Serum factors alter the extent of dephosphorylation of ligands endocytosed via the mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor

Mouse L-cells that contain the cation-independent (CI) mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P)/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) II receptor endocytose acid hydrolases and deliver these enzymes to lysosomes. The postendocytic loss of the Man 6-P recognition marker from the cell-associated acid hydrolases was assessed by CI-Man 6-P receptor affinity chromatography. 125I-labeled acid hydrolases internalized by L-cells grown at high density were delivered to lysosomes but were not dephosphorylated. In contrast, the same 125I-labeled hydrolases internalized by L-cells maintained at low density were delivered to lysosomes and were extensively dephosphorylated. The dephosphorylation at low density required 5 h for completion suggesting that the phosphatase responsible for the dephosphorylation is located within the lysosomal compartment. Transition from the high to low density state was rapid and was not inhibited by cycloheximide. Medium substitution experiments indicated that serum factors were necessary to maintain the L-cells in the dephosphorylation-competent (low density) state, and that serum-free conditions led to a dephosphorylation-incompetent (high density) state. Addition of IGF II to cells in serum-free medium allowed acid hydrolases subsequently introduced by endocytosis to be dephosphorylated. The results indicate that the removal of the Man 6-P recognition marker from endocytosed acid hydrolases is regulated by serum factors in the growth medium, including IGF II.     

Postendocytic maturation of acid hydrolases: evidence of prelysosomal processing

The mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P) receptor operates to transport both endogenous newly synthesized acid hydrolases and extracellular enzymes to the lysosomal compartment. In a previous study (Gabel, C. A., and S. A. Foster, 1986, J. Cell Biol., 103:1817-1827), we noted that beta-glucuronidase molecules internalized by mouse L-cells via the Man 6-P receptor undergo a proteolytic cleavage and a limited dephosphorylation. In this report, we present evidence that indicates that the postendocytic alterations of the acid hydrolase molecules occur at a site through which the enzymes pass en route to the lysosomal compartment. Mouse L-cells incubated at 20 degrees C with beta-glucuronidase (isolated from mouse macrophage secretions) internalize the enzyme in a process that is inhibited by Man 6-P but unaffected by cycloheximide. As such, the linear accumulation of the ligand observed at 20 degrees C appears to occur through the continued recycling of the cell surface Man 6-P receptor. The subcellular distribution of the internalized ligands was assessed after homogenization of the cells and fractionation of the extracts by density gradient centrifugation. In contrast to the accumulation of the ligand within lysosomes at 37 degrees C, the beta-glucuronidase molecules internalized by the L cells at 20 degrees C accumulate within a population of vesicles that sediment at the same density as endocytic vesicles. Biochemical analysis of the internalized ligands indicates that: (a) the subunit molecular mass of both beta-glucuronidase and beta-galactosidase decrease upon cell association relative to the input form of the enzymes, and (b) the beta-glucuronidase molecules experience a limited dephosphorylation such that high-mannose-type oligosaccharides containing two phosphomonoesters are converted to single phosphomonoester forms. The same two post-endocytic alterations occur after the internalization of beta-glucuronidase by human I-cell disease fibroblasts, despite the low acid hydrolase content of these cells. The results indicate, therefore, that acid hydrolases internalized via the Man 6-P receptor are processed within the endocytic compartment. In that endogenous newly synthesized acid hydrolases display similar alterations during their maturation, the results further suggest that the endosomal compartment is involved in the sorting of ligands transported via both the cell surface and intracellular Man 6-P receptor.     

Lysosomal enzyme trafficking in mannose 6-phosphate receptor-positive mouse L-cells: demonstration of a steady state accumulation of phosphorylated acid hydrolases

