Phytate is an antinutritional factor that influences the bioavailability of essential minerals by forming complexes with them and converting them into insoluble salts. To further our understanding of the chemistry of phytate's binding interactions with biologically important metal cations, we determined the stoichiometry, affinity, and thermodynamics of these interactions by isothermal titration calorimetry. The results suggest that phytate has multiple Ca(2+)-binding sites and forms insoluble tricalcium- or tetracalcium-phytate salts over a wide pH range (pH 3.0-9.0). We overexpressed the β-propeller phytase from Hahella chejuensis (HcBPP) that hydrolyzes insoluble Ca(2+)-phytate salts. Structure-based sequence alignments indicated that the active site of HcBPP may contain multiple calcium-binding sites that provide a favorable electrostatic environment for the binding of Ca(2+)-phytate salts. Biochemical and kinetic studies further confirmed that HcBPP preferentially recognizes its substrate and selectively hydrolyzes insoluble Ca(2+)-phytate salts at three phosphate group sites, yielding the final product, myo-inositol 2,4,6-trisphosphate. More importantly, ITC analysis of this final product with several cations revealed that HcBPP efficiently eliminates the ability of phytate to chelate several divalent cations strongly and thereby provides free minerals and phosphate ions as nutrients for the growth of bacteria. Collectively, our results provide significant new insights into the potential application of HcBPP in enhancing the bioavailability and absorption of divalent cations.

Approximately 10–15% of individuals infected with Helicobacter pylori will develop ulcer disease (gastric or duodenal ulcer), while most people infected with H. pylori will be asymptomatic. The majority of infected individuals remain asymptomatic partly due to the inhibition of synthesis of cholesteryl α-glucosides in H. pylori cell wall by α1,4-GlcNAc-capped mucin O-glycans, which are expressed in the deeper portion of gastric mucosa. However, it has not been determined how cholesteryl α-glucosyltransferase (αCgT), which forms cholesteryl α-glucosides, functions in the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection. Here, we show that the activity of αCgT from H. pylori clinical isolates is highly correlated with the degree of gastric atrophy. We investigated the role of cholesteryl α-glucosides in various aspects of the immune response. Phagocytosis and activation of dendritic cells were observed at similar degrees in the presence of wild-type H. pylori or variants harboring mutant forms of αCgT showing a range of enzymatic activity. However, cholesteryl α-glucosides were recognized by invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, eliciting an immune response in vitro and in vivo. Following inoculation of H. pylori harboring highly active αCgT into iNKT cell-deficient (Jα18−/−) or wild-type mice, bacterial recovery significantly increased in Jα18−/− compared to wild-type mice. Moreover, cytokine production characteristic of Th1 and Th2 cells dramatically decreased in Jα18−/− compared to wild-type mice. These findings demonstrate that cholesteryl α-glucosides play critical roles in H. pylori-mediated gastric inflammation and precancerous atrophic gastritis.

Helicobacter pylori infects over half of the world's population and is thought to be a leading cause of gastric ulcer, gastric carcinoma, and gastric malignant lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type. Previously, we reported that a gland mucin (MUC6) present in the lower portion of the gastric mucosa containing alpha1,4-N-acetylglucosamine (alpha1,4GlcNAc)-capped core 2-branched O-glycans suppresses H. pylori growth by inhibiting the synthesis of alpha-glucosyl cholesterol, a major constituent of the H. pylori cell wall (Kawakubo et al. 2004. Science. 305:1003-1006). Therefore, we cloned the genomic DNA encoding cholesterol alpha-glucosyltransferase (HP0421) and expressed its soluble form in Escherichia coli. Using this soluble HP0421, we show herein that HP0421 sequentially acts on uridine diphosphoglucose and cholesterol in an ordered Bi-Bi manner. We found that competitive inhibition of HP0421 by alpha1,4GlcNAc-capped core 2-branched O-glycan is much more efficient than noncompetitive inhibition by newly synthesized alpha-glucosyl cholesterol. Utilizing synthetic oligosaccharides, alpha-glucosyl cholesterol, and monosaccharides, we found that alpha1,4GlcNAc-capped core 2-branched O-glycan most efficiently inhibits H. pylori growth. These findings together indicate that alpha1,4GlcNAc-capped O-glycans suppress H. pylori growth by inhibiting HP0421, and that alpha1,4GlcNAc-capped core 2 O-glycans may be useful to treat patients infected with H. pylori.

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects over 50% of the world's population. This organism causes various gastric diseases such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. H. pylori possesses lipopolysaccharides that share structural similarity to Lewis blood group antigens in gastric mucosa. Such antigenic mimicry could result in immune tolerance against antigens of this pathogen. On the other hand, H. pylori colonizes gastric mucosa by utilizing adhesins that bind Lewis blood group antigen-related carbohydrates expressed on gastric epithelial cells. After colonization, H. pylori induces acute inflammatory responses mainly by neutrophils. This acute phase is gradually replaced by a chronic inflammatory response. In chronic gastritis, lymphocytes infiltrate the lamina propria, and such infiltration is facilitated by the interaction between L-selectin on lymphocytes and peripheral lymph node addressin (PNAd), which contains 6-sulfo sialyl Lewis X-capped O-glycans, on high endothelial venule (HEV)-like vessels. H. pylori barely colonizes gland mucous cell-derived mucin where alpha1,4-GlcNAc-capped O-glycans exist. In vitro experiments show that alpha1,4-GlcNAc-capped O-glycans function as a natural antibiotic to inhibit H. pylori growth. These findings show that distinct sets of carbohydrates expressed in the stomach are closely associated with pathogenesis and prevention of H. pylori-related diseases, providing therapeutic potentialities based on specific carbohydrate modulation.

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