biochem. 2007 Aug;142(2):239-46. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvm125. Epub 2007 Jun 13.

Abstract

Endoglycoceramidase is a glycohydrolase capable of hydrolysing the O-glycosidic linkage between oligosaccharides and ceramides of various glycosphingolipids. However, no endoglycoceramidase reported so far can hydrolyse 6-gala series glycosphingolipids which possess the common structure R-Gal beta1-6Gal beta1-1'Cer. Recently, we found a novel endoglycoceramidase (endogalactosylceramidase, EGALC) which specifically hydrolyses 6-gala series glycosphingolipids. Here, we report that EGALC catalyses the hydrolysis as well as transglycosylation. An intact sugar chain of neogalatriaosylceramide (Gal beta1-6Gal beta1-6Gal beta1-1'Cer) was found to be transferred by EGALC to a primary hydroxyl group of various alkanols and non-ionic detergents such as Triton X-100 generating corresponding alkyl- and Triton-trigalactooligosaccharides. Furthermore, fluorescent 6-gala series glycosphingolipids were synthesized by transglycosylation in a reaction with EGALC using fluorescent ceramides as acceptors. Because of high efficiency and broad acceptor specificity, EGALC would facilitate the synthesis of fluorescent glycosphingolipids and neoglycoconjugates which contain 6-gala oligosaccharides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbohydrate Sequence
  • Fluorescence
  • Galactosylceramides / chemistry*
  • Glycoside Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Glycosphingolipids / biosynthesis*
  • Glycosphingolipids / chemistry*
  • Glycosylation
  • Hydroxides / chemistry
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligosaccharides / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Trihexosylceramides / chemistry*

Substances

  • Galactosylceramides
  • Glycosphingolipids
  • Hydroxides
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Trihexosylceramides
  • neogalatriaosylceramide
  • hydroxide ion
  • Glycoside Hydrolases
  • endoglycoceramidase