Switching of the core structures of glycosphingolipids from globo- and lacto- to ganglio-series upon human embryonic stem cell differentiation

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1007290108
• Publication Date: 2010-12-14T04:49:21Z
• Authors: Yuh-Jin Liang; Huan-Hsien Kuo; Chi-Hung Lin; Yen-Ying Chen; Bei-Chia Yang; Yuan-Yuan Cheng; Alice L. Yu; Kay-Hooi Khoo; John Yu
• Keywords: Embryoid body; Immunostaining

A systematic survey of expression profiles glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in two hESC lines and their differentiated embryoid body (EB) outgrowth with three germ layers was carried out using immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, MALDI-MS MS/MS analyses. In addition to the well-known hESC-specific markers stage-specific embryonic antigen 3 (SSEA-3) SSEA-4, we identified several globosides lacto-series GSLs, previously unrevealed hESCs, including Gb 4 Cer, Lc fucosyl Globo H, disialyl 5 Cer. During differentiation into EBs, MS analysis revealed a clear-cut switch core structures GSLs from globo- lacto- ganglio-series, which not as evident by immunostaining antibodies against SSEA-3 owing cross-reactivities various glycosphingolipids. Such attributable altered key glycosyltransferases (GTs) biosynthetic pathways up-regulation ganglio-series–related GTs simultaneous down-regulation lacto-series–related GTs. Thus, these results provide insights unique transition mechanism for alterations GSL during differentiation. addition, glycan uncovered analyses may serve surface further delineation hESCs help identify functional roles only but also cancers.