During their transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to lysosomes, newly synthesized acid hydrolases are phosphorylated in the Golgi apparatus to generate a common recognition marker, mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P). The phosphorylated acid hydrolases then bind to the Man 6-P receptor and are transported by an unknown route to lysosomes. To learn more about the delivery pathway, we examined the fate of the phosphorylated oligosaccharides synthesized by a Man 6-P receptor-positive line of mouse L-cells. In contrast to the rapid degradation of the recognition marker previously observed in mouse lymphoma cells (Gabel, C. A., D. E. Goldberg, and S. Kornfield. 1982. J. Cell Biol., 95:536-542), the number of high mannose oligosaccharides phosphorylated by the L-cells after a 30-min pulse labeling with [2-3H]mannose increased continuously during a subsequent 4-h chase period to a maximum of 9.3% of the total cell-associated structures. After 19 h of chase the absolute number of phosphorylated oligosaccharides declined, but the loss was accompanied by a general loss of cellular oligosaccharides such that 7.4% of the cell-associated high mannose oligosaccharides remained phosphorylated. The longevity of the Man 6-P recognition marker in the L-cells was verified by analyzing the ability of an individual acid hydrolase, beta-glucuronidase, to serve as a ligand for the Man 6-P receptor. At least 60% of the steady state beta-glucuronidase molecules isolated from the L-cells could undergo receptor-mediated endocytosis into enzyme-deficient human fibroblasts. Dense lysosomal granules isolated by metrizamide gradient centrifugation from [3H]mannose-labeled L-cells were found to be highly enriched in their content of phosphomonoester-containing oligosaccharides. The data indicate that acid hydrolases may retain their Man 6-P recognition markers within lysosomes, and suggest the possibility that dephosphorylation occurs at a nonlysosomal location through which the newly synthesized enzymes pass en route to lysosomes.     

Subcellular localization of mannose 6-phosphate glycoproteins in rat brain.

The intracellular transport of soluble lysosomal enzymes relies on the post-translational modification of N-linked oligosaccharides to generate mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P) residues. In most cell types the Man 6-P signal is rapidly removed after targeting of the precursor proteins from the Golgi to lysosomes via interactions with Man 6-phosphate receptors. However, in brain, the steady state proportion of lysosomal enzymes containing Man 6-P is considerably higher than in other tissues. As a first step toward understanding the mechanism and biological significance of this observation, we analyzed the subcellular localization of the rat brain Man 6-P glycoproteins by combining biochemical and morphological approaches. The brain Man 6-P glycoproteins are predominantly localized in neuronal lysosomes with no evidence for a steady state localization in nonlysosomal or prelysosomal compartments. This contrasts with the clear endosome-like localization of the low steady state proportion of mannose-6-phosphorylated lysosomal enzymes in liver. It therefore seems likely that the observed high percentage of phosphorylated species in brain is a consequence of the accumulation of lysosomal enzymes in a neuronal lysosome that does not fully dephosphorylate the Man 6-P moieties.     

Cell- and ligand-specific dephosphorylation of acid hydrolases: evidence that the mannose 6-phosphatase is controlled by compartmentalization

Mouse L cells that possess the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P)/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) II receptor change the extent to which they dephosphorylate endocytosed acid hydrolases in response to serum (Einstein, R., and C. A. Gabel. 1989. J. Cell Biol. 109:1037-1046). To investigate the mechanism by which dephosphorylation competence is regulated, the dephosphorylation of individual acid hydrolases was studied in Man 6-P/IGF II receptor-positive and -deficient cell lines. 125I-labeled Man 6-P-containing acid hydrolases were proteolytically processed but remained phosphorylated when endocytosed by receptor-positive L cells maintained in the absence of serum; after the addition of serum, however, the cell-associated hydrolases were dephosphorylated. Individual hydrolases were dephosphorylated at distinct rates and to different extents. In contrast, the same hydrolases were dephosphorylated equally and completely after entry into Man 6-P/IGF II receptor-positive Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The dephosphorylation competence of Man 6-P/IGF II receptor-deficient mouse J774 cells was more limited. beta-Glucuronidase produced by these cells underwent a limited dephosphorylation in transit to lysosomes such that diphosphorylated oligosaccharides were converted to monophosphorylated species. The overall quantity of phosphorylated oligosaccharides associated with the enzyme, however, did not decrease within the lysosomal compartment. Likewise, beta-glucuronidase was not dephosphorylated when introduced into J774 cells via Fc receptor-mediated endocytosis. The CHO and J774 cell lysosomes, therefore, display opposite extremes with respect to their capacity to dephosphorylate acid hydrolases; within CHO cell lysosomes acid hydrolases are rapidly and efficiently dephosphorylated, but within J774 cell lysosomes the same acid hydrolases remain phosphorylated. This difference in processing indicates that lysosomes themselves exist in a dephosphorylation-competent and -incompetent state. Man 6-P-bearing acid hydrolases endocytosed by the L+ cells in the absence of serum were not distributed uniformly throughout the lysosomal compartment. The change in the dephosphorylation competence of L cells in response to serum suggests, therefore, that these cells contain multiple populations of lysosomes that differ with respect to their content of a mannose 6-phosphatase, and that serum factors affect the distribution of hydrolases between the different compartments.     

