In vitro mutagenesis helps to unravel the biological consequences of aspartylglucosaminuria mutation

A new horizon in the phosphorylated sites of AGA: the structural impact of C163S mutation in aspartylglucosaminuria through molecular dynamics simulation

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by insufficient aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) activity leading to chronic neurodegeneration. We utilized the PhosphoSitePlus tool to identify the AGA protein's phosphorylation sites. The phosphorylation was induced on the specific residue of the three-dimensional AGA protein, and the structural changes upon phosphorylation were studied via molecular dynamics simulation. Furthermore, the structural behaviour of C163S mutation and C163S mutation with adjacent phosphorylation was investigated. We have examined the structural impact of phosphorylated forms and C163S mutation in AGA. Molecular dynamics simulations (200 ns) exposed patterns of deviation, fluctuation, and change in compactness of Y178 phosphorylated AGA protein (Y178-p), T215 phosphorylated AGA protein (T215-p), T324 phosphorylated AGA protein (T324-p), C163S mutant AGA protein (C163S), and C163S mutation with Y178 phosphorylated AGA protein (C163S-Y178-p). Y178-p, T215-p, and C163S mutation demonstrated an increase in intramolecular hydrogen bonds, leading to greater compactness of the AGA forms. Principle component analysis (PCA) and Gibbs free energy of the phosphorylated/C163S mutation structures exhibit transition in motion/orientation than Wild type (WT). T215-p may be more dominant among these than the other studied phosphorylated forms. It might contribute to hydrolyzing L-asparagine functioning as an asparaginase, thereby regulating neurotransmitter activity. This study revealed structural insights into the phosphorylation of Y178, T215, and T324 in AGA protein. Additionally, it exposed the structural changes of the C163S mutation and C163S-Y178-p of AGA protein. This research will shed light on a better understanding of AGA's phosphorylated mechanism.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Validation of Aspartylglucosaminidase Activity Assay for Human Serum Samples: Establishment of a Biomarker for Diagnostics and Clinical Studies

Novel treatment strategies are emerging for rare, genetic diseases, resulting in clinical trials that require adequate biomarkers for the assessment of the treatment effect. For enzyme defects, biomarkers that can be assessed from patient serum, such as enzyme activity, are highly useful, but the activity assays need to be properly validated to ensure a precise, quantitative measurement. Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of the lysosomal hydrolase aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA). We have here established and validated a fluorometric AGA activity assay for human serum samples from healthy donors and AGU patients. We show that the validated AGA activity assay is suitable for the assessment of AGA activity in the serum of healthy donors and AGU patients, and it can be used for diagnostics of AGU and, potentially, for following a treatment effect.

A deep redox proteome profiling workflow and its application to skeletal muscle of a Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy model

Perturbation to the redox state accompanies many diseases and its effects are viewed through oxidation of biomolecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. The thiol groups of protein cysteine residues undergo an array of redox post-translational modifications (PTMs) that are important for regulation of protein and pathway function. To better understand what proteins are redox regulated following a perturbation, it is important to be able to comprehensively profile protein thiol oxidation at the proteome level. Herein, we report a deep redox proteome profiling workflow and demonstrate its application in measuring the changes in thiol oxidation along with global protein expression in skeletal muscle from mdx mice, a model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). In-depth coverage of the thiol proteome was achieved with >18,000 Cys sites from 5,608 proteins in muscle being quantified. Compared to the control group, mdx mice exhibit markedly increased thiol oxidation, where a ∼2% shift in the median oxidation occupancy was observed. Pathway analysis for the redox data revealed that coagulation system and immune-related pathways were among the most susceptible to increased thiol oxidation in mdx mice, whereas protein abundance changes were more enriched in pathways associated with bioenergetics. This study illustrates the importance of deep redox profiling in gaining greater insight into oxidative stress regulation and pathways/processes that are perturbed in an oxidizing environment.

