Physico-chemical and immunological properties of acid alpha-glucosidase from various human tissues in relation to glycogenosis type II (Pompe's disease)

Isolation and characterisation of a recombinant, precursor form of lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase

Glycogenosis type II (GSD II, Pompe disease) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease that results from a deficiency of acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). Patients with this disorder are unable to break down lysosomal glycogen, which consequently accumulates in the lysosome. To evaluate enzyme replacement therapy for GSD II patients, we have expressed human GAA cDNA in Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells utilising a vector that places the cDNA under the transcriptional control of the human polypeptide chain elongation factor 1 alpha gene promoter. A clonal cell line that secreted precursor recombinant GAA at approximately 18 mg.l-1.day-1 was identified. The precursor recombinant GAA was purified to homogeneity, had a molecular mass of 110 kDa as measured by SDS/PAGE, and was shown to have pH optima and kinetic parameters similar to those of GAA purified from human tissues. The partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of recombinant GAA conformed to that derived from the nucleotide sequence of the cloned cDNA. The recombinant enzyme was taken up by cultured fibroblasts and skeletal muscle cells from GSD II patients, and was shown to correct the storage phenotype. Endocytosed GAA was localised to the lysosome and showed evidence of intracellular processing to a more mature form. Activity levels increased up to twice the normal value and uptake was prevented if cells were cultured in the presence of mannose 6-phosphate.

Regulation of lysosomal glycogen metabolism: studies of the actions of mammalian acid alpha-glucosidases

1. Acid alpha-glucosidases were purified to homogeneity from rat liver, rat skeletal muscle and human placenta. The properties of these enzymes were investigated. 2. Their pH optima for activity toward various substrates were in the range 4-5. 3. Time course and pH dependence experiments revealed that all glycogen substrates were not hydrolysed at the same rate; the rate of hydrolysis was inversely related to the molecular size of the substrate. The most rapidly hydrolysed glycogen substrate was the smallest (commercial oyster) while the least rapidly hydrolysed was the largest (native rat or rabbit liver). Intermediate sized glycogens were hydrolysed at intermediate rates. 4. Glycogen hydrolysis was stimulated by added sodium ions; this stimulation was pH dependent. 5. It is suggested that lysosomal glycogen metabolism may be controlled by pH, salt concentration and the size of the glycogen substrate. 6. Since the high molecular weight glycogen associated with lysosomes is formed by disulphide bridges between lower molecular weight material it is proposed that an important step of lysosomal glycogen degradation is disulphide bond reduction.

The molecular basis for charge heterogeneity in human acid alpha-glucosidase

The molecular basis for charge heterogeneity in human hepatic alpha-glucosidase (alpha-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.20) was determined by analysis of the carbohydrate and polypeptide components of the enzyme. Only small remnants of high mannose chains that contained neither sialic acid nor mannose 6-phosphate were detected in the carbohydrate structure. Four enzymatically active forms of alpha-glucosidase separated by chromatofocusing were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and were found to contain different polypeptides. The absence of charged residues in oligosaccharide chains and variability in the polypeptide subunits of the charge forms of hepatic alpha-glucosidase suggest that charge heterogeneity results from differences in the protein structure of the charge forms. The pattern of differences in the polypeptide subunits suggests that the charge forms for hepatic alpha-glucosidase may be the product of proteolysis.

Detection of human acid alpha-glucosidase in fibroblasts using monoclonal antibodies in a biotin-avidin amplified ELISA

A sensitive and specific immunological assay for detection of human lysosomal alpha-glucosidase was developed using a mouse monoclonal antibody incorporated into a biotin-avidin amplified ELISA. The immunoassay was more than 60 times more sensitive than the currently used enzymatic assay for alpha-glucosidase activity using a fluorimetric substrate. This methodology provides an alternative approach with increased sensitivity for screening individuals for alpha-glucosidase deficiency.

Myopathy due to glycogen storage disease: pathological and biochemical studies in relation to glycogenosome formation

Ten cases of myopathy caused by glycogen storage diseases of type II, III, and V, and phosphorylase b kinase deficiency are reported. So-called "abnormal lysosomes" or glycogenosomes which contain abundant glycogen were found in cases of type II, and in some numbers, in cases of type III, and in one case of phosphorylase b kinase deficiency which revealed a moderate decrease in debranching enzyme (amylo-1,6-glucosidase) activity. In these cases of type III and phosphorylase b kinase deficiency, the glycogenosomes are formed through deposition of abnormal glycogen (limit dextrin structure glycogen).

Carbohydrate content of acid alpha-glucosidase (gamma-amylase) from human liver

The presence of carbohydrates in homogeneous preparations of human liver acid alpha-glucosidase has been established and the carbohydrate content of the enzyme determined. The enzyme was purified with the specific purpose of removing all low-molecular-weight carbohydrates. It was specifically adsorbed on Concanavalin A-Sepharose, eluted with methyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside and gave a positive reaction with the phenol-sulphuric acid reagent. These facts taken together provide evidence that the enzyme studied is a glycoprotein. The analysis of the carbohydrate content of human liver acid alpha-glucosidase showed that there were 8.3 glucosamine, 13.2 mannose and possibly 3--4 glucose residues per molecule of the enzyme with a molecular weight of 98,000.