Mannose 6 dephosphorylation of lysosomal proteins mediated by acid phosphatases Acp2 and Acp5

Mannose 6-phosphate (Man6P) residues represent a recognition signal required for efficient receptor-dependent transport of soluble lysosomal proteins to lysosomes. Upon arrival, the proteins are rapidly dephosphorylated. We used mice deficient for the lysosomal acid phosphatase Acp2 or Acp5 or lacking both phosphatases (Acp2/Acp5(-/-)) to examine their role in dephosphorylation of Man6P-containing proteins. Two-dimensional (2D) Man6P immunoblot analyses of tyloxapol-purified lysosomal fractions revealed an important role of Acp5 acting in concert with Acp2 for complete dephosphorylation of lysosomal proteins. The most abundant lysosomal substrates of Acp2 and Acp5 were identified by Man6P affinity chromatography and mass spectrometry. Depending on the presence of Acp2 or Acp5, the isoelectric point of the lysosomal cholesterol-binding protein Npc2 ranged between 7.0 and 5.4 and may thus regulate its interaction with negatively charged lysosomal membranes at acidic pH. Correspondingly, unesterified cholesterol was found to accumulate in lysosomes of cultured hepatocytes of Acp2/Acp5(-/-) mice. The data demonstrate that dephosphorylation of Man6P-containing lysosomal proteins requires the concerted action of Acp2 and Acp5 and is needed for hydrolysis and removal of degradation products.     

Overlapping functions of lysosomal acid phosphatase (LAP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (Acp5) revealed by doubly deficient mice.

To date, two lysosomal acid phosphatases are known to be expressed in cells of the monocyte/phagocyte lineage: the ubiquitously expressed lysosomal acid phosphatase (LAP) and the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-type 5 (Acp5). Deficiency of either acid phosphatase results in relatively mild phenotypes, suggesting that these enzymes may be capable of mutual complementation. This prompted us to generate LAP/Acp5 doubly deficient mice. LAP/Acp5 doubly deficient mice are viable and fertile but display marked alterations in soft and mineralised tissues. They are characterised by a progressive hepatosplenomegaly, gait disturbances and exaggerated foreshortening of long bones. Histologically, these animals are distinguished by an excessive lysosomal storage in macrophages of the liver, spleen, bone marrow, kidney and by altered growth plates. Microscopic analyses showed an accumulation of osteopontin adjacent to actively resorbing osteoclasts of Acp5- and LAP/Acp5-deficient mice. In osteoclasts of phosphatase-deficient mice, vacuoles were frequently found which contained fine filamentous material. The vacuoles in Acp5- and LAP/Acp5 doubly-deficient osteoclasts also contained crystallite-like features, as well as osteopontin, suggesting that Acp5 is important for processing of this protein. This is further supported by biochemical analyses that demonstrate strongly reduced dephosphorylation of osteopontin incubated with LAP/Acp5-deficient bone extracts. Fibroblasts derived from LAP/Acp5 deficient embryos were still able to dephosphorylate mannose 6-phosphate residues of endocytosed arylsulfatase A. We conclude that for several substrates LAP and Acp5 can substitute for each other and that these acid phosphatases are essential for processing of non-collagenous proteins, including osteopontin, by osteoclasts.     

Mannose 6-phosphate receptor-mediated endocytosis of acid hydrolases: internalization of beta-glucuronidase is accompanied by a limited dephosphorylation

