Cellular uptake of saposin (SAP) precursor and lysosomal delivery by the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP).

Sphingolipid activator proteins SAP-A, -B, -C and -D (also called saposins) are generated by proteolytic processing from a 73 kDa precursor and function as obligatory activators of lysosomal enzymes involved in glycosphingolipid metabolism. Although the SAP precursor can be recognized by the mannose-6-phosphate (M-6-P) receptor and shuttled directly from the secretory pathway to the lysosome, a substantial fraction of newly synthesized precursor is secreted from the cell where it may participate in sphingolipid transport and signaling events. Re-uptake of the secreted precursor is mediated by high-affinity cell surface receptors that are apparently distinct from the M-6-P receptor. We found that the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP), a multifunctional endocytic receptor that is expressed on most cells, can mediate cellular uptake and lysosomal delivery of SAP precursor. Additional in vivo experiments in mice revealed that the mannose receptor system on macrophages also participates in precursor internalization. We conclude that SAP precursor gains entry into cells by at least three independent receptor mechanisms including the M-6-P receptor, the mannose receptor and LRP.     

Binding of cathepsin D to the mannose receptor on rat peritoneal macrophages

Adherent cultures of rat peritoneal macrophages secrete lysozyme and the lysosomal marker enzymes beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and acid phosphatase; the levels of secreted lysosomal cathepsin D, however, were found to be insignificant. Incubation of the cells at 4 degrees C for 15 min with yeast mannan or with 50 mM mannose, methyl alpha-glucopyranoside, or N-acetylglucosamine caused the concentration of cathepsin D in the culture medium to increase 30-40-fold; mannose-6-phosphate had no effect. 125I-labeled cathepsin D was prepared and the binding constant to the macrophage cell surface was determined to be KD = 27 nM. The data suggest that cathepsin D binds to the mannose receptor of macrophages and that binding to this receptor is not in equilibrium with the bulk medium.     

Inhibition by lysosomal enzymes and mannose-6-phosphate of the phosphorylation of the lysosomal enzyme binding receptor protein from monkey brain

The lysosomal enzymes beta-glucuronidase and alpha-L-fucosidase and mannose-6-phosphate inhibited the phosphorylation of the lysosomal enzyme binding receptor protein prepared from monkey brain. Inhibition of both serine and tyrosine phosphorylation was observed. A non-lysosomal glycoprotein enzyme butyrylcholinesterase, mannose or glucose did not inhibit phosphorylation. Tyrosine phosphorylation of histone by the receptor protein was also inhibited by the lysosomal enzymes and mannose-6-phosphate.     

Receptor-mediated phagocytosis of zymosan is unaffected by some conditions which reduce macrophage lysosomal enzyme secretion

We have previously shown that several agents which interfere with binding of ligands to the mannose-glycoprotein receptor on macrophages can inhibit zymosan-induced lysosomal enzyme secretion. Here we show that mannose only reduces the association of zymosan with macrophages during the first hour of exposure; after longer periods of uptake no effect is detectable. We have previously shown that mannose reduces surface binding of zymosan, probably by interfering selectively with binding to the mannose receptor. The present inhibition of association of zymosan with macrophages during short exposures can be entirely explained by this reduction of binding. Macrophages must therefore internalize zymosan at sites in addition to the mannose receptor. In contrast to macrophages the murine macrophage-like cell line P388D1 is lacking the mannose-glycoprotein receptor. Accordingly we find that binding of zymosan to P388D1 is much slighter than to macrophages and is unaffected by mannose or mannose-6-phosphate. The spontaneous lysosomal enzyme secretion of P388D1 is also unaffected by mannose. The data on macrophages confirm our previous suggestion that agents interfering with the mannose receptor inhibit the induction of lysosomal enzyme secretion by acting directly on the receptor. The data on P388D1 cells support this assertion by excluding effects at later steps in the secretory pathway.     

Incorporation of mannose 6-phosphate receptors into liposomes. Receptor topography and binding of alpha-mannosidase.

