Sialidoses

Characterization of human lysosomal neuraminidase defines the molecular basis of the metabolic storage disorder sialidosis

Neuraminidases (sialidases) have an essential role in the removal of terminal sialic acid residues from sialoglycoconjugates and are distributed widely in nature. The human lysosomal enzyme occurs in complex with beta-galactosidase and protective protein/cathepsin A (PPCA), and is deficient in two genetic disorders: sialidosis, caused by a structural defect in the neuraminidase gene, and galactosialidosis, in which the loss of neuraminidase activity is secondary to a deficiency of PPCA. We identified a full-length cDNA clone in the dbEST data base, of which the predicted amino acid sequence has extensive homology to other mammalian and bacterial neuraminidases, including the F(Y)RIP domain and "Asp-boxes." In situ hybridization localized the human neuraminidase gene to chromosome band 6p21, a region known to contain the HLA locus. Transient expression of the cDNA in deficient human fibroblasts showed that the enzyme is compartmentalized in lysosomes and restored neuraminidase activity in a PPCA-dependent manner. The authenticity of the cDNA was verified by the identification of three independent mutations in the open reading frame of the mRNA from clinically distinct sialidosis patients. Coexpression of the mutant cDNAs with PPCA failed to generate neuraminidase activity, confirming the inactivating effect of the mutations. These results establish the molecular basis of sialidosis in these patients, and clearly identify the cDNA-encoded protein as lysosomal neuraminidase.

Preparation ofN-acetylneuraminic acid from delipidated egg yolk

Egg yolk, a large proportion of the egg, was studied for the preparation of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac). The delipidated hen egg yolk (DEY; 500 kg containing 0.2% w/w, Neu5Ac) was hydrolysed with HCl (pH 1.4) at 80 degrees C and neutralized with NaOH (pH 6.0). The mixture was filtered and electrodialysed until the conductivity was 240 microS cm-1. The filtrate was applied on a column of Dowex HCR-W2 (20-50 mesh), followed by a column of Dowex 1-X8 (200-400 mesh). The latter column was washed with water, and then eluted with a linear gradient of HCO2H (0-2 M). The eluates containing Neu5Ac were concentrated using a reverse osmosis membrane and, finally, rotary evaporated at 40 degrees C. The residue was then lyophilized to yield 500 g Neu5Ac. The purity of Neu5Ac was > 98% (TBA method). HPLC, NMR spectroscopy and TLC chromatography of the product obtained from the DEY showed that Neu5Ac was the sole derivative present in egg yolk. The DEY, a byproduct from egg processing plants, was found to be an excellent source for the large-scale preparation of Neu5Ac.

A comparative study of sialyloligosaccharides isolated from sialidosis and galactosialidosis urine

Sialic acid-containing carbohydrates were isolated from sialidosis urine by a combination of gel-filtration on Bio-Gel P-6 and medium-pressure anion-exchange chromatography on Mono Q. The Mono Q fractions were subjected to 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy, sugar analysis and analytical HPLC on Lichrosorb-NH2. These methods indicated the presence of various N-acetyllactosamine type sialyloligosaccharides differing from each other in branching pattern and sialic acid linkage types. Among the structures were fully and partially sialylated mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-antennary compounds. A comparison with the results from galactosialidosis urine indicated that essentially the same carbohydrates were present in both urines, but that the relative amounts of the various sialyloligosaccharides differ to some extent. Sialidosis urinary oligosaccharides contained relatively more alpha 2-6 linked sialic acid than oligosaccharides from galactosialidosis urine. It could be concluded that the additional beta-galactosidase deficiency in galactosialidosis did not influence the nature of the excreted material and that the sialidase deficiency determined completely the defective catabolism of glycoproteins in both sialidosis and galactosialidosis.

Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent flavinylation of 6-hydroxy-D-nicotine oxidase

The reaction leading to the flavinylation of apo-6-hydroxy-D-nicotine oxidase was investigated in cell-free extracts of Eschericia coli carrying the 6-hydroxy-D-nicotine oxidase (6-HDNO) gene on the expression plasmid pDB222. It was demonstrated that the reaction required phosphoenolpyruvate (P-pyruvate) in addition to FAD. When [32P]P-pyruvate or [14C]P-pyruvate were used in the reaction with apo-6-HDNO, no phosphorylated or pyruvylated apo-protein could be detected, however. In order to drive the reaction to completion, FAD and P-pyruvate had to be present simultaneously in the reaction mixture. When apo-6-HDNO, highly purified by affinity chromatography, was used in the reaction with P-pyruvate and FAD, no additional protein fraction was required. A possible reaction scheme for the formation of holoenzyme from 6-HDNO is discussed.