Endocytosis of acid hydrolases via the cell surface mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P) receptor results in the delivery of the enzymes to lysosomes. To examine the fate of the ligand-associated phosphorylated high mannose oligosaccharides, we have analyzed the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides attached to beta-glucuronidase after uptake and processing by Man 6-P receptor-positive mouse L cells. beta-Glucuronidase, double-labeled with [2-3H]mannose and [35S]methionine, was isolated from the growth medium of mouse P388D1 cells. 80% of the [3H]mannose associated with the secreted enzyme was recovered as high mannose-type oligosaccharides, and 24-37% of these units were phosphorylated. Three species of phosphorylated oligosaccharides were identified; high mannose-type units containing either one or two phosphomonoesters, and hybrid-type units containing one phosphomonoester and one sialic acid residue. After endocytosis by the L cells, the beta-glucuronidase molecules migrated faster on an SDS gel, suggesting that the enzymes had been processed within lysosomes. Examination of the cell-associated beta-glucuronidase molecules indicated that: (a) the percentage of phosphorylated oligosaccharides remained comparable to the input form of the enzyme, even after a 24-h chase period, (b) the presence of a single species of phosphorylated oligosaccharide that contained one phosphomonoester, and (c) the positioning of the phosphate within the intracellular monophosphorylated species was comparable to the positioning of the phosphate within the two phosphomonoester species originally secreted by the P388D1 cells. Therefore, the internalized beta-glucuronidase molecules undergo a limited dephosphorylation; oligosaccharides containing two phosphomonoesters are converted to monophosphorylated species, but the one phosphomonoester forms are conserved. A comparison of the phosphorylated oligosaccharides recovered from ligands internalized by the L cells at 37 degrees and 20 degrees C indicated that: (a) molecules internalized at 20 degrees C retain a higher percentage of phosphorylated structures; and (b) at both temperatures the predominant phosphorylated oligosaccharide contains a single phosphomonoester group. The results indicate that the Man 6-P recognition marker persists after endocytosis and delivery to lysosomes and support the possibility that the limited dephosphorylation of the oligosaccharides may occur en route to these organelles.     

Cloning and expression of human steroid-sulfatase. Membrane topology, glycosylation, and subcellular distribution in BHK-21 cells

A 2.4-kilobase cDNA clone for human steroid-sulfatase (STS) was isolated and sequenced, which encoded an enzymatically active protein. The deduced amino acid sequence comprises 583 amino acids with an N-terminal signal peptide of 21 or 23 residues and four potential N-glycosylation sites. Two of the N-glycosylation sites are utilized and were localized to the asparagine residues 47 and 259. STS has the solubility properties of an integral membrane protein. The resistance of STS toward proteinase K after translocation into microsomes suggests that most, if not all, sequences of STS are exposed at the luminal side of microsomes. The deduced amino acid sequence predicts two membrane-spanning domains (amino acids 185-211 and 213-237) separated by a helix-breaking proline residue. We propose for STS a three-domain model. Two glycosylated luminally oriented domains of 161 and 346 residues are separated by a hydrophobic domain spanning the membrane twice in opposite directions. STS expressed in BHK-21 cells is located predominantly in the endoplasmic reticulum; smaller fractions are found in the Golgi, at the cell surface, multivesicular endosomes, as well as in lysosomes. The stability of STS in lysosomes may be related to the high homology of the two luminal domains of STS with the lysosomal sulfatases, arylsulfatase A, and arylsulfatase B. In spite of its similarity with these two lysosomal sulfatases, STS does not contain mannose 6-phosphate residues and is transported to lysosomes by a mannose 6-phosphate receptor-independent mechanism.     

Biosynthesis and endocytosis of lysosomal enzymes in human colon carcinoma SW 1116 cells: impaired internalization of plasma membrane-associated cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor.

The human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines SW 948, SW 1116, and SW 1222 were tested for their ability to sort and internalize lysosomal enzymes. The biosynthesis of the lysosomal enzymes cathepsin B, arylsulfatase A, and beta-hexosaminidase in these cell lines exhibits no significant differences to that in human fibroblasts. The intracellular targeting of newly synthesized hydrolases to the lysosomes relies in colon carcinoma cells on the mannose 6-phosphate receptor system. Both the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CI-MPR) and the cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor are expressed in all colon carcinoma cell lines investigated. Endocytosis of lysosomal enzymes via mannose 6-phosphate receptors is reduced in colon carcinoma cells as compared with human fibroblasts. SW 1116 cells were shown to be deficient in receptor-mediated endocytosis of mannose 6-phosphate containing ligands. Ligands of other endocytic receptors as well as the fluid-phase marker horseradish peroxidase were internalized at normal rates. While antibodies against CI-MPR bind to the surface of SW 1116 cells, these antibodies cannot be internalized. These data suggest that the cycling of CI-MPR is specifically impaired in SW 1116 cells.     

In vitro mutagenesis of potential N-glycosylation sites of arylsulfatase A. Effects on glycosylation, phosphorylation, and intracellular sorting.

