Sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides affect secretion but are not essential for the transport, proteolytic processing, and sorting of lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum

Although previous studies have indicated that N-linked oligosaccharides on lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum are extensively phosphorylated and sulfated, the role of these modifications in the sorting and function of these enzymes remains to be determined. We have used radiolabel pulse-chase, subcellular fractionation, and immunofluorescence microscopy to analyze the transport, processing, secretion, and sorting of two lysosomal enzymes in a mutant, HL244, which is almost completely defective in sulfation. [3H]Mannose-labeled N-linked oligosaccharides were released from immunoprecipitated alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase of HL244 by digestion with peptide: N-glycosidase. The size, Man9-10GlcNAc2, and processing of the neutral species were similar to that found in the wild type, but the anionic oligosaccharides were less charged than those from the wild-type enzymes. All of the negative charges on the oligosaccharides for HL244 were due to the presence of 1, 2, or 3 phosphodiesters and not to sulfate esters. The rate of proteolytic processing of precursor forms of alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase to mature forms in HL244 was identical to wild type. The precursor polypeptides in the mutant and the wild type were membrane associated until being processed to mature forms; therefore, sulfated sugars are not essential for this association. Furthermore, the rate of transport of alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex was normal in the mutant as determined by the rate at which the newly synthesized proteins became resistant to the enzyme, endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. There was no increase in the percentage of newly synthesized mutant precursors which escaped sorting and were secreted, and the intracellularly retained lysosomal enzymes were properly localized to lysosomes as determined by fractionation of cell organelles on Percoll gradients and immunofluorescence microscopy. However, the mutant secreted lysosomally localized mature forms of the enzymes at 2-fold lower rates than wild-type cells during both growth and during starvation conditions that stimulate secretion. Furthermore, the mutant was more resistant to the effects of chloroquine treatment which results in the missorting and oversecretion of lysosomal enzymes. Together, these results suggest that sulfation of N-linked oligosaccharides is not essential for the transport, processing, or sorting of lysosomal enzymes in D. discoideum, but these modified oligosaccharides may function in the secretion of mature forms of the enzymes from lysosomes.     

Biogenesis of lysosomal enzymes in the alpha-glucosidase II-deficient modA mutant of Dictyostelium discoideum: retention of alpha-1,3-linked glucose on N-linked oligosaccharides delays intracellular transport but does not alter sorting of alpha-mannosidase or beta-glucosidase

The endoplasmic reticulum-localized enzyme alpha-glucosidase II is responsible for removing the two alpha-1,3-linked glucose residues from N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins. This activity is missing in the modA mutant strain, M31, of Dictyostelium discoideum. Results from both radiolabeled pulse-chase and subcellular fractionation experiments indicate that this deficiency did not prevent intracellular transport and proteolytic processing of the lysosomal enzymes, alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase. However, the rate at which the glucosylated precursors left the rough endoplasmic reticulum was several-fold slower than the rate at which the wild-type precursors left this compartment. Retention of glucose residues did not disrupt the binding of the precursor forms of the enzymes with intracellular membranes, indicating that the delay in movement of proteins from the ER did not result from lack of association with membranes. However, the mutant alpha-mannosidase precursor contained more trypsin-sensitive sites than did the wild-type precursor, suggesting that improper folding of precursor molecules might account for the slow rate of transport to the Golgi complex. Percoll density gradient fractionation of extracts prepared from M31 cells indicated that the proteolytically processed mature forms of alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase were localized to lysosomes. Finally, the mutation in M31 may have other, more dramatic, effects on the lysosomal system since two enzymes, N-acetylglucosaminidase and acid phosphatase, were secreted much less efficiently from lysosomal compartments by the mutant strain.     

A single mutation prevents the normal intracellular transport of multiple lysosomal proteins from the rough endoplasmic reticulum

Dictyostelium discoideum strain HMW-426 has been previously shown to be defective in the proteolytic processing of the lysosomal enzyme precursor to alpha-mannosidase. We have now shown that the mutant is defective in the proteolytic processing of a second lysosomal enzyme, beta-glucosidase. Digestion of the HMW-426 alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase precursors with endoglycosidase H revealed that the majority of oligosaccharide side chains on both precursors were sensitive to cleavage by this enzyme, indicating that both precursors fail to reach the Golgi apparatus. Subcellular fractionation experiments demonstrated that these two mutant precursors accumulated inside the lumen of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The alpha-mannosidase precursor is conformationally altered, as evidenced by its abnormal protease susceptibility, suggesting that altered conformation is responsible for a generalized defect in transport of lysosomal protein precursors from the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the mutant.     

Lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum are transported to lysosomes at distinctly different rates

We are investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in the localization of lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum, an organism that lacks any detectable mannose-6-phosphate receptors. The lysosomal enzymes alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase are both initially synthesized as precursor polypeptides that are proteolytically processed to mature forms and deposited in lysosomes. Time course experiments revealed that 20 min into the chase period, the pulse-labeled alpha-mannosidase precursor (140 kD) begins to be processed, and 35 min into the chase 50% of the polypeptides are cleaved to mature 60 and 58-kD forms. In contrast, the pulse-labeled beta-glucosidase precursor (105 kD) begins to be processed 10 min into the chase period, and by 30 min of the chase all of the precursor has been converted into mature 100-kD subunits. Between 5 and 10% of both precursors escape processing and are rapidly secreted from cells. Endoglycosidase H treatment of immunopurified radioactively labeled alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase precursor polypeptides demonstrated that the beta-glucosidase precursor becomes resistant to enzyme digestion 10 min sooner than the alpha-mannosidase precursor. Moreover, subcellular fractionation studies have revealed that 70-75% of the pulse-labeled beta-glucosidase molecules move from the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) to the Golgi complex less than 10 min into the chase. In contrast, 20 min of chase are required before 50% of the pulse-labeled alpha-mannosidase precursor exits the RER. The beta-glucosidase and alpha-mannosidase precursor polypeptides are both membrane associated along the entire transport pathway. After proteolytic cleavage, the mature forms of both enzymes are released into the lumen of lysosomes. These results suggest that beta-glucosidase is transported from the RER to the Golgi complex and ultimately lysosomes at a distinctly faster rate than the alpha-mannosidase precursor. Thus, our results are consistent with the presence of a receptor that recognizes the beta-glucosidase precursor more readily than the alpha-mannosidase precursor and therefore more quickly directs these polypeptides to the Golgi complex.     

Two mutants of Dictyostelium discoideum that lack a sulfated carbohydrate antigenic determinant synthesize a truncated lipid-linked precursor of N-linked oligosaccharides

Dictyostelium discoideum glycoproteins contain mannose-6-SO4 in highly immunogenic N-linked oligosaccharides. To more precisely define the structural requirements of the antigenic determinant, we have analyzed the oligosaccharides synthesized by two mutant strains (HL241 and HL243) that lack it. Both mutant strains synthesize N-linked oligosaccharides which are very similar to each other but are smaller and less charged than those derived from the wild-type. Both mutants contain substantial amounts of Man-6-SO4, and only a single residue of Man-6-P-OCH3 per chain, in contrast to the wild-type which may have 1 or 2 such residues. Neutral species are similar to the wild-type in that they can still be modified by the addition of residues of fucose and N-acetylglucosamine. Both mutant strains synthesize a truncated lipid-linked oligosaccharide, Man6GlcNAc2, with the most probable structure being: (sequence; see text) based on Jack bean alpha-mannosidase, alpha-1,2-specific mannosidase digestions and methylation analysis. The presence of this small oligosaccharide appears to result from the loss of the mannosyltransferase(s) needed to synthesize structures larger than Man6GlcNAc2 and not from the absence of dolichol phosphate or dolichol-P-mannose synthetase. These data along with the analysis of another mutant strain suggest that the expression of the antigenic determinant requires a specific arrangement of Man-6-SO4 on the alpha-1,6 branch of the oligosaccharide linked to the beta-mannose.     

