# GLYCOPROTEINS IN NORMAL & LEUKEMIC CELL DIFFERENTIATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE · 1993 · $284,040

## Abstract

The primary object of this proposal is to compare the membrane
differentiation of normal (myeloid and lymphoid cells) with that of
tumor cells, and to understand the role of carbohydrates and
glycoproteins in human leukocyte differentiation.

We have shown that leukosialin, a major sialoglycoprotein on leukocytes,
exhibits a dramatic structural change in its O-glycans during T-cell
differentiation and in leukemia and immunodeficiency.  We have also
isolated cDNAs and genomic DNA for leukosialin and identified a novel
promoter sequence responsible for the expression of the leukosialin
gene.  Further studies will be to elucidate the role of O-glycans in
thymocyte development by isolating thymocyte lectin that binds to
immature forms of the O-glycans and to assess the role of O-glycan
sialylation in myeloid cell differentiation.  In addition, we will
elucidate the mechanisms of unique cell type-specific expression of
leukosialin by identifying the transcription factor(s) which enhance or
suppress its expression, depending on cell types.  Transgenic mice will
also be utilized to test if ectopic expression of leukosialin gene
perturbs development.

We identified GalBeta1> 44GlcNAc (GlcNAc to Gal) Beta> 3-N-acetylglucos-
aminyltransferase as the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of
polylactosaminoglycans which are critically involved in cell-cell
interaction under normal and tumorigenic conditions.  Further studies
will be to clone cDNAs for the Beta1> 3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase
and determine how the abolishment of this transferase affects organ and
tissue formation in transgenic mice and embryoid body formation by
embryonic stem cells.

The studies proposed will enable us to provide critical information how
the expression of specific carbohydrates and glycoproteins containing
these carbohydrates control the differentiation and development.  In
order to achieve this goal, we will draw all our strength in
carbohydrate biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology, gained
in the past.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3171648
- **Project number:** 5R01CA033895-11
- **Recipient organization:** SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** PHMKYKKJLQS1
- **Principal Investigator:** MINORU FUKUDA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $284,040
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-01-01 → 1996-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3171648

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3171648, GLYCOPROTEINS IN NORMAL & LEUKEMIC CELL DIFFERENTIATION (5R01CA033895-11). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3171648. Licensed CC0.

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