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Biomedical subjects

J Jaeken

Publications and source records attributed to J Jaeken.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Increased cerebrospinal fluid glycine: a biochemical marker for a leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter.

Recently, a new disease entity has been defined: the disease of vanishing white matter. This leukoencephalopathy has an autosomal-recessive mode of inheritance. No cause or biochemical marker is known. We studied cerebrospinal fluid amino acids in five patients with the disease and found a consistent, moderate elevation of cerebrospinal fluid glycine in all. The ratio of cerebrospinal fluid to plasma glycine was elevated in four patients, in two patients reaching the level considered diagnostic for nonketotic hyperglycinemia. The activity of the glycine cleavage system was found to be normal in lymphoblasts in two patients. The elevation of cerebrospinal fluid glycine in the disease of vanishing white matter is either caused by a primary disturbance of glycine metabolism or is secondary to excitotoxic brain damage.

Adolescent↗

Mild dysmorphic signs in two male sibs with partial trisomy 2q32.1-->q35 due to maternal ins(14;2) translocation.

We report two male sibs with minor congenital anomalies and moderate to severe developmental delay who are trisomic for the interstitial 2q32.1-->q35 segment. The partial 2q duplication derived from a maternal balanced insertion translocation, 46,XX,dir ins (14;2)(q22;q32.1q35). To the best of our knowledge, no similar case observation has been previously published.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

A novel carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome characterized by a deficiency in glucosylation of the dolichol-linked oligosaccharide.

Carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndromes (CDGS) type I are a group of genetic diseases characterized by a deficiency of N-linked protein glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum. The majority of these CDGS patients have phosphomannomutase (PMM) deficiency (type A). This enzyme is required for the synthesis of GDP-mannose, one of the substrates in the biosynthesis of the dolichol-linked oligosaccharide Glc3Man9GlcNAc2. This oligosaccharide serves as the donor substrate in the N-linked glycosylation process. We report on the biochemical characterization of a novel CDGS type I in fibroblasts of four related patients with normal PMM activity but a strongly reduced ability to synthesize glucosylated dolichol-linked oligosaccharide leading to accumulation of dolichol-linked Man9GlcNAc2. This deficiency in the synthesis of dolichol-linked Glc3Man9GlcNAc2 oligosaccharide explains the hypoglycosylation of serum proteins in these patients, because nonglucosylated oligosaccharides are suboptimal substrates in the protein glycosylation process, catalyzed by the oligosaccharyltransferase complex. Accordingly, the efficiency of N-linked protein glycosylation was found to be reduced in fibroblasts from these patients.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Beneficial effects of L-serine and glycine in the management of seizures in 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase deficiency.

3-Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (3-PGDH) deficiency is an inborn error of serine biosynthesis. Patients are affected with congenital microcephaly, psychomotor retardation, and intractable seizures. The effects of oral treatment with amino acids were investigated in 2 siblings. L-Serine up to 500 mg/kg/day was not sufficient for seizure control. Addition of glycine 200 mg/kg/day resulted in complete disappearance of seizures. Electroencephalographic abnormalities gradually resolved after 6 months. We conclude that 3-PGDH can be treated effectively by a combination of L-serine and glycine.

Carbohydrate Dehydrogenases↗

Carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome type I: a new cause of dysostosis multiplex.

We report on a 1-year-old boy, with carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein (CDG) syndrome type I due to phosphomannomutase deficiency. Radiologic examination of the skeleton revealed previously unreported bone abnormalities that could be included in a dysostosis multiplex: wide ribs, squared iliac wings, horizontal acetabular roofs, widening and modeling abnormalities of ischial and pubic bones, dorsolumbar kyphosis, and slight hook-like dysplasia of the first lumbar vertebrae. Wormian bones were also present. We suggest that these features may be due to hypoglycosylation of bone proteins and that CDG syndrome type I should be included in the differential diagnosis of dysostosis multiplex.

Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation↗

Lysosomal enzyme activities in serum and leukocytes from patients with carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome type IA (phosphomannomutase deficiency).