The correct intracellular sorting of lysosomal enzymes such as arylsulfatase A depends on the presence of mannose 6-phosphate residues on high mannose type oligosaccharides. The arylsulfatase A cDNA contains three potential N-glycosylation sites, two of which are utilized. We have mutated one or two of the N-glycosylation sites and analyzed the glycosylation, phosphorylation, and intracellular sorting of the mutant arylsulfatase A polypeptides. The results show that each of the three glycosylation sites (I, II, and III) can be glycosylated, but glycosylation at sites I and II is mutually exclusive. In mutants with one oligosaccharide side chain at positions I, II, or III all side chains can acquire mannose 6-phosphate residues irrespective of their location. This demonstrates spatial flexibility of the phosphotransferase, which specifically recognizes lysosomal enzymes and initiates the addition of mannose 6-phosphate residues on oligosaccharide side chains. However, these mutants have different intracellular sorting efficiencies and seem to use different (mannose 6-phosphate receptor-dependent and -independent) sorting pathways.     

Targeting of a lysosomal membrane protein: a tyrosine-containing endocytosis signal in the cytoplasmic tail of lysosomal acid phosphatase is necessary and sufficient for targeting to lysosomes.

Lysosomal acid phosphatase (LAP) is synthesized as a transmembrane protein with a short carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic tail of 19 amino acids, and processed to a soluble protein after transport to lysosomes. Deletion of the membrane spanning domain and the cytoplasmic tail converts LAP to a secretory protein, while deletion of the cytoplasmic tail as well as substitution of tyrosine 413 within the cytoplasmic tail against phenylalanine causes accumulation at the cell surface. A chimeric polypeptide, in which the cytoplasmic tail of LAP was fused to the ectoplasmic and transmembrane domain of hemagglutinin is rapidly internalized and tyrosine 413 of the LAP tail is essential for internalization of the fusion protein. A chimeric polypeptide, in which the membrane spanning domain and cytoplasmic tail of LAP are fused to the ectoplasmic domain of the Mr 46 kd mannose 6-phosphate receptor, is rapidly transported to lysosomes, whereas wild type receptor is not transported to lysosomes. We conclude that a tyrosine containing endocytosis signal in the cytoplasmic tail of LAP is necessary and sufficient for targeting to lysosomes.     

Cloning and expression of human arylsulfatase A

A full length cDNA for human arylsulfatase A was cloned and sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequence comprises 507 residues. A putative signal peptide of 18 residues is followed by the NH2-terminal sequence of placental arylsulfatase A. One of the arylsulfatase A peptides ends 3 residues ahead of the predicted COOH terminus. This indicates that proteolytic processing of arylsulfatase A is confined to the cleavage of the signal peptide. The predicted sequence contains three potential N-glycosylation sites, two of which are likely to be utilized. The sequence shows no homology to any of the known sequences of lysosomal enzymes but a 35% identity to human steroid sulfatase. Transfection of monkey and baby hamster kidney cells resulted in an up to 200-fold increase of the arylsulfatase A activity. The arylsulfatase A was located in lysosome-like structures and transported to dense lysosomes in a mannose 6-phosphate receptor-dependent manner. The arylsulfatase A cDNA hybridizes to 2.0- and 3.9-kilobase species in RNA from human fibroblasts and human liver. RNA species of similar size were detected in metachromatic leukodystrophy fibroblasts of two patients, in which synthesis of arylsulfatase A polypeptides was either detectable or absent.     

Lysosomal enzyme oligosaccharide phosphorylation in mouse lymphoma cells: specificity and kinetics of binding to the mannose 6-phosphate receptor in vivo