A receptor that binds the lysosomal enzyme alpha-mannosidase via mannose 6-phosphate moieties (mannose 6-phosphate receptor) was purified from Swarm-rat chondrosarcoma and bovine liver microsomal membranes. Receptor-reconstituted liposomes were prepared by dialysis of taurodeoxycholate-dispersed lipids with purified mannose 6-phosphate receptor. Liposomes appeared by electron microscopy as 60-120 nm unilamellar vesicles. Receptor-reconstituted liposomes retained the ability to bind alpha-mannosidase specifically. Binding was saturable with an apparent Kd of 1 nM and was competitively inhibited by mannose 6-phosphate (Ki 2mM). Liposomes containing entrapped 125I-bovine serum albumin were used to demonstrate that treatment with 0.045% taurodeoxycholate rendered liposomes permeable to macromolecules without solubilizing the membrane. Receptor orientation in the liposome membrane was established by measuring binding of ligand to intact and detergent-treated liposomes. Unlike coated vesicles, which contain cryptic mannose 6-phosphate receptors [Campbell, Fine, Squicciarini & Rome (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 2526-2533], treatment of liposomes with detergent revealed no additional cryptic binding sites. In addition, treatment of liposomes with 0.75% trypsin abolished total receptor binding activity. The results suggest that the receptor is inserted with its binding site facing the outside of the liposome.     

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.     

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) inhibits both the cellular uptake of beta-galactosidase and the binding of beta-galactosidase to purified IGF-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor

The insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor which targets acid hydrolases to lysosomes, has two different binding sites, one for the mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P) recognition marker on lysosomal enzymes and the other for insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II). We have asked whether IGF-II can regulate the cellular uptake of the lysosomal enzyme 125I-beta-galactosidase by modulating the binding of 125I-beta-galactosidase to the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor. We first isolated high affinity 125I-beta-galactosidase by affinity chromatography on an IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor-Sepharose column. Specific uptake (mannose 6-phosphate-inhibitable) of 125I-beta-galactosidase in BRL 3A2 rat liver cells and in rat C6 glial cells was 3.7-4.8 and 4.0-8.0% of added tracer, respectively. The cell-associated 125I-beta-galactosidase in the uptake experiments largely represented internalized radioligand as measured by acid or mannose 6-phosphate washing. The uptake of 125I-beta-galactosidase was inhibited by an antiserum (No. 3637) specific for the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor. Low concentrations of IGF-II also inhibited the uptake of 125I-beta-galactosidase. Maximal concentrations of IGF-II inhibited uptake by 73 +/- 8% (mean +/- S.D.) in C6 cells and by 77 +/- 6% in BRL 3A2 cells compared to the level of inhibition by mannose 6-phosphate. The relative potency of IGF-II, IGF-I, and insulin (IGF-II much greater than IGF-I; insulin, inactive) were characteristic of the relative affinities of the ligands for the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor. IGF-II also partially inhibited the binding of 125I-beta-galactosidase to C6 and BRL 3A2 cells at 4 degrees C and inhibited the binding to highly purified IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor by 58 +/- 14%. We conclude that IGF-II inhibits the cellular uptake of 125I-beta-galactosidase and that this inhibition is partly explained by the ability of IGF-II to inhibit binding of 125I-beta-galactosidase to the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor.     

Receptor-mediated uptake of a mannose-6-phosphate bearing glycoprotein by isolated chicken osteoclasts

We have recently shown that degradation of bone collagen by osteoclasts occurs via proteolytic enzyme activity that depends on an acidic milieu. Since bone resorption occurs in an extracellular, acidic compartment located at the cell-matrix attachment site, the osteoclast must deliver the acid collagenolytic enzymes to the cell surface. These observations raise the possibility that the mannose-6-phosphate (M-6-P) receptor, known to sort acidic proteases in other cells, is involved in trafficking lysosomal enzymes to the plasmalemma of bone resorbing cells. To this end we studied receptor-mediated uptake, distribution and release, by isolated chicken osteoclasts, of 125I-hexosaminidase, a M-6-P bearing enzyme. We found that at 4 degrees C, the bone-resorbing polykaryons bind approximately 10,000 molecules of radioligand/cell with a Kd of 0.7 nM, which is endocytosed by osteoclasts at 37 degrees C by a calcium-independent process. Furthermore, 125I-hexosaminidase uptake is unaffected by mannosylated albumin, documenting specificity of the receptor-mediated event. Release of endocytosed enzyme from the cell is also much more rapid than its degradation, attesting to a pathway of uptake and secretion. By autoradiography, the M-6-P bearing ligand is concentrated at the site of osteoclast-bone attachment. Thus, osteoclasts also have the capacity to deliver M-6-P bearing degradative enzymes to their surface at the site of matrix degradation.     

Internalization of blocking antibodies against mannose-6-phosphate specific receptors.