From 10 patients with carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein (CDG) syndrome due to phosphomannomutase (PMM) deficiency, out of 10 lysosomal enzymes, 7 enzyme activities were measured in serum and 9 in leukocytes. In serum there was a 2-fold to 4-fold increase in activity of beta-glucuronidase, beta-hexosaminidase, beta-galactosidase, and arylsulphatase A. In leukocytes, however, several enzymes had reduced activity, particularly alpha-fucosidase, beta-glucuronidase and alpha-mannosidase. These abnormalities could result from missorting, defective reuptake and/or reduced stability of the enzymes due to the defective glycosylation.

Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation↗

One-methyl group metabolism in non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia: mildly elevated cerebrospinal fluid homocysteine levels.

Non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia (NKH) is a rare, severe brain disease caused by deficient glycine cleavage enzyme complex activity resulting in elevated glycine concentrations. Recent experience suggests that factors in addition to glycine kinetics are involved in its pathogenesis. The glycine cleavage reaction through the formation of methylenetetrahydrofolate is an important one-methyl group donor. A deficiency in one-methyl group metabolites, in particular of choline, has been hypothesized in NKH. We investigated metabolites involved in one-methyl group metabolism in plasma and CSF of 8 patients with NKH, and monitored the effect of treatment with choline in one patient. Plasma and CSF choline and phosphatidylcholine concentrations were normal, except for a low plasma choline in the single neonate studied. Choline treatment did not change brain choline content, and was not associated with clinical or radiological improvement. Methionine concentrations and, in one-patient, S-adenosylmethionine and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate concentrations were normal in CSF. Homocysteine concentrations in CSF, however, were slightly but consistently elevated in all four patients examined, but cysteine, cysteinylglycine and glutathione were normal. Serine is important in the transfer of one-methyl groups from mitochondria to cytosol. Serine concentrations were normal in plasma and CSF, but dropped to below normal in CSF in three patients on benzoate treatment. These observations add to our understanding of the complex metabolic disturbances in NKH.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Determination of glycan structures and molecular masses of the glycovariants of serum transferrin from a patient with carbohydrate deficient syndrome type II.

Serum transferrin from a child with carbohydrate deficient syndrome type II was isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography and separated into minor and major fractions by fast protein liquid chromatography. The structure of the glycans released from the major fraction by hydrazinolysis was established by application of methanolysis and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The results led to the identification of an N-acetyllactosamininic type monosialylated, monoantennary Man(alpha1-3) linked glycan. By electrospray-mass spectrometry analysis, the whole serum transferrin was separated into at least seven species (I to VII) with molecular masses ranging from 77,958 to 79,130 Da. On the basis of a polypeptide chain molecular mass of 75,143 Da, it was calculated that the major transferrin species III (78,247 Da) contains two monosialylated monoantennary glycans. The molecular mass of transferrin species V and VI (78,678 and 78,971 Da) suggests that one of their two glycans contains an additional N-acetyllactosamine and a sialylated N-acetyllactosamine units, respectively. Transferrin species I and V were found to correspond to the desialylated forms of species III and VI. The abnormal glycan structures can be explained by a defect in the N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase II activity [Charuk et al. (1995) Eur J Biochem 230: 797-805].

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Lack of homozygotes for the most frequent disease allele in carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome type 1A.

Carbohydrate-deficient-glycoprotein syndrome type 1 (CDG1; also known as "Jaeken syndrome") is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by defective glycosylation. Most patients show a deficiency of phosphomannomutase (PMM), the enzyme that converts mannose 6-phosphate to mannose 1-phosphate in the synthesis of GDP-mannose. The disease is linked to chromosome 16p13, and mutations have recently been identified in the PMM2 gene in CDG1 patients with a PMM deficiency (CDG1A). The availability of the genomic sequences of PMM2 allowed us to screen for mutations in 56 CDG1 patients from different geographic origins. By SSCP analysis and by sequencing, we identified 23 different missense mutations and 1 single-base-pair deletion. In total, mutations were found on 99% of the disease chromosomes in CDG1A patients. The R141H substitution is present on 43 of the 112 disease alleles. However, this mutation was never observed in the homozygous state, suggesting that homozygosity for these alterations is incompatible with life. On the other hand, patients were found homozygous for the D65Y and F119L mutations, which must therefore be mild mutations. One particular genotype, R141H/D188G, which is prevalent in Belgium and the Netherlands, is associated with a severe phenotype and a high mortality. Apart from this, there is only a limited relation between the genotype and the clinical phenotype.