Interaction of Dictyostelium discoideum lysosomal enzymes with the mammalian phosphomannosyl receptor. The importance of oligosaccharides which contain phosphodiesters

Mammalian cell lysosomal enzymes or phosphorylated oligosaccharides derived from them are endocytosed by a phosphomannosyl receptor (PMR) found on the surface of fibroblasts. Various studies suggest that 2 residues of Man-6-P in phosphomonoester linkage but not diester linkage (PDE) are essential for a high rate of uptake. The lysosomal enzymes of the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum are also recognized by the PMR on these cells; however, none of the oligosaccharides from these enzymes contain 2 phosphomonoesters. Instead, most contain multiple sulfate esters and 2 residues of Man-6-P in an unusual PDE linkage. In this study I have tried to account for the unexpected highly efficient uptake of the slime mold enzymes. The results show that nearly all of the alpha-mannosidase molecules contain the oligosaccharides required for uptake, and that each tetrameric, holoenzyme molecule has sufficient carbohydrate for an average of 10 Man8GlcNAc2 oligosaccharides. None of the oligosaccharides or glycopeptides from the lysosomal enzymes bind to an immobilized PMR, but those with 2 PDE show slight interaction. Competition of 125I-beta-glucosidase uptake by various carbohydrate-containing fractions indicates that the best inhibitors are those with 2 PDE, either with or without sulfate esters. Furthermore, the uptake of a lysosomal enzyme isolated from a mutant strain (modA), which produces oligosaccharides with only 1 but not 2 PDE, is about 10-fold less than the uptake of wild-type enzyme which has predominantly 2 PDE. Complete denaturation of 125I-labeled wild-type beta-glucosidase in sodium dodecyl sulfate/dithiothreitol also reduces its uptake by about 10-fold. Taken together, these results suggest that the interactions of multiple, weakly binding oligosaccharides, especially those with 2 PDE, are important for the high rate of uptake of the slime mold enzymes. The conformation of the protein may be important in orienting the oligosaccharides in a favorable position for binding to the PMR.     

Glucose removal from N-linked oligosaccharides is required for efficient maturation of certain secretory glycoproteins from the rough endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex

1- Deoxynojirimycin is a specific inhibitor of glucosidases I and II, the first enzymes that process N-linked oligosaccharides after their transfer to polypeptides in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. In a pulse- chase experiment, 1- deoxynojirimycin greatly reduced the rate of secretion of alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin by human hepatoma HepG2 cells, but had marginal effects on secretion of the glycoproteins C3 and transferrin, or of albumin. As judged by equilibrium gradient centrifugation, 1- deoxynojirimycin caused alpha 1- antitrypsin and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin to accumulate in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The oligosaccharides on cell-associated alpha 1- antitrypsin and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin synthesized in the presence of 1- deoxynojirimycin , remained sensitive to Endoglycosidase H and most likely had the structure Glu1- 3Man9GlcNAc2 . Tunicamycin, an antibiotic that inhibits addition of N-linked oligosaccharide units to glycoproteins, had a similar differential effect on secretion of these proteins. Swainsonine , an inhibitor of the Golgi enzyme alpha- mannosidase II, had no effect on the rates of protein secretion, although the proteins were in this case secreted with an abnormal N- linked, partially complex, oligosaccharide. We conclude that the movement of alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin from the rough endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi requires that the N-linked oligosaccharides be processed to at least the Man9GlcNAc2 form; possibly this oligosaccharide forms part of the recognition site of a transport receptor for certain secretory proteins.     

Mannose 6-sulfate is present in the N-linked oligosaccharides of lysosomal enzymes of Dictyostelium

The major N-linked, anionic oligosaccharide found on several lysosomal enzymes of Dictyostelium discoideum contains five charges, composed of three sulfate esters and two residues of Man-6-P in phosphodiester linkage. Most of the SO4 was found as Man-6-SO4. This novel sulfated sugar was detected and quantitated by measuring the appearance of 3,6-anhydromannitol following acid hydrolysis and reduction of base-treated, reduced oligosaccharides. If SO4 is removed by solvolysis prior to the base treatment, the anhydrosugar is not formed, indicating that its presence is not an artifact of the procedure. That these oligosaccharides are derived from standard high-mannose-type oligosaccharides indicates that only one or, at most, two Man residues are unsubstituted at the 6-position.     

