title: Suppression of a sialyltransferase by antisense DNA reduces invasiveness of human colon cancer cells in vitro.
abstract: Transfer of terminal alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids to N-glycans is catalyzed by beta-galactoside alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6Gal I). Expression of ST6Gal I and its products is reportedly increased in colon cancers. To investigate directly the functional effects of ST6Gal I expression, human colon cancer (HT29) cells were transfected with specific antisense DNA. ST6Gal I mRNA and protein were virtually undetectable in six strains of transfected HT29 cells. ST6Gal activity was reduced to 14% of control (P<0.005) in transfected cells. Expression of terminal alpha 2,6- and alpha 2,3-linked sialic acids, and unmasked N-acetyllactosamine oligosaccharides, respectively, was assessed using flow cytometry and fluoresceinated Sambucus nigra, Maackia amurensis and Erythrina cristagalli lectins. Results indicated a major reduction in expression of alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids and counterbalancing increase in unmasked N-acetyllactosamines in antisense DNA-transfected cells, without altered expression of alpha 2,3-linked sialic acids or ganglioside profiles. The ability of transfected cells to form colonies in soft agar and to invade extracellular matrix material (Matrigel), respectively, in vitro was reduced by approx. 98% (P<0.0001) and more than 3-fold (P<0.005) compared to parental HT29 cells. These results indicate that N-glycans bearing terminal alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids may enhance the invasive potential of colon cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and State University of New York, Buffalo, 14215, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Srivatana
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gagneja
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Berenson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lance
mesh_terms: D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival; D003094:Collagen; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D016373:DNA, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000517:prevention & control; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012799:Sialyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000094802:beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase
chemical_list: D016373:DNA, Antisense; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005732:Gangliosides; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen; D012799:Sialyltransferases; D000094802:beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase