Biosynthesis of the sialyl-Lex determinant carried by type 2 chain glycosphingolipids (IV3NeuAcIII3FucnLc4, VI3NeuAcV3FucnLc6, and VI3NeuAcIII3V3Fuc2nLc6) in human lung carcinoma PC9 cells.

The pathway for synthesis of three glycosphingolipids bearing a common sialyl-Lex determinant (NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4[Fuc alpha 1----3]GlcNac beta 1----R) from their type 2 lactoseries precursors has been studied using the 0.2% Triton X-100-soluble fraction from human lung carcinoma PC9 cells. Two enzymes were found to be required for their synthesis: (i) an alpha 1----3 fucosyltransferase, the properties of which have been characterized as being similar to the enzyme from human small cell lung carcinoma NCI-H69 cells (Holmes, E. H., Ostrander, G. K., and Hakomori, S. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7619-7627); and (ii) an alpha 2----3 sialyltransferase that was efficiently solubilized by 0.2% Triton X-100 and required divalent metal ions and 0.3% Triton CF-54 for optimal activity at pH 5.9 in cacodylate buffer. Biosynthesis of the sialyl-Lex determinant was shown to proceed via sialylation of nLc6 and nLc4, followed by alpha 1----3 fucosylation at the penultimate GlcNAc residues, based on the following: (i) transfer of NeuAc by PC9 cell sialyltransferase was found only when the nonfucosylated acceptors nLc4 and nLc6 were added, and none of the glycolipids with Lex structure (III3FucnLc4; V3FucnLc6; III3V3Fuc2nLc6) were sialylated; and (ii) the PC9 cell fucosyltransferase was active with both neutral and ganglioside neolacto (type 2 chain) acceptors. Transfer of fucose to VI3NeuAcnLc6 yielded mono- and difucosyl derivatives, whereas only a monofucosyl derivative was obtained when VI6NeuAcnLc6 was the acceptor. This is most probably due to different conformations at the terminus of the two acceptor gangliosides. The fucosyltransferase was incapable of transferring fucose to sialyl 2----3 lactotetraosylceramide (IV3NeuAcLc4).