Unique Asn-linked oligosaccharides of the human pathogen Entamoeba histolytica

J Biol Chem. 2008 Jun 27;283(26):18355-64. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M800725200. Epub 2008 Apr 16.

Abstract

N-Glycans of Entamoeba histolytica, the protist that causes amebic dysentery and liver abscess, are of great interest for multiple reasons. E. histolytica makes an unusual truncated N-glycan precursor (Man(5)GlcNAc(2)), has few nucleotide sugar transporters, and has a surface that is capped by the lectin concanavalin A. Here, biochemical and mass spectrometric methods were used to examine N-glycan biosynthesis and the final N-glycans of E. histolytica with the following conclusions. Unprocessed Man(5)GlcNAc(2), which is the most abundant E. histolytica N-glycan, is aggregated into caps on the surface of E. histolytica by the N-glycan-specific, anti-retroviral lectin cyanovirin-N. Glc(1)Man(5)GlcNAc(2), which is made by a UDP-Glc: glycoprotein glucosyltransferase that is part of a conserved N-glycan-dependent endoplasmic reticulum quality control system for protein folding, is also present in mature N-glycans. A swainsonine-sensitive alpha-mannosidase trims some N-glycans to biantennary Man(3)GlcNAc(2). Complex N-glycans of E. histolytica are made by the addition of alpha1,2-linked Gal to both arms of small oligomannose glycans, and Gal residues are capped by one or more Glc. In summary, E. histolytica N-glycans include unprocessed Man(5)GlcNAc(2), which is a target for cyanovirin-N, as well as unique, complex N-glycans containing Gal and Glc.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asparagine / chemistry*
  • Concanavalin A / chemistry
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism
  • Entamoeba histolytica / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Glycosylation
  • Lectins / chemistry
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Oligosaccharides / chemistry*
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Protein Folding
  • alpha-Mannosidase / chemistry

Substances

  • Lectins
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
  • Concanavalin A
  • Asparagine
  • alpha-Mannosidase