Swainsonine affects the processing of glycoproteins in vivo

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Abstract
Rats, sheep and guinea pigs treated with swainsonine excrete ‘high mannose’ oligosaccharides in urine. The major rat and guinea pig oligosaccharide is (Man)5GlcNAc whereas sheep excrete a mixture of oligosaccharides of composition (Man)2–5GlcNAc2 and (Man)3–5GlcNAc. The presence of these oligosaccharides suggests that Golgi α-D-mannosidase II as well as lysosomal α-D-mannosidase is inhibited by swainsonine resulting in storage of abnormally processed asparagine-linked glycans from glycoproteins. Altered glycoprotein processing appears to have little effect on the health of the intoxicated animal, but the accompanying lysosomal storage produces a disease state.