Mannosidosis in Angus cattle. The enzymic defect

Normal calf alpha-mannosidase activity exists in at least three forms separable by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and by starch-gel electrophoresis. Two components, A and B, have optimum activity between pH3.75 and 4.75, but component C has an optimum of pH6.6. Components A and B are virtually absent from the tissues of a calf with mannosidosis and the residual activity is due to component C. The acidic and neutral forms of alpha-mannosidase differ in their molecular weights and sensitivity to EDTA, Zn(2+), Co(2+) and Mn(2+). An acidic alpha-mannosidase component (pH optimum 4.0) accounts for most of the activity in normal plasma but it is absent from the plasma of a calf with mannosidosis. Although the acidic alpha-mannosidase component is probably related to tissue components A and B, it can be distinguished from them by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The optimum pH of the low residual activity in the plasma from a calf with mannosidosis is pH5.5-5.75. The results support the hypothesis that Angus-cattle mannosidosis is a storage disease caused by a deficiency of lysosomal acidic alpha-mannosidase activity.     

The nature of the residual alpha-mannosidase in plasma in bovine mannosidosis.

Acidic alpha-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24), optimum pH 4.25, is absent from the plasma of Angus calves with mannosidosis, and the residual alpha-mannosidase activity has an optimum pH of 5.5, intermediate between that of the acidic and neutral alpha-mannosidases. This 'intermediate' alpha-mannosidase differs from the acidic form in its kinetic properties, its lack of marked inhibition by EDTA and its thermolability at 55 degrees C and physiological pH. Isoelectric focusing and ion-exchange chromatography show that it exists in at least two forms. The presence of a secondary peak at pH 5.5 in the pH/activity profile of normal plasma and the effect of heating at 55 degrees C indicate that such a form is present in normal plasma. The residual activity in the plasma of a calf with mannosidosis is therefore probably not the product of the defective gene. A differential assay, based on their different stabilities at 55 degrees C, has been developed for measuring the acidic and intermediate alpha-mannosidases in plasma. There was no correlation between the concentrations of the two enzymes in the plasma of Angus cows heterozygous for mannosidosis or in the plasma of normal animals. This precludes the use of the intermediate form as a reference enzyme for the acidic activity in a test for heterozygosity for mannosidosis based on the gene-dosage phenomenon. The concentrations of the intermediate activity were comparable in normal animals and animals homozygous or heterozygous for mannosidosis.     

Apparently normal extracellular acidic alpha-mannosidase in fibroblast cultures from patients with mannosidosis.

Fibroblasts from patients with mannosidosis, cultured in medium supplemented with fetal calf serum from which acidic alpha-mannosidase (alpha-D-mannoside mannohydrolase, E.C.3.2.1.24) has been removed, secreted a normal amount of apparently unaffected acidic alpha-mannosidase into fetal calf serum-free medium. Both the intracellular and extracellular acidic alpha-mannosidase activities were completely precipitated by antiserum to placenta alpha-mannosidase B. In contrast to the heat-lability of the intracellular acidic alpha-mannosidase and its low affinity for artificial mannoside substrate, the extracellular enzyme exhibited both normal thermostability and normal kinetics. Mixing experiments with the intercellular enzymes suggested that the decreased activity in the patients' fibroblasts is not the effect of an inhibitor or absence of an activator. However, incubation of the mannosidosis extracellular enzyme with either normal or patient cell lysate resulted in a partial loss of activity, whereas an additive value was observed with the normal extracellular enzyme. In contrast to normal culture medium, the medium from mannosidosis cell culture was unable to enhance the rate of reduction of intracellular radioactivity in mucolipidosis type II fibroblasts precultured in the presence of radiolabeled mannose. These findings suggest that the defect in mannosidosis is expressed only after the enzyme has been delivered to lysosomes and presumably undergone some form of processing there.     

Characterization of human liver alpha-D-mannosidase purified by affinity chromatography.

