Publications by authors named "Hamako J"

Bitiscetin-1 (aka bitiscetin) and bitiscetin-2 are C-type lectin-like proteins purified from the venom of (puff adder). They bind to von Willebrand factor (VWF) and-at least bitiscetin-1-induce platelet agglutination via enhancement of VWF binding to platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb). Bitiscetin-1 and -2 bind the VWF A1 and A3 domains, respectively.

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Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is one of the plasma protein carrying ABO(H) blood group antigens, but the combining process of these antigens is not clear. In the present study, we examined whether plasma glycosyltransferase affects the blood group antigens on VWF. VWF expressing H-antigen (H-VWF) from blood group O and bovine serum albumin conjugated with H-antigen (H-BSA) were incubated with recombinant α1-3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (rA-transferase) and A-plasma with or without an additional UDP-GalNAc.

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Unlabelled: Essentials Botrocetin-2 (Bot2) binds to von Willebrand factor (VWF) and induces platelet agglutination. We identified Bot2 residues that are required for binding to VWF and glycoprotein (GP) Ib. We produced a mutant Bot2 that binds to VWF but inhibits platelet agglutination.

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von Willebrand factor (VWF) has two major roles in hemostasis, as a form of molecular glue which functions in platelet plug formation and as a protective transporter for coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). VWF shows a multimeric chain structure composed of 270 kDa subunits containing binding domains for FVIII, platelet and collagens. Biosynthesis, storage, secretion of VWF and the cleavage process by ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 repeats 13) regulating VWF activity have been elucidated.

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MytiLec; a novel lectin isolated from the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis); shows strong binding affinity to globotriose (Gb3: Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glc). MytiLec revealed β-trefoil folding as also found in the ricin B-subunit type (R-type) lectin family, although the amino acid sequences were quite different. Classification of R-type lectin family members therefore needs to be based on conformation as well as on primary structure.

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A specific galactose-binding lectin was shown to inhibit the hemolytic effect of streptolysin O (SLO), an exotoxin produced by Streptococcus pyogenes. Commercially available lectins that recognize N-acetyllactosamine (ECA), T-antigen (PNA), and Tn-antigen (ABA) agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes, but had no effect on SLO-induced hemolysis. In contrast, SLO-induced hemolysis was inhibited by AKL, a lectin purified from sea hare (Aplysia kurodai) eggs that recognizes α-galactoside oligosaccharides.

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A novel lectin structure was found for a 17-kDa α-D-galactose-binding lectin (termed "MytiLec") isolated from the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. The complete primary structure of the lectin was determined by Edman degradation and mass spectrometric analysis. MytiLec was found to consist of 149 amino acids with a total molecular mass of 16,812.

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A divalent cation-independent lectin-HOL-18, with cytotoxic activity against leukemia cells, was purified from a demosponge, Halichondria okadai. HOL-18 is a 72 kDa tetrameric lectin that consists of four non-covalently bonded 18 kDa subunits. Hemagglutination activity of the lectin was strongly inhibited by chitotriose (GlcNAcβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-4GlcNAc), fetuin and mucins from porcine stomach and bovine submaxillary gland.

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Botrocetin is a heterodimer snake venom protein that induces von Willebrand factor (VWF)- and platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb)-dependent platelet agglutination in vitro. We have cloned cDNAs for a botrocetin-2 from a cDNA library of the venom gland of Bothrops jararaca having a high similarity with botrocetin subunits. Recombinant botrocetin-2, expressed in 293T cells, showed cofactor activity comparable to natural botrocetin.

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A divalent cation-independent 16 kDa D-galactose binding lectin (AKL-2) was isolated from eggs of sea hare, Aplysia kurodai. The lectin recognized D-galactose and D-galacturonic acid and had a 32 kDa dimer consisting of two disulfide-bonded 16 kDa subunits. Eighteen N-terminus amino acids were identified by Edman degradation, having unique primary structure.

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A lectin - designated OXYL for the purposes of this study that strongly recognizes complex-type oligosaccharides of serum glycoproteins - was purified from a crinoid, the feather star Oxycomanthus japonicus, the most basal group among extant echinoderms. OXYL was purified through a combination of anion-exchange and affinity chromatography using Q-sepharose and fetuin-sepharose gel, respectively. Lectin was determined to be a 14-kDa polypeptide by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions.

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A divalent, cation-independent d-galactose-binding lectin was purified from coronate moon turban Turbo (Lunella) coreensis. This lectin recognizes d-galactose and is a 38-kDa dimeric protein consisting disulphide-bonded 22-kDa polypeptides under non-reducing and reducing conditions of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. Haemagglutination activity was inhibited by D-galactose, N-acetyl D-galactosamine, melibiose, lactose, porcine stomach mucin, asialofetuin and bovine submaxillary mucin.

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Many snake venom proteins have been isolated that affect platelet plug formation by interacting either with platelet integrins, membrane glycoprotein Ib (GPIb), or plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF). Among them, disintegrins purified from various snake venoms are strong inhibitors of platelet aggregation. Botrocetin and bitiscetin derived from Bothrops jararaca and Bitis arietans venom, respectively, induce VWF-dependent platelet agglutination in vitro.

