Plasma membrane and intracellular expression of globotetraosylceramide (globoside) in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells.

The cellular localization of globotetraosylceramide (globoside), one of the predominant neutral glycosphingolipids of mouse interleukin 3-dependent, bone marrow culture-derived mast cells (BMMC), has been determined by immunologic and chemical methods. Although less than 10% of BMMC expressed globoside on their surface, as assessed by cytofluorographic analysis of the binding of a mouse monoclonal IgM anti-globoside antibody, treatment of BMMC with nonactivating doses of pronase, trypsin, or neuraminidase increased the percentage of BMMC binding anti-globoside antibody by an average of six, three, or sixfold respectively. That most BMMC had globoside on their plasma membrane was confirmed by the surface radiolabeling of globoside with galactose oxidase and sodium borotritide, as detected by autoradiography of thin layer chromatograms of the extracted neutral glycosphingolipids. Thus, BMMC expressed globoside on their plasma membrane, but accessibility of a large probe such as IgM antibody to the glycosphingolipid was impeded by surrounding surface molecules. All BMMC bound anti-globoside antibody intracellularly, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence staining and fluorescence microscopy on acetone-permeabilized cells, and the pattern of staining suggested that globoside was associated with the secretory granules of BMMC. Immunologic activation of BMMC resulted in a fivefold increase in the surface expression of globoside, as detected by cytofluorographic analysis of the binding of monoclonal anti-globoside antibody. The findings suggest that activation of BMMC causes a reorganization of the plasma membrane such that globoside is more exposed or that activation is accompanied by movement of globoside from internal membranes to the plasma membrane. The increased expression of globoside is a novel marker of the activated mouse BMMC.