Structural analysis of O-glycosidic type of sialyloligosaccharide-alditols derived from urinary glycopeptides of a sialidosis patient

Sialidosis urine was fractionated by gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-6. All pooled fractions containing carbohydrates showed the presence of small amounts of GalNAc in non-reducing position, besides free N-acetyllactosamine type of oligosaccharides as major constituents. The fractions were subjected to reductive alkaline borohydride degradation, after which the major part of GalNAc was recovered as N-acetyl-D-galactosaminitol (GalNAc-ol). The GalNAc-ol-containing material was separated from the N-glycosidic oligosaccharides by a second gel-filtration step on AcA 202. Subsequently, the O-glycosidic sialyloligosaccharide-alditols were subfractionated by anion-exchange chromatography on Mono Q. Structural analysis by 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy revealed two major components in all fractions, namely: NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GalNAc-ol and NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3[NeuAc alpha 2-6]GalNAc-ol. Furthermore, NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3[NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6]GalNAc-ol was found as a minor component in some of the fractions. The presence of these carbohydrate chains in Bio-Gel fractions differing in molecular mass suggested that they are derived from glycopeptides which are heterogeneous in their peptide part.

Isolation and structural characterization of sialic acid-containing storage material from mucolipidosis I (sialidosis) fibroblasts

Sialic acid-containing storage material was isolated from cultured human mucolipidosis I (sialidosis) fibroblasts by gel permeation chromatography on Bio-Gel P-6 followed by medium-pressure anion-exchange chromatography on Mono Q. The structure determination of the isolated sialyloligosaccharides was carried out by 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with sugar analysis and analytical HPLC. The storage material showed completely sialylated mono-, di- and triantennary N-glycosidic N-acetyllactosamine oligosaccharides having the Man beta 1----4GlcNAc sequence at the reducing end in common. Heterogeneity occurred with respect to the linkages between terminal sialic acid and the penultimate galactose residues (alpha 2----3/alpha 2----6). It turned out that all the identified carbohydrate chains are consistent with the neuraminidase deficiency.

Separation of sialyl-oligosaccharides by medium pressure anion-exchange chromatography on Mono Q

On columns prepacked with the recently introduced anion-exchange material, Mono Q (Pharmacia), sialyl-oligosaccharides could be fractionated excellently according to the sialic acid content. With u.v. absorption at 214 nm as the detection method, analytical runs of carbohydrate material on the microgram scale, were possible. The value of the method for preparative purposes was demonstrated for sialic acid-containing carbohydrates obtained from human serotransferrin by hydrazinolysis.

Purification and characterization of sialic acid containing materials accumulated in cultured skin fibroblasts from a patient with type II sialidosis

Sialyl conjugates which accumulate in sialidase deficient fibroblasts were made radioactive in the sialic acid moiety by culturing the cells in the presence of [3H]N-acetylmannosamine. The accumulated radioactive compounds were fractionated by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. At least nine chromatographically distinct sialyl conjugates were obtained. Neutral and amino sugar analysis of these compounds indicated that all were sialyloligosaccharides of the type which could be derived from glycoproteins containing complex, N-asparagine-linked carbohydrate groups.

Analysis of neuraminidase isozyme phenotypes in mammalian tissues: an electrophoretic approach

A simple cellulose acetate electrophoretic method for visualizing mammalian neuraminidase isozymes has been developed. Application of the method with rat and mouse liver extracts reveals the presence of two distinct isozymes in each species. Each isozyme exhibits tremendous variation in activity between inbred strains. The two isozymes vary independently of one another suggesting that their activities are controlled by different genes. The neuraminidase phenotypes detected in these inbred strains via electrophoresis are consistent with published accounts of neuraminidase phenotypes determined fluorometrically in whole liver homogenates, but also indicate the presence of a second isozyme not perceived by this other procedure.

The structure of sialyl-glycopeptides of the O-glycosidic type, isolated from sialidosis (mucolipidosis I) urine

Sialyl-glycopeptides containing an O-glycosidically linked tetrasaccharide chain were obtained from the urine of a patient suffering from mucolipidosis I. Isolation of these compounds was achieved by gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography and preparative paper chromatography. Their structures were determined by a combination of carbohydrate and amino acid analysis, dansylation, periodate oxidation, methylation studies, enzymatic hydrolysis and 1H-NMR spectroscopy, to be as follows: (formula; see text) wherein R = peptide linked through -Thr-, -Ser-Thr- or -Thr-Ser-. The finding of these glycopeptides in urine shows that mucolipidosis I is characterized by a general "glycoprotein-specific" sialidase deficiency. The possibility of the existence of a human endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase is discussed.