Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. The Y402H polymorphism in complement factor H (CFH) is a common and important risk factor, where CFH is an inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway. The disease-associated protein variant (CFH402H) binds poorly to aged human macular Bruch’s membrane (BM), a site of AMD formation. Heparan sulphate (HS) is the major binding site for CFH in this extracellular matrix. Unlike CFH402Y, CFH402H binds poorly to lowly sulphated HS. The aim of this research was to investigate the presence and distribution of proteoglycan (PG) core proteins and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the normal adult human macula, and to analyse potential changes with age in the quantity and composition of HS and other potential molecular determinants of disease in BM. Post mortem human eye tissue was obtained from consenting donors (age range 18-93 years), and either dissected into tissue layers or used to produce frozen macular tissue sections. Proteomic analysis of different retinal tissue layers was performed by tandem mass spectrometry. Immunofluorescence microscopy was undertaken on the macular tissue sections. Compositional analysis of HS in BM was performed by 2-aminoacridone labelling of HS disaccharides and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography against reference HS disaccharide standards. PG core proteins were identified in BM and other macular tissue layers, including members of the basement membrane, hyalectan and short leucine-rich repeat PG families. HS, chondroitin sulphate, dermatan sulphate and hyaluronan were present throughout the retina and choroid, but keratan sulphate only in the sclera. The mean quantity of HS in BM was 47% lower (p=0.006) in old donors (n=13, 64-92 years), compared to young donors (n=6; 26-39 years). The mean level of HS sulphation was also lower in old donors, e.g. 34% vs. 39% (p=0.02) N-sulphated HS. The mean level of HS in macular BM by immunohistochemistry was approximately 50% lower (p=0.02) in old donors (n=10, 18-93 years), and the mean level of the HS PG core protein perlecan was reduced by 85% (p=0.01; n=18, 27-90 years). High levels of complement activation (C3b and membrane attack complex) were observed in some young donors. Reduced HS was associated with increased complement activation in some donors (r2 0.30). A combination of proteomics and immunohistochemistry approaches has provided the first comprehensive analysis of the presence and distribution of PG core proteins and their associated GAG chains throughout the macular layers of the normal adult human retina. These demonstrate a differential distribution according to PG core protein, GAG class and GAG sulphation state. The quantity of HS decreases substantially with age in human BM, and its sulphation level also decreases. The presence of less HS in old BM would make fewer binding sites available for CFH, and could contribute to AMD pathogenesis through increased complement activation. This idea is supported by the observation that reduced HS is associated in some individuals with increased C3b in BM. These findings have important implications for unravelling mechanisms of ocular disease and planning novel therapeutic strategies, particularly in the case of AMD.

Heparan sulphate (HS) is critical for embryonic development with involvement in a myriad of biological processes, centrally mediating morphogenic movements and facilitating the specification and differentiation of tissues. Complicated by its structural micro-heterogeneity along with expression on numerous different proteoglycan cores, the plethora of roles for HS in biology and their underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully defined. The discovery and characterisation of new reagents and methods for modification of HS expression and/or structure will aid efforts in elucidating the structure and activity of this glycosaminoglycan. Until now, azido sugars have been utilised as labelling reagents for various types of glycosylation, including N-glycans, O-linked mucin-type glycosylation and O-GlcNAcetylation of proteins. Incorporation of the unnatural azido sugar into the glycan of interest inserts a chemically reactive abiotic azide for subsequent detection via Staudinger ligation or click chemistries. However, to our knowledge, application of these azido sugars has not been explored for glycosaminoglycans. A metabolic labelling approach using Ac4GalNAz yields UDP-GalNAz and UDP-GlcNAz (Boyce et al., 2011), ready to target CS/DS and HS, respectively. We hypothesised that HS synthesis might be altered in the presence of