Inhibition of early but not late proteolytic processing events leads to the missorting and oversecretion of precursor forms of lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum

Lysosomal enzymes are initially synthesized as precursor polypeptides which are proteolytically cleaved to generate mature forms of the enzymatically active protein. The identification of the proteinases involved in this process and their intracellular location will be important initial steps in determining the role of proteolysis in the function and targeting of lysosomal enzymes. Toward this end, axenically growing Dictyostelium discoideum cells were pulse radiolabeled with [35S]methionine and chased in fresh growth medium containing inhibitors of aspartic, metallo, serine, or cysteine proteinases. Cells exposed to the serine/cysteine proteinase inhibitors leupeptin and antipain and the cysteine proteinase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-alanine-diazomethyl ketone (Z-Phe- AlaCHN2) were unable to complete proteolytic processing of the newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes, alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase. Antipain and leupeptin treatment resulted in both a dramatic decrease in the efficiency of proteolytic processing, as well as a sevenfold increase in the secretion of alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase precursors. However, leupeptin and antipain did not stimulate secretion of lysosomally localized mature forms of the enzymes suggesting that these inhibitors prevent the normal sorting of lysosomal enzyme precursors to lysosomes. In contrast to the results observed for cells treated with leupeptin or antipain, Z-Phe-AlaCHN2 did not prevent the cleavage of precursor polypeptides to intermediate forms of the enzymes, but greatly inhibited the production of the mature enzymes. The accumulated intermediate forms of the enzymes, however, were localized to lysosomes. Finally, fractionation of cell extracts on Percoll gradients indicated that the processing of radiolabeled precursor forms of alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase to intermediate products began in cellular compartments intermediate in density between the Golgi complex and mature lysosomes. The generation of the mature forms, in contrast, was completed immediately upon or soon after arrival in lysosomes. Together these results suggest that different proteinases residing in separate intracellular compartments may be involved in generating intermediate and mature forms of lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum, and that the initial cleavage of the precursors may be critical for the proper localization of lysosomal enzymes.     

Role of acidic intracellular compartments in the biosynthesis of Dictyostelium lysosomal enzymes. The weak bases ammonium chloride and chloroquine differentially affect proteolytic processing and sorting

Radiolabel pulse-chase and subcellular fractionation procedures were used to analyze the transport, proteolytic processing, and sorting of two lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum cells treated with the weak bases ammonium chloride and chloroquine. Dictyostelium lacks detectable cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptors and represents an excellent system to investigate alternative mechanisms for lysosomal enzyme targeting. Exposure of growing cells to ammonium chloride, which increased the pH in intracellular vacuoles from 5.4 to 5.8-6.1, slowed but did not prevent the proteolytic processing and correct localization of pulse-radiolabeled precursors to the lysosomal enzymes alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase. Additionally, ammonium chloride did not affect transport of the enzymes to the Golgi complex, as they acquired resistance to the enzyme endoglycosidase H at the same rate as in control cells. When the pH of lysosomal and endosomal organelles was raised to 6.4 with higher concentrations of ammonium chloride, the percentage of secreted (apparently mis-sorted) precursor polypeptides increased slightly, but proteolytic processing of intermediate forms of lysosomal enzymes to mature forms was greatly reduced. The intermediate and mature forms of alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase did, however, accumulate intracellularly in vesicles similar in density to lysosomes. In contrast, in cells exposed to low concentrations of chloroquine the intravacuolar pH increased only slightly (to 5.7); however, enzymes were inefficiently processed and, instead, rapidly secreted as precursor molecules. Experiments involving the addition of chloroquine at various times during the chase of pulse-radiolabeled cells demonstrated that this weak base acted on a distal Golgi or prelysosomal compartment to prevent the normal sorting of lysosomal enzymes. These results suggest that although acidic endosomal/lysosomal compartments may be important for the complete proteolytic processing of lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium, low pH is not essential for the proper targeting of precursor polypeptides. Furthermore, certain amines may induce mis-sorting of these enzymes by pH-independent mechanisms.     

A Dictyostelium discoideum mutant that missorts and oversecretes lysosomal enzyme precursors is defective in endocytosis

