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GlcNAc-transferase V and core 2 GlcNAc-transferase expression in the developing mouse embryo
M Granovsky1, C Fode, C E Warren
1Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Glycobiology
|December 1, 1995
Summary
This study maps the expression of two key glycosylation enzymes, GlcNAc-TV and core 2 GlcNAc-T, during mouse embryonic development. Their distinct spatial and temporal patterns suggest roles in tissue differentiation and cell migration.
Area of Science:
- Glycobiology
- Developmental Biology
- Enzymology
Background:
- UDP-GlcNAc:Manalpha1-6Manbeta-R beta1-6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GlcNAc-TV) and UDP-GlcNAc:Galbeta1-3GalNAc-R beta1-6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (core 2 GlcNAc-T) are crucial Golgi enzymes.
- These enzymes synthesize beta1-6GlcNAc-branched structures in N- and O-linked glycosylation pathways.
- Their roles in normal adult tissues and embryogenesis are largely uncharacterized, despite known changes during cell differentiation and transformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatiotemporal expression patterns of GlcNAc-TV and core 2 GlcNAc-T during mouse embryogenesis.
- To correlate enzyme expression with specific developing tissues and cellular functions.
Main Methods:
- In situ RNA hybridization was employed to examine mRNA expression of GlcNAc-TV and core 2 GlcNAc-T in post-implantation mouse embryos.
- Immunohistochemistry using Leukoagglutinin (L-PHA) was used to detect specific oligosaccharide structures.
Main Results:
- Core 2 GlcNAc-T mRNA showed broad embryonic expression initially, then localized to mucin- and cartilage-producing tissues.
- GlcNAc-TV transcripts were initially absent, then widespread, and later restricted to the central nervous system and specialized epithelia (skin, intestine, kidney, etc.).
- In adult gonads, GlcNAc-TV was found in follicular and testicular cells, not germ cells. L-PHA staining generally co-localized with GlcNAc-TV in epithelia but showed unique patterns in the brain vasculature.
Conclusions:
- GlcNAc-TV and core 2 GlcNAc-T exhibit distinct and dynamic expression profiles during mouse embryonic development.
- The expression patterns suggest involvement in the development of specific tissues and potentially in cell migration, particularly in basal epithelia and neural tissues.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise functions of these enzymes in developmental processes and cell biology.