Antibodies against mannose-6-phosphate specific receptors inhibit the receptor-dependent endocytosis of exogenous lysosomal enzymes as well as the sorting of endogenous lysosomal enzymes. This inhibition was correlated with an apparent loss of the receptors. We report here that treatment of cells with the antibody results in the formation of receptor-antibody complexes that are not extracted by the procedure used for the solubilization of receptors prior to immunoprecipitation and detection of the receptor. The apparent loss of receptors is observed with both native antibody and the F(ab)2 fragments, but not with Fab fragments. In contrast the transport of lysosomal enzymes is inhibited by all three forms of the antibody. The inhibition is ascribed to masking by the antibody of the enzyme-binding site in the receptor. The inhibition of the sorting of endogenous lysosomal enzymes by antibodies added to the medium indicates that the mannose-6-phosphate specific receptors at the sorting site are in dynamic equilibrium with those at the cell surface. The receptor-antibody complexes formed at the cell surface appear to cycle between the cell surface and intracellular membranes. A fraction of the internalized antibodies dissociates from the receptors and is degraded after transfer into lysosomes. Complexing with Fab increases the concentration of the receptor in the lysosomes and decreases 2- to 3-fold the half-life of the receptor.     

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 Quantitative Mannose 6-Phosphate Receptor-Basedin VitroAssay for Recombinant HumanN-Acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase

An assay was developed, using two similar formats, to simultaneously measure both the lysosomal targeting receptor binding and enzyme activity of the recombinant human enzymeN-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase. This assay also has potential application for all phosphorylated lysosomal enzymes that contain mannose-6-phosphate residues. The receptor was either purified from fetal bovine sera then adsorbed, or producedin situby growing and fixing diploid human fibroblast-like cells, to a solid phase. The enzyme substrate was 4-methylumbelliferyl sulfate which fluoresces after cleavage of the sulfate moiety. Both the precursor and mature forms of the recombinant enzyme were used to demonstrate the specificity and usefulness of the assay. The assay is rapid and sensitive and has a wide dynamic range. Association between the receptor and the mannose-6-phosphate residues was abrogated in the presence of a competitive inhibitor, mannose 6-phosphate. However, partial activity was still measured when the mature enzyme was incubated in the presence of mannose 6-phosphate when using the fixed fibroblast format. This would indicate that the recombinant enzymes contain at least one terminal sugar moiety other than mannose 6-phosphate which can recognize receptors on the surface of human fibroblast-like cells. Other possible applications of this assay are also discussed.     

Beta-galactosidase decreases the binding affinity of the insulin-like-growth-factor-II/mannose-6-phosphate receptor for insulin-like-growth-factor II

The insulin-like growth-factor-II/mannose-6-phosphate (IGF-II/Man6P) receptor binds two classes of ligands, insulin-like growth factors and lysosomal enzymes. We have examined the ability of the lysosomal enzyme, beta-galactosidase, to modulate the binding of 125I-IGF-II to the receptor. beta-Galactosidase purified from bovine testis was fractionated on a DEAF-Sephacel ion-exchange column. Column fractions were assayed for enzymatic activity and for ability to inhibit the binding of 125I-IGF-II to the IGF-II/Man6P receptor. Enzyme fractions eluting at higher NaCl concentrations which had previously been shown to exhibit greater uptake by cells in culture, exhibited greater potency in inhibiting the binding of 125I-IGF-II to the receptor. A pool of these fractions from the DEAE-Sephacel column inhibited 125I-IGF-II binding to pure receptor by 80% with the concentration required for half-maximal inhibition being 25 nM. The inhibition of binding by beta-galactosidase was completely blocked by simultaneous incubation with Man6P. Inhibition of the enzymatic activity of beta-galactosidase with D-galactonic acid gamma-lactone did not affect the ability of beta-galactosidase to inhibit the binding of 125I-IGF-II to the receptor. Scatchard analysis of IGF-II binding to pure receptor in the presence and absence of beta-galactosidase showed that beta-galactosidase decreased the binding affinity for IGF-II (Kd 0.26 nM versus 1.0 nM in the presence of 57 nM beta-galactosidase). We confirmed the observations of others that Man6P alone actually increases the binding of 125I-IGF-II to the IGF-II/Man6P receptor, but we found that this phenomenon was dependent upon the method of preparation of the IGF-II/Man6P receptor. Microsomal membrane preparations, solubilized membranes, and receptors purified on an IGF-II-Sepharose column all exhibited stimulation of 125I-IGF-II binding by Man6P, whereas receptors purified on lysosomal enzyme affinity columns showed little or no stimulation of 125I-IGF-II binding by Man6P. We conclude that beta-galactosidase decreases the binding affinity of the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor for IGF-II by binding with high affinity to the Man6P-recognition site.     