A mutant strain of Dictyostelium discoideum, HMW570, oversecretes several lysosomal enzyme activities during growth. Using a radiolabel pulse-chase protocol, we followed the synthesis and secretion of two of these enzymes, alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase. A few hours into the chase period, HMW570 had secreted 95% of its radiolabeled alpha- mannosidase and 86% of its radiolabeled beta-glucosidase as precursor polypeptides compared to the secretion of less than 10% of these forms from wild-type cells. Neither alpha-mannosidase nor beta-glucosidase in HMW570 were ever found in the lysosomal fractions of sucrose gradients consistent with HMW570 being defective in lysosomal enzyme targeting. Also, both alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase precursors in the mutant strain were membrane associated as previously observed for wild- type precursors, indicating membrane association is not sufficient for lysosomal enzyme targeting. Hypersecretion of the alpha-mannosidase precursor by HMW570 was not accompanied by major alterations in N- linked oligosaccharides such as size, charge, and ratio of sulfate and phosphate esters. However, HMW570 was defective in endocytosis. A fluid phase marker, [3H]dextran, accumulated in the mutant at one-half of the rate of wild-type cells and to only one-half the normal concentration. Fractionation of cellular organelles on self-forming Percoll gradients revealed that the majority of the fluid-phase marker resided in compartments in mutant cells with a density characteristic of endosomes. In contrast, in wild-type cells [3H]dextran was predominantly located in vesicles with a density identical to secondary lysosomes. Furthermore, the residual lysosomal enzyme activity in the mutant accumulated in endosomal-like vesicles. Thus, the mutation in HMW570 may be in a gene required for both the generation of dense secondary lysosomes and the sorting of lysosomal hydrolases.     

Expression of human cathepsin D in Xenopus oocytes: phosphorylation and intracellular targeting

We have obtained expression of a cDNA clone for human cathepsin D in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Biosynthetic studies with [35S]methionine labeling demonstrated that most of the cathepsin D remained intracellular and underwent proteolytic cleavage, converting a precursor of Mr 47,000 D to a mature form of Mr 39,000 D with processing intermediates of Mr 43,000-41,000 D. greater than 90% of the cathepsin D synthesized by oocytes bound to a mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P) receptor affinity column, indicating the presence of phosphomannosyl residues. An analysis of [2-3H]mannose-labeled oligosaccharides directly demonstrated phosphomannosyl residues on cathepsin D. Sucrose-gradient fractionation, performed to define the membranous compartments that cathepsin D traversed during its biosynthesis, demonstrated that cathepsin D is targeted to a subpopulation of yolk platelets, the oocyte equivalent of a lysosome. Xenopus oocytes were able to endocytose lysosomal enzymes from the medium and this uptake was inhibited by Man-6-P, thus demonstrating the presence of Man-6-P receptors in these cells. Therefore, the entire Man-6-P dependent pathway for targeting of lysosomal enzymes is present in the oocytes. Xenopus oocytes should be a useful system for examining signals responsible for the specific targeting of lysosomal enzymes to lysosomes.     

A deletion in the golgi alpha-mannosidase II gene of Caenorhabditis elegans results in unexpected non-wild-type N-glycan structures

The processing of N-linked oligosaccharides by alpha-mannosidases in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi is a process conserved in plants and animals. After the transfer of a GlcNAc residue to Asn-bound Man(5)GlcNAc(2) by N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I, an alpha-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.114) removes one alpha1,3-linked and one alpha1,6-linked mannose residue. In this study, we have identified the relevant alpha-mannosidase II gene (aman-2; F58H1.1) from Caenorhabditis elegans and have detected its activity in both native and recombinant forms. For comparative studies, the two other cDNAs encoding class II mannosidases aman-1 (F55D10.1) and aman-3 (F48C1.1) were cloned; the corresponding enzymes are, respectively, a putative lysosomal alpha-mannosidase and a Co(II)-activated alpha-mannosidase. The analysis of the N-glycan structures of an aman-2 mutant strain demonstrates that the absence of alpha-mannosidase II activity results in a shift to structures not seen in wild-type worms (e.g. N-glycans with the composition Hex(5-7)HexNAc(2-3)Fuc(2)Me) and an accumulation of hybrid oligosaccharides. Paucimannosidic glycans are almost absent from aman-2 worms, indicative also of a general lack of alpha-mannosidase III activity. We hypothesize that there is a tremendous flexibility in the glycosylation pathway of C. elegans that does not impinge, under standard laboratory conditions, on the viability of worms with glycotypes very unlike the wild-type pattern.     