Alleles↗

Abnormal surface expression of sialoglycans on B lymphocyte cell lines from patients with carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndrome I A (CDGS I A).

The carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndromes (CDGS) are genetic, multisystemic diseases characterized by deficiencies in the glycosylation of many secretory glycoproteins, lysosomal enzymes, and possibly cell surface glycoproteins resulting in central nervous system abnormalities and frequent early death by infection. Here we examined whether membranous glycoconjugates of lymphocytes are affected by this disorder. For this, we analyzed cell surface-expressed sialoglycans of Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cell lines derived from peripheral B lymphocytes of several patients with CDGS I A. These CDG-LCL (lymphoblastoid cell lines) expressed differentiation markers comparable to those of other EBV-transformed B cell lines. No apparent defects in the gross glycosylation process of defined complex glycosylated proteins such as the surface-expressed major histocompatibility complex class I glycoprotein or secreted immunoglobulin (IgM) were identified. However, using a novel flow cytometric enzyme assay to measure cell surface alpha2,6 sialylation on live cells we found that CDG-LCL express less alpha2,6 sialylated glycans in comparison to other EBV-transformed B cell lines. Also, CDG-LCL bound less of the B lymphocyte lectin CD22, specific for alpha2,6 sialylated lactosamines and known to modulate B cell receptor mediated signaling, as demonstrated by using a soluble CD22-immunoglobulin fusion protein in flow cytometry. CDG-LCL showed stronger surface staining with the monoclonal antibody 1B2 which detects a distinct group of surface-expressed lactosaminyl epitopes. After pretreatment with neuraminidase of Newcastle disease virus (NDVN) it became apparent that in CDG-LCL a significantly larger portion of the 1B2 epitopes was sialylated in alpha2,3 linkage as compared to other B cell lines. Intracellular alpha2,6 sialyltransferase activity as well as polymerase chain reaction products specific for four different sialyltransferases did not significantly differ in CDG-LCL as compared to other EBV-B cell lines. Differences in sialylation may be caused by the respective oligosaccharide core structures available for alpha2,6 or alpha2,3 sialylation in CDG-LCL. Therefore, lymphocytes derived from CDGS patients have distinct deviations in their surface-expressed lactosaminoglycan structures which may affect functions as exemplified by reduced interactions of CD22 with its ligands.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Microheterogeneity of serum glycoproteins and their liver precursors in patients with carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome type I: apparent deficiencies in clusterin and serum amyloid P.

Serum and liver protein patterns were studied, respectively, in 5 patients (serum) and 1 patient (liver) with carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome (CDGS) type I by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The pattern of serum glycoproteins in all 5 patients presented abnormal trains of isoforms with decreased mass (delta molecular weight 3000) and all showed a cathodal shift. Two-dimensional electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE mass analysis of transferrin, alpha1 -antitrypsin, haptoglobin beta-chain, and alpha1-acid glycoprotein after neuraminidase and N-glycosidase F treatments demonstrated that the additional trains of the isoforms found in CDGS type I contain homologous species of isoforms. Some of them still showed charge differences, and all still contained glycans except for transferrin, with some unusual nonglycosylated isoforms. In addition, deficiencies in clusterin and serum amyloid P, not described so far, have been found in all 5 patients. The two-dimensional pattern of immunodetected precursors of serum proteins in liver cells from 1 patient with CDGS showed abnormal low-mass precursors and the absence of the precursors normally found in controls. These results suggest that these abnormal precursors accumulate during the early oligosaccharide processing of the nascent protein-bound oligosaccharides and that glycoprotein precursors undergo an altered intracellular transport while the post-translational processing along the normal pathway is still apparently functioning in patients with CDGS.

Amyloid↗