Human liver acidic alpha-D-mannosidase was purified 1400-fold by a relatively short procedure incorporating chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and affinity chromatography on Sepharose 4B-epsilon-aminohexanoylmannosylamine. In contrast with the acidic enzymic activity the neutral alpha-mannosidase did not bind to the concanavalin A-Sepharose so the two types of alpha-mannosidase could be separated at an early stage in the purification. The only significant glycosidase contaminant after affinity chromatography on the mannosylamine ligand was alpha-L-fucosidase, which was selectively removed by affinity chromatography on the corresponding fucosylamine ligand. The final preparation was free of other glycosidase activities. The pI of the purified enzyme was increased from 6.0 to 6.45 on treatment with neuraminidase. Although the pI and the mol.wt. (220 000) suggested that alpha-mannosidase A had been purified selectively, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose indicated that the preparation consisted predominantly of alpha-mannosidase B. This discrepancy is discussed in relation to the basis of the multiple forms of human alpha-mannosidase. The purified enzyme completely removed the alpha-linked non-reducing terminal mannose from a trisaccharide isolated from the urine of a patient with mannosidosis. A comparison of the activity of the pure enzyme towards the natural substrate and synthetic substrates suggests that the same enzymic activity is responsible for hydrolysing all the substrates. These results validate the use of synthetic substrates for determining the mannosidosis genotype. They are also further evidence that mannosidosis is a lysosomal storage disease resulting from a deficiency of acidic alpha-mannosidase.     

Synthesis of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase in normal and mannosidosis fibroblasts

The biosynthesis and secretion of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase was studied in metabolically labelled fibroblasts from controls and two patients with mannosidosis. Normal fibroblasts secrete alpha-mannosidase as a 110kDa polypeptide. Intracellularly alpha-mannosidase is represented by several polypeptides with apparent Mrs ranging from 40 to 67kDa. In two mannosidosis cell lines none of intra- and extracellular polypeptides of alpha-mannosidase were detectable. The mannosidosis fibroblasts secreted acid alpha-mannosidase activity at one third of the normal rate. In contrast to normal cells the secretion was not enhanced by NH4C1 and the secreted activity was not immunoprecipitable, indicating that the acid alpha-mannosidase activity secreted by mannosidosis fibroblasts is not related to the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase.     

Characterization of the mutant α-mannosidase in bovine mannosidosis

Residual acidic α-mannosidase, varying in amount up to approx. 15% of normal values, can be measured in various organs of a calf with mannosidosis. The highest specific activity and relative proportion of residual activity were found in the liver. Chromatography on DEAE-cellulose showed that the residual activity was associated with two components, which were eluted at comparable positions with those found in normal tissues. The residual activity had a lower thermal stability and a higher K_m value for a synthetic substrate than did the normal enzyme. No differences in molecular weight or electrophoretic mobility between normal acidic α-mannosidase and the residual activity were observed by gel filtration and electrophoresis on cellulose acetate respectively. The isoelectric focusing profiles for the α-mannosidase in the normal and pathological livers were very similar. It is suggested that a mutant enzyme, resulting from a mutation in a structural gene, accounts for the residual acidic α-mannosidase in mannosidosis. The mutant enzyme, which cross-reacts with antiserum raised against normal bovine acidic α-mannosidase, is present at a decreased concentration compared with the normal enzyme. There is a correlation between the concentrations of residual activity and cross-reacting material in mannosidosis. α-Mannosidase with a pH optimum of 5.75 and which is activated by Zn²⁺ was also detected in the liver of the calf with mannosidosis. However, it is probably not a product of the defective gene because addition of Zn²⁺ indicated that it was also present in normal tissues.     

Acid alpha-D-mannosidase of human leukocytes in the norm and during chronic myeloid leukemia

The activity and properties of acid alpha-mannosidase were studied in normal granulocytes and in two types of myeloid cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. The activity of the enzyme in leukemic cells was 2-fold higher than that in normal granulocytes and in morphologically matured myeloid cells. Two latter types of cells did not differ in alpha-mannosidase activity. Kinetic properties, thermo- and pH stability of alpha-mannosidase from normal and leukemic cells were similar. alpha-mannosidase in leukemic and normal cells existed in two forms (A and B), which were easily separated on DEAE-cellulose column. These two forms differed in molecular mass (300 and 290 kD, respectively) and in the degree of sialylation. The quantitative ratios of A and B forms in normal and leukemic cells were different. In normal granulocytes and in mature cells from patients this ratio was 0.60 and 0.67, respectively. In leukemic cells the ratio was found to be 1.31. Thus, in leukemic cells form A of alpha-mannosidase predominanted, whereas in normal cells the predominance of form B was observed. It was suggested therefore that in leukemic cells the enhanced synthesis of alpha-mannosidase occurred in parallel with the accumulation of the B form. This accumulation was assumed as the cause of enhanced activity of the enzyme in immature leukemic cells.     

