# SULFATED OLIGOSACCHARIDES OF NORMAL AND MALIGNANT CELLS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 1987 · $133,692

## Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated the existence of a class of sulfated
N-linked oligosaccharides in eukaryotic glycoproteins.  However, little is
currently known about their detailed structure, biosynthesis, regulation,
or biological significance.  In this proposal, we describe the
establishment of an enzymatic method for quantitative and nondegradative
release of intact sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides directly from whole
proteins, and their complete separation from all other sulfated
macromolecules.  This method will be used to look for differences in the
expression of sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides in total cell homogenates
and on specific glycoproteins in the following continuous tissue culture
systems:  (1)\CHO and mouse lymphoma cells with specific defects in
N-linked glycosylation and/or treated with inhibitors of processing
glycosidases; (2)\NIH 3T3 cells before and after transformation by specific
classes of oncogenes; (3)\metastatic and nonmetastatic tumors cells; and
(4)\leukemia cells in various stages of induced differentiation.  On the
basis of the results of this screening, one or two of these systems will be
chosen for further study.  The individual oligosaccharides will be
fractionated and the types of sulfated monosaccharides identified.  This
will be followed by a detailed structural analysis of the sulfated
oligosaccharides, with regard to the location, linkages, and types of
component sugars, using conventional and newly developed methods.  This
will define any differences in structure found within the systems chosen
for study.  The information obtained from the structural analysis will be
used to predict the biosynthetic pathways for the generation of the
sulfated oligosaccharides in these cells, and to predict possible levels of
modulation that could explain any differences found.  Finally, we will
design assays that will identify the enzyme and substrates involved in the
sulfation reactions in question.  The specific aim of this work will be to
see if differences in the expression of the enzymes involved could explain
differences in sulfation of N-linked oligosaccharides in these systems.  In
the long run, we hope to extend these studies to attempt to understand
potential biological roles of the sulfation of N-linked oligosaccharides in
processes such as tumorigenesis and metastasis formation.  (B)

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3176914
- **Project number:** 5R01CA038701-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** UYTTZT6G9DT1
- **Principal Investigator:** AJIT P VARKI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $133,692
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-08-01 → 1988-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3176914

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3176914, SULFATED OLIGOSACCHARIDES OF NORMAL AND MALIGNANT CELLS (5R01CA038701-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3176914. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*