1,3-1,4-α-L-fucosynthase that specifically introduces Lewis a/x antigens into type-1/2 chains

J Biol Chem. 2012 May 11;287(20):16709-19. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.333781. Epub 2012 Mar 26.

Abstract

α-L-fucosyl residues attached at the non-reducing ends of glycoconjugates constitute histo-blood group antigens Lewis (Le) and ABO and play fundamental roles in various biological processes. Therefore, establishing a method for synthesizing the antigens is important for functional glycomics studies. However, regiospecific synthesis of glycosyl linkages, especially α-L-fucosyl linkages, is quite difficult to control both by chemists and enzymologists. Here, we generated an α-L-fucosynthase that specifically introduces Le(a) and Le(x) antigens into the type-1 and type-2 chains, respectively; i.e. the enzyme specifically accepts the disaccharide structures (Galβ1-3/4GlcNAc) at the non-reducing ends and attaches a Fuc residue via an α-(1,4/3)-linkage to the GlcNAc. X-ray crystallographic studies revealed the structural basis of this strict regio- and acceptor specificity, which includes the induced fit movement of the catalytically important residues, and the difference between the active site structures of 1,3-1,4-α-L-fucosidase (EC 3.2.1.111) and α-L-fucosidase (EC 3.2.1.51) in glycoside hydrolase family 29. The glycosynthase developed in this study should serve as a potentially powerful tool to specifically introduce the Le(a/x) epitopes onto labile glycoconjugates including glycoproteins. Mining glycosidases with strict specificity may represent the most efficient route to the specific synthesis of glycosidic bonds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bifidobacterium / enzymology*
  • Bifidobacterium / genetics
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Epitopes / chemistry
  • Fucose / chemistry*
  • Fucosyltransferases / chemistry*
  • Fucosyltransferases / genetics
  • Humans
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens
  • Oligosaccharides / chemistry*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Epitopes
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens
  • Lewis a oligosaccharide
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Fucose
  • Fucosyltransferases

Associated data

  • PDB/3UES
  • PDB/3UET