Identification of a Disaccharide (Xyl-Glc) and a Trisaccharide (Xyl2-Glc) O-glycosidically Linked to a Serine Residue in the First Epidermal Growth Factor-like Domain of Human Factors VII and IX and Protein Z and Bovine Protein Z

We have recently described a unique trisaccharide linked to a serine residue in the first epidermal growth factor-like domains of bovine blood coagulation factors VII (Ser-52) and IX (Ser-53) (Hase, S., Kawabata, S., Nishimura, H., Takeya, H., Sueyoshi, T., Miyata, T., Iwanaga, S., Takao, T., Shimonishi, Y., and Ikenaka, T. (1988) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 104, 867-868). The sugar chain identified in these clotting factors consists of 1 mol of hexose (glucose (Glc] and 2 mol of pentose (xylose (Xyl]. We report here that human factors VII and IX and protein Z and bovine protein Z also contain such carbohydrate moieties linked to a serine residue at the same position found in bovine factors VII and IX. A glycopeptide derived from each of these proteins was subjected to amino acid sequence and component sugar analyses and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric analysis. The results indicate that the glycopeptide derived from human factor IX contains 1 mol each of Glc and Xyl. The reducing end of this disaccharide was identified as Glc by analyzing the disaccharide generated by hydrazinolysis. In contrast, human factor VII and protein Z yielded two different glycopeptides which contained Glc and Xyl at molar ratios of 1:1 and 1:2, respectively, suggesting microheterogeneity of these O-linked sugar chains. Bovine protein Z glycopeptide contained 1 mol of Glc and 2 mol of Xyl. These sugar compositions were confirmed by analyses of the intact proteins. In relation to the trisaccharide sugar chain previously discovered in bovine factors VII and IX, these findings indicate the existence of a Xyl2-Glc-Ser and a Xyl-Glc-Ser structure in the first epidermal growth factor-like domains of human factors VII and IX and protein Z in addition to that of bovine protein Z. Whether these carbohydrate moieties contribute to the biological activities of these proteins is unknown.