The T99K variant of glycosylasparaginase shows a new structural mechanism of the genetic disease aspartylglucosaminuria

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is an inherited disease caused by mutations in a lysosomal amidase called aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) or glycosylasparaginase (GA). This disorder results in an accumulation of glycoasparagines in the lysosomes of virtually all cell types, with severe clinical symptoms affecting the central nervous system, skeletal abnormalities, and connective tissue lesions. GA is synthesized as a single-chain precursor that requires an intramolecular autoprocessing to form a mature amidase. Previously, we showed that a Canadian AGU mutation disrupts this obligatory intramolecular autoprocessing with the enzyme trapped as an inactive precursor. Here, we report biochemical and structural characterization of a model enzyme corresponding to a new American AGU allele, the T99K variant. Unlike other variants with known 3D structures, this T99K model enzyme still has autoprocessing capacity to generate a mature form. However, its amidase activity to digest glycoasparagines remains low, consistent with its association with AGU. We have determined a 1.5-Å-resolution structure of this new AGU model enzyme and built an enzyme-substrate complex to provide a structural basis to analyze the negative effects of the T99K point mutation on K_M and k_cat of the amidase. It appears that a "molecular clamp" capable of fixing local disorders at the dimer interface might be able to rescue the deficiency of this new AGU variant.

Biochemical and structural insights into an allelic variant causing the lysosomal storage disorder - aspartylglucosaminuria

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by defects of the hydrolase glycosylasparaginase (GA). Previously, we showed that a Canadian AGU mutation disrupts an obligatory intramolecular autoprocessing with the enzyme trapped as an inactive precursor. Here, we report biochemical and structural characterizations of a model enzyme corresponding to a Finnish AGU allele, the T234I variant. Unlike the Canadian counterpart, the Finnish variant is capable of a slow autoprocessing to generate detectible hydrolyzation activity of the natural substrate of GA. We have determined a 1.6 Å-resolution structure of the Finnish AGU model and built an enzyme-substrate complex to provide a structural basis for analyzing the negative effects of the point mutation on K_M and k_cat of the mature enzyme.

ENZYME

Glycosylasparaginase or aspartylglucosaminidase, EC3.5.1.26.

Amlexanox provides a potential therapy for nonsense mutations in the lysosomal storage disorder Aspartylglucosaminuria

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the gene for aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA). This enzyme participates in glycoprotein degradation in lysosomes. AGU results in progressive mental retardation, and no curative therapy is currently available. We have here characterized the consequences of AGA gene mutations in a compound heterozygous patient who exhibits a missense mutation producing a Ser72Pro substitution in one allele, and a nonsense mutation Trp168X in the other. Ser72 is not a catalytic residue, but is required for the stabilization of the active site conformation. Thus, Ser72Pro exchange impairs the autocatalytic activation of the AGA precursor, and results in a considerable reduction of the enzyme activity and in altered AGA precursor processing. Betaine, which can partially rescue the AGA activity in AGU patients carrying certain missense mutations, turned out to be ineffective in the case of Ser72Pro substitution. The Trp168X nonsense allele results in complete lack of AGA polypeptide due to nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) of the mRNA. Amlexanox, which inhibits NMD and causes a translational read-through, facilitated the synthesis of a full-length, functional AGA protein from the nonsense allele. This could be demonstrated as presence of the AGA polypeptide and increased enzyme activity upon Amlexanox treatment. Furthermore, in the Ser72Pro/Trp168X expressing cells, Amlexanox induced a synergistic increase in AGA activity and polypeptide processing due to enhanced processing of the Ser72Pro polypeptide. Our data show for the first time that Amlexanox might provide a valid therapy for AGU.

Functional Analysis of the Ser149/Thr149 Variants of Human Aspartylglucosaminidase and Optimization of the Coding Sequence for Protein Production

Aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) is a lysosomal hydrolase that participates in the breakdown of glycoproteins. Defects in the AGA gene result in a lysosomal storage disorder, aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU), that manifests mainly as progressive mental retardation. A number of AGU missense mutations have been identified that result in reduced AGA activity. Human variants that contain either Ser or Thr in position 149 have been described, but it is unknown if this affects AGA processing or activity. Here, we have directly compared the Ser149/Thr149 variants of AGA and show that they do not differ in terms of relative specific activity or processing. Therefore, Thr149 AGA, which is the rare variant, can be considered as a neutral or benign variant. Furthermore, we have here produced codon-optimized versions of these two variants and show that they are expressed at significantly higher levels than AGA with the natural codon-usage. Since optimal AGA expression is of vital importance for both gene therapy and enzyme replacement, our data suggest that use of codon-optimized AGA may be beneficial for these therapy options.

