Open AccessAlterations in the glycolipid composition and cellular properties of ovarian carcinoma‐derived RMG‐1 cells on transfection of the α1,2‐fucosyltransferase gene
Author(s) -
Iwamori Masao,
Tanaka Kyoko,
Kubushiro Kaneyuki,
Lin Bei,
Kiguchi Kazushige,
Ishiwata Isamu,
Tsukazaki Katsumi,
Nozawa Shiro
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2005.00005.x
Subject(s) - glycolipid , fucosylation , fucosyltransferase , transfection , microbiology and biotechnology , sialic acid , cell culture , cell , biology , biochemistry , chemistry , fucose , enzyme , gene , glycoprotein , genetics
Transfection of the mouse Fut1 and Fut2 , and human FUT1 genes into human ovarian carcinoma‐derived RMG‐1 cells resulted in 20–30‐fold increases in cellular α1,2‐fucosyltransferase activity, and in alteration of the glycolipid composition, including not only fucosylated products, but also precursor glycolipids. Although globo‐series glycolipids were not significantly affected by the transfection, the major glycolipids belonging to the lacto‐series type 1 chain family in RMG‐1 cells and the transfectants were the Lc 4 Cer, Lewis a (Le) a and Le b , and H‐1 glycolipids, respectively, suggesting that fucosylation of Lc 4 Cer to the H‐1 glycolipid prevents the further modification of Lc 4 Cer to Le a and Le b in the transfectants. Also, the lacto‐series type 2 chains in RMG‐1 cells were Le X , NeuAc‐nLc 4 Cer and NeuAc‐Le X , and those in the transfectants were Le X and Le Y , indicating that the sialylation of nLc 4 Cer and Le X is restricted by increased fucosylation of Le X . As a result, the amount of sialic acid released by sialidase from the transfectants decreased to 70% of that from RMG‐1 cells, and several membrane‐mediated phenomena, such as the cell‐to‐cell interaction between cancer cells and mesothelial cells, and the cell viability in the presence of an anticancer drug, 5‐fluorouracil, for the transfectants was found to be increased in comparison to that for RMG‐1 cells. These findings indicate that cell surface carbohydrates are involved in the biological properties, including cell‐to‐cell adhesion and drug resistance, of cancer cells. ( Cancer Sci 2005; 96: 26 –31)