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A lectin was purified from Japanese sea hare Aplysia kurodai by lactosyl-agarose affinity chromatography. The molecular mass of the lectin was determined to be 56 and 32 kDa by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing and reducing conditions, respectively. It was found to agglutinate trypsinized and glutaraldehyde-fixed rabbit and human erythrocytes in the absence of divalent cations.

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The glycan-binding profile of a beta-galactoside-binding 15 kDa lectin (Galectin-1) purified from the oocytes of the American bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, was studied using 61 pyridyl-aminated oligosaccharides by frontal affinity chromatography. Human blood type-A-hexasaccharide (GalNAcalpha1-3(Fucalpha1-2)Galbeta;1-4GlcNAcbeta1-4Galbeta1-4Glc) was found to exhibit the strongest ligand binding to the galectin while Forssman antigen (GalNAcalpha1-3GalNAcbeta1-3Galalpha1-4Galbeta1-4Glc) and type-A-tetrasaccharide (GalNAcalpha1-3(Fucalpha1-2)Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-4Glc) were also extensively recognized. The kinetics of affinity of galectin-1 to type-A oligosaccharide was analysed by surface plasmon resonance using neoglycoprotein with type-A oligosaccharides.

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A lectin recognizing both Galbeta1-3GlcNAc and Galbeta1-4GlcNAc was purified from the demosponge Halichondria okadai by lactosyl-agarose affinity chromatography. The molecular mass of the lectin was determined to be 30 kDa by SDS-PAGE under reducing and non-reducing conditions and 60 kDa by gel permeation chromatography. The pI value of the lectin was 6.

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Galactoside-binding lectin was purified from the snake venom of Crotalus ruber by affinity chromatography on a lactose-agarose column, and the complete amino acid sequence was determined. The C. ruber venom lectin (CRL) showed a single band of 28 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis under non-reducing conditions, but it showed a single band of 15 kDa under reducing conditions, indicating that CRL is a disulfide-linked homodimer of 15 kDa subunit.

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Hemostatic plug formation is a complex event mediated by platelets, subendothelial matrices and von Willebrand factor (VWF) at the vascular injury. Snake venom proteins have an excellent potency to regulate the interaction between VWF and platelet membrane receptors in vitro. Two protein families, C-type lectin-like proteins and Zn(2+)-metalloproteinases, have been found to affect platelet-VWF interaction.

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Bitiscetin, a C-type lectin-like heterodimeric snake venom protein purified from Bitis arietans, binds to human von Willebrand factor (VWF) and induces the platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib-dependent platelet agglutination in vitro similar to botrocetin. In contrast with botrocetin which binds to the A1 domain of VWF, the A3 domain, a major collagen-binding site of VWF, was proposed to be a bitiscetin-binding site. In the competitive binding assay, neither bitiscetin nor botrocetin had an inhibitory effect on the VWF binding to the immobilized type III collagen on a plastic plate.

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Bitiscetin, a C-type lectin-like protein isolated from the venom of the snake Bitis arientans, promotes the interactions between plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) and platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) to induce platelet aggregation. We report here the crystal structure of bitiscetin at 2.0 A resolution.

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Binding specificities of ABO blood group-recognizing lectins toward blood group antigens on neoglycoproteins, glycoproteins and complex-type oligosaccharides were studied by lectin-blotting analysis, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and lectin-conjugated agarose column chromatography. Human serum albumin conjugated with A- and B-trisaccharides was clearly recognized by Helix pomatia (HPA), Phaseolus lunatus, Dolichos biflorus agglutinins, and Griffonia simplicifolia I agglutinin B(4), respectively. Almost the same results were obtained for human group A and B ovarian cyst and A-active hog gastric mucins, but Glycine max agglutinin only reacted to the group A hog mucin.

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The primary structure of kaouthiagin, a metalloproteinase from the venom of the cobra snake Naja kaouthia which specifically cleaves human von Willebrand factor (VWF), was determined by amino acid sequencing. Kaouthiagin is composed of 401 amino acid residues and one Asn-linked sugar chain. The sequence is highly similar to those of high-molecular mass snake venom metalloproteinases from viperid and crotalid venoms comprised of metalloproteinase, disintegrin-like, and Cys-rich domains.

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von Willebrand factor (vWF) is synthesized exclusively by endothelial cells and megakaryocytes, and stored in the intracellular granules or constitutively secreted into plasma. ABO blood group antigens are covalently associated with asparagine-linked sugar chains of plasma vWF. The effect of ABO-mismatched bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or blood stem cell transplantation (BSCT) on the expression of ABO blood group antigens on the vWF was examined to obtain information on the origin of these antigens.

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A von Willebrand factor (vWF)-binding and -cleaving metalloproteinase, termed "kaouthiagin", was purified from the venom of cobra snake Naja kaouthia. Kaouthiagin is a monomer with a molecular mass of about 46 kDa and 51 kDa under non-reducing and reducing conditions, respectively, and the N-terminal amino acid sequence is homologous to high molecular mass snake venom metalloproteinases. Kaouthiagin bound to vWF in a divalent ion-independent manner, but the reduced kaouthiagin failed to interact with vWF, suggesting that the protein conformation maintained by intrachain-disulfide linkages of the molecule is essential for the binding to vWF.

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