Use of immobilized antibodies in investigating acid alpha-glucosidase in urine in relation to Pompe's disease

(1) A simple method is described for the isolation of the lysosomal enzyme, acid alpha-glucosidase (alpha-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.20) from normal human liver. Antibodies raised against the purified enzyme were immobilized by covalent coupling to Sepharose 4B. (2) Acid alpha-glucosidase can be quantitatively removed from normal urine by incubating with an excess of immobilized antibody. With p-nitrophenyl-alpha-glucoside as substrate, acid alpha-glucosidase accounts for 91 +/- 3% of the total alpha-glucosidase activity at pH 4.0 IN Normal urine. (3) In urine from a patient with the infantile form of Pompe's disease ('acid maltase deficiency'), no alpha-glucosidase activity could be removed by the immobilized antibody, in agreement with the fact that acid alpha-glucosidase is absent in these patients. (4) In urine from patients with the late-onset form of Pompe's disease, 46 +/- 11% of the alpha-glucosidase activity at pH 4.0 can be removed by incubation with immobilized antibodies, indicating that residual acid alpha-glucosidase activity is present in urine of these patients. The residual acid alpha-glucosidase activity amounts to about 5% of that in the urine of control persons. (5) If acid alpha-glucosidase is adsorbed to immobilized antibodies, the activity can still be measured with p-nitrophenyl-alpha-glucoside as substrate. The Km for p-nitrophenyl-alpha-glucoside is not significantly changed by adsorbing purified acid alpha-glucosidase to immobilized antibodies. (6) The properties of acid alpha-glucosidase from urine of patients with late-onset Pompe's disease were compared with those of acid alpha-glucosidase from normal urine, both adsorbed to immobilized antiserum. The pH-activity profile of the enzyme from urine of patients with late-onset Pompe's disease can not be distinguished from that of the normal urinary enzyme. The Km for p-nitro-phenyl-alpha-glucoside of the two enzymes is identical, both at pH 4 and 3. The titration curves of the two enzymes with immobilized antibodies are identical.

Glycogenosis type II: the infantile- and late-onset acid maltase deficiency observed in one family

The concurrence of the infantile and adult form of acid maltase deficiency in one family is presented. The muscle of both cases possesses residual activity. The glycogen amount in the infantile form is increased tremendously, while in the late-onset the amount of glycogen is normal.

Pompe's disease: diagnosis in kidney and leucocytes using 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside

The diagnosis of Pompe's disease by the assay of acid alpha-glucosidase in kidney and leucocytes was not previously possible because of the presence of another component which had activity at pH 4.0, but was not deficient in the disease. This problem was resolved either by the use of the inhibitors, turanose, maltose and citrate, or by isoelectric precipitation at pH 5.0, which enabled the estimation of acid alpha glucosidase in kidney and leucocytes.

alpha-Glucosidase in Pompe's disease

Isoelectric precipitation at pH 5.0 and the use of the inhibitors, turanose, maltose and citrate, enabled the diagnosis of Pompe's disease to be made in dextran-isolated leucocytes using 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside as substrate. These techniques were unnecessary with lymphocytes as the deficiency of acid alpha-glucosidase could be shown directly.

Properties of the alpha-glucosidase from various human tissues in relation to glycogenosis type II (Pompe's disease)

The physico-chemical and electrophoretical properties of alpha-glucosidases from various human tissues and urine have been studied. There were some differences among Peak I enzymes (neutral alpha-glucosidases) obtained from liver, heart, muscle, kidney and urine. These differences are based on different effects of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane and various thermostabilities of the Peak I enzymes. Electrophoretically, the Peak I enzyme activity at pH 6.5 from control tissues displayed a two-banded pattern except in kidney and urine. In the patient with the adult form of Pompe's disease the faster band of the Peak I enzyme from heart and muscle was not found and the slower band of the Peak I enzyme from liver was more cathodic. The results are discussed in relation to glycogenosis type II (Pompe's disease).

Some properties of human liver acid alpha-glucosidase

1. Albumin activates human liver acid alpha-glucosidase (alpha-D-glucoside hydrolase, EC 3.2.1.20). From the Arrhenius plot, pH-dependence and Lineweaver-Burk plots it can be concluded that this activation is not only due to stabilisation of the enzyme, but also influences the enzymatic activity. It is proposed that for optimal functioning human liver acid alpha-glucosidase needs a protein environment. 2. Glycogen has a competitive inhibitory effect on the hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, in contrast to maltose which exhibits a non-competitive type of inhibition. It is concluded that two catalytic sites exist, one for glycogen and one for maltose, while both sites influence each other. With glycogen as substrate a break in the Arrhenius plot is found. This is not the case when maltose is used as substrate. 3. The effect of antibody raised against human liver acid alpha-glucosidase on the activity of human liver acid alpha-glucosidase is studied. No corss-reacting material could be demonstrated in the liver of a patient with glycogen storage disease Type II (M. Pompe, acid alpha-glucosidase deficiency).