Apoptotic cells are characterized based on biologic and morphologic features, such as externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), activation of caspase, fragmentation of chromosomal DNA, cell shrinkage, plasma membrane blebbing, and nuclear condensation. [1][2][3][4][5] Plasma membrane phospholipids are normally asymmetrically distributed, with phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin located in the outer leaflet, and PS and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) restricted to the inner leaflet.6) It is well known that a rapid bidirectional movement of plasma membrane phospholipids between the two leaflets is catalyzed by phospholipid scramblase (PLS), aminophospholipid translocase (APTL), and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter multidrug resistance (MDR) 1 P-glycoprotein (MDR1 P-gp).7-9) Treatment of cells with various apoptosis inducers causes transbilayer movement of phospholipids, resulting in the externalization of PS and PE on the cell surface. [10][11][12] Cytotoxic galactose (Gal)-binding lectins such as ricin, abrin, and misletoe lectin ultimately cause apoptosis through PS externalization and other apoptotic events. [13][14][15] On the other hand, human dimeric galectin-1 (dGal-1) induces PS externalization but not apoptosis.16) The molecular mechanisms of PS externalization induced by these lectins are still unclear and appear to be different.In our previous studies, we demonstrated that: 1) catfish (Silurus asotus) lectin (SAL) is a 32-kDa protein and consists of three tandem repeat domains of 95 amino acid residues 17); 2) SAL has potent affinity for L-rhamnose and melibiose (Gala1-6Glc) and belongs to the rhamnose-binding lectin family 18) ; 3) SAL recognizes Gal a-linked carbohydrate chains of glycoproteins as well as those of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) such as globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) (Hosono M., Sugawara S., Ogawa Y., Hikita T., Ambo A., Sasaki Y., Takayanagi M., Hakomori S., Nitta K., unpublished observation); and 4) SAL agglutinates Gb3-expressing Burkitt's lymphoma cells, such as Raji and Daudi cells. [19][20][21] In this study, we used Gb3-expressing Raji cells to investigate whether: 1) SAL causes an increase in annexin V binding as reflected by PS externalization and a decrease in cell volume; 2) SAL leads to activation of MDR1 P-gp, causing translocation of PS from inner to outer leaflets; and 3) Gb3 and MDR1 P-gp are colocalized in the GSL-enriched microdomain (GEM).
MATERIALS AND METHODSMaterials SAL was isolated in sequential chromatography on a DE23 (Whatman) anion-exchange column and Dgalactose-Sepharose 6B column as described previously.
18)Antiserum against SAL was prepared in rabbits (Japanese white) with Freund's incomplete adjuvant, as described previously.
17)Cell Culture The Burkitt's lymphoma Raji cell line was obtained from the Cell Resource Center of the Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer, Tohoku University (Sendai, Japan). Human erythroleukemia K562 cells were obtained from the Japanese Cancer Research Resources Bank (Tokyo, Japan). Doxorubicin-...