Characterization of the oligosaccharides of prolyl hydroxylase, a microsomal glycoprotein

Prolyl hydroxylase is a tetrameric glycoprotein that catalyzes a vital posttranslational modification in the biosynthesis of collagen. The enzyme purified from whole chick embryos (WCE) possesses two nonidentical subunits, alpha and beta, and has been shown by several techniques to reside in the endoplasmic reticulum of chick embryo fibroblasts. The studies described here demonstrate that the larger of the two subunits (alpha) exists in two forms in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF); these two forms differ in carbohydrate content. The larger alpha subunit, alpha', contains two N-linked high mannose oligosaccharides, each containing eight mannose units; the smaller subunit, alpha, contains a single seven-mannose N-linked oligosaccharide. Both oligosaccharides could be cleaved by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H and completely digested with alpha-mannosidase to yield mannosyl-N-acetylglucosamine.     

Production in yeast of alpha-galactosidase A,a lysosomal enzyme applicable to enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry disease

A mammalian-like sugar moiety was created in glycoprotein by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in combination with bacterial alpha-mannosidase to produce a more economic enzyme replacement therapy for patients with Fabry disease. We introduced the human alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-GalA) gene into an S. cerevisiae mutant that was deficient in the outer chains of N-linked mannan. The recombinant alpha-GalA contained both neutral (Man(8)GlcNAc(2)) and acidic ([Man-P](1-2)Man(8)GlcNAc(2)) sugar chains. Because an efficient incorporation of alpha-GalA into lysosomes of human cells requires mannose-6-phosphate (Man-6-P) residues that should be recognized by the specific receptor, we trimmed down the sugar chains of the alpha-GalA by a newly isolated bacterial alpha-mannosidase. Treatment of the alpha-GalA with the alpha-mannosidase resulted in the exposure of a Man-6-P residue on a nonreduced end of oligosaccharide chains after the removal of phosphodiester-linked nonreduced-end mannose. The treated alpha-GalA was efficiently incorporated into fibroblasts derived from patients with Fabry disease. The uptake was three to four times higher than that of the nontreated alpha-GalA and was inhibited by the addition of 5 mM Man-6-P. Incorporated alpha-GalA was targeted to the lysosome, and hydrolyzed ceramide trihexoside accumulated in the Fabry fibroblasts after 5 days. This method provides an effective and economic therapy for many lysosomal disorders, including Fabry disease.     

A novel pathway for phosphorylated oligosaccharide biosynthesis. Identification of an oligosaccharide-specific phosphate methyltransferase in dictyostelium discoideum.

The N-linked oligosaccharides on three lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum were found to contain mannose 6-phosphomethyl residues. We have identified and partially characterized a novel S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase that is probably responsible for the synthesis of this unusual diester from Man-6-P. The enzyme selectively methylates the phosphate group of Man-6-P (Km 4.3 mM). Glucose-6-P and fructose-1-P are relatively poor acceptors; however, the enzyme is inactive against a broad array of other phosphorylated compounds. Using model di-, tri-, and pentasaccharide acceptors that include portions of the three different branches of high mannose-type oligosaccharides, we found that the enzyme prefers terminal alpha 1----2-linked Man-6-P residues (Km 0.15-1.25 mM) found on the known phosphorylated branches. The enzyme is membrane bound, has a neutral pH optimum and cofractionates on sucrose gradients with GlcNAc-1-P transferase, which resembles its mammalian counterpart, and is, presumably, the first enzyme in the phosphorylation pathway. Based on the substrate specificity and colocalization with GlcNAc-1-P transferase, the phosphate methyltransferase is likely to be responsible for the generation of mannose-6-phosphomethyldiester on Dictyostelium oligosaccharides.     

A conformationally altered precursor to the lysosomal enzyme alpha-mannosidase accumulates in the endoplasmic reticulum in a mutant strain of Dictyostelium discoideum

The mutant strain of Dictyostelium discoideum, HMW-437, contains a mutation in the structural gene coding for the lysosomal enzyme alpha-mannosidase. Unlike the wild type strain, Ax3, this strain fails to proteolytically process or secrete the 140,000-dalton alpha-mannosidase precursor. The level of sulfate incorporation into the mutant precursor was significantly lower when compared to the wild type precursor. In addition, the mutant precursor was entirely sensitive to endoglycosidase H. Subcellular fractionation of HMW-437 membranes indicated that the majority of the alpha-mannosidase precursor sedimented in a region of the gradient corresponding to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. This accumulation within the rough endoplasmic reticulum did not appear to result from gross conformational changes which lead to aggregation. Trypsin digestion of radioactively labeled Ax3 and HMW-437 precursors demonstrated that there were differences in susceptibility to protease cleavage between the wild type and mutant alpha-mannosidase precursor molecules, suggesting that a minor conformational change could contribute to the accumulation of the mutant precursor inside the endoplasmic reticulum.     