UDP-GlcNAz due to the location of the azide on the acetyl group and the potential for interference with endogenous N-deacetylase-N-sulphotransferase biosynthetic enzyme activity. In mammalian cell culture (Chinese hamster ovary cells), treatment with Ac4GalNAz led to a decrease in total HS abundance accompanied by significant increases in 6-O-sulphation within the chains. Incorporation of a radiolabelled metabolic precursor revealed that average HS chain length was decreased in azido sugar-treated CHO cells. The modifications to HS were dose-dependent and HS inhibition was transient. Following removal of Ac4GalNAz from cell culture, HS expression returned to baseline levels within 24 hours. Previous work from the Bertozzi group has demonstrated the utility of Ac4GalNAz for visualising GalNAc- and O-GlcNAc-modified proteins in vivo. Using Xenopus, we were able to show that treatment of fertilised eggs with Ac4GalNAz decreased the abundance of HS in a similar way to that seen in vitro, with an associated impact on embryonic development. Embryonic axial elongation was impaired, with defective myotomal development and aberrant axonal patterning along the trunk and tail. Posterior somite cell nuclei were disorganised, with loss of distinct chevron patterning and skeletal muscle development was impaired with muscle fibres spanning some of the somite boundaries. Removal of the inhibitor partially rescued tail extension defects, as well as muscle development, but not axonal patterning. Therefore, these experiments illustrate a novel application for Ac4GalNAz as a soluble and reversible inhibitor of HS synthesis for in vitro and in vivo studies. The observed potential for control of inhibition via time- and dose-dependent effects enables targeted and selective inhibition of HS and potentially provides a powerful new inhibitor for the study of HS-mediated events.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第18475号 / 農博第2075号 / 新制||農||1025(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H26||N4859(農学部図書室) / 31353 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科食品生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 河田 照雄, 教授 保川 清, 准教授 橋本 渉 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Articular Cartilage (AC) is the main load carrying material in synovial joints {Hamerman, 1962} and degeneration of AC can cause pain in the form of arthritis. Current work is centered on the method of replacing damaged cartilage inside the body (in vivo) with tissue engineered outside the body (ex vivo) {Temenoff, 2000}. In order to engineer tissue ex vivo similar to the native tissue in structure and function there must be a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical properties of AC. This work focuses on the study of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), a molecule known to be primarily responsible for the compressive stiffness of AC, using molecular dynamics methods. First, a single chain simulation is run to establish a chain length to use for the rest of the study. Then two more simulations are run that mimic a possible physical scenario for changing GAG density. The first is a five chain simulation that mimics the situation where GAG chains are compressed and pushed together. Pressure and density relations are generated and compared to the micro-structural level Donnan model {Maroudas, 1979} and Poisson-Boltzmann unit cell (PB) model {Marcus, 1955}. The last simulation imitates the scenario of one GAG chain sliding between two adjacent GAG chains. The work to pull the central chain through the adjacent chains is calculated and plotted at different chain spacing. A 20 disaccharide-unit long chain is found to be the most stable chain length, but for the purpose of saving computational time without a large loss in stability a 10 unit chain is used for the rest of the simulations. The pressure-density relations found from the five chain simulation are of the same magnitude as the micro-structural level models. Observations made based on the graphical playback of the pulling simulation give insight into the importance of ion interaction with the GAG chains. It was found to take more work to pull the chain with more open space around because of the binding nature of the ions coming between the chains. The tighter spaced chains allowed fewer ions to fit between chains creating less binding force, therefore taking less work to pull. This work can be scaled up to the next level using coarse-graining methods which will be more comparable to experimental work, possibly leading to results that will help characterize AC for better implementation of engineered tissue.

