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Biomedical subjects

H Galjaard

Publications and source records attributed to H Galjaard.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Molecular heterogeneity in human beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase deficiency.

Human lysosomal beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase exist in a complex together with a 32-kilodalton (kd) glycoprotein. The latter protein was found to have a dual function: it is required for the aggregation of monomeric 64-kd beta-galactosidase into high molecular weight (600-700 kd) multimers and it is an essential subunit of neuraminidase together with a 76-kd polypeptide. The severe neurological disorder galactosialidosis, characterized by a coexistent deficiency of beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase, was found to be due to a genetic defect of the 32-kd protective protein. The molecular background of the clinical heterogeneity within this syndrome is described and will undoubtedly be further elucidated since we have recently isolated the gene coding for the protective protein. The sequence of normal and mutant (enzyme) proteins will also provide better insight into the characteristics of the beta-galactosidase-neuraminidase-protective protein complex. Another interesting model for the study of posttranslational processing is the defective phosphorylation of beta-galactosidase in cells from patients with GM1-gangliosidosis.

Animals↗

Clinical diversity in glycogenosis type II. Biosynthesis and in situ localization of acid alpha-glucosidase in mutant fibroblasts.

The molecular basis of clinical diversity in glycogenosis type II (Pompe's disease) was investigated by comparing the nature of acid alpha-glucosidase deficiency in cultured fibroblasts from 30 patients. Biosynthetic forms of acid alpha-glucosidase with different molecular mass were separated electrophoretically and identified by immunoblotting. Immuno-electron microscopy was employed to determine the intracellular localization of mutant enzyme. Our studies illustrate that maturation of acid alpha-glucosidase is associated with transport to the lysosomes. Deficiency of catalytically active mature enzyme in lysosomes is common to all clinical phenotypes but, in the majority of cases, is more profound in early onset than in late onset forms of the disease. Thus, the results suggest that the clinical course of glycogenosis type II is primarily determined by the amount of functional acid alpha-glucosidase. The role of secondary factors can, however, not be excluded because three adult patients were identified with very low activity and little enzyme in the lysosomes.

Adult↗

Immunocytochemical localization of lysosomal acid phosphatase in normal and "I-cell" fibroblasts.

This study represents the first example of immunological localization of lysosomal acid phosphatase. The intracellular localization of lysosomal acid phosphatase was investigated with immunocytochemical methods at the light and electron microscopical level in cultured fibroblasts obtained from normal subjects and from a patient with I-cell disease. Double-labeling studies using fluorescence microscopy showed that acid phosphatase is present in the same organelles as other hydrolases. At the electron microscopic level in control fibroblasts acid phosphatase was found in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, at the plasma membrane, in vesicles just below the plasma membrane and in multivesicular bodies. This localization was comparable with that of other lysosomal enzymes tested (acid alpha-glucosidase, N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase, beta-galactosidase). Acid phosphatase labeling was mainly found in association with the lysosomal membrane and with membranous material present within the lysosome. In I-cell fibroblasts the label was present in the same subcellular organelles but always associated with membranous structures. We suggest that the association of acid phosphatase with membranes might explain the normal enzyme activity found in I-cell fibroblasts.

Acid Phosphatase↗

GM1-gangliosidosis. Defective recognition site on beta-galactosidase precursor.

Cultured fibroblasts from different variants of GM1-gangliosidosis synthesize normal amounts of 88-kDa beta-galactosidase precursor. Yet the amount of the mature 64-kDa form is reduced to 5-15% of normal values. In this communication it is shown that the mutation in the infantile and adult form of GM1-gangliosidosis interferes with the phosphorylation of precursor beta-galactosidase. As a result the precursor is secreted instead of being compartmentalized into the lysosomes and further processed. The impaired phosphorylation might be due to conformational changes of the precursor molecule.

Cells, Cultured↗

Ganglioside GM1 metabolism in living human fibroblasts with beta-galactosidase deficiency.

The uptake and catabolism of [3H-ceramide]-GM1 was followed in living fibroblasts from patient with different forms of beta-galactosidase deficiency. Gangliosides are identified according to the nomenclature of Svennerholm (1963). A total inability to metabolize the ingested substrate was found in infantile GM1-gangliosidosis whereas cells from an adult GM1-gangliosidosis variant showed a slower rate of degradation, compared with controls. Morquio B fibroblasts had a comparable catabolism of GM1 as controls. Fibroblasts from different types of galactosialidosis, a recessive disease associated with a coexistent beta-galactosidase/neuraminidase deficiency all showed degradation of ingested GM1. In view of the molecular defect in this disease, this catabolism must be due to the 10-20% of monomeric beta-galactosidase molecules present in the lysosomes. Unexpectedly, in these cells an impaired metabolism of GM3 was found. The same finding was observed when cells with an isolated neuraminidase deficiency (mucolipidosis I) were loaded with GM1. A hypothesis is presented to explain these results.

