Chinese hamster ovarian cell glycoproteins that mediate type 1 piliated gram-negative bacterial adherence.

We used Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines to define the structures of glycoproteins responsible for Type 1 piliated bacterial adherence. CSH 50 Escherichia coli, a Type 1 piliated bacteria, adhered significantly better than an isogenic nonpiliated E. coli to all CHO lines tested. CSH 50 E. coli adhered least well to CHO cells expressing intact complex type oligosaccharides on cell surface glycoproteins. CSH 50 adherence increased when shorter oligosaccharides were present and was maximal when mannose groups were present in terminal, nonreducing positions. Five high mannose type glycoproteins, with molecular weights of 79, 75, 55, 50, and 37 kD, were identified as high affinity ligands for Type 1 piliated bacteria. Our results suggest that alterations in cell surface carbohydrates may increase adherence of Type 1 piliated gram-negative bacteria to cells.