Study by X-ray diffraction of the geometrical shape of glycoprotein sugar chains in two model glycoconjugates, a liposaccharide and a phospholiposaccharide, having the same sugar chain.
Two amphipatic, model glycoconjugates having the same sugar chain but differing in their hydrophobic component were studied by X-ray diffraction in concentrated water solution and in the dry state. The liposaccharide 2, obtained by linking the NH2-4 group of the asparagine residue of the glycoaminoacid obtained from hen ovotransferrin with the activated carboxylic acid group of palmitic acid exhibited a cubic structure in which the sugar chain adopted a slightly deformed, "T-shaped conformation". The phospholiposaccharide 3, obtained by linking the NH2-4 group of the asparagine residue of the same glycoamino acid with the primary amine group of dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine through a suberyl bridge exhibited a lamellar structure in which the sugar chain adopted a "Y-shaped conformation". Thus, it was possible to induce a conformational change of the hen ovotransferrin sugar chain by changing the "hydrophobic residue" to which it is linked.
D000818:Animals; D001216:Asparagine; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002645:Chickens; D003207:Conalbumin; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010743:Phospholipids; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D006023:Glycoproteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010743:Phospholipids; D003207:Conalbumin; D001216:Asparagine