Independent loss of human hexosaminidases A and B in man-chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids

Linkage of the leuS, emtB, and chr genes on chromosome 5 in humans and expression of human genes encoding protein synthetic components in human--Chinese hamster hybrids

We isolated interspecific hybrids between normal human leukocytes and a Chinese hamster ovary cell line that has mutations in three genes, leuS, emtB, and chr, all of which are linked to chromosome 2. The conditionally lethal mutation in the leuS gene in this cell line affects leucyl-tRNA synthetase and renders the cell line nonviable at 39 degrees C. The mutation in the emtB locus alters ribosomal protein S14 and results in the cell line being resistant to the protein synthesis inhibitor, emetine, while the mutation in the chr locus renders the cells resistant to sodium chromate. The interspecific hybrids were selected at 39 degrees C so that they were required to retain and express the human leuS gene. Ten out of ten such heat-resistant hybrids also expressed the human emtB and chr genes. Segregants selected as having lost the human emtB gene simultaneously lost the human chr and leuS genes as well. The linkage relationship between these three genes has thus been conserved during the evolution of the human and Chinese hamster genomes. All three genes were localized to human chromosome 5. Furthermore, our results indicate that the ribosomal protein product of the human emtB gene is incorporated into functional ribosomes in place of the human corresponding Chinese hamster protein, raising several interesting questions concerning the coordinate regulation of genes encoding ribosomal proteins in mammalian cells.

A new immunochemical method for the quantitative measurement of specific gene products in man-rodent somatic cell hybrids

An immunochemical method has been developed for the quantitative determination of species-specific gene products, for instance alpha-galactosidase and N-acetyl-alpha-galactosaminidase, in man-rodent hybrid cells and in the parental cell lines. Antisera raised against the purified enzymes are covalently coupled to Sepharose 4B. The gene products are specifically removed from a cell lysate by incubating with the appropriate Sepharose-coupled antiserum. After centrifugation followed by washing of the precipitated Sepharose, the enzymic activity can be quantitatively measured on the Sepharose beads. With this technique it has been demonstrated that the ability of human N-acetyl-alpha-galactosaminidase (also known as alpha-galactosidase B) to hydrolyze alpha-galactosidic linkages is lost when the enzyme is expressed in man-Chinese hamster hybrid cells.

Regional mapping of human genes for hexosaminidase B and diphtheria toxin sensitivity on chromosome 5 using mouse X human hybrid cells

Mouse 3T3 (TK-) cells were fused to human leukocytes containing a balanced translocation [ins(3;5) (q27;q13q15)] in which part of the long arm of a chromosome 5 has been inserted into the long arm of a chromosome 3. Two independent, primary hybrid clones (XVI-10C;XVI-18A) retained the deleted chromosome 5 [del(5) (q13q15)] translocation product and were informative for regional mapping on chromosome 5 of genes involved in expression of hexosaminidase B (HEXB) and diphtheria toxin sensitivity (DTS). Both XVI-10C and XVI-18A clones were sensitive to diphtheria toxin. Toxin-resistant derivatives of these clones (XVI-10C DTR; XVI-18A DTR) were analyzed for chromosome content and expression of Hex B activity, as were XVI-10C and XVI-18A cells which had not been exposed to diphtheria toxin. The results of this study provide evidence for localization of DTS to region 5q15 leads to 5 qter on the long arm of chromosome 5, and localization of HEXB to region 5pter leads to 5q13.

Glycosphingolipid hydrolases: properties and molecular genetics

This is a review of the properties and molecular genetics of six lysosomal hydrolases: beta-galactosidase, hexosaminidases A and B, alpha-galactosidase, beta-glucosidase and alpha-fucosidase. Each enzyme is discussed with regards to isoenzymes and substrate specificity, subunit structure, genetic relationship of isoenzymes and genetic variants. The molecular genetics of human diseases caused by deficiencies of each enzyme are discussed.

A study of hexosaminadases in interspecific hybrids and in GM2 gangliosidosis with a discussion on their genetic control

1. Hexosaminidases were studied by electrophoresis with different human fibroblast extracts. We found in the same conditions of detection and culture three bands from the cathode to the anode, namely Hex B, Hex A, Hex C for the normal fibroblast, Hex B for the two different Tay-Sachs and Hex C for the two unrelated Sandhoff patients. 2. The analysis of man-rodent hybrids (hamster and mouse with normal and Sandhoff human fibroblasts) indicates a probable synteny between MPI, Hex C, "Hex A fast", and "Hex A-like". "Hex A fast" is probably a man-hamster hybrid enzyme, "Hex A-like" a man-mouse enzyme. Our data agree with the model of Ropers and Schwantes (Hex C = (alphaalpha)n; Hex A = (alphabeta)n; Hex B = (betabeta)n). Probably Hex A-fast = (alphabeta')n with hamster Hex B' = (beta'beta')n; and Hex A-like = (alphabeta1)n with mouse Hex B1 = (beta1beta1)n; and probably n = 2 according to the tetrameric structure model of Tallman et al. (1974). 3. As an explanation of the results given by Poenaru et al. (anti Hex A reacts with Hex A and Hex B but not with Hex C) we propose the existence of a compound antigen (alphabeta) for Hex A. Anti Hex A specific = anti (alphabeta); anti Hex A non-specific = anti Hex B = anti B, anti alpha being absent or negligible. 4. In our opinion, the Tay-Sachs mutation opposes the alphaB association while the alphaalpha association is possible at a low rate or unstable; it is thus possible to observe Hex C in certain conditions, e.g. in foetal brain. 5. We present a discussion about the genetic control of hexosaminidases, GM2 gangliosidosis, and the possible localization of the different mutations in the variants.

Tay-Sachs' and Sandhoff's diseases: the assignment of genes for hexosaminidase A and B to individual human chromosomes

The techniques of somatic cell genetics have been used to establish the linkage relationships of loci coding for two forms (A and B) of hexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30; 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucoside acetamidodeoxyglucohydrolase) and to determine whether a structural relationship exists between these forms. In a series of human-mouse hybrid cell lines, hexosaminidase A and B segregated independently. Our results and those reported by other investigators are used to analyze the proposed structural models for hexosaminidase. We have also been able to establish a syntenic relationship between the gene locus responsible for the expression of hexosaminidase A and those responsible for mannosephosphate isomerase and pyruvate kinase-3 and to assign the gene for hexosaminidase B to chromosome 5 in man. There is thus a linkage between specific human autosomes and enzymes implicated in the production of lipid storage diseases.