B-transferase with a Pro234Ser substitution acquires AB-transferase activity

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2011;75(8):1570-5. doi: 10.1271/bbb.110276. Epub 2011 Aug 7.

Abstract

A/B-Transferase is a glycosyltransferase that transfers a sugar substrate onto H-antigen, which is responsible for the synthesis of glycoprotein- and glycolipid-conjugates termed A/B-antigens. One polymorphism that causes the Pro234Ser substitution in B-transferase was recently found in a genotyping study, and might be cis-AB. In the present study, we analyzed the phenotypes arising from the enzymatic specificity of B-transferase with the Pro234Ser mutation. To evaluate the effect of the P234S mutation on enzymatic specificity, we generated an expression plasmid for B-transferase with Pro234Ser as well as A-transferase with Leu266Met, which is frequently found in cis-ABs. Transfection of B-transferase/P234S or A-transferase/L266M cDNA into HeLa cells, an O-blood group cell line, resulted in an AB-phenotype by absorption-elution testing and immunostaining, whereas A- and B-transferase-expressing HeLa cells exhibited only their own activity. Molecular simulation indicated that the P234S mutation causes a conformational change in the substrate pocket making it suitable for N-acetylgalactosamine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ABO Blood-Group System / genetics*
  • ABO Blood-Group System / immunology
  • ABO Blood-Group System / metabolism
  • Acetylgalactosamine / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Mutation*
  • N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / genetics*
  • N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / immunology
  • N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Plasmids
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / immunology*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Transfection

Substances

  • ABO Blood-Group System
  • N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases
  • Acetylgalactosamine