# GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS IN ONCOGENESIS AND DIFFERENTIATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $139,122

## Abstract

The objectives of this project are to:  (1) analyze the neutral
glycosphingolipids and gangliosides from the leukocytes of normal donors
and leukemic patients; (2) find a human leukemia cell line(s) to use as a
model system to evaluate the regulation of neutral glycosphingolipids in
human leukocytes; and (3) determine if the glycosphingolipids of human
leukocytes are I,i antigens.  We have completed structural characterization
of the neutral glycosphingolipids and gangliosides of normal human
leukocytes and leukemia cells.  These studies have demonstrated that mature
human leukocytes can be distinguished on the basis of their neutral
glycosphingolipids (i.e., myeloid cells express neolacto compounds and
lymphoid cells express globo compounds).  We have also found that immature
cells express both globo and neolacto compounds, suggesting a relationship
between cell differentiation and glycolipid expression.  We have evaluated
the distribution of GD3 ganglioside among human leukocytes using an
anti-GD3 monoclonal antibody and found that normal Ieukocytes and CML
cells do not express this compound, whereas all other types of leukemic
leukocytes have GD3.  Therefore, GD3 appears to be restricted in its
distribution to leukemic blast cells and chronic lymphocytic cells.
Glycolipids carrying the i-antigen have been purified from CML cells and
structurally characterized and detected by immunostaining with anti-i
antibodies.  We have purified 14C-galactose-labeled glycolipids from
three myeloid leukemic cell lines and have structurally characterized them
using glycosidases and HPLC of their perbenzolylated derivatives.  The
results of these analyses demonstrate that alterations in neutral
glycosphingolipid expression occur after the myeloblastic stage of
differentiation and before or at the promyelocyte stage.  A comparison of
the glycosphingolipids synthesized by untreated cells and cells treated
with differentiating agents (butyrate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and phorbol
diesters) will be made.  The results from these studies will be useful in
determining if there are variations in the classes of glycolipids
synthesized by different leukemic cells and if chemically induced
differentiation leads to alterations in glycolipid biosynthesis that are
related to those occurring in freshly isolated leukocytes.  (MI)

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3170661
- **Project number:** 7R01CA032826-06
- **Recipient organization:** SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** F4SLJ5WF59F6
- **Principal Investigator:** Bruce A. Macher
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $139,122
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 1987-07-01 → 1988-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3170661

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3170661, GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS IN ONCOGENESIS AND DIFFERENTIATION (7R01CA032826-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3170661. Licensed CC0.

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