Understanding the biological mechanisms of polymeric DNA delivery is essential to develop vehicles that perform optimally. In this work, the cellular internalization mechanisms of poly(glycoamidoamine) (PGAA) DNA delivery polymers were investigated. Polymer:DNA complexes interact with cell-surface glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in a manner independent of electrostatic interactions. Desulfation and GAG removal leads to decreased uptake. Individual polyplexes appear to have differing affinities for specific GAGs, as polyplex dissociation occurs in a charge-independent manner, and may influence binding. Internalization occurs through close interactions with GAGs, as GAGs accumulate on polyplex surfaces, resulting in negatively-charged polyplexes and decompaction of intact polyplexes is observed upon interaction with GAG. PGAA polyplexes enter cells via a complex, multifaceted internalization route. Pharmacological inhibition of endocytosis and visualization by confocal microscopy reveal that internalization occurs primarily through an actin and dynamin-dependent mechanism. Caveolae/raft-mediated endocytosis appears to be the predominant internalization mechanism, with clathrin-mediated endocytosis also significantly involved. Internalization occurs to a smaller degree via macropinocytosis and direct membrane penetration. Caveolae-mediated, but not clathrin-mediated, internalization leads to transgene expression, suggesting a targeting opportunity based on uptake mechanisms. PEGylation of PGAA polyplexes was achieved to minimize polyplex aggregation in serum. Polyplex size increased in serum, but PEGylation prevented further polyplex growth over time compared to non-PEGylated polymers. Specific targeting of hepatocytes through end-modification of PEG with galactose was unsuccessful, likely due to inaccessibility of targeting groups. Further hepatocyte targeting efforts focused on malonate-based polymers with clickable linkages for facile linkage of targeting groups. Despite favorable surface presentation of galactose, receptor-specific internalization of polyplexes was unsuccessful, as competitive inhibition in HepG2 cells resulted in significant polyplex internalization derived from nonspecific membrane interactions. Chemical modification of vehicles allows systematic study of structure-function properties leading to efficient intracellular delivery. Increasing G4 molecular weight generally increases toxicity and decreases transgene expression in HeLa cells. Incorporating galactose into a lanthanide-chelating polymer facilitated efficient cellular internalization that was visualized by two-photon microscopy. Increased gene expression was observed that correlated to increasing galactose, suggesting that polymer degradation increases gene expression. Also studied were branched peptides targeted to HIV-1 TAR, which displayed high biocompatibility and favorable internalization profiles in mammalian cells. / Ph. D.

Les glycosaminoglycannes (GAGs) sont des molécules polysaccharidiques polysulfatées intervenant dans des processus aussi variés que la prolifération, différenciation ou migration cellulaire, la coagulation sanguine ou l‟infection virale. Il est généralement admis qu‟une séquence particulière de GAG doit être associée à une fonction biologique spécifique. Les structures chimiques globales des GAGs sont connues. Cependant, contrairement au séquençage des gènes ou des protéines, la détermination de la séquence saccharidique exacte impliquée dans une fonction biologique particulière n‟est encore pas possible. Le séquençage « glycomique » constitue donc un enjeu majeur. L‟une des technologies les plus novatrices pour aborder ce problème de séquençage des GAGs semble être l‟impression moléculaire. En effet, elle permet d‟obtenir des polymères (MIPs pour Molecular Imprinted Polymer) spécifiquement imprimés par la forme structurale d‟une molécule cible.En nous appuyant sur des travaux antérieurs réalisés avec des modèles saccharidiques sulfatés simples, nous avons appliqué cette technologie à la reconnaissance de glycannes sulfatés complexes d‟intérêt biologique tels qu‟une héparine de bas poids moléculaire ou un mimétique ayant une activité anticoagulante. Il a été démontré une reconnaissance spécifique et sélective selon la molécule étudiée à l‟aide de MIPs spécialement conçus pour chaque GAG. De plus, nous avons obtenu des MIPs qui, en immobilisant temporairement un sucre, permettraient leur substitution de façon stéréospécifique. La détermination des conditions optimales de synthèse des MIPs s‟est avéré une étape nécessaire à l‟obtention d‟une bonne reconnaissance. Ces travaux ouvrent des perspectives d‟application de la technique