Heparin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans are biologically active macromolecules composed of a core protein and one or more polysaccharide chains attached via an O-glycosidic linkage between xylose and serine. Among several distinct biological activities, the anticoagulant activity displayed by some heparins and heparan sulfates is the most conspicuous, and this property is now known to reside in an antithrombin-binding pentasaccharide segment of unique structure. The biosynthesis of heparins and heparan sulfates encompasses 15 enzymatic steps, which take place in three phases: a) formation of a specific carbohydrate-protein linkage region; b) assembly of repeating disaccharides (GlcUA-GlcNAc); and c) polymer modifications leading to the generation of the biological activities of the polysaccharides. Basic knowledge about the properties of the enzymes catalyzing these reactions is meager, and, to date, only two of the enzymes have been purified to homogeneity. Our long-term objectives are to establish the structures and mechanisms of action of some of these enzymes, to determine how the synthetic apparatus is organized in the intracellular membranes, and to elucidate how the synthesis of the polysaccharides is regulated by intrinsic mechanisms at the molecular and cellular levels as well as by extrinsic influences on the intact cells. In the immediate future, our investigations will be focused on two reactions, glucuronysyl transfer to galactose residues during linkage region formation, which may be a rate-limiting step in the overall assembly process, and uronosyl 5-epimerization, which is a polymer modification essential to the formation of the antithrombin- binding sites. The following specific aims will be pursued: 1) purification of heparosan N-sulfate D-glucuronosyl 5-epimerase; 2) characterization of the purified enzyme with respect to molecular and catalytic properties; 3) development of simplified methodology for the assay of glucuronosyltransferase I and the closely related transferase involved in the biosynthesis of the HNK-1 antigen; 4) purification of the two glucuronosyltransferases; and 5) investigations of the metabolism of the 5-epimerase, with initial emphasis on its turnover in cultured skin fibroblasts and hepatocytes. Research in this general area has an intrinsic value, inasmuch as it advances our basic knowledge of important processes in the human body, but it also has a direct and proven clinical value in that it has led to improved forms of antithrombotic therapy and has aided in the diagnosis of genetic metabolic deficiencies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DE008252-07
Application #
2130026
Study Section
Pathobiochemistry Study Section (PBC)
Project Start
1987-08-01
Project End
1998-01-31
Budget Start
1994-02-01
Budget End
1995-01-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Dentistry
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
004514360
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
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Eklund, E; Roden, L; Malmstrom, M et al. (2000) Dermatan is a better substrate for 4-O-sulfation than chondroitin: implications in the generation of 4-O-sulfated, L-iduronate-rich galactosaminoglycans. Arch Biochem Biophys 383:171-7
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Manzella, S M; Roden, L; Meezan, E (1995) Dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside as a substrate for glucosyl and xylosyl transfer by glycogenin. Glycobiology 5:263-71
Manzella, S; Ananth, S; Oegema, T R et al. (1995) Inhibition of glycogenin-catalyzed glucosyl and xylosyl transfer by cytidine 5'-diphosphate and related compounds. Arch Biochem Biophys 320:361-8
Roden, L; Jin, J; Yu, H et al. (1995) Tritium labelling of amino sugars at C-2 by alkaline epimerization in tritiated water. Glycobiology 5:167-73
Weidanz, J A; Campbell, P; DeLucas, L J et al. (1995) Glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase in normal human erythrocytes. Br J Haematol 91:72-9
Manzella, S M; Roden, L; Meezan, E (1994) A biphasic radiometric assay of glycogenin using the hydrophobic acceptor n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside. Anal Biochem 216:383-91
Meezan, E; Ananth, S; Manzella, S et al. (1994) Xylosyl transfer to an endogenous renal acceptor. Characteristics of the reaction and properties of the product. J Biol Chem 269:11503-8

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