Release of glycosyltransferase and glycosidase activities from normal and transformed cell lines

The release of galactosyltransferase, sialyltransferase, and several glycosidase activities into the growth media from several normal and transformed cell lines was examined. Six of the seven cell lines released galactosyltransferase into their culture media. Only the human leukemia CCRF-CEM cells failed to release demonstrable galactosyltransferase activity. Release of galactosyltransferase activity into the media closely paralleled the growth curves for all but the BHKpy cells. These cells continued to release peak levels of galactosyltransferase activity into the culture media after their growth had plateaued. Media galactosyltransferase activity was unaffected by Triton X-100 treatment had remained in the supernatant fraction of a 100,000 X g, 12-hr centrifugation, suggesting that the cells release galactosyltransferase in a soluble form. In contrast to galactosyltransferase activity, only one of the cell lines (L1210) released sialyltransferase activity in appreciable amounts. Even this level of activity was 20-fold less than that observed for galactosyltransferase in the media from L1210 cells. Of the nine glycosidase activities assayed, only N-acetylglucosaminidase was observed in significant amounts in the media from all but the CCRF-CEM cells. However, N-acetylglucosaminidase release did not correlate closely with cell growth. These findings suggest a relatively specific release of galactosyltransferase and N-acetylglucosaminidase activities by cells in tissue culture. Moreover, the release of galactosyltransferase closely parallels cell growth. The significance of these released enzymes, especially to cell growth, has yet to be determined.