d‟impression moléculaire à l‟analyse des séquences de GAGs d‟intérêt biologique / Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are polysulfated polysaccharide molecules involved in many biological processes such as cellular proliferation, differentiation or migration, blood clotting or viral infection. It is generally admitted that a particular GAG sequence is connected to a specific biological function. Depending on their composition in disaccharides, GAGs are classified into subfamilies whose overall chemical structures are known. Unlike gene or protein sequencing, determination of the exact saccharidic sequence involved in a particular biological function is not yet possible with the available technological tools. "Glycomics" is a real challenge nowadays. One of the most innovative technologies to achieve this goal seems to be the molecular imprinting. Indeed, it provides polymers (MIPs for Molecular Imprinted Polymer) imprinted by the structural form of a target molecule.Based on previous studies performed with simple sulfated saccharides, this technology has been applied to the recognition of complex sulfated glycans. MIPs were achieved demonstrating specific and selective recognition for a Low Molecular Weight Heparin or a synthetic anticoagulant mimetic. Other MIPs were able to temporally immobilize sugars which make them available for stereo-specific modifications. Screening of optimal synthesis conditions of MIPs appeared a necessary step to obtain a specific and selective recognition. These studies open further possibilities to analyze GAG sequences carrying biological functions by the molecular imprinting technology

A osteocondrite dissecante (OCD) é uma doença que surge nos equinos durante a fase de desenvolvimento sendo caracterizada pela presença de fragmento osteocondral intra-articular. Pouco se sabe sobre a condição da articulação doente em animais mais velhos, principalmente nos casos assintomáticos, que são operados muitas vezes com a finalidade de comercialização posterior ou para impedir a progressão da doença. A finalidade deste estudo, portanto, foi analisar as articulações tíbio-társicas de equinos com idade superior a um ano apresentando OCD na crista intermédia da tíbia, e comparar animais saudáveis (grupo controle) com animais acometidos de OCD nas formas sintomática e assintomática, empregando análise física; contagem de células totais, dosagem de proteína total, análise de glicosaminoglicanos (GAGs) e da proteína oligomérica da matriz cartilagínea (COMP) no líquido sinovial; análise dos GAGs urinários e análise histológica da membrana sinovial e fragmento osteocondral. Os eqüinos utilizados foram divididos em três grupos. No Grupo I foram utilizados eqüinos clinicamente sadios, livres de doença na articulação tíbiotársica. Os Grupos II e III foram constituídos por animais portadores de OCD nas formas sintomática e assintomática respectivamente, atendidos e operados no Serviço de Cirurgia de Grandes Animais do Hospital Veterinário FMVZ-USP. A presença de sinais clínicos esteve mais relacionada com a presença de múltiplos fragmentos do que com a de fragmento osteocondral único, independente de seu tamanho. O sinal clínico mais observado nos animais do Grupo III foi a efusão articular. As principais alterações encontradas no líquido sinovial foram: o aumento na concentração de condroitim sulfato (CS) no Grupo II (P<0,01) e no Grupo III (P<0,001) em relação ao Grupo I; o aumento na concentração de ácido hialurônico associado à diminuição da viscosidade nos animais do Grupo III; e a redução na presença de fragmentos de alto peso molecular associado ao aumento de fragmentos de baixo peso molecular de COMP nos animais dos Grupos II e III. A análise dos GAGs urinários evidenciou aumento na proporção de CS nos animais dos Grupos II e III em relação ao Grupo I. Na análise histológica dos fragmentos osteocondrais foram observadas alterações na integridade da cartilagem articular, associada a proliferação de condrócitos e a redução na presença de proteoglicanos tanto no Grupo II como no Grupo III. As amostras de membrana sinovial do Grupo I apresentaram presença discreta de vilos e sinoviócitos. No Grupo II houve aumento moderado nas vilosidades sinoviais, e na maior parte das amostras avaliadas no Grupo III, além da presença moderada a severa de vilosidades sinoviais, foi observada proliferação intensa de sinoviócitos. