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J. Biochem, 1982, Vol. 92, No. 3 801-808
© 1982 Japanese Biochemical Society

research-article

Bromodeoxyuridine-Induced Molecular Species Conversion of Sialic Acids of Gangliosides and the Alteration of Cellular Phenotypic Expression in B16 Mouse Melanoma Cells

Yoshito KINOSHITA*,1, Akira MAKITA** and Takuji TAKEUCHI*

*Biological Institute and Department of Biological Science, Tohoku University Sendai, Miyagi 980
**Biochemistry Laboratory, Cancer Institute, Hokkaido University School of Medicine Sapporo, Hokkaido 060

Gangliosides of B16 mouse melanoma cells were characterized and the effects of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) on gangliosides were examined in relation to the alteration of cellular phenotypic expression. In melanotic cells, gangliosides were shown to be composed of both hematosides containing N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc-hematoside) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc-hematoside) as determined by thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the use of anti-NeuGc-hematoside antiserum. Gangliosides other than hematosides were not detectable under the conditions of thin-layer chromatography employed.

BrdU treatment of the melanotic cells induced about a two-fold increase in the ratio of NeuGc-hematosides to the total hematosides without any significant change in the cellular ganglioside content. The treatment concomitantly induced a change in cellular morphology, an increase in cell-to-substrate adhesiveness, and the suppression of tyrosinase activity. Amelanotic cells, which showed cellular phenotypes similar to those of BrdU-treated melanotic cells, were demonstrated to have over twice as much NeuGc-hematosides as compared with the melanotic cells.

These results indicate a possible relationship in melanoma cells between the molecular species conversion of sialic acids of hematosides and the alteration of cellular phenotypic expression by BrdU treatment or spontaneous amelanization.

2Present address: Department of Physiology, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku, Kochi 781-51.


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