Identification of Small Molecule Compounds for Pharmacological Chaperone Therapy of Aspartylglucosaminuria

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a lysosomal storage disorder that is caused by genetic deficiency of the enzyme aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) which is involved in glycoprotein degradation. AGU is a progressive disorder that results in severe mental retardation in early adulthood. No curative therapy is currently available for AGU. We have here characterized the consequences of a novel AGU mutation that results in Thr122Lys exchange in AGA, and compared this mutant form to one carrying the worldwide most common AGU mutation, AGU-Fin. We show that T122K mutated AGA is expressed in normal amounts and localized in lysosomes, but exhibits low AGA activity due to impaired processing of the precursor molecule into subunits. Coexpression of T122K with wildtype AGA results in processing of the precursor into subunits, implicating that the mutation causes a local misfolding that prevents the precursor from becoming processed. Similar data were obtained for the AGU-Fin mutant polypeptide. We have here also identified small chemical compounds that function as chemical or pharmacological chaperones for the mutant AGA. Treatment of patient fibroblasts with these compounds results in increased AGA activity and processing, implicating that these substances may be suitable for chaperone mediated therapy for AGU.

Aspartylglucosaminuria: unusual neonatal presentation in Qatari twins with a novel aspartylglucosaminidase gene mutation and 3 new cases in a Turkish family

Aspartylglucosaminuria is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder leading early to a progressive intellectual disability. Monozygous Qatari twins presented with an unusual perinatal manifestation characterized by severe muscular hypotonia, scarce spontaneous movements, multiple contractures, and respiratory insufficiency. Biochemical investigations suggested aspartylglucosaminuria, and a novel homozygous mutation c.439T>C (p.S147P) was found in the aspartylglucosaminidase gene. However, it cannot be excluded that the unusual neonatal presentation is due to an additional autosomal recessive disease in this multiply consanguineous family. The classical aspartylglucosaminuria phenotype (progressive speech delay, psychomotor retardation, and behavioral abnormalities) was observed in 3 Turkish siblings. Although aspartylglucosaminuria was suspected early, the definite diagnosis was not confirmed until the age of 18 years. A novel homozygous mutation c.346C>T (p.R116W) was found. These 5 cases emphasize that aspartylglucosaminuria is panethnic and may possibly present with prenatal manifestation. Screening for aspartylglucosaminuria should be done in all patients with unexplained psychomotor retardation.

Expression and endocytosis of lysosomal aspartylglucosaminidase in mouse primary neurons

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease that is caused by mutations in the gene encoding for a soluble hydrolase, aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA). In this study, we have used our recently developed mouse model for AGU and analyzed processing, intracellular localization, and endocytosis of recombinant AGA in telencephalic AGU mouse neurons in vitro. The processing steps of AGA were found to be similar to the peripheral cells, but both the accumulation of the inactive precursor molecule and delayed lysosomal processing of the enzyme were detected. AGA was distributed to the cell soma and neuronal processes but was not found in the nerve terminals. Endocytotic capability of cultured telencephalic neurons was comparable to that of fibroblasts, and endocytosis of AGA was blocked by free mannose-6-phosphate (M6P), indicating that uptake of the enzyme was mediated by M6P receptors (M6PRs). Uptake of extracellular AGA was also studied in the tumor-derived cell lines rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) and mouse neuroblastoma cells (N18), which both endocytosed AGA poorly as compared with cultured primary neurons. Expression of cation-independent M6PRs (CI-M6PRs) in different cell lines correlated well with the endocytotic capability of these cells. Although a punctate expression pattern of CI-M6PRs was found in fibroblasts and cultured primary neurons, the expression was beyond the detection limit in PC12 and N18 cells. This indicates that PC12 and N18 are not feasible cell lines to describe neuronal uptake of mannose-6-phosphate-tagged proteins. This in vitro data will form an important basis for the brain-targeted therapy of AGU.

Activation and oligomerization of aspartylglucosaminidase

Secretory, membrane, and lysosomal proteins undergo covalent modifications and acquire their secondary and tertiary structure in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In order to pass the ER quality control system and become transported to their final destinations, many of them are also assembled into oligomers. We have recently determined the three-dimensional structure of lysosomal aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA), which belongs to a newly discovered family of homologous amidohydrolases, the N-terminal nucleophile hydrolases. Members of this protein family are activated from an inactive precursor molecule by an autocatalytic proteolytic processing event whose exact mechanism has not been thoroughly determined. Here we have characterized in more detail the initial events in the ER required for the formation of active AGA enzyme using transient expression of polypeptides carrying targeted amino acid substitutions. We show that His124 at an interface between two heterodimers of AGA is crucial for the thermodynamically stable oligomeric structure of AGA. Furthermore, the side chain of Thr206 is essential both for the proteolytic activation and enzymatic activity of AGA. Finally, the proper geometry of the residues His204-Asp205 seems to be crucial for the activation of AGA precursor polypeptides. We propose here a reaction mechanism for the activation of AGA which could be valid for homologous enzymes as well.