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo demonstram que a OCD na articulação tíbio-társica de equinos com idade superior a um ano representa processo ativo, com degradação da MEC da cartilagem articular, independente da presença de sinais clínicos, e que o tratamento cirúrgico é indicado, mesmo em animais assintomáticos, buscando interromper o processo de degradação cartilagínea e prevenir o desenvolvimento de doença articular degenerativa, particularmente em equinos que irão iniciar treinamento atlético esportivo. / Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is an orthopedic disease that appears in foals during growth phase and is characterized by the presence (occurrence???) of an osteochondral fragment in the articular space. There are few studies in the literature concerning the follow up of the disease in adult horses, mainly those without clinical signs, which are submitted to surgical treatment to commercial proposes or to prevent the progression of the disease. The objective of the present study was to analyze tibiotarsal joints of horses older than one year with OCD in the intermediate ridge of distal tibia and compare healthy animals (control group) with OCD horses, either with or without clinical signs. Synovial fluid was analyzed to total cell count, total protein concentration, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) fragmentation. The synovial fluid and urine glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were evaluated. The synovial membrane and osteochondral fragment were analyzed by istological assessment. Horses were divided in three groups: healthy horses without joint disease (Group I), horses with OCD without clinical sings (Group II) and horses with OCD and clinical signs (Group III). Horses of Groups II and III were admitted to the Large Animal Surgery Session of the Veterinary Hospital FMVZ USP. The presence of clinical signs was more related with multiple articular fragments than with one fragment, irrespective of the size. The most common clinical sign observed in Group III was joint effusion. The main changes in synovial fluid were: increase in chondroitin sulfate (CS) in Groups II (P<0,01) and III (P<0,001) when compared with Group I; increase in hyaluronic acid (HA) concentration associated with decrease in the viscosity in Group III; and the decrease of COMP fragments of higher molecular weight associated with increase of fragments of low molecular weight in Group II and III. The proportion of urinary CS was increased in Group II and III when compared with Group I. Alterations in the articular cartilage integrity associated with chondrocytes proliferation and loss of proteoglycan were observed in the histological analysis of the osteochondral fragments. In Group I the presence of synovial vilos and synoviocytes in the synovial membrane samples was discreet. In Group II samples there were a moderate increase in the presence of synovial vilos and synoviocytes. In almost samples analyzed in Group III the presence of synovial vilos was moderate to severe and synoviocytes proliferation was intense. Our results indicate that OCD in tibiotarsal joint of horses older than one year represents an active process, with degradation of the extra cellular matrix of the articular cartilage, regardless the presence of clinical signs, indicating surgical treatment, even in assymptomatic horses, avoiding the progression of cartilage degradation process and preventing the development of degenerative joint disease, mainly in horses that are going to begin athletic training.

A osteocondrite dissecante (OCD) é uma doença que surge nos equinos durante a fase de desenvolvimento sendo caracterizada pela presença de fragmento osteocondral intra-articular. Pouco se sabe sobre a condição da articulação doente em animais mais velhos, principalmente nos casos assintomáticos, que são operados muitas vezes com a finalidade de comercialização posterior ou para impedir a progressão da doença. A finalidade deste estudo, portanto, foi analisar as articulações tíbio-társicas de equinos com idade superior a um ano apresentando OCD na crista intermédia da tíbia, e comparar animais saudáveis (grupo controle) com animais acometidos de OCD nas formas sintomática e assintomática, empregando análise física; contagem de células totais, dosagem de proteína total, análise de glicosaminoglicanos (GAGs) e da proteína oligomérica da matriz cartilagínea (COMP) no líquido sinovial; análise dos GAGs urinários e análise histológica da membrana sinovial e fragmento osteocondral. Os eqüinos utilizados foram divididos em três grupos. No Grupo I foram utilizados eqüinos clinicamente sadios, livres de doença na articulação tíbiotársica. Os Grupos II e III foram constituídos por animais portadores de OCD nas formas sintomática e assintomática respectivamente, atendidos e operados no Serviço de Cirurgia de Grandes Animais do Hospital Veterinário FMVZ-USP. A presença de sinais clínicos esteve mais relacionada com a presença de múltiplos fragmentos do que com a de fragmento