Involvement of viral glycoprotein gC-1 in expression of the selectin ligand sialyl-Lewis X induced after infection with herpes simplex virus type 1.

Abstract

Several herpesviruses induce expression of the selectin receptor sialyl-Lewis X (sLe(x) ) by activating transcription of one or more of silent host FUT genes, each one encoding a fucosyltransferase that catalyses the rate-limiting step of sLe(x) synthesis. The aim here was to identify the identity of the glycoconjugate associated with sLe(x) glycoepitope in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infected human diploid fibroblasts, using immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Cells infected with all tested HSV-1 strains analysed demonstrated bright sLe(x) fluorescence, except for two mutant viruses that were unable to induce proper expression of viral glycoprotein gC-1: One gC-1 null mutant and another mutant expressing gC-1 devoid of its major O-glycan-containing region (aa 33-116). The sLe(x) reactivity of HSV-1 infected cells was abolished by mild alkali treatment. Altogether the results indicated that the detectable sLe(x) was associated with O-linked glycans, situated in the mucin region of gC-1. No evidence for sLe(x) (i) in other HSV-1 glycoproteins with mucin domains such as gI-1 or (ii) in host cell glycoproteins/glycolipids was found. Thus, the mucin domain of HSV-1 gC-1 may support expression of selectin ligands such as sLe(x) and other larger O-linked glycans in cell types lacking endogenous mucin domain-containing glycoproteins, optimized for O-glycan expression, provided that the adequate host glycosyltransferase genes are activated.

• Authors: Rickard Nordén, Kristina Nyström, Beata Adamiak, Adnan Halim, Jonas Nilsson, Göran Larson, Edward Trybala, Sigvard Olofsson
• Journal: APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica (APMIS) Vol. 121 Issue 4 Pg. 280-9 (Apr 2013) ISSN: 1600-0463 [Electronic] Denmark
• PMID: 23030500 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2012 The Authors APMIS © 2012 APMIS.

Chemical References

• Lewis X Antigen
• Ligands
• Mucins
• Sialyl Lewis X Antigen
• Viral Envelope Proteins
• glycoprotein gC, herpes simplex virus type 1
• Fucosyltransferases
• 3-galactosyl-N-acetylglucosaminide 4-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase

Topics

• Fibroblasts (virology)
• Fucosyltransferases (physiology)
• Glycosylation
• Herpesvirus 1, Human (physiology)
• Humans
• Lewis X Antigen (biosynthesis)
• Ligands
• Mucins (physiology)
• Sialyl Lewis X Antigen
• Viral Envelope Proteins (chemistry, physiology)