title: Comparative study of glycosphingolipid composition in mammalian lenses.
abstract: The carbohydrate epitope Gal alpha 1-3Gal-R (alpha-galactosyl epitope), which is detectable by its binding with Bandeiraea simplicifolia-IB4 lectin, was found in glycosphingolipids (GSLs), both neutral and acidic (gangliosides), from lens tissues of non-primate mammals, but not in those of human senile cataracts and Old World monkeys. Instead, human cataractous and Old World monkey non-cataractous lenses expressed Lewisx (Le(x)) epitopes (Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc-R) in neutral GSLs. Sialylated Le(x) epitopes were found in rat and pig lenses as well as in human and Old World monkey lenses. Ganglio-series gangliosides, consisting mainly of GM3, GM1, GD1a and GD3, were detected in a species-specific fashion. On the other hand, alpha-galactosyl epitopes were expressed in lens tissues only in water-insoluble proteins of non-primate mammals, but Le(x) and sialylated Le(x) epitopes were not detectable in lens proteins. Among the several mammalian lenses examined, humans and Old World monkeys showed similar GSL compositions, in particular the presence of Le(x) and sialylated Le(x) epitopes and the absence of alpha-galactosyl epitopes, in lens tissue.
authors.affiliation: Cell and Information, Presto, Research Development Corporation of Japan (JRDC), Tokyo.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogiso
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okinaga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komoto
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoshi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000737:chemistry*; D008251:Macaca; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006028:Glycosphingolipids