Lipoprotein receptor binding, cellular uptake, and lysosomal delivery of fusions between the receptor-associated protein (RAP) and alpha-L-iduronidase or acid alpha-glucosidase

Enzyme replacement therapy for lysosomal storage disorders depends on efficient uptake of recombinant enzyme into the tissues of patients. This uptake is mediated by oligosaccharide receptors including the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor and the mannose receptor. We have sought to exploit alternative receptor systems that are independent of glycosylation but allow for efficient delivery to the lysosome. Fusions of the human lysosomal enzymes alpha-l-iduronidase or acid alpha-glucosidase with the receptor-associated protein were efficiently endocytosed by lysosomal storage disorder patient fibroblasts, rat C6 glioma cells, mouse C2C12 myoblasts, and recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing individual members of the low-density lipoprotein receptor family. Uptake of the fusions exceeded that of phosphorylated enzyme in all cases, often by an order of magnitude or greater. Uptake was specifically mediated by members of the low-density lipoprotein receptor protein family and was followed by delivery of the fusions to the lysosome. The advantages of the lipoprotein receptor system over oligosaccharide receptor systems include more efficient cellular delivery and the potential for transcytosis of ligands across tight endothelia, including the blood-brain barrier.     

Intracellular movement of two mannose 6-phosphate receptors: return to the Golgi apparatus

We have used Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and a murine lymphoma cell line to study the recycling of the 215-kD and the 46-kD mannose 6-phosphate receptors to various regions of the Golgi to determine the site where the receptors first encounter newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes. For assessing return to the trans-most Golgi compartments containing sialyltransferase (trans-cisternae and trans-Golgi network), the oligosaccharides of receptor molecules on the cell surface were labeled with [3H]galactose at 4 degrees C. Upon warming to 37 degrees C, the [3H]galactose residues on both receptors were substituted with sialic acid with a t1/2 approximately 3 hrs. Other glycoproteins acquired sialic acid at least 8-10 times slower. Return of the receptors to the trans-Golgi cisternae containing galactosyltransferase could not be detected. Return to the cis/middle Golgi cisternae containing alpha-mannosidase I was measured by adding deoxymannojirimycin, a mannosidase I inhibitor, during the initial posttranslational passage of [3H]mannose-labeled glycoproteins through the Golgi, thereby preserving oligosaccharides which would be substrates for alpha-mannosidase I. After removal of the inhibitor, return to the early Golgi with subsequent passage through the Golgi complex was measured by determining the conversion of the oligosaccharides from high mannose to complex-type units. This conversion was very slow for the receptors and other glycoproteins (t1/2 approximately 20 h). Exposure of the receptors and other glycoproteins to the dMM-sensitive alpha-mannosidase without movement through the Golgi apparatus was determined by measuring the loss of mannose residues from these proteins. This loss was also slow. These results indicate that both Man-6-P receptors routinely return to the Golgi compartment which contains sialyltransferase and recycle through other regions of the Golgi region less frequently. We infer that the trans-Golgi network is the major site for lysosomal enzyme sorting in CHO and murine lymphoma cells.     

Glyco-engineering strategies for the development of therapeutic enzymes with improved efficacy for the treatment of lysosomal storage diseases

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a group of inherent diseases characterized by massive accumulation of undigested compounds in lysosomes, which is caused by genetic defects resulting in the deficiency of a lysosomal hydrolase. Currently, enzyme replacement therapy has been successfully used for treatment of 7 LSDs with 10 approved therapeutic enzymes whereas new approaches such as pharmacological chaperones and gene therapy still await evaluation in clinical trials. While therapeutic enzymes for Gaucher disease have N-glycans with terminal mannose residues for targeting to macrophages, the others require N-glycans containing mannose-6-phosphates that are recognized by mannose-6-phosphate receptors on the plasma membrane for cellular uptake and targeting to lysosomes. Due to the fact that efficient lysosomal delivery of therapeutic enzymes is essential for the clearance of accumulated compounds, the suitable glycan structure and its high content are key factors for efficient therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, glycan remodeling strategies to improve lysosomal targeting and tissue distribution have been highlighted. This review describes the glycan structures that are important for lysosomal targeting and provides information on recent glyco-engineering technologies for the development of therapeutic enzymes with improved efficacy. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(8): 438-444]     