Adult↗

Free N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) storage disorders: evidence for defective NANA transport across the lysosomal membrane.

To study the biochemical defect underlying N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) storage disorders (NSD), a tritium-labeled NANA-methylester was prepared and its metabolism was studied in normal and mutant human fibroblasts. The uptake of methylester, its conversion into free NANA, and the release of free NANA was studied in lysosome-enriched fractions. In three clinically different types of NSD accumulation of free NANA was observed and the half-life of this compound was significantly increased. Our observations indicate the existence of a transport system for NANA across the lysosomal membrane, which is deficient in all variants of NSD.

Biological Transport↗

The role of cytochemistry in human genetic research.

The role of cytochemistry in human genetics is reviewed. In basic research, autoradiography and cytochemical staining procedures for DNA, RNA, proteins and other cell constituents have contributed to the understanding of the way DNA is localized, duplicated and translated. The development of new "banding techniques" for the identification of human chromosomes and parts of these together with somatic cell hybridization procedures have significantly contributed to the mapping of the human genome. Cytochemical methods have also been of great help in the elucidation of the responsible molecular defects in Mendelian disorders based on a single gene mutation. The combination of immunological methods and electron-microscopical cytochemistry now enables different posttranslational processing defects to be related to various subcellular compartments. Cytochemistry is also likely to be of importance for the direct demonstration of gene mutations using recombinant DNA technology. Examples are given of contributions of cytochemical methods to the early diagnosis and prevention of congenital disorders. The main examples are the early diagnosis of patients with a chromosomal aberration and of carriers with a balanced translocation. Early genetic counseling of couples at risk forms the basis for prevention of subsequent affected children. Cytochemistry also contributes to the early detection of heterozygotes of X-linked mutations. Finally, autoradiography and ultramicrochemical procedures have been of great help in improving the prenatal diagnosis of genetic metabolic diseases.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

Galactosialidosis: molecular heterogeneity among distinct clinical phenotypes.

The lysosomal storage disorder galactosialidosis has been recognized as a distinct genetic and biochemical entity, associated with a combined beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase deficiency that is due to the lack of a 32-kilodalton (kDa) glycoprotein. The molecular basis of different clinical variants of galactosialidosis has been investigated. In the early-infantile form, the synthesis of the 52-kDa precursor of the 32-kDa "protective protein" is markedly reduced and the absence of the latter protein explains the severe neuraminidase deficiency. In the juvenile-adult form, there is relatively more 52-kDa precursor but no 32-kDa protein can be detected. Cells from the late-infantile form have in comparison with controls, besides a small amount of the 32-kDa glycoprotein, an accumulation of the 52-kDa precursor. Apparently, this protein is genetically altered in such a way that its further processing is impaired. Furthermore, in this mutant, the residual neuraminidase activity is stimulated four- to sixfold upon leupeptin treatment together with an increase of the 32-kDa glycoprotein.

Adult↗

Immunoelectron microscopical localization of lysosomal beta-galactosidase and its precursor forms in normal and mutant human fibroblasts.

Immunoelectron microscopy was performed to study the biosynthesis of lysosomal beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) in normal and mutant human fibroblasts. Using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies we show in normal cells precursor forms of beta-gal in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and in the Golgi apparatus throughout the stack of cisternae. In the lysosomes virtually all beta-gal exists as a high molecular weight multimer of mature enzyme. In the autosomal recessive disease GM1-gangliosidosis caused by a beta-gal deficiency and in galactosialidosis, associated with a combined deficiency of lysosomal neuraminidase and beta-gal, precursor forms of the latter enzyme are found in RER, Golgi and some labeling is present at the cell surface. The lysosomes remain unlabeled, indicative for the absence of enzyme molecules in this organelle. In galactosialidosis fibroblasts also no mature beta-gal is found in the lysosomes but in these cells the presence of the monomeric form can be increased by leupeptin (inhibition of proteolysis) whereas addition of a partly purified 32 kDa "protective protein" results in the restoration of high molecular weight beta-gal multimers in the lysosomes.

