The structure of the oligosaccharides of N-cadherin from human melanoma cell lines

• Published in: Glycoconjugate journal Vol. 20; no. 7/8; pp. 483 - 492
• Main Authors: Ciołczyk-Wierzbicka, Dorota, Amoresano, Angela, Casbarra, Annarita, Hoja-Łukowicz, Dorota, Lityńska, Anna, Laidler, Piotr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Nature B.V 01.07.2003
• Subjects: Cell adhesion & migration; Mass spectrometry; Proteins
• ISSN: 0282-0080; 1573-4986
• DOI: 10.1023/B:GLYC.0000038294.72088.b0

N-cadherin is calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule that mediates cell-cell adhesion and also modulates cell migration and tumor invasion. N-cadherin is a heavily glycosylated protein. Many studies have demonstrated that malignant transformation of a number of cell types correlates with changes of cell surface N-linked oligosacharides. We have studied the carbohydrate profile of N-cadherin synthesized in human melanoma cell lines and the effect of this protein and complex N-glycans on in vitro migration of melanoma cells from the primary tumor site--WM35 and from different metastatic sites WM239 (skin), WM9 (lymph node), and A375 (solid tumor). N-cadherin was immunoprecipitated with anti-human N-cadherin polyclonal antibodies. Characterization of its carbohydrate moieties was carried out by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and blotting, followed by immunochemical identification of the N-cadherin polypeptides and on-blot deglycosylation using PNGase F for glycan release. N-glycans were separated by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) and their structures identified by the computer matching of the resulting masses with those derived from a sequence database. The assay of in vitro chemotaxic cell migration was performed using QCM(TM) Cell Invasion Assay (Chemicon). N-cadherin from WM35 (primary tumor site) possessed high-mannose and biantennary complex type glycans with α2-6 linked sialic acid. N-cadherin from WM239, WM9, and A375 cell lines possessed mostly tri- or tetra-antennary complex type glycans. In addition, N-cadherin from WM9 (lymph node metastatic site) and A375 (solid tumor metastatic site) contained heavily α-fucosylated complex type chains with α2,3 linked sialic acid. Blocking of N-cadherin-mediated intercellular interaction by N-cadherin-specific antibodies significantly (of about 40%) inhibited migration of melanoma cells. Inhibition of synthesis of complex type N-glycans by swainsonine (mannosidase II inhibitor) led to 50% decrease of cell migration. The results indicated differences between N-cadherin glycans from primary and metastatic sites and confirmed influence of N-cadherin and complex -type N-glycans on in vitro migration of melanoma cells. Published in 2004. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]