Two marine GH29 α-L-fucosidases from an uncultured Paraglaciecola sp. specifically hydrolyze fucosyl-N-acetylglucosamine regioisomers

L-Fucose is the most widely distributed L-hexose in marine and terrestrial environments, and presents a variety of functional roles. L-Fucose is the major monosaccharide in the polysaccharide fucoidan from cell walls of brown algae, and is found in human milk oligosaccharides and the Lewis blood group system, where it is important in cell signaling and immune response stimulation. Removal of fucose from these biomolecules is catalyzed by fucosidases belonging to different carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZy) families. Fucosidases of glycoside hydrolase family 29 (GH29) release α-L-fucose from non-reducing ends of glycans and display activities targeting different substrate compositions and linkage types. While several GH29 fucosidases from terrestrial environments have been characterized, much less is known about marine members of GH29 and their substrate specificities, as only four marine GH29 enzymes were previously characterized. Here, five GH29 fucosidases originating from an uncultured fucoidan-degrading marine bacterium (Paraglaciecola sp.) were cloned and produced recombinantly in E. coli. All five enzymes (Fp231, Fp239, Fp240, Fp251, Fp284) hydrolyzed the synthetic substrate CNP-α-L-fucose. By screening each of these enzymes against up to 17 fucose-containing oligosaccharides Fp231 and Fp284 showed strict substrate specificities against the fucosyl-N-acetylglucosamine regioisomers Fuc(α1,4)GlcNAc and Fuc(α1,6)GlcNAc, respectively, the former representing a new specificity. Fp231 is a monomeric enzyme with pH and temperature optima at pH 5.6-6.0 and 25°C, hydrolyzing Fuc(α1,4)GlcNAc with kcat = 1.3 s−1 and Km = 660 μM. Altogether, the findings extend our knowledge about GH29 family members from the marine environment, which are so far largely unexplored.

PREVALENCE OF IRREGULAR RED CELLANTIBODIES IN HEALTHY BLOOD DONORS ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTH INDIA

Introduction: Red cell antibodies that are found normally in human serum are considered naturally occurring and those are anti A and anti B. All other antibodies directed against RBC antigens are considered “unexpected or irregular". Aim: This study is aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the anti-red blood cell antibodies among healthy blood donors. Material and Methods: Antibody screening and identification was done using commercially available 3 cell and 11 cell reagent cells (0.8% Surgiscreen, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Limited, USA and Low ionic Strength Saline Ortho Bliss with AHG Cassettes) in antihuman globulin phase. Results: A total of 36,684 donors were screened for the presence of irregular erythrocyte antibodies. Among these donors, twenty donors showed presence of alloantibodies in their serum (0.054%). Most frequent alloantibodies identified were from Lewis blood group system. The results showed statistically a higher prevalence of RBC alloantibodies in males than in females. Conclusion: Screening for presence of alloantibodies in donor blood is important to provide compatible blood products and to avoid transfusion reactions.