Specific sialyltransferase is responsible for the synthesis of GD/sup 3/, a ganglioside preferentially expressed on human metastatic melanoma cells

Conference · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7108753

Rosenberg, J M; Reisfeld, R A; Sander, D J; Winfield, J B; Cheresh, D A

A number of studies have been directed toward defining surface structures that may be preferentially expressed on human tumor cells of the metastatic phenotype. Human melanoma was used as a tumor model to study the molecular events associated with metastasis. Using monoclonal antibodies directed to a variety of human melanoma associated antigens, they demonstrate that the disialoganglioside GD/sub 3/ is preferentially expressed on human melanoma cells derived from metastatic foci, whereas cells derived from primary lesions as well as melanocytes express minimal levels of this antigen. The enhanced expression of GD/sub 3/ on metastatic melanoma cells is due to an increased biosynthetic rate as shown by intrinsic labeling with (/sup 3/H)-glucosamine. Moreover, they demonstrate the presence of a specific sialyltransferase (GD/sub 3/ synthetase) responsible for the synthesis of GD/sub 3/. This enzyme activity is associated with a membrane fraction of human melanoma cells and converts the monosialylated precursor GM/sub 3/ to GD/sub 3/. In fact, a cultured human melanoma cell line derived from a metastatic foci was shown to contain a five-fold increase in GD/sub 3/ synthetase specific activity as compared to that observed for a cell line derived from a primary lesion of the same patient. The elucidation of the mechanism regulating the expression of this enzyme may lead to a more complete understanding of the metastatic phenotype of human melanoma.

• Research Organization: Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA
• OSTI ID: 7108753
• Report Number(s): CONF-8606151-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Journal Volume: 45:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTIBODIES
ANTIGENS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOHYDRATES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
GANGLIOSIDES
GLUCOSAMINE
HEXOSAMINES
HEXOSES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIPIDS
MAMMALS
MAN
METASTASES
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOTYPE
PRIMATES
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
TRANSFERASES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
TUMOR CELLS
VERTEBRATES