 |
 Previous Article | Next Article 
Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 8, 932-944, Copyright © 1988 by Society for Neuroscience
A synapse-specific carbohydrate at the neuromuscular junction: association with both acetylcholinesterase and a glycolipid
LJ Scott, F Bacou and JR Sanes
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
With the aim of investigating the roles of carbohydrates in synapse
formation, we have characterized a synapse-specific saccharide at the
vertebrate neuromuscular junction. Two lectins of similar specificity
(Dolichos biflorus agglutinin, DBA, and Vicia villosa-B4 agglutinin,
VVA-B4) stain synaptic but not extrasynaptic regions of the rat muscle
fiber surface and thus define a synapse-specific carbohydrate. Using these
and other probes, we show that the carbohydrate moiety concentrated at the
neuromuscular junction resembles N- acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) linked in
the beta-anomeric form to the termini of oligosaccharides. VVA-B4 also
selectively stains neuromuscular junctions in human, mouse, rabbit, guinea
pig, chick, frog, axolotl, snake, fish, and lamprey muscles, a phylogenetic
conservatism that suggests a synapse-related role for GalNAc beta- terminal
saccharides. AChE from muscle binds to DBA- and VVA-B4- agarose, and is
thereby identified as a glycoconjugate bearing the synapse-specific
carbohydrate. Assay of AChE isoforms reveals that asymmetric,
collagen-tailed forms, known to be highly concentrated at the rat
neuromuscular junction, bind DBA and VVA-B4, while globular forms, which
are more widely distributed, do not. A second class of GalNAc-bearing
glycoconjugates is demonstrable immunohistochemically with monoclonal
antibodies to stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-3 (Shevinsky et al.,
1982) and GM2 (Natoli et al., 1986), which recognize GalNAc-bearing
glycolipids. These antibodies selectively stain neuromuscular junctions,
where they recognize glycolipid-like molecules that bind VVA-B4 but are
distinguishable from AChE. The association of a synapse-specific
carbohydrate with at least 2 different synapse- specific molecules raises
the possibility that the former plays a role in determining a property that
the latter share, such as concentration at the synapse.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
R. Xu, K. Chandrasekharan, J. H. Yoon, M. Camboni, and P. T. Martin
Overexpression of the Cytotoxic T Cell (CT) Carbohydrate Inhibits Muscular Dystrophy in the dyW Mouse Model of Congenital Muscular Dystrophy 1A
Am. J. Pathol.,
July 1, 2007;
171(1):
181 - 199.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Yamagata and J. R. Sanes
Versican in the Developing Brain: Lamina-Specific Expression in Interneuronal Subsets and Role in Presynaptic Maturation
J. Neurosci.,
September 14, 2005;
25(37):
8457 - 8467.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. L. McDearmon, A. C. Combs, and J. M. Ervasti
Core 1 Glycans on {alpha}-Dystroglycan Mediate Laminin-induced Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering but Not Laminin Binding
J. Biol. Chem.,
November 7, 2003;
278(45):
44868 - 44873.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. T. Martin
Dystroglycan glycosylation and its role in matrix binding in skeletal muscle
Glycobiology,
August 1, 2003;
13(8):
55R - 66R.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Watty and S. J. Burden
MuSK Glycosylation Restrains MuSK Activation and Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering
J. Biol. Chem.,
December 20, 2002;
277(52):
50457 - 50462.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Adams, N. Kramarcy, S. P. Krall, S. G. Rossi, R. L. Rotundo, R. Sealock, and S. C. Froehner
Absence of {alpha}-Syntrophin Leads to Structurally Aberrant Neuromuscular Synapses Deficient in Utrophin
J. Cell Biol.,
September 18, 2000;
150(6):
1385 - 1398.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Teng, J. C. Cole, R. L. Roberts, and R. S. Wilkinson
Endocytic Active Zones: Hot Spots for Endocytosis in Vertebrate Neuromuscular Terminals
J. Neurosci.,
June 15, 1999;
19(12):
4855 - 4866.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Feng, E. Krejci, J. Molgo, J. M. Cunningham, J. Massoulie, and J. R. Sanes
Genetic Analysis of Collagen Q: Roles in Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase Assembly and in Synaptic Structure and Function
J. Cell Biol.,
March 22, 1999;
144(6):
1349 - 1360.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. M. Culican, C. C. Nelson, and J. W. Lichtman
Axon Withdrawal during Synapse Elimination at the Neuromuscular Junction Is Accompanied by Disassembly of the Postsynaptic Specialization and Withdrawal of Schwann Cell Processes
J. Neurosci.,
July 1, 1998;
18(13):
4953 - 4965.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. M. Moscoso, H. Cremer, and J. R. Sanes
Organization and Reorganization of Neuromuscular Junctions in Mice Lacking Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule, Tenascin-C, or Fibroblast Growth Factor-5
J. Neurosci.,
February 15, 1998;
18(4):
1465 - 1477.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Ervasti, A. L. Burwell, and A. L. Geissler
Tissue-specific Heterogeneity in alpha -Dystroglycan Sialoglycosylation. SKELETAL MUSCLE alpha -DYSTROGLYCAN IS A LATENT RECEPTOR FOR VICIA VILLOSA AGGLUTININ B4 MASKED BY SIALIC ACID MODIFICATION
J. Biol. Chem.,
August 29, 1997;
272(35):
22315 - 22321.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Missias, J Mudd, J. Cunningham, J. Steinbach, J. Merlie, and J. Sanes
Deficient development and maintenance of postsynaptic specializations in mutant mice lacking an 'adult' acetylcholine receptor subunit
Development,
January 12, 1997;
124(24):
5075 - 5086.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. R. Smalheiser and E. Kim
Purification of Cranin, a Laminin Binding Membrane Protein
J. Biol. Chem.,
June 23, 1995;
270(25):
15425 - 15433.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. L. McDearmon, A. C. Combs, and J. M. Ervasti
Differential Vicia villosa Agglutinin Reactivity Identifies Three Distinct Dystroglycan Complexes in Skeletal Muscle
J. Biol. Chem.,
September 7, 2001;
276(37):
35078 - 35086.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