osteocondral único, independente de seu tamanho. O sinal clínico mais observado nos animais do Grupo III foi a efusão articular. As principais alterações encontradas no líquido sinovial foram: o aumento na concentração de condroitim sulfato (CS) no Grupo II (P<0,01) e no Grupo III (P<0,001) em relação ao Grupo I; o aumento na concentração de ácido hialurônico associado à diminuição da viscosidade nos animais do Grupo III; e a redução na presença de fragmentos de alto peso molecular associado ao aumento de fragmentos de baixo peso molecular de COMP nos animais dos Grupos II e III. A análise dos GAGs urinários evidenciou aumento na proporção de CS nos animais dos Grupos II e III em relação ao Grupo I. Na análise histológica dos fragmentos osteocondrais foram observadas alterações na integridade da cartilagem articular, associada a proliferação de condrócitos e a redução na presença de proteoglicanos tanto no Grupo II como no Grupo III. As amostras de membrana sinovial do Grupo I apresentaram presença discreta de vilos e sinoviócitos. No Grupo II houve aumento moderado nas vilosidades sinoviais, e na maior parte das amostras avaliadas no Grupo III, além da presença moderada a severa de vilosidades sinoviais, foi observada proliferação intensa de sinoviócitos. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo demonstram que a OCD na articulação tíbio-társica de equinos com idade superior a um ano representa processo ativo, com degradação da MEC da cartilagem articular, independente da presença de sinais clínicos, e que o tratamento cirúrgico é indicado, mesmo em animais assintomáticos, buscando interromper o processo de degradação cartilagínea e prevenir o desenvolvimento de doença articular degenerativa, particularmente em equinos que irão iniciar treinamento atlético esportivo. / Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is an orthopedic disease that appears in foals during growth phase and is characterized by the presence (occurrence???) of an osteochondral fragment in the articular space. There are few studies in the literature concerning the follow up of the disease in adult horses, mainly those without clinical signs, which are submitted to surgical treatment to commercial proposes or to prevent the progression of the disease. The objective of the present study was to analyze tibiotarsal joints of horses older than one year with OCD in the intermediate ridge of distal tibia and compare healthy animals (control group) with OCD horses, either with or without clinical signs. Synovial fluid was analyzed to total cell count, total protein concentration, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) fragmentation. The synovial fluid and urine glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were evaluated. The synovial membrane and osteochondral fragment were analyzed by istological assessment. Horses were divided in three groups: healthy horses without joint disease (Group I), horses with OCD without clinical sings (Group II) and horses with OCD and clinical signs (Group III). Horses of Groups II and III were admitted to the Large Animal Surgery Session of the Veterinary Hospital FMVZ USP. The presence of clinical signs was more related with multiple articular fragments than with one fragment, irrespective of the size. The most common clinical sign observed in Group III was joint effusion. The main changes in synovial fluid were: increase in chondroitin sulfate (CS) in Groups II (P<0,01) and III (P<0,001) when compared with Group I; increase in hyaluronic acid (HA) concentration associated with decrease in the viscosity in Group III; and the decrease of COMP fragments of higher molecular weight associated with increase of fragments of low molecular weight in Group II and III. The proportion of urinary CS was increased in Group II and III when compared with Group I. Alterations in the articular cartilage integrity associated with chondrocytes proliferation and loss of proteoglycan were observed in the histological analysis of the osteochondral fragments. In Group I the presence of synovial vilos and synoviocytes in the synovial membrane samples was discreet. In Group II samples there were a moderate increase in the presence of synovial vilos and synoviocytes. In almost samples analyzed in Group III the presence of synovial vilos was moderate to severe and synoviocytes proliferation was intense. Our results indicate that OCD in tibiotarsal joint of horses older than one year represents an active process, with degradation of the extra cellular matrix of the articular cartilage, regardless the presence of clinical signs, indicating surgical treatment, even in assymptomatic horses, avoiding the progression of cartilage degradation process and preventing the development of degenerative joint disease, mainly in horses that are going to begin athletic training.