Studies on glycopeptides containing a rare sugar 6-deoxyaltrose secreted from vertebrate embryos

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06539
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 43030:Functional biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Natsuka Shunji 新潟大学, 自然科学系, 教授 (00243163)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: グライコーム解析 / グライコプロテオーム解析 / 希少糖 / ゼブラフィッシュ / 胚発生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Two glycoproteins with a rare sugar, 6dAlt, at the non-reducing end of their N-glycans were identified. One of them is a homolog of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which is expressed on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells in humans and is known to play a role in the elimination of pathogenic microbes through the interaction between its sugar moiety and the microbes. The other is cathepsin Lb, a protease expressed and secreted specifically in the hatching gland of zebrafish, believed to be involved in the hatching process. This finding aligns with the observation that 6dAlt is present in secreted glycopeptides and its levels increase from undetectable at fertilization to detectable levels leading up to hatching.

Free Research Field

糖鎖生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

糖鎖の生理機能は、生体間相互作用である外因性機能と生体内の細胞間相互作用である内因性機能に分類される。今回の研究で解明した2種のキャリアタンパク質は、共に生体外で機能するものであることから、含有糖鎖も外因性機能を持つことが示唆された。このことから、生体防御を含む糖鎖の外因性機能の解明に、本研究成果は大きく寄与する。さらに今後も研究を進めることにより、糖ペプチド性の新規な抗菌剤などの開発を通じて、社会還元に繋がる可能性を持つ。