Globoside and Forssman synthases in human lymphocytes exposed to Epstein-Barr virus and mitogens

The activities of two glycolipid synthetases, globoside synthase or UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine-trihexosylceramide beta-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (beta-GalNAc transferase; EC 2.4.1.79) and Forssman synthase or UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine-globoside-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransfer ase (alpha-GalNAc transferase; EC 2.4.1.88), were assayed in various human lymphoblastic cell lines. The activity of beta-GalNAc transferase was much higher than that of alpha-GalNAc transferase except in Molt 3 and Molt 4 lines, which were derived from T-cells. In cultivated human peripheral lymphocytes concanavalin A (Con A), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) stimulated the activities of alpha- and beta-GalNAc transferases in addition to having their known stimulative effect on thymidine incorporation. Characteristic differences between alpha- and beta-GalNAc transferases were noted in the responses to the above mitogens, but activities of both enzymes were greatly increased by exposure of the lymphocytes to EBV. Treatment of lymphocytes with either dactinomycin (actinomycin D) or cycloheximide 24 hours after the addition of Con A, LPS, or EBV decreased the activities of the transferases. This observation suggests that stimulation of alpha- and beta-GalNAc transferases requires transcriptional and translational processes.