Different sialyltransferase activities in human colorectal carcinoma cells from surgical specimens detected by specific glycoprotein and glycolipid acceptors.

The amount and type of sialylation of tumor cell membranes depends on the activity of a number of different sialyltransferase enzymes. For the detection of specific activities in human colorectal carcinoma tissue several glycoprotein and glycolipid acceptors were used: desialylated fetuin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, beta 2-glycoprotein I, ovine submaxillaris mucin, and the gangliosides GM1, GM2, GM3 and GD1a. Because of their possible relevance for metastasis, precursors of Le(a) and Le(x) antigens, too, were employed, namely neoglycolipids produced by coupling LcOse4 or NeoLcOse4 oligosaccharides to L-alpha-phosphatidyl-ethanol-amine-dipalmitoyl. Our data indicate that human colorectal tumor tissue contains two highly active sialyltransferase enzymes, which are only weakly expressed in normal mucosa. These are a N-glycan-specific alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase, which was significantly increased in metastasizing tumors, and a Gal beta 1,3Gal-NAc-specific sialyltransferase, which was increased in tumors of early stages. A shift to enhanced alpha 2,6-sialylation of membrane glycoproteins during carcinogenesis was demonstrated by lectin ELISA analysis of magneto-bead separated tumor cells. Quantitative determination of specific sialyltransferase activities may be a sensitive tool for detection and monitoring of colon carcinoma.