Phosphomannosyl residues on lysosomal enzymes serve as an essential component of the recognition marker necessary for binding to the mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P) receptor and translocation to lysosomes. The high mannose-type oligosaccharide units of lysosomal enzymes are phosphorylated by the following mechanism: N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate is transferred to the 6 position of a mannose residue to form a phosphodiester; then N- acetylglucosamine is removed to expose a phosphomonoester. We examined the kinetics of this phosphorylation pathway in the murine lymphoma BW5147.3 cell line to determine the state of oligosaccharide phosphorylation at the time the newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes bind to the receptor. Cells were labeled with [2-(3)H]mannose for 20 min and then chased for various times up to 4 h. The binding of newly synthesized glycoproteins to the Man 6-P receptor was followed by eluting the bound ligand with Man 6-P. Receptor-bound material was first detected at 30 min of chase and reached a maximum at 60 min of chase, at which time approximately 10 percent of the total phosphorylated oligosaccharides were associated with the receptor. During longer chase times, the total quantity of cellular phosphorylated oligosaccharides decreased with a half-time of 1.4 h, suggesting that the lysosomal enzymes had reached their destination and had been dephosphorylated. The structures of the phosphorylated aligosaccharides of the eluted ligand were then determined and compared with the phosphorylated oligosaccharides of molecules which were not bond to the receptor. The major phosphorylated oligosaccharide species present in the nonreceptor-bound material contained a single phosphosphodiester at all time examined. In contrast, receptor-bound oligosaccharides were greatly enriched in species possessing one and two phosphomonoesters. These results indicate that binding of newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes to the Man 6-P receptor occurs only after removal of the covering N- acetylglucosamine residues.     

Targeting of phosphomannosyl-deficient arylsulfatase A to lysosomes of I-cell fibroblasts

Fibroblasts from I-cell disease, a genetically-determined lysosomal storage disease, are shown to contain large amounts of phase-dense lysosomes. These lysosomes accumulated acridine orange and were specifically labeled with antibodies to arylsulfatase A. In normal skin fibroblasts the number of arylsulfatase-containing lysosomes was considerably lower. By immunocytochemistry, metabolic labeling and enzyme assay, the arylsulfatase A in I-cell fibroblasts was shown to be synthesized, stored and secreted at a level that was several-fold higher than that present in heterozygous I-cell or normal fibroblasts. Arylsulfatase A in I-cell fibroblasts differed from arylsulfatase in normal fibroblasts by the absence of endoglycosidase H-sensitive phosphorylated oligosaccharides. These findings indicate that arylsulfatase A in I-cells is targeted to lysosomes by a mechanism that does not appear to involve the phosphorylated mannose marker.     

Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes is a bona fide lysosomal protein which undergoes proteolytic maturation during its biosynthesis

Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes (CREG) has been reported to be a secretory glycoprotein implicated in cellular growth and differentiation. We now show that CREG is predominantly localized within intracellular compartments. Intracellular CREG was found to lack an N-terminal peptide present in the secreted form of the protein. In contrast to normal cells, CREG is largely secreted by fibroblasts missing both mannose 6-phosphate receptors. This is not observed in cells lacking only one of them. Mass spectrometric analysis of recombinant CREG revealed that the protein contains phosphorylated oligosaccharides at either of its two N-glycosylation sites. Cellular CREG was found to cosediment with lysosomal markers upon subcellular fractionation by density-gradient centrifugation. In fibroblasts expressing a CREG-GFP fusion construct, the heterologous protein was detected in compartments containing lysosomal proteins. Immunolocalization of endogenous CREG confirmed that intracellular CREG is localized in lysosomes. Proteolytic processing of intracellular CREG involves the action of lysosomal cysteine proteinases. These results establish that CREG is a lysosomal protein that undergoes proteolytic maturation in the course of its biosynthesis, carries the mannose 6-phosphate recognition marker and depends on the interaction with mannose 6-phosphate receptors for efficient delivery to lysosomes.     

Several cooperating binding sites mediate the interaction of a lysosomal enzyme with phosphotransferase.

Lysosomal targeting of soluble lysosomal hydrolases is mediated by mannose 6-phosphate receptors, which recognize and bind mannose 6-phosphate residues in the oligosaccharide chains of proteins destined for delivery to lysosomes. This recognition marker is generated by the sequential action of two enzymes, the first of which, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine phosphotransferase, recognizes lysosomal enzymes on the basis of a structural determinant in their polypeptide chains. This recognition event is a key step in lysosomal targeting of soluble proteins, but the exact nature of the recognition determinant is not well understood. In this study we have characterized the phosphotransferase recognition signals of human lysosomal aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) using transient expression of polypeptides carrying targeted amino acid substitutions. We found that three lysine residues and a tyrosine residing in three spatially distinct regions of the AGA polypeptide are necessary for phosphorylation of the oligosaccharides. Two of the lysines are especially important for the lysosomal targeting efficiency of AGA, which seems to be mostly dictated by the degree of phosphorylation of the alpha subunit oligosaccharide. On the basis of the results of this and previous studies we suggest a general model for recognition of lysosomal enzymes by the phosphotransferase.     

