The recombinant enzyme is synthesized using heterologous expression systems, including:
Host Systems: E. coli, yeast, baculovirus-infected insect cells, or mammalian cells (e.g., HEK293) .
Purity: Affinity chromatography or SDS-PAGE confirms ≥85% purity for commercial preparations .
Stability: The enzyme requires CMP-sialic acid as a donor substrate and operates optimally at 37°C in buffered conditions .
A phosphatase-coupled assay measures the enzyme’s activity by detecting phosphate release during sialylation :
Component | Concentration/Amount |
---|---|
CMP-Sialic Acid | 2.78 mM |
Coupling Phosphatase 2 | 22.2 µg/mL |
rhNCAM-1/CD56 | 8 µg |
rhST8SIA4 | 20 µg/mL (1:1 dilution) |
Reaction Mixture | 45 µL CMP-Sialic Acid + 45 µL Coupling Phosphatase 2 + 160 µL rhNCAM-1/CD56 |
Activity Calculation:
Neural Development: PSA synthesized by ST8SIA4 reduces NCAM1-mediated adhesion, enabling neural migration and synaptic plasticity during embryogenesis .
Cancer: Overexpression correlates with increased tumor invasiveness and growth .
Disease Associations: Genetic disruptions link ST8SIA4 to schizophrenia and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) .
Cell Migration Studies: Used to modulate PSA levels in vitro, mimicking developmental or pathological conditions .
Therapeutic Targeting: Investigated for cancer immunotherapy (e.g., blocking PSA to enhance immune recognition of tumor cells) .
Diagnostic Tools: Serves as a reference standard in ELISA or Western blot assays for detecting ST8SIA4 expression .
The C-terminal catalytic domain (residues 150–400) retains enzymatic activity, but truncations may impact:
Membrane localization (loss of N-terminal transmembrane domain)
Protein stability (assessed via circular dichroism or thermal shift assays)
Crystallization success rates (requires optimization with fusion tags like maltose-binding protein)
Use cryo-EM for full-length protein analysis.
Employ molecular dynamics simulations to predict truncation effects .
Discrepancies arise from variations in:
Perform kinetic profiling under standardized conditions (pH 7.4, 37°C, 5 mM Mn²⁺) .
Cross-validate with siRNA knockdown models (e.g., reduced polysialic acid in St8sia4 KO cells) .
Model selection: Use MDA-MB-231 (high St8sia4) vs. MCF-7 (low St8sia4) xenografts .
Intervention: CRISPR-Cas9 knockout or siRNA-mediated silencing .
Endpoint metrics:
Pitfall: Compensatory upregulation of St8sia2 in St8sia4 KO models – monitor via qRT-PCR .
Combine:
Western blot: Anti-St8sia4 antibodies (e.g., Abbexa abx230543, 1:1,000 dilution)
Activity-based profiling: Click chemistry with azido-modified CMP-Neu5Ac
Transcript analysis: qPCR primers spanning exons 3–5 (avoid pseudogene interference)
Cell Line | St8sia4 mRNA (ΔCt) | Protein (OD450) | Activity (nmol/h/mg) |
---|---|---|---|
HEK293T (WT) | 18.2 ± 0.3 | 0.12 ± 0.02 | 0.8 ± 0.1 |
HEK293T (OE) | 12.1 ± 0.2 | 1.45 ± 0.15 | 15.3 ± 2.1 |
Activity recovery: Pre-incubate at 4°C for 24 hr before assays (regains 92% activity vs. 67% without)
Validation: Compare Michaelis constants (Km) before/after storage:
Docking simulations: HDOCK server with NCAM1 Ig5 domain (PDB 1QZ1)
Co-expression networks: STRING database (links to NCAM1, ST8SIA2, NEU1)
Parameter | Specification | Test Method |
---|---|---|
Purity | >90% | SDS-PAGE/Coomassie |
Endotoxin | <0.1 EU/μg | LAL assay |
Specific activity | ≥10 nmol/min/mg | Radiometric assay |