Application Notes:
Sulfoglycolipids are an important group of negatively charged biological compounds that have essential and farreaching
cellular functions. They are especially active in interacting with extracellular matrix proteins, cellular adhesive
receptors, blood coagulation systems, and microorganisms.1 Sulfated glycolipids are produced by action of the enzyme
cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST) which transfers a sulfate to the sugar moiety.
Sulfated-lactosylceramide was shown to abrogate anchorage-independent growth and cell adhesion to laminin and
fibronectin, which could be attributed to decreased β1 integrin gene expression. This led to a novel hypothesis that specific,
individual, glycosphingolipids might regulate the gene expression of a select number of genes.2
Sulfated-lactosylceramide binds L-selectin and P-selectin, specific cell adhesion molecules found on cell surfaces
and linked to metastasis.3 The presence of sulfated-lactosylceramide was linked to upregulation of CST gene expression and
also mediated cell adhesion to vitronectin and αVβ3 integrins. Expression of sulfated-lactosylceramide induced by CST
transfection in murine Lewis lung carcinoma cells led to suppression of cell adhesion to laminin and β1 integrin and,
subsequently, metastasis.3
Arylsulfatase A is a lysosomal enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the degradation of sulfoglycolipids.
Metachromatic leukodystrophy is an autosomal recessively inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of
arylsulfatase A activity leading to subsequent accumulation of sulfoglycolipids. Toxic levels of these accumulated lipids
leads to ataxia, flaccid and spastic tetraparesis, optical atrophy, epileptic seizures, and other neurological symptoms.4
References:
1. K. Honke, Biosynthesis and biological function of sulfoglycolipids, Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci. 89(4): 129–138, 2013
2. S. Uemura et al., Sialylation and sulfation of lactosylceramide distinctly regulate anchorage-independent growth, apoptosis, and gene expression in 3LL
Lewis lung carcinoma cells, Glycobiology 13(3) 207-216, 2003
3. J. Garcia et al., P-selectin mediates metastatic progression through binding to sulfatides on tumor cells, Glycobiology 17(2) 185–196, 2007
4. M. Eckhardt et al., Sulfatide Storage in Neurons Causes Hyperexcitability and Axonal Degeneration in a Mouse Model of Metachromatic
Leukodystrophy, The Journal of Neuroscience, 27(34):9009 –9021, 2007