Specificity studies on alpha-mannosidases using oligosaccharides from mannosidosis urine as substrates.

Oligosaccharides containing terminal non-reducing alpha(1 leads to 2)-, alpha(1 leads to 3)-, and alpha(1 leads to 6)-linked mannose residues, isolated from human and bovine mannosidosis urines were used as substrates to test the specificities of acidic alpha-mannosidases isolated from human and bovine liver. The enzymes released all the alpha-linked mannose residues from each oligosaccharide and were most effective on the smallest substrate. Enzyme A in each case was less active on the oligosaccharides than alpha-mannosidase B2, even though the apparent Km value for the substrates was the same with each enzyme. The human acidic alpha-mannosidases were also found to be more active on substrates isolated from human rather than bovine mannosidosis urine. Human alpha-mannosidase C, which has a neutral pH optimum when assayed with a synthetic substrate, did not hydrolyse any of the oligosaccharides at neutral pH, but was found to be active at an acidic pH.     

Residual mannosidase activity in human mannosidosis: characterization of the mutant enzyme.

The prenatal diagnosis of affected fetuses in two families at risk for mannosidosis gave us the opportunity to study the residual alpha-mannosidase activity. We found an altered acidic alpha-mannosidase characterized by lowered affinity toward the substrate, displacement of maximal activity toward pH 4-5, thermal lability, different migration in electrophoresis, and apparent change in molecular weight at alkaline pHs. The immunological properties seem unchanged since the enzyme was precipitated by an antiacidic alpha-mannosidase antiserum. The mutant enzyme instability, provoked by dialysis, and its reactivation after addition of dialysis fluid, suggests an association-dissociation phenomenon. We propose a possible hypothesis that a low molecular weight ligand is necessary to maintain the activity of the mutant enzyme.     

Human mannosidosis--the enzyme defect

Normal human liver α-mannosidase exists in at least 3 forms, separable by DEAE cellulose chromatography. The A and B forms are most active at pH 4.4 while activity of form C is maximal at pH 6.0. In two cases of mannosidosis, examined by ion exchange chromatography and isoelectric focusing, both A and B forms were absent and the residual α-mannosidase activity was due to the presence of the C form in normal amounts.     

Activation of residual acidic α-mannosidase activity in mannosidosis tissues by metal ions

The residual acidic α-mannosidase activity from mannosidosis tissues, representing between 1 and 8 % of the activity found in normal tissues, was significantly activated by Zn²⁺ and Co²⁺, whereas these metal ions respectively activated or inhibited the acidic enzyme activity from normal tissues. The defective enzyme from mannosidosis liver bound most effectively to the synthetic substrate in the presence of Co²⁺. This metal ion also improved the hydrolysis of a natural substrate by the acidic enzyme from mannosidosis liver. The results indicate that the defective enzyme in the disease has an altered capacity to bind metal ions. The demonstration that this defective enzyme can be activated may have an important bearing on the therapy of the disease.     

Residual altered α-mannosidase in human mannosidosis

The apparent Km of residual acidic α-mannosidase detected in fibroblast extracts from four unrelated patients with mannosidosis was increased to >25mM for a fluorogenic substrate compared to 0.86–0.96mM for controls. The mutant enzyme was also more labile with heat treatment. These findings indicate a mutation in the structural gene for this enzyme. The altered kinetics of mutant enzyme can result in apparently normal enzyme specific activity at high concentrations of fluorogenic substrate creating potential for errors in the diagnosis of mannosidosis.     

Alpha-mannosidase in human red cells.

