Influence of passage number on glycosylation of alkyl lactosides by Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells

The cell function on saccharide biosynthesis can be evaluated by employing the saccharide primer method. This study demonstrated that the characteristics of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells changed in relation with passage number when 12-azidododecyl β-lactoside (Lac-12N3 primer) was incorporated into MDCK cells and afforded GM3-, GD3-, sialylparagloboside (SPG), and NeuAc-Gal-GlcNAc-Gal-GlcNAc-Lac-type oligosaccharides. By measuring the amount of glycosylated products from relatively early to late passage numbers, results showed that there was an appropriate passage number that optimized oligosaccharide production and that the higher passage number resulted to a decrease in oligosaccharide production. Moreover, results suggested that aside from sialyltransferase, the activity of several kinds of enzymes that control the amount of saccharide production was presumably affected depending upon the biological senescence.