Purification and characterization of amphiphilic trehalase from rabbit small intestine

Intestinal brush border glycohydrolases: structure, function, and development

The hydrolytic enzymes of the intestinal brush border membrane are essential for the degradation of nutrients to absorbable units. Particularly, the brush border glycohydrolases are responsible for the degradation of di- and oligosaccharides into monosaccharides, and are thus crucial for the energy-intake of humans and other mammals. This review will critically discuss all that is known in the literature about intestinal brush border glycohydrolases. First, we will assess the importance of these enzymes in degradation of dietary carbohydrates. Then, we will closely examine the relevant features of the intestinal epithelium which harbors these glycohydrolases. Each of the glycohydrolytic brush border enzymes will be reviewed with respect to structure, biosynthesis, substrate specificity, hydrolytic mechanism, gene regulation and developmental expression. Finally, intestinal disorders will be discussed that affect the expression of the brush border glycohydrolases. The clinical consequences of these enzyme deficiency disorders will be discussed. Concomitantly, these disorders may provide us with important details regarding the functions and gene expression of these enzymes under specific (pathogenic) circumstances.

Fetal intestinal and renal origins of trehalase activity in human amniotic fluid

Intestinal and renal trehalase isozymes have been distinguished in normal human amniotic fluid on the basis of their membrane-bound character and isoelectric point (pI). The intestinal trehalase was mostly membrane bound in amniotic fluid and had a pI around 4.60. In contrast, the renal form of trehalase was soluble and had a pI around 4.37. These pI values were consistent with those found in extracts of fetal intestinal (pI 4.60) and renal (pI 4.24) tissues. The determination of trehalase isozyme composition of amniotic fluid from pathological pregnancies with anal imperforation and polycystic kidney disease confirmed our findings on the origin of amniotic fluid trehalase. In the sample from a fetus with anal imperforation, low or absent intestinal trehalase isozyme was observed whereas a higher than normal level of renal trehalase activity was found in a fetus with polycystic kidney disease.

Brush border membrane sucrase-isomaltase, maltase-glucoamylase and trehalase in mammals. Comparative development, effects of glucocorticoids, molecular mechanisms, and phylogenetic implications

1. Trehalase, sucrase-isomaltase and maltase-glucoamylase are three integral glycoproteins of the brush border membranes of the enterocytes. On the basis of a comparative study on alpha-glycosidase activities (sucrase, isomaltase, maltase, glucoamylase and trehalase) associated to these glycoproteins during neonatal development, mammals could be basically divided into three groups. 2. In rodents and rabbit alpha-glycosidase activities are low or undetectable during the suckling period and increase to adult levels during the weaning period. In cat, dog and the primates examined, alpha-glycosidase activities are well or fully developed at birth. 3. In ruminants and pinnipedia alpha-glycosidases are low or absent throughout life. 4. During the suckling period of rat, mouse and rabbit, glucocorticoids trigger a premature and dramatic increase of all alpha-glycosidases. 5. On the contrary, alpha-glycosidases development during the weaning period appears to be independent of glucocorticoids. Neither hypophysectomy nor adrenalectomy prevent the development of alpha-glycosidases; only the rate of increase is reduced. 6. Transplantations of intestinal isografts either in adult or suckling animal, have shown that (1) no systemic factor inhibits the expression of alpha-glycosidase, (2) alpha-glycosidases induction is neither triggered by luminal alimentary substances, nor by hormones, (3) alpha-glycosidase development is controlled by an intrinsic ontogenic program. 7. The use of an antiglucocorticoid failed to inhibit the spontaneous development of alpha-glycosidase activities. 8. The increase of maltase and sucrase activities triggered by glucocorticoids is associated with an increase of the concentration of two glycoproteins in the microvillous membrane: sucrase-isomaltase and maltase-glucoamylase. 9. After administration of glucocorticoids the increase of maltase, sucrase and trehalase is strongly inhibited by actinomycin-D and the increase of sucrase activity is associated with a parallel increase of sucrase-isomaltase mRNA. Transcription is most likely the primary site of control of alpha-glycosidase biosynthesis. 10. In the crypt cells, alpha-glycosidases biosynthesis appears to be triggered by a receptor-mediated glucocorticoid interaction. 11. The enterocytes synthesize more alpha-glycosidase molecules as they travel to the tip of the villi. 12. The simultaneous, biosynthesis of sucrase-isomaltase and maltase-glucoamylase triggered by glucocorticoids, as well as their simultaneous normal development suggest that they may be subjected to related control mechanisms. 13. It is suggested that sucrase-isomaltase and maltase-glucoamylase might have arisen by several cycles of partial gene duplication of an ancestor gene coding for a single site maltase-isomaltase; subsequent mutation would have transformed isomaltase into sucrase or glucoamylase.

Purification and properties of detergent-solubilized pig kidney trehalase

Trehalase (alpha, alpha-trehalase, EC 3.2.1.28) was solubilized from the brush border membrane of pig kidney cortex by Triton X-100 and sodium deoxycholate in the presence of inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes. The kidney enzyme was purified 3060-fold using gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography, Con A-Sepharose chromatography, phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B hydrophobic interaction chromatography, Tris-Sepharose 6B affinity chromatography, and hydroxylapatite chromatography. Tris-Sepharose 6B was utilized to absorb contaminant proteins. Purity was estimated as 99% or greater, based on amino-terminal amino acid analysis. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 278 units/mg protein, showed one major band after silver staining, and had an estimated molecular weight of 80,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme was a glycoprotein and contained 2 mol of glucosamine per mole of trehalase. Kidney trehalase was inhibited by Tris, HgCl2, and phlorizin with Ki values of 3.8 mM, 11 microM, and 2.4 mM, respectively. Inclusion of Cl- in the reaction mixture protected the enzyme from inactivation by HgCl2. The apparent Km for trehalose was calculated to be 2.1 mM. Kidney trehalase was highly specific for trehalose and exhibited an optimal pH of 5.9. The isoelectric point was between pH 4.7 and 4.4, as measured by chromatofocusing.

Solubilization of trehalase from rabbit renal and intestinal brush-border membranes by a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C

Trehalase (EC 3.2.1.28) associated with renal and intestinal brush-border membranes was solubilized by highly purified phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (EC 3.1.4.10) from Bacillus thuringiensis, but not by phosphatidylcholine-hydrolyzing phospholipase C (EC 3.1.4.3) from Clostridium welchii or phospholipase D (EC 3.1.4.4) from cabbage. The solubilized trehalase was not adsorbed on phenyl-Sepharose, indicating that it was hydrophilic. Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C also converted Triton X-100-solubilized amphipathic trehalase into a hydrophilic form. These results suggest that trehalase is bound to the membrane through a direct and specific interaction with phosphatidylinositol.