Differentiation-Associated Changes of Glycolipid Composition and Metabolism in Mouse Myeloid Leukemia Cells. Induction of Globotriaosylceramide and a Galactosyltransferase1

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Abstract
This study was to find out whether induction of special glycolipids or glycosyltrans-ferases for glycolipid synthesis which might be involved in the cell functions occurred during the differentiation. Mouse myeloid leukemia cell line (Ml−), the differentiated cells (Ml+), and a subcloned cell line (Mml) were used for this purpose. Gangliotriaosylccramide (GA2) was the major glycolipid component in Ml− cells. As a result of differentiation of Ml− into Ml+ cells, globotriaosylceramide (CTH) was newly induced as the main glycolipid, while GA2 decreased to a minor component. GA2 was found to be the main glycolipid in Mml cells but no CTH was recognized. All precursor glycolipids and glycosyltransferases required to complete the biosynthetic pathway glucosylceramide (CMH)→ lactosylceramide (CDH)→GA2 gangliotetraosylceramide (GA1→ sialosylgangliotetraosylceramide (GM1b) were found in Ml− and also in Mml cells. A galactosyltransferase activity for CTH synthesis from CDH increased 10 fold during the differentiation. The induction of CTH in Ml+ cells could be attributed to the increase of the galactosyltransferase activity. Both CTH as a surface marker and the galactosyltransferase as an enzyme marker are proposed as valuable markers of differentiation in M1− cells.