1. A search for lysosomal hydrolases and related enzymes has been made in hemolysates from human and rabbit red cells. Apart from acid phosphatases, significant activities were found only for alpha-mannosidase, neutral alpha-glucosidase and beta-hexosaminidase. 2. alpha-Mannosidase (alpha-D-mannoside mannohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.24) activity per cell in human red blood cells was 200-times lower than in white cells. The optimal pH was 5.5--6.0. Electrophoresis on cellulose acetate showed three bands. Hemolysates from four patients with mannosidosis were not deficient in alpha-mannosidase. pH activity curves and elctrophoretic pattern were similar to those of controls. From its biochemical and genetic properties, it is concluded that red cell mannosidase differs from the lysosomal acid mannosidase.     

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.     

RNase E is required for induction of the glutamate-dependent acid resistance system in Escherichia coli

The Escherichia coli RNase E is an essential endoribonuclease involved in processing and/or degradation of rRNAs, tRNAs, and non-coding small RNAs as well as many mRNAs. It is known that RNase E activity is somehow regulated by an RNA-binding protein Hfq, at least in some cases. We searched for proteins that showed changes in expression in both hfq::cat and rne-1 mutant cells as compared with the wild type, and found that a protein band of 49-kDa decreased in these mutant cells at 42 degrees C, the restrictive temperature for rne-1. N-terminal amino acid sequencing identified it as a mixture of GadA and GadB, two isozymes of glutamate decarboxylase involved in glutamate-dependent acid resistance. The rne-1 mutant as well as the hfq mutant showed decreased survival under acidic conditions (pH 2.5). Hfq is known to regulate the expression of GadA/B in RpoS- and GadY small RNA-dependent ways. We examined the expression of these two regulators in rne-1 mutant cells. In the mutant cells, the induction of GadY was defective at 42 degrees C, but the expression of RpoS was normal. These results indicate that RNase E is required for induction of the glutamate-dependent acid resistance system in a RpoS-independent manner.     

Neutral alpha-mannosidase in human B- and T-lymphoid cells]

The presence of neutral alpha-mannosidase activity in normal and pathological lymphoid cells has been demonstrated. The specific activities of the enzyme in different cell types were similar with the exception of B-cells from B-CLL patients when it was a little higher. The activity of acid alpha-mannosidase was also determined in these lymphoid cells. The neutral to acid alpha-mannosidase activity ratio was different in B- and T-cells: in the former neutral alpha-mannosidase activity prevailed, whereas in the latter the predominance of acid alpha-mannosidase activity was apparent. Neutral alpha-mannosidases from pathological B- and T-cells were partially purified and their properties were investigated. In both cell types the enzyme was localized in the cytosol, was very labile and could be stabilized with Mn2+ and dithiothreitol. The enzyme was activated by Co2+ and inhibited by Zn2+ and EDTA. Swainsonine inhibited the B-cell neutral alpha-mannosidase somewhat more strongly in comparison with the T-cell enzyme.     

Properties of the isoenzyme forms A-1, A-2 and B of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase purified from baboon kidneys

Three forms of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG: A, B and I) were separated from baboon kidney using Con A-Sepharose and DEAE-Trisacryl chromatography. 2. The A form was further purified into two forms A-1 and A-2 using hydroxylapatite chromatography and anodic PAGE. Both were homogeneous on SDS-PAGE and anodic PAGE but microheterogeneous on PAG-IEF, which could be eliminated by prior treatment with endoglycosidase H or glycopeptidase F. 3. The carbohydrate content accounted for some of this microheterogeneity since it varied from 31 for A-1 to 17% for A-2 and the sialic acid was 6 and 1%. Deamidation may also contribute since the acidic amino acids (29 mol%) and ammonia were high following acid hydrolysis. 4. The mol. wt for A-1, determined by SDS-PAGE, was 52.1 K. 5. The pH optimum was 4.55 and the pI4.97. 6. The optimum temperature for NAG A and B was 50 degrees and 42 degrees C, but B retained more activity above 55 degrees C. 7. The Km for N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamine and -galactosamine for both isoforms was 0.497 and 0.627 mM respectively. 8. Several ions were found to be uncompetitive inhibitors. Ag+ and Pb2+ were the most potent having Ki values of 3.6 and 8.5 mM respectively. Acetate acted as a competitive inhibitor.     

