Generation of cell surface neoganglioproteins. GM1-neoganglioproteins are non-functional receptors for cholera toxin.

GM1 (II3Neu5Ac-GgOse4Cer)-oligosaccharide was prepared from the ganglioside by ozonolysis and alkaline fragmentation, reductively aminated and coupled to the heterobifunctional cross-linker succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate. The resulting derivative reacted with free sulfhydryl groups and readily cross-linked to cell surface components on rat glioma C6 cells which are GM1-deficient. Attachment of the GM1-oligosaccharide derivative, which was monitored by increased binding of 125I-cholera toxin to the cells, was both time- and concentration-dependent. Prior treatment of the cells with dithiothreitol enhanced the attachment by generating additional free sulfhydryl groups. The affinity of cholera toxin for cells treated with the GM1-oligosaccharide derivative or with GM1 was similar. The nature of the newly generated toxin receptors was determined by Western blotting. Membranes from derivatized cells were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the resolved components were electrophoretically transferred to a nitrocellulose sheet which was overlain with 125I-cholera toxin. The toxin bound to a wide variety of membrane proteins, most of which were trypsin-sensitive. No such binding was observed using membranes from control cells. Although the GM1-neoganglioproteins newly generated on the surface of rat glioma C6 cells readily bound cholera toxin, the cells did not become more responsive to the toxin as measured by increased production of cyclic AMP or activation of adenylate cyclase. In contrast, cells exposed to GM1 became highly responsive to the toxin. Thus, neoganglioproteins on the cell surface appear to behave as nonfunctional receptors for cholera toxin.