Characterization and distribution of multiple antigens on N-linked oligosaccharides of Dictyostelium discoideum proteins

Monoclonal antibodies were prepared against a mixture of purified lysosomal enzymes from Dictyostelium discoideum. Three classes of antibodies were found which recognized distinct antigenic determinants on N-linked oligosaccharides of multiple proteins. The structure of the determinants was studied by competition assays using monosaccharides and oligosaccharide/glycopeptide fractions prepared from one Dictyostelium lysosomal enzyme or other sources. The results of these studies suggest that one class of antibody recognizes an epitope containing residues of Man-6-SO4, another recognizes a domain containing a modified GlcNAc, and the third class recognizes an undefined determinant that involves the oligosaccharide. The three determinants are found on multiple overlapping, but nonidentical sets of glycoproteins. The ability to produce monoclonal antibodies against unusual N-linked oligosaccharides offers a powerful tool which can be used to investigate the occurrence, structure, biosynthesis, and the biological roles of these highly immunogenic saccharides.     

Evidence for an alpha-mannosidase in endoplasmic reticulum of rat liver

An alpha-mannosidase activity has been identified in a preparation of rat liver endoplasmic reticulum and shown to be distinct from the previously described Golgi alpha-mannosidases I and II and the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase. The enzyme was solubilized with deoxycholate and separated from other alpha-mannosidases by passage over concanavalin A-Sepharose to which it does not bind. The endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase cleaves alpha-1,2-linked mannoses from high mannose oligosaccharides and, unlike Golgi alpha-mannosidase I, is active against p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannoside (Km = 0.17 mM). It has no activity toward GlcNAc-Man5GlcNAc2 peptide, the specific substrate of the Golgi alpha-mannosidase II. The endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase activity toward p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannoside is relatively insensitive to swainsonine, an inhibitor of both the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase and Golgi alpha-mannosidase II. We propose that the endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase is responsible for the removal of mannose residues from asparagine-linked high mannose type oligosaccharides prior to their entry into the Golgi.     

Biochemical and genetic analysis of an antigenic determinant found on N-linked oligosaccharides in Dictyostelium.

Dictyostelium discoideum synthesizes many highly immunogenic carbohydrates of unknown structure and function. We have used monoclonal antibodies prepared against one of these called CA1 to investigate its structure and the consequences of its loss. CA1 is preferentially expressed on lysosomal enzymes as a specific arrangement of mannose-6-SO4 residues on N-linked oligosaccharides. Mutant strains HL241 and HL243 do not express CA1, and synthesize a truncated lipid-linked oligosaccharide (LLO) precursor that lacks the critical mannose residues needed for expression. The lesion appears to result from the loss of mannosyl transferase activity involved in LLO biosynthesis. The truncated LLO is poorly transferred to an artificial peptide acceptor in a cell-free N-glycosylation assay, and this appears to result from improper topological localization of the LLO or to a lower affinity of the LLO for the oligosaccharyl transferase. Although both mutants share these lesions, they are biochemically and genetically distinct. Only HL243 is lower in N-glycosylation in intact cells, and this is not a result of an altered structure of the LLO. There are other differences between the strains. HL241 can form fruiting bodies at a slower rate than normal while HL243 cannot aggregate. Genetic analysis of defects shows that the CA1 lesion in HL241 is recessive, while the lesion in both CA1 and in development are dominant and co-segregate in HL243 and are, therefore, likely to be in the same gene. Lysosomal enzyme targeting is normal but enzyme processing proceeds at a 2-3 fold slower rate in HL241 and HL243 compared to wild-type. Strain HL244 does not express CA1 since it completely lacks protein sulfation, but lysosomal enzyme targeting and processing proceeds at a normal rate, showing that sulfate is not essential for these processes. Alterations in oligosaccharide structure can have individualized effects on the biosynthesis of lysosomal enzymes. The results presented here illustrate how this approach can be used to study both the structure and function of carbohydrate epitopes.