Showing papers by "Valentin Wittmann published in 2016"

Visualization of Protein-Specific Glycosylation inside Living Cells

Abstract: Protein glycosylation is a ubiquitous post-translational modification that is involved in the regulation of many aspects of protein function. In order to uncover the biological roles of this modification, imaging the glycosylation state of specific proteins within living cells would be of fundamental importance. To date, however, this has not been achieved. Herein, we demonstrate protein-specific detection of the glycosylation of the intracellular proteins OGT, Foxo1, p53, and Akt1 in living cells. Our generally applicable approach relies on Diels-Alder chemistry to fluorescently label intracellular carbohydrates through metabolic engineering. The target proteins are tagged with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the EGFP and the glycan-anchored fluorophore is detected with high contrast even in presence of a large excess of acceptor fluorophores by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM).

Distinct CCR7 glycosylation pattern shapes receptor signaling and endocytosis to modulate chemotactic responses

Abstract: The homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 and their common cognate chemokine receptor CCR7 orchestrate immune cell trafficking by eliciting distinct signaling pathways. Here, we demonstrate that human CCR7 is N-glycosylated on 2 specific residues in the N terminus and the third extracellular loop. Conceptually, CCR7 glycosylation adds steric hindrance to the receptor N terminus and extracellular loop 3, acting as a "swinging door" to regulate receptor sensitivity and cell migration. We found that freshly isolated human B cells, as well as expanded T cells, but not naive T cells, express highly sialylated CCR7. Moreover, we identified that human dendritic cells imprint T cell migration toward CCR7 ligands by secreting enzymes that deglycosylate CCR7, thereby boosting CCR7 signaling on T cells, permitting enhanced T cell locomotion, while simultaneously decreasing receptor endocytosis. In addition, dendritic cells proteolytically convert immobilized CCL21 to a soluble form that is more potent in triggering chemotactic movement and does not desensitize the receptor. Furthermore, we demonstrate that soluble CCL21 functionally resembles neither the CCL19 nor the CCL21 phenotype but acts as a chemokine with unique features. Thus, we advance the concept of dendritic cell-dependent generation of micromilieus and lymph node conditioning by demonstrating a novel layer of CCR7 regulation through CCR7 sialylation. In summary, we demonstrate that leukocyte subsets express distinct patterns of CCR7 sialylation that contribute to receptor signaling and fine-tuning chemotactic responses.

Exploring the Potential of Norbornene-Modified Mannosamine Derivatives for Metabolic Glycoengineering.

Abstract: Metabolic glycoengineering (MGE) allows the introduction of unnaturally modified carbohydrates into cellular glycans and their visualization through bioorthogonal ligation. Alkenes, for example, have been used as reporters that can react through inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder cycloaddition with tetrazines. Earlier, norbornenes were shown to be suitable dienophiles; however, they had not previously been applied for MGE. We synthesized two norbornene-modified mannosamine derivatives that differ in the stereochemistry at the norbornene (exo/endo linkage). Kinetic investigations revealed that the exo derivative reacts more than twice as rapidly as the endo derivative. Through derivatization with 1,2-diamino-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene (DMB) we confirmed that both derivatives are accepted by cells and incorporated after conversion to a sialic acid. In further MGE experiments the incorporated sugars were ligated to a fluorophore and visualized through confocal fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.

Synthesis of Highly Selective Submicromolar Microcystin-Based Inhibitors of Protein Phosphatase (PP)2A over PP1

Abstract: Research and therapeutic targeting of the phosphoserine/threonine phosphatases PP1 and PP2A is hindered by the lack of selective inhibitors. The microcystin (MC) natural toxins target both phosphatases with equal potency, and their complex synthesis has complicated structure-activity relationship studies in the past. We report herein the synthesis and biochemical evaluation of 11 MC analogues, which was accomplished through an efficient strategy combining solid- and solution-phase approaches. Our approach led to the first MC analogue with submicromolar inhibitory potency that is strongly selective for PP2A over PP1 and does not require the complex lipophilic Adda group. Through mutational and structural analyses, we identified a new key element for binding, as well as reasons for the selectivity. This work gives unprecedented insight into how selectivity between these phosphatases can be achieved with MC analogues.

Real‐Time NMR Studies of Oxyamine Ligations of Reducing Carbohydrates under Equilibrium Conditions

Abstract: Ligation reactions at the anomeric center of carbohydrates have gained increasing importance in the field of glycobiology. Oxyamines are frequently used in labeling, immobilization, and bioconjugation of reducing carbohydrates. Herein, we present a systematic investigation of these ligation reactions under aqueous conditions. A series of four unprotected monosaccharides (glucose, N-acetylglucosamine, mannose, and 2-deoxyglucose) and one disaccharide (N,N’-diacetylchitobiose) was reacted with three primary and one secondary oxyamine. We monitored the concentrations of the starting materials and products by 1H NMR spectroscopy and determined reaction times and equilibrium yields. Our experiments show that the outcome of the ligation reaction is not only dependent on the sugar and oxyamine used but also strongly on the reaction conditions. In the case of glucose, lowering the pH from 6 to 3 led to steadily increasing reaction rates, whereas the yields were decreasing at the same time. Variation of the temperature did not only influence the product ratio in equilibrium but can also have a strong impact on the equilibrium yield. In the case of reactions of a primary oxyamine, increased temperatures led to a higher proportion of acyclic products. Reaction of the secondary oxyamine with glucose unexpectedly led to lower yields at higher temperatures.

