CGC Bibliography Paper 5339

Structural analysis of N-linked glycans in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Natsuka S, Adachi J, Kawaguchi M, Nakakita S, Hase S, Ichikawa A, Ikura K

Medline:

12038976

Citation:

Journal of Biochemistry 131: 807-813 2002

Type:

ARTICLE

Genes:

Abstract:

Caenorhabditis elegans is an excellent model for morphogenetic research. However, little information is available on the structure of cell-surface glycans in C. elegans, although several lines of evidence have suggested a role for these glycans in cell-cell interactions during development. In this study, we analyzed N-glycan structures. Oligosaccharides liberated by hydrazinolysis from a total membrane fraction were labeled by pyridylamination, and around 90% of the N-glycans were detected as neutral oligosaccharides. The most dominant structure was Man(alpha)1-6(Man(alpha)1-3)Man(beta)1-4GlcNAc(beta)1-4GlcN Ac, which is commonly found in insects. Branching structures of major oligomannose-type glycans were the same as those found in mammals. Structures that had a core fucose or non-reducing end N-acetylglucosamine were also identified, but ordinary complex-type glycans with