O-acetylation of disialoganglioside GD3 by human melanoma cells creates a unique antigenic determinant

Science. 1984 Aug 24;225(4664):844-6. doi: 10.1126/science.6206564.

Abstract

Monoclonal antibody Mab D1.1 recognizes on human melanoma cells a ganglioside antigen characterized by an alkali-labile O-acetylated sialic acid residue. Immunochemical analysis showed that this molecule is an O-acetylated product of the neuroectoderm-associated disialoganglioside GD3. Controlled chemical O-acetylation of purified GD3 resulted in the generation of this same epitope. Lysates of human melanoma cells were found to contain O-acetyltransferase activity capable of generating the antigenic epitope recognized by Mab D1.1. Thus, the addition of a single O-acetyl group to a common cell surface-associated ganglioside can create a potentially tumor-specific antigen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Acetyltransferases / metabolism
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Gangliosides / analysis
  • Gangliosides / immunology*
  • Gangliosides / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / enzymology
  • Melanoma / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Epitopes
  • Gangliosides
  • ganglioside, GD3
  • Acetyltransferases