Recognition and receptor-mediated uptake of phosphorylated high mannose- type oligosaccharides by cultured human fibroblasts

The intracellular transport of newly synthesized lysosomal hydrolases to lysosomes requires the presence of one or more phosphorylated high mannose-type oligosaccharides per enzyme. A receptor that mediates mannose-6-PO4-specific uptake of lysosomal enzymes is expressed on the surface of fibroblasts and presumably accounts for the intracellular transport of newly synthesized enzymes to the lysosome. In this study, we examined the internalization of lysosomal enzyme-derived phosphorylated oligosaccharides by cultured human fibroblasts. Oligosaccharides of known specific activity bearing a single phosphate in monoester linkage were internalized with Kuptake of 3.2 X 10(-7) M, whereas oligosaccharides bearing two phosphates in monoester linkage were internalized with a Kuptake of 3.9 X 10(-8) M. Thus, phosphorylated high mannose-type oligosaccharides appear to be the minimal structure required for recognition and uptake by the fibroblast receptor. The finding that the Kuptake for monophosphorylated oligosaccharides is 100-fold less than the reported Ki for mannose-6-phosphate indicates that the fibroblast phosphomannosyl receptor contains a binding site that recognizes features of the oligosaccharide in addition to mannose-6-phosphate.     

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.     

Human serum amyloid P is a multispecific adhesive protein whose ligands include 6-phosphorylated mannose and the 3-sulphated saccharides galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine and glucuronic acid.

Carbohydrate recognition by amyloid P component from human serum has been investigated by binding experiments using several glycosaminoglycans, polysaccharides and a series of structurally defined neoglycolipids and natural glycolipids. Two novel classes of carbohydrate ligands have been identified. The first is 6-phosphorylated mannose as found on lysosomal hydrolases, and the second is the 3-sulphated saccharides galactose, N-acetyl-galactosamine and glucuronic acid as found on sulphatide and other acidic glycolipids that occur in neural or kidney tissues or on subpopulations of lymphocytes. Binding to mannose-6-phosphate containing molecules and inhibition of binding by free mannose-6-phosphate and fructose-1-phosphate are features shared with mannose-6-phosphate receptors involved in trafficking of lysosomal enzymes. However, only amyloid P binding is inhibited by galactose-6-phosphate, mannose-1-phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate. These findings strengthen the possibility that amyloid P protein has a central role in amyloidogenic processes: first in formation of focal concentrations of lysosomal enzymes including proteases that generate fibril-forming peptides from amyloidogenic proteins, and second in formation of multicomponent complexes that include sulphoglycolipids as well as glycosaminoglycans. The evidence that binding to all of the acidic ligands involves the same polypeptide domain on amyloid P protein, and inhibition data using diffusible, phosphorylated monosaccharides, is potentially important leads to novel drug designs aimed at preventing or even reversing amyloid deposition processes without interference with essential lysosomal trafficking pathways.     

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.     

Processing and transport of lysosomal enzymes in human monocyte line U937

Precursors of cathepsin D and beta-hexosaminidase synthesized in the U937 monocyte line are processed to mature forms with similar kinetics as in fibroblasts. In U937 cells the processing of the precursor of the beta-chain of beta-hexosaminidase, however, results in a larger fragment that resembles a processing intermediate in fibroblasts. This difference is explained by differences in the equipment of the cells with proteinases, since cross-feeding of the precursors to the cells results in a processing characteristic for the recipient cell type. In sucrose gradients the precursors are found partly in a low- and partly in a high-density region. Mature polypeptides and activity of lysosomal enzymes fractionate mainly in the higher density region. In U937 cells the transport and maturation of endogenous lysosomal enzymes are less sensitive to bases (NH4Cl, chloroquine, tilorone) and to antibody against the mannose 6-phosphate specific receptors than in fibroblasts. A small portion of enzymes released from U937 cells contains the markers recognized by the mannose-6-phosphate specific receptors. U937 cells express these receptors and utilize them for transport of endogenous and exogenous lysosomal enzymes. It appears, however, that a fraction of lysosomal enzymes is transported in U937 cells independent of the mannose-6-phosphate-specific receptors.