Identification of novel lysosomal matrix proteins by proteome analysis

The lysosomal matrix is estimated to contain about 50 different proteins. Most of the matrix proteins are acid hydrolases that depend on mannose 6-phosphate receptors (MPR) for targeting to lysosomes. Here, we describe a comprehensive proteome analysis of MPR-binding proteins from mouse. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts defective in both MPR (MPR 46-/- and MPR 300-/-) are known to secrete the lysosomal matrix proteins. Secretions of these cells were affinity purified using an affinity matrix derivatized with MPR46 and MPR300. In the protein fraction bound to the affinity matrix and eluted with mannose 6-phosphate, 34 known lysosomal matrix proteins, 4 candidate proteins of the lysosomal matrix and 4 non-lysosomal contaminants were identified by mass spectrometry after separation by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis or by multidimensional protein identification technology. For 3 of the candidate proteins, mammalian ependymin-related protein-2 (MERP-2), retinoid-inducible serine carboxypeptidase (RISC) and the hypothetical 66.3-kDa protein we could verify that C-terminally tagged forms bound in an M6P-dependent manner to an MPR-affinity matrix and were internalized via MPR-mediated endocytosis. Hence these 3 proteins are likely to represent hitherto unrecognized lysosomal matrix proteins.     

Lysosomal cysteine protease, cathepsin B, is targeted to lysosomes by the mannose 6-phosphate-independent pathway in rat hepatocytes: site-specific phosphorylation in oligosaccharides of the proregion

Cathepsin B, a lysosomal cysteine protease, is synthesized as a glycoprotein with two N-linked oligosaccharide chains, one of which is in the propeptide region while the other is in the mature region. When cultured rat hepatocytes were labeled with [(32)P]phosphate, (32)P-labeled cathepsin B was immunoprecipitated only in the proform from cell lysates and medium. Either Endo H or alkaline phosphatase treatment of (32)P-labeled procathepsin B demonstrated the acquisition of a mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P) residue on high mannose type oligosaccharides. To identify the site of phosphorylation, immunoisolated (35)S- or (32)P-labeled procathepsin B was incubated with purified lysosomal cathepsin D, since cathepsin D cleaves 48 amino acid residues from the N-terminus of procathepsin B, in which one N-linked oligosaccharide chain was also included [Kawabata, T. et al. (1993) J. Biochem. 113, 389-394]. Treatment of intracellular (35)S-labeled procathepsin B with a molecular mass of 39-kDa with cathepsin D resulted in the production of the 31-kDa intermediate form, but the (32)P-label incorporated into procathepsin B disappeared after treatment with cathepsin D. These results indicate that the phosphorylation of procathepsin B is restricted to an oligosaccharide chain present in the propeptide region. Interestingly, cathepsin B sorting to lysosomes was not inhibited by NH(4)Cl treatment and about 90% of the intracellular procathepsin B initially phosphorylated was secreted into the medium without being dephosphorylated intracellularly, and did not bind significantly to cation-independent-Man 6-P receptor, suggesting the failure of Man 6-P-dependent transport of procathepsin B to lysosomes. Additionally, about 50% of the newly synthesized (35)S-labeled cathepsin B was retained in the cells in mature forms consisting of a 29-kDa single chain form and a 24-kDa two chain form, while part of the procathepsin B was associated with membranes in a Man 6-P-independent manner. Taken together, these results show that in rat hepatocytes, cathepsin B is targeted to lysosomes by an alternative mechanism(s) other than the Man 6-P-dependent pathway.     

Insulin-like growth factor II overexpression does not affect sorting of lysosomal enzymes in NIH-3T3 cells.

The sorting of newly synthesized mannose 6-phosphate (M6P)-containing proteins and of the major excreted protein (MEP), a lysosomal thiol proteinase, was studied in NIH-3T3 cells transfected with the cDNA of human insulin-like growth factor II (IGF II) or with the vector alone. Extracts from media and cells labelled with [35S] methionine were used for chromatography on a M6P/IGF II receptor affinity matrix or for immunoprecipitation to assess the distribution of newly synthesized M6P-containing proteins and MEP, respectively. The results indicate that the overexpression of IGF II did not affect the synthesis and the sorting of M6P-containing proteins and of MEP. The binding and uptake of the lysosomal enzyme arylsulfatase A were not affected in IGF II overexpressing cells.