The Golgi receives the entire output of newly synthesized cargo from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), processes it in the stack largely through modification of bound oligosaccharides, and sorts it in the trans-Golgi network (TGN). GRASP65 and GRASP55, two proteins localized to the Golgi stack and early secretory pathway, mediate processes including Golgi stacking, Golgi ribbon linking, and unconventional secretion. Previously we have shown that GRASP depletion in cells disrupts Golgi stack formation. Here we report that knockdown of the GRASP proteins, alone or combined, accelerates protein trafficking through the Golgi membranes but also has striking negative effects on protein glycosylation and sorting. These effects are not caused by Golgi ribbon unlinking, unconventional secretion, or ER stress. We propose that GRASP55/65 are negative regulators of exocytic transport and that this slowdown helps to ensure more complete protein glycosylation in the Golgi stack and proper sorting at the TGN.

All of the heme-degrading enzymes that have been characterized to date require molecular oxygen as a cosubstrate. Escherichia coli O157:H7 has been shown to express heme uptake and transport proteins, as well as use heme as an iron source. This enteric pathogen colonizes the anaerobic space of the lower intestine in mammals, yet no mechanism for anaerobic heme degradation has been reported. Herein we provide evidence for an oxygen-independent heme-degradation pathway. Specifically, we demonstrate that ChuW is a radical S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase that catalyzes a radical-mediated mechanism facilitating iron liberation and the production of the tetrapyrrole product we termed “anaerobilin.” We further demonstrate that anaerobilin can be used as a substrate by ChuY, an enzyme that is coexpressed with ChuW in vivo along with the heme uptake machinery. Our findings are discussed in terms of the competitive advantage this system provides for enteric bacteria, particularly those that inhabit an anaerobic niche in the intestines.

Muco-obstructive lung diseases (MOLDs), like cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, affect a spectrum of subjects globally. In MOLDs, the airway mucus becomes hyperconcentrated, increasing osmotic and viscoelastic moduli and impairing mucus clearance. MOLD research requires relevant sources of healthy airway mucus for experimental manipulation and analysis. Mucus collected from endotracheal tubes (ETT) may represent such a source with benefits, e.g., in vivo production, over canonical sample types such as sputum or human bronchial epithelial (HBE) mucus. Ionic and biochemical compositions of ETT mucus from healthy human subjects were characterized and a stock of pooled ETT samples generated. Pooled ETT mucus exhibited concentration-dependent rheologic properties that agreed across spatial scales with reported individual ETT samples and HBE mucus. We suggest that the practical benefits compared with other sample types make ETT mucus potentially useful for MOLD research.

These data demonstrate that Siglec-8 functions uniquely as an activating receptor on IL-5-primed eosinophils through a novel pathway involving regulation of β-integrin-dependent adhesion, NADPH oxidase, and a subset of protein kinases.

SDS-PAGE is a widely used technique for protein separation and in-gel tryptic digestion of resolved protein bands has enhanced the resolution of protoeomic analysis. To augment this technology and expand its usefulness for glycoproteomics, we have developed and improved methods to release and recover O-linked glycans from proteins resolved in SDS-PAGE gels for subsequent analysis by mass spectrometry (MS). Gel pieces containing target proteins are washed to remove contaminants. O-linked glycans are released through reductive β-elimination by hydrating gel pieces in base and adding reductant. Following straightforward sample cleanup, this simple treatment of glycoprotein gel pieces produces material suitable for MS analysis. We have applied this method to the analysis of mucin-type glycoproteins that are expected to carry high densities of sialylated and sulfated O-linked glycans. However, the strongly acidic nature of the sulfate moiety suppresses MS signal intensities, hampering detection and quantitative analysis. To enhance detection, we present an improved method for sulfoglycomics. A mixture of sulflo-, sialo-, and neutral glycans were permethylated and partitioned into a water-dichloromethane (DCM) solvent mixture. Sulfated glycans were selectively recovered from the aqueous phase, while neutral and sialylated glycans remained in the DCM phase. When applied to the analysis of human mucin salivary glycans, this partition method generated material of sufficient quality to identify more than sixty glycan structures by NSI-MS (LTQ-Orbitrap) in positive and negative ion modes. Also, nearly 100% of the sulfated O-linked glycans were recovered in the aqueous phase, demonstrating the feasibility of in-depth sulfoglycomic analysis using SDS-PAGE resolved proteins.