title: In vitro biosynthesis of galactans by membrane-bound galactosyltransferase from radish ( Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings.
abstract: We investigated a galactosyltransferase (GalT) involved in the synthesis of the carbohydrate portion of arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), which consist of a beta-(1-->3)-galactan backbone from which consecutive (1-->6)-linked beta-Gal p residues branch off. A membrane preparation from 6-day-old primary roots of radish ( Raphanus sativus L.) transferred [(14)C]Gal from UDP-[(14)C]Gal onto a beta-(1-->3)-galactan exogenous acceptor. The reaction occurred maximally at pH 5.9-6.3 and 30 degrees C in the presence of 15 mM Mn(2+) and 0.75% Triton X-100. The apparent K(m) and V(max) values for UDP-Gal were 0.41 mM and 1,000 pmol min(-1) (mg protein)(-1), respectively. The reaction with beta-(1-->3)-galactan showed a bi-phasic kinetic character with K(m) values of 0.43 and 2.8 mg ml(-1). beta-(1-->3)-Galactooligomers were good acceptors and enzyme activity increased with increasing polymerization of Gal residues. In contrast, the enzyme was less efficient on beta-(1-->6)-oligomers. The transfer reaction for an AGP from radish mature roots was negligible but could be increased by prior enzymatic or chemical removal of alpha- l-arabinofuranose (alpha- l-Ara f) residues or both alpha- l-Ara f residues and (1-->6)-linked beta-Gal side chains. Digestion of radiolabeled products formed from beta-(1-->3)-galactan and the modified AGP with exo-beta-(1-->3)-galactanase released mainly radioactive beta-(1-->6)-galactobiose, indicating that the transfer of [(14)C]Gal occurred preferentially onto consecutive (1-->3)-linked beta-Gal chains through beta-(1-->6)-linkages, resulting in the formation of single branching points. The enzyme produced mainly a branched tetrasaccharide, Galbeta(1-->3)[Galbeta(1-->6)] Galbeta(1-->3)Gal, from beta-(1-->3)-galactotriose by incubation with UDP-Gal, confirming the preferential formation of the branching linkage. Localization of the GalT in the Golgi apparatus was revealed on a sucrose density gradient. The membrane preparation also incorporated [(14)C]Gal into beta-(1-->4)-galactan, indicating that the membranes contained different types of GalT isoform catalyzing the synthesis of different types of galactosidic linkage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-okubo, Saitama 338-8570, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsumuraya
authors.forename: Yohichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Pavol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kovác
mesh_terms: D005685:Galactans / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008861:Microsomes / Q000201:enzymology; D031224:Raphanus / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005685:Galactans; D005700:Galactosyltransferases