Antibodies↗

Human placental neuraminidase. Activation, stabilization and association with beta-galactosidase and its protective protein.

Supernatant of homogenized human placenta hardly contains lysosomal neuraminidase activity. It is, however, possible to generate remarkably high activity by concentration of a partially purified glycoprotein fraction. This activity is labile to dilution, but can be stabilized by incubation at 37 degrees C and acid pH. Using beta-galactosidase specific affinity chromatography and immunotitration, we show that the activated and stabilized human lysosomal neuraminidase exists in a complex with beta-galactosidase. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation experiments demonstrate that the neuraminidase activity is exclusively present in a high density multimeric form of beta-galactosidase. The formation of multimeric forms of beta-galactosidase is known to require a 32000-Mr 'protective' protein. Monospecific antibodies against this 'protective' protein were purified from a conventional antiserum containing a mixture of antibodies against the 64000-Mr beta-galactosidase protein and against the 32000-Mr 'protective' protein, using a nitrocellulose blot immunoaffinity purification procedure. Immunotitration experiments with these antibodies show that the 32000-Mr 'protective' protein is present both in association with the beta-galactosidase multimer and with the high-density multimeric form together with neuraminidase. Our data further suggest that association of the 32000-Mr 'protective' protein and another yet unidentified subunit is essential for the catalytic activity of lysosomal neuraminidase. These results explain the absence of neuraminidase activity in the autosomal recessive human lysosomal storage disorder galactosialidosis, where the 32000-Mr 'protective' protein is known to be absent.

Carboxypeptidases↗

Genetic complementation in somatic cell hybrids of four variants of infantile GM2 gangliosidosis.

Cell hybridizations between fibroblasts of four variants (B, O, AB, and B1) of infantile GM2 gangliosidosis were performed. Cocultivated as well as hybrid cells were analyzed for their capability to degrade exogenously added [3H]-GM2. Hybridization of variant AB fibroblasts with fibroblasts of variant O, variant B, or variant B1 resulted in an enhanced rate of GM2 hydrolysis, showing intergenic complementation. Similar restoration of GM2 catabolism was observed after hybridization of variant B1 cells with variant O, but not with variant B cells. These results indicate that B1 cells carry a mutation in the gene locus for the alpha-subunit of beta-hexosaminidase. Studies of the processing of immature enzyme in variant B1 cells showed the presence of alpha-precursors and mature alpha-chains, but at a lower level as compared to normal cells.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗

The chromosomal localization of human beta-galactosidase revisited: a locus for beta-galactosidase on human chromosome 3 and for its protective protein on human chromosome 22.

A series of man-Chinese hamster and man-mouse somatic cell hybrids was investigated to study the localization of the genes coding for the human lysosomal enzyme beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) and for its protective protein. Using a monoclonal antibody, raised against human placental beta-galactosidase, it was observed that the structural locus for the beta-galactosidase polypeptide is located on chromosome 3. The nature of the involvement of chromosome 22 in the expression of human beta-galactosidase was elucidated by metabolic labelling of the hybrids with radioactive amino acids, immunoprecipitation with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against beta-galactosidase, followed by analysis via gel electrophoresis and fluorography. The data show that the presence of chromosome 22 coincides with the presence of a 32 kd protein. This polypeptide, the "protective protein" was previously shown to be intimately associated with human beta-galactosidase. In addition, the protective protein was found to be essential for the in vivo stability of beta-galactosidase by aggregating beta-galactosidase monomers into high molecular weight multimers. Both chromosome 3 and 22 are therefore necessary to obtain normal levels of beta-galactosidase activity in human cells.

Animals↗

Sucrase-isomaltase and cystic fibrosis.

The intestinal microvillar enzyme complex sucrase-isomaltase has been studied in cystic fibrosis and control ileum. A number of biochemical parameters of the enzyme in ileum homogenates have been determined. Both solubilized as well as membrane-bound sucrase-isomaltase were analyzed with respect to their reaction with monoclonal antibodies against human sucrase-isomaltase. Finally the subcellular localization of sucrase-isomaltase was verified by immunoelectronmicroscopy or via the analysis of purified brush-border membrane preparations. At all levels no significant differences could be detected between sucrase-isomaltase of cystic fibrosis and control ileum. It is concluded that an abnormal subcellular localization and/or abnormal enzymatic activity of sucrase-isomaltase in cystic fibrosis intestine cannot explain the markedly decreased disaccharidase activities in amniotic fluids from pregnancies resulting in a child affected with cystic fibrosis.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