The alpha-1,2 fucosylated tubule system of DU145 prostate cancer cells is derived from a partially fragmented Golgi complex and its formation is actin-dependent.

In previous work, we showed that highly proliferative cells and cancer cells, but not cells with normal growth rate, have tubules rich in alpha-1,2 fucosylated epitopes that extend radially from the nucleus to the cell periphery and form an unusual uptake system. The importance of alpha-1,2 fucosylation in forming tubules was demonstrated by proving that down-regulating the two corresponding fucosyltransferases (FUT1 and FUT2) causes tubule fragmentation. Here, we present evidence that in the prostate cancer cell line DU145, the tubules arise in actively growing cells from vesicles in the medial and trans elements of a partially fragmented Golgi complex, while in not actively growing cells the tubules become completely independent from the Golgi complex.

Formulation of liposomes functionalized with Lotus lectin and effective in targeting highly proliferative cells.

Background: Liposomes, used to improve the therapeutic index of new and established drugs, have advanced with the insertion of active targeting. The lectin from Lotus tetragonolobus (LTL), which binds glycans containing alpha-1,2-linked fucose, reveals surface regionalized glycoepitopes in highly proliferative cells not detectable in normally growing cells. In contrast, other lectins localize the corresponding glycoepitopes all over the cell surface.

Identification of a novel, alpha2-fucosylation-dependent uptake system in highly proliferative cells.

In this paper we describe a new structure present in highly proliferative cells and absent in cells with normal growth potential. We used cultured bovine venular endothelial cells (CVEC) as examples of high proliferation, and dermal fibroblasts of a primary culture as examples of normal proliferation. The structure, consisting of tubules radiating from the nuclear region to the tips of cell protrusions, was revealed by its strong positivity to the fucose-binding lectin from Lotus (LTL) that prefers glycans with alpha-1,2-linked fucose.

Beta-actin deficiency with oxidative posttranslational modifications in Rett syndrome erythrocytes: insights into an altered cytoskeletal organization.

Beta-actin, a critical player in cellular functions ranging from cell motility and the maintenance of cell shape to transcription regulation, was evaluated in the erythrocyte membranes from patients with typical Rett syndrome (RTT) and methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene mutations. RTT, affecting almost exclusively females with an average frequency of 1∶10,000 female live births, is considered the second commonest cause of severe cognitive impairment in the female gender. Evaluation of beta-actin was carried out in a comparative cohort study on red blood cells (RBCs), drawn from healthy control subjects and RTT patients using mass spectrometry-based quantitative analysis.

Chemical and biological properties of polysaccharide-coated titania nanoparticles: the key role of proteins.

In this study, we investigated the physicochemical and biological properties of naked and coated titania nanoparticles. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of the biopolymer coatings (hyaluronic acid and its biphosphonated derivative) and the role of protein adsorption from a cell culture medium on the citotoxicity of nanoparticles. Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to investigate the interactions between the nanoparticles and the polysaccharides.

A fucose-containing O-glycoepitope on bovine and human nucleolin.

In this paper, we demonstrate the existence and localization of fucosyl-containing O-glycoforms of nucleolin in cultured bovine endothelial cells (CVEC) and malignant cultured human A431 cells. The tool for this discovery was an antibody raised against gp273, a glycoprotein ligand for the sperm-egg interaction in the mollusc bivalve Unio elongatulus. The function and immunological properties of gp273 mainly depend on clustered Lewis-like, fucose-containing O-glycans.

Identification and characterization of a 38 kDa glycoprotein functionally associated with mating activity of Paramecium primaurelia.

In Paramecium primaurelia mating interactions take place immediately after mixing mating-competent cells of opposite mating types. The cells clump in clusters (mating reaction) and then separate in pairs. Previous results have shown that sialic acid-containing glycoconjugates are present on the cell surface and are involved in mating-cell pairing.

The GPI-anchored CD52 antigen of the sperm surface interacts with semenogelin and participates in clot formation and liquefaction of human semen.

CD52 is a human glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored antigen exclusively expressed in leukocytes and epididymal cells. It is also present in sperm, being inserted in their plasma membrane as they pass through the epididymis. In a previous paper we identified a new CD52 form without GPI anchor by fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) fractionation of semen components.

Envelope glycosylation determined by lectins in microscopy sections of Acinetobacter venetianus induced by diesel fuel.

It was suggested in a previous study that cells of Acinetobacter venetianus VE-C3 adhere to diesel fuel by synthesizing a capsular polysaccharide containing glucose and/or mannose. To study the fine structure of cells and localization of bacterial polysaccharide in the presence of diesel fuel, two lectins were used: ConA, an agglutinin from Canavalia ensiformis specific for mannose and/or glucose residues, and PNA, an agglutinin from Arachis hypogaea, for terminal galactose residues. The lectins were conjugated with electron dense ferritin for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) for scanning confocal laser microscopy (SCLM).