Visualisierung proteinspezifischer Glycosylierung in lebenden Zellen

Abstract: Die Glycosylierung von Proteinen ist eine weit verbreitete posttranslationale Modifikation, die an der Regulation vieler Proteinfunktionen beteiligt ist. Um die biologischen Funktionen dieser Modifikation zu verstehen, ware die Visualisierung des Glycosylierungszustandes spezifischer Proteine in lebenden Zellen von entscheidender Bedeutung. Bisher wurde dies noch nicht erreicht. Hier zeigen wir die Detektion proteinspezifischer Glycosylierung der intrazellularen Proteine OGT, Foxo1, p53 und Akt1 in lebenden Zellen. Unser breit anwendbarer Ansatz beruht auf der Fluoreszenzmarkierung intrazellularer, metabolisch eingebauter Kohlenhydrate durch Diels-Alder-Chemie. Die gewahlten Proteine sind mit grun fluoreszierendem Protein (EGFP) markiert. Fluoreszenzlebenszeitmikroskopie (FLIM) gestattet die Detektion von Forster-Resonanzenergietransfer (FRET) zwischen EGFP und dem am Glycan gebundenen Fluorophor mit hohem Kontrast selbst in Gegenwart des grosen Uberschusses an Akzeptorfluorophor.

The STEAP1(262-270) peptide encapsulated into PLGA microspheres elicits strong cytotoxic T cell immunity in HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice--A new approach to immunotherapy against prostate carcinoma.

Abstract: BACKGROUND PLGA microsphere-based vaccination has been proven to be effective in immunotherapy of syngeneic model tumors in mice. The critical step for the translation to humans is the identification of immunogenic tumor antigens and potent vaccine formulations to overcome immune tolerance. METHODS HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice were immunized with eight different human prostate cancer peptide antigens co-encapsulated with TLR ligands into PLGA microspheres and analyzed for antigen-specific and functional cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. RESULTS Only vaccination with STEAP1262-270 peptide encapsulated in PLGA MS could effectively crossprime CTLs in vivo. These CTLs recognized STEAP1262–270/HLA-A*0201 complexes on human dendritic cells and prostate cancer cell lines and specifically lysed target cells in vivo. Vaccination with PLGA microspheres was much more potent than with incomplete Freund's adjuvant. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggests that there exist great differences in the immunogenicity of human PCa peptide antigens despite comparable MHC class I binding characteristics. Immunogenic STEAP1262–270 peptide encapsulated into PLGA microspheres however was able to induce vigorous and functional antigen-specific CTLs and therefore is a promising novel approach for immunotherapy against advanced stage prostate cancer. Prostate © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Regioselective Cleavage of Thioether Linkages in Microcystin Conjugates.

Abstract: Microcystins are cyanobacterial toxins that can be found in fresh and coastal waters during algal blooms. Microcystin contamination of water can cause severe poisoning of animals and humans. Quantification of these toxins in biological samples is complicated because a major proportion of microcystins is covalently linked to proteins through thioether bonds formed through a Michael-type addition of cysteine residues of proteins to an N-methyldehydroalanine residue in the microcystins. We investigated chemical methods that can be used to cleave such thioether bonds by means of an elimination reaction that leaves the microcystin backbone intact for subsequent analysis. The known reagent O-mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine (MSH) led to regioselective thioether cleavage, but a large excess of reagent was needed, thus making purification challenging. An unexpected side reaction observed during the investigation of the base-induced elimination inspired us to develop a new thioether-cleavage methodology based on the addition of propargylamine as a nucleophile that can trap the elimination product. This methodology could be successfully applied to the quantitative cleavage of a microcystin-LF–glutathione conjugate. The alkyne moiety introduced by this procedure offers the possibility for further reactions with azides by using click chemistry, which might be useful for the derivatization or isolation of microcystins.

Mechanistic Insight into Nanomolar Binding of Multivalent Neoglycopeptides to Wheat Germ Agglutinin

Abstract: Multivalent carbohydrate-protein interactions are frequently involved in essential biological recognition processes. Accordingly, multivalency is often also exploited for the design of high-affinity lectin ligands aimed at the inhibition of such processes. In a previous study (D. Schwefel et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 8704-8719) we identified a tetravalent cyclopeptide-based ligand with nanomolar affinity to the model lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). To unravel the structural features of this ligand required for high-affinity binding to WGA, we synthesized a series of cyclic and linear neoglycopeptides that differ in their conformational freedom as well as the number of GlcNAc residues. Combined evidence from isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), enzyme-linked lectin assays (ELLA), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed different binding modes of tetra- and divalent ligands and that conformational preorganization of the ligands by cyclization is not a prerequisite for achieving high binding affinities. The high affinities of the tetravalent ligands rather stem from their ability to form crosslinks between several WGA molecules. The results illustrate that binding affinities and mechanisms are strongly dependent on the used multivalent system which offers opportunities to tune and control binding processes.

Herstellung und Isolierung einer nativen humanen dermalen extrazellulären Matrix

Abstract: Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft funktionalisierte extrazellulare Matrizes, Verbunde aus funktionalisierten extrazellularen Matrizes und Tragern, Verfahren zu deren Herstellung sowie Verwendungen derselben.