Hydrolysis, lactonization, and identification of alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) alternatively linked tri-, tetra-, and polysialic acids.
Alpha-(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) alternatively linked polysialic acid (PSA) can be identified by controlled hydrolysis followed by the analysis with capillary electrophoresis (CE). Due to the different stability of alpha(2 --> 8) and alpha(2 --> 9) linkages in acidic hydrolysis, oligosialic acids (OSAs) from the hydrolysis of alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) OSA/PSA could be classified into two groups in the CE profile. The group with an odd numerical degree of polymerization (DP) had two peaks in the CE profile, and the other group, with even number of DP, showed one peak. Each alternating alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) linked OSA contains two isomers: one starts with the alpha(2 --> 8) linkage from the nonreducing end and the other starts with the alpha(2 --> 9) linkage from the nonreducing end. Trimers and tetramers were isolated by using a Mono Q column with an HPLC system. The two trimer isomers are alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) and alpha(2 --> 9)/alpha(2 --> 8) linkages and only showed partial separation by CE. After lactonization, sialidase hydrolysis, and alkaline treatment, the two trimer isomers could be separated and identified by CE analysis, but only the alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) trimer could be converted to the dilactone in glacial acetic acid. The two tetramer isomers could be converted to four monolactones and three dilactones. These lactonized species could be identified on the basis of several principles in sialidase hydrolysis and lactonization. In conclusion, regioselectivity on the lactonization of oligosialic acids proceeds under several principles: (1) Lactonization takes place more easily in the alpha(2 --> 8) linkage than in the alpha(2 --> 9) linkage; (2) all of the positions of alpha(2 --> 8) linkages in alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) alternatively linked OSA can be lactonized regardless of external or internal carboxyl groups involved; and (3) for the site of alpha(2 --> 9) linkage, only internal carboxyl groups can be lactonized.
Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
Mou-Chi
MC
Cheng
Chun-Hung
CH
Lin
Heng-Ju
HJ
Lin
Yi-Ping
YP
Yu
Shih-Hsiung
SH
Wu
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003470:Culture Media; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D003470:Culture Media; D007783:Lactones; D012794:Sialic Acids; C071290:alpha(2-8)polysialic acid; D019342:Acetic Acid