Phospholipid composition and membrane function in phosphatidylserine decarboxylase mutants of Escherichia coli.

Temperature-sensitive conditional lethal mutants in phosphatidylserine decarboxylase (psd) accumulate large amounts of phosphatidylserine under nonpermissive conditions (42 degrees C) prior to cell death. In addition, the ratio of cardiolipin to phosphatidylglycerol is increased. At an intermediate temperature (37 degrees C), high levels of phosphatidylserine can be maintained with little effect on cell growth or viability. Under these conditions, both the rate of induction and the function of the lactose transport system are normal. At 42 degrees C addition of Mg2+ or Ca2+ to mutant cultures produces a partial phenotypic suppression. Growth is prolonged and the filaments normally present at 42 degrees C do not form. Upon transfer to the nonpermissive temperature, there is a considerable lag before accumulation of phosphatidylserine begins and the growth rate is affected. Based on the kinetics of heat inactivation of phosphatidylserine decarboxylase activity in extracts, in intact nongrowing cells, and in growing cells, it appears that the enzyme newly synthesized at 42 degrees C is more thermolabile in vivo than enzyme molecules previously inserted into the membrane at the lower temperature. Thus, the older, stable enzymatic activity must be diluted during growth before physiological effects are observed.     

A mammalian cell mutant with temperature-sensitive thymidine kinase.

We have isolated a mutant clone from mouse FM3A cells with temperature-sensitive defects both in cytokinesis and in thymidine kinase enzyme activity. The clone, designated tsCl.B59, was isolated after mutagenesis at 33 degrees C followed by exposure to cytosine arabinoside at 39 degrees C. It was derived from a thymidine kinase deficient, 5-bromodeoxyuridine-resistant clone (S-BUCl.42) which was originally derived from wild-type clone H-5 of FM3A cells. The temperature-sensitive mutant clone grows normally at 33 degrees C, but not at 39 degrees C, where it exhibits an increased frequency of multinucleate cells due to defective cytokinesis. Unlike the parental S-BUCl.42 cells, which have negligible thymidine kinase activity and are unable to incorporate 3H-thymidine, the mutant in corporates substantial amounts of 3H-thymidine at 33 degrees C, although its thymidine kinase activity remains lower than that of wild-type H-5 cells. When cultures of tsCl.B59 cells are transferred to 39 degrees C, incorporation of 3H-thymidine decreases markedly. The decrease has been shown to be due to thermolability of the thymidine kinase in tsCl.B59 cells.     

Characterization of dominant-negative forms of anthrax protective antigen

Certain mutations within the protective antigen (PA) moiety of anthrax toxin endow the protein with a dominant-negative (DN) phenotype, converting it into a potent antitoxin. Proteolytically activated PA oligomerizes to form ring-shaped heptameric complexes that insert into the membrane of an acidic intracellular compartment and promote translocation of bound edema factor and/or lethal factor to the cytosol. DN forms of PA co-oligomerize with the wild-type protein and block the translocation process. We prepared and characterized 4 DN forms: a single, a double, a triple, and a quadruple mutant. The mutants were made by site-directed mutation of the cloned form of PA in Escherichia coli and tested by various assays conducted on CHO cells or in solution. All 4 mutant PAs were competent for heptamerization and ligand binding but were defective in the pH-dependent functions: pore formation, ability to convert to the SDS-resistant heptamer, and ability to translocate bound ligand. The single mutant (F427K) showed less attenuation than the others in the pH-dependent functions and lower DN activity in a CHO cell assay. The quadruple (K397D + D425K + F427A + 2beta2-2beta3) deletion showed the most potent DN activity at low concentrations but also gave indications of low stability in a urea-mediated unfolding assay. The double mutant (K397D + D425K) and the triple (K397D + D425K + F427A) showed strong DN activity and slight reduction in stability relative to the wild-type protein. The properties of the double and the triple mutants make these forms worthy of testing in vivo as a new type of antitoxic agent for treatment of anthrax.