| Distribution of sialic acids on mucins and gels: a defense mechanism. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 22225812 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Moist mucosal epithelial interfaces that are exposed to external environments are dominated by sugar epitopes, some of which (e.g., sialic acids) are involved in host defense. In this study, we determined the abundance and distribution of two sialic acids to assess differences in their availability to an exogenous probe in isolated mucins and mucous gels. We used atomic force microscopy to obtain force maps of human preocular mucous and purified ocular mucins by probing and locating the interactions between tip-tethered lectins Maackia amurensis and Sambucus nigra and their respective receptors, α-2,3 and α-2,6 N-acetylneuraminic (sialic) acids. The rupture force distributions were not affected by neighboring sugar-bearing molecules. Energy contours for both lectin-sugar bonds were fitted to a two-barrier model, suggesting a conformational change before dissociation. In contrast to data from purified mucin molecules, the preocular gels presented numerous large clusters (19,000 ± 4000 nm(2)) of α-2,6 sialic acids, but very few small clusters (2000 ± 500 nm(2)) of α-2,3 epitopes. This indicates that mucins, which are rich in α-2,3 sialic acids, are only partially exposed at the surface of the mucous gel. Microorganisms that recognize α-2,3 sialic acids will encounter only isolated ligands, and the adhesion of other microorganisms will be enhanced by large islands of neighboring α-2,6 sialic acids. We have unveiled an additional level of mucosal surface heterogeneity, specifically in the distribution of pro- and antiadhesive sialic acids that protect underlying epithelia from viruses and bacteria. |
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Authors:
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S C Baos; D B Phillips; L Wildling; T J McMaster; M Berry |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article Date: 2012-01-03 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Biophysical journal Volume: 102 ISSN: 1542-0086 ISO Abbreviation: Biophys. J. Publication Date: 2012 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2012-01-09 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0370626 Medline TA: Biophys J Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 176-84 Citation Subset: IM |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright © 2012 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Affiliation:
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Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Bristol Eye Hospital, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom. |
Export Citation:
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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