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are sulfated polysaccharides that mediate a variety of extracellular interactions. Heparan sulfate (HS) is one of the most prominent GAGs on human cell surfaces. Both endogenous proteins, such as growth factors, and exogenous proteins, such as pathogen surface proteins, recognize and bind GAGs to gain access to human cells. Oligosaccharides and other structural analogs of HS and GAGs have been evaluated for a variety of therapeutic targets including angiogenesis and infectious diseases. Development of compounds to block HS-protein interactions has primarily focused on optimizing the degree and orientation of anionic substituents on a scaffold, to mimic HS structure, but their utility is diminished by their large size and non-specific interactions with many proteins. To overcome these limitations, it has been demonstrated that replacing N-sulfo groups on heparin with non-anionic N-arylacyl groups increased affinity and selectivity for binding different heparin-binding proteins. However, the heparin-derived compounds in that work were heterogeneous polysaccharides. Strategies to obtain small, structurally-defined and lower charge ligands are needed to ultimately obtain specific bind-and-block antagonists of HS-binding proteins. This study addresses these challenges by synthesizing N-arylacyl O-sulfonated aminoglycosides as small molecule, structurally-defined ligands to identify novel structures that selectively bind to HS-binding proteins. This study details development of new HPLC and LC-MS methods to separate, characterize, and purify amphiphilic oligosaccharides. The development of these methods enabled the synthesis of a panel of N-arylacyl O-sulfonated aminoglycosides. The compounds in this panel were screened for affinity and selectivity in binding with HS-binding proteins. This work demonstrates for the first time the selective binding of small amphiphilic oligosaccharides with HS-binding proteins. Significantly, individual compounds demonstrate heparin-like affinity for binding with select HS-binding proteins. Structural differences between the N-arylacyl O-sulfonated aminoglycosides, including changing the aminoglycoside core or the structure of the N-arylacyl moiety, are shown to impart specificity for these compounds to selectively bind different HS-binding proteins.

<p>Polysaccharides are found in all forms of life and serve diverse purposes. They are enzymatically synthesised from activated monosaccharide precursors, nucleotide sugars. One such nucleotide sugar is UDP-glucuronic acid, which is formed from UDP-glucose by the UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH) enzyme. UGDH has been proposed to have a regulatory role in the biosynthesis of polysaccharides. The aim of the studies presented in this thesis was to investigate the role of UGDH in the polysaccharide biosynthesis in three different systems: human cell culture, bacterial cultures<i> </i>and growing<i> </i>plants<i>. </i>The effects of UGDH-overexpression on polysaccharide biosyntheses and, when achievable, on UDP-sugar levels, were investigated.</p><p>A mammalian UGDH was cloned from a kidney cDNA library. Transient expression of the cloned enzyme in mammalian cells led to an increased UGDH-activity. Northern blotting analyses revealed a single transcript of 2.6 kb in adult mouse tissues whereas human tissues expressed a predominant transcript of 3.2 kb and a minor transcript of 2.6 kb.</p><p>Overexpression of the bovine UGDH in mammalian cells induced increased synthesis of the glycosaminoglycans; heparan sulphate, chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronan, without changing their relative proportions. The effects on glycosaminoglycan synthesis caused by an increased demand of UDP-glucuronic acid were studied by overexpression of hyaluronan synthase (Has3), which requires UDP-glucuronic acid as substrate. Overexpression of Has3 and coexpression of Has3 and UGDH resulted in highly augmented production of hyaluronan without noticeably affecting heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate synthesis.</p><p>Expression of the bacterial UGDH in <i>E. coli</i> resulted in increased formation of UDP-glucuronic acid, but, unexpectedly, also to synthesis of fewer K5 polysaccharide chains. </p><p>Overexpression of UGD1, one of four <i>A. thaliana</i> UGDH genes, in <i>A. thaliana,</i> resulted in dwarfism. Analysis of the cell wall polysaccharides showed alteration in saccharide composition. Paradoxically, the UDP-sugars derived from UDP-glucuronic acid decreased in amount.</p>