Primary folding of aspartylglucosaminidase. Significance of disulfide bridges and evidence of early multimerization

Aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) is a lysosomal enzyme involved in the degradation of N-linked glycoproteins in lysosomes. AGA is synthesized as an inactive precursor molecule, which is rapidly activated in the endoplasmic reticulum by a proteolytic cleavage into alpha- and beta-subunits. We have recently determined the three-dimensional structure of AGA and shown that it is a globular molecule with a heterotetrameric (alphabeta)2 structure. On the basis of structural and functional analyses, AGA seems to be the first mammalian protein belonging to a newly described protein family, the N-terminal nucleophile hydrolases. Because the activation of the prokaryotic members of the N-terminal nucleophile hydrolase family seems to be triggered by the assembly of the subunits, we have studied the initial folding and oligomerization of AGA and provide evidence that dimerization of two precursor molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum is a prerequisite for the activation of AGA. To gain further information on the structural determinants influencing the early folding of AGA, we used site-specific mutagenesis of cysteine residues to define the role of intrachain disulfide bridges in the folding and activation of the enzyme. The N-terminal disulfide bridges in both the alpha- and beta-subunits seem to have only a stabilizing role, whereas the C-terminal disulfide bridge in both subunits evidently plays an important role in the early folding and activation of AGA.

Three-dimensional structure of human lysosomal aspartylglucosaminidase

The high resolution crystal structure of human lysosomal aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) has been determined. This lysosomal enzyme is synthesized as a single polypeptide precursor, which is immediately post-translationally cleaved into alpha- and beta-subunits. Two alpha- and beta-chains are found to pack together forming the final heterotetrameric structure. The catalytically essential residue, the N-terminal threonine of the beta-chain is situated in the deep pocket of the funnel-shaped active site. On the basis of the structure of the enzyme-product complex we present a catalytic mechanism for this lysosomal enzyme with an exceptionally high pH optimum. The three-dimensional structure also allows the prediction of the structural consequences of human mutations resulting in aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU), a lysosomal storage disease.

Correction of deficient enzyme activity in a lysosomal storage disease, aspartylglucosaminuria, by enzyme replacement and retroviral gene transfer

The ability of lysosomal enzymes to be secreted and subsequently captured by adjacent cells provides an excellent basis for investigating different therapy strategies in lysosomal storage disorders. Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is caused by deficiency of aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) leading to interruption of the ordered breakdown of glycoproteins in lysosomes. As a consequence of the disturbed glycoprotein catabolism, patients with AGU exhibit severe cell dysfunction especially in the central nervous system (CNS). The uniform phenotype observed in these patients will make effective evaluation of treatment trials feasible in future. Here we have used fibroblasts and lymphoblasts from AGU patients and murine neural cell lines as targets to evaluate in vitro the feasibility of enzyme replacement and gene therapy in the treatment of this disorder. Complete correction of the enzyme deficiency was obtained both with recombinant AGA enzyme purified from CHO-K1 cells and with retrovirus-mediated transfer of the AGA gene. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate enzyme correction by cell-to-cell interaction of transduced and nontransduced cells.

Intracellular sorting of aspartylglucosaminidase: the role of N-linked oligosaccharides and evidence of Man-6-P-independent lysosomal targeting

Aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA, E.C. 3.5.1.26) is a soluble lysosomal hydrolase that participates in the degradation of glycoproteins. Here we analyzed the special features in the intracellular targeting of this dimeric amidohydrolase, especially the role of N-linked sugars and their phosphorylation in transport and activity of heterodimeric aspartylglucosaminidase, using in vitro mutagenesis and transient expression of mutant polypeptides in COS cells. The single N-glycosylation sites of both the alpha and beta subunits were destroyed individually and in combination. Just one remaining N-glycosylation site on either subunit was sufficient for normal processing into subunits and lysosomal transport, but the totally nonglycosylated enzyme, although active and processed into subunits, was not transported into lysosomes and became trapped in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or secreted. The intracellular targeting of AGA was partially disturbed by the lack of glycosylation in the beta subunit, resulting in accumulation of dimeric, active polypeptides in the ER, whereas lack of oligosaccharides in the alpha subunit did not affect the intracellular targeting of AGA. N-glycans in the beta subunit were found to be essential for the long-term stability of the polypeptide in the cell, but not for initial folding or subunit processing into the active dimeric molecule. Both subunits have two glycosylation isoforms. Both forms of the alpha subunit were found to be phosphorylated, whereas only one of the two glycosylation isoforms of the beta subunit is phosphorylated. The mutant enzyme with nonglycosylated alpha subunit and nonphosphorylated beta subunit is transported into lysosomes, suggesting that AGA is capable of using an alternative, mannose-6-phosphate receptor-independent routing into lysosomes.

Immediate interaction between the nascent subunits and two conserved amino acids Trp34 and Thr206 are needed for the catalytic activity of aspartylglucosaminidase

Aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA, EC 3.5.1.26) is a dimeric lysosomal hydrolase involved in the degradation of glycoproteins. The synthesized precursor polypeptide of AGA is rapidly activated in the endoplasmic reticulum by proteolysis into two subunits. Expression of the alpha- and beta-subunits of AGA in separate cDNA constructs showed that independently folded subunits totally lack enzyme activity, and even when co-expressed in vitro they fail to produce an active heterodimer of the enzyme. Both of the subunits are required for the enzyme activity, and the immediate interaction of the subunits in the endoplasmic reticulum is necessary for the correct folding of the dimeric enzyme molecule. The specific amino acid residues essential for the active site of the AGA enzyme were further analyzed by site-directed mutagenesis and in vitro expression of mutagenized constructs. Replacement of Thr206, the most amino-terminal residue of the beta-subunit, with Ser resulted in a complete loss of enzyme activity without influencing intracellular processing or transport of the mutant polypeptide to the lysosomes. Analogously, replacement of the most amino-terminal tryptophan, Trp34 with Phe or Ser in the alpha-subunit, resulted in a totally inactive enzyme without influencing the intracellular processing or stability of the polypeptide. These results suggest that the catalytic center of this amidase is formed by the interaction of the amino-terminal parts of two subunits and requires both Trp34 in the alpha-subunit and Thr206 in the beta-subunit.

Identification of a novel mutation causing aspartylglucosaminuria reveals a mutation hotspot region in the aspartylglucosaminidase gene

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a recessively inherited metabolic disorder caused by the deficiency of a lysosomal enzyme, aspartylglucosaminidase. The worldwide most common mutation causing the disease is the AGUFin, enriched in Finland; all the other known AGU mutations are family-specific. We developed exon-specific primers to facilitate mutation search directly from the genomic DNA and identified a novel mutation, designated AGUFin minor, in seven Finnish AGUFin compound heterozygote patients. This deletion/frameshift mutation creates a premature translational termination codon and was shown to result in severely reduced transcript levels as quantified by the solid-phase minisequenching method. Genealogical data on this novel mutation suggest its relatively recent introduction into the population. The AGU mutations identified so far have been reported to be evenly distributed throughout the 1 kb coding region of the AGA cDNA. We identified a mutation hotspot region of 40 bp within the 12.5 kb AGA gene containing two previously identified mutations and the novel AGUFin minor mutation characterized in this study.

Detection of point mutations in human genes by the solid-phase minisequencing method

The increased understanding of the molecular defects causing human genetic diseases has created a need for diagnostic methods to detect these defects at the DNA level. We have developed a new method, denoted solid-phase minisequencing, for the detection of previously known point mutations. Because of its convenient format, the method is well suited for routine use in the clinical laboratory. We have applied it for diagnosis and identification of carriers of the recessively inherited disease aspartylglucosaminura, for diagnosis of dominantly inherited amyloidosis of the Finnish type and for detecting polymorphic nucleotides of the genome. The solid-phase minisequencing method allows accurate and sensitive quantitation of two sequences which differ from each other by one nucleotide and are present as a mixture in a sample. This feature of the method is an advantage in the diagnosis of mitochondrial disorders caused by heteroplasmic point mutations and for the detection of minimal residual cells carrying somatic point mutations in samples from patients with myeloid malignancies.

Aspartylglucosaminuria in northern Norway: a molecular and genealogical study

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU, McKusick 208400) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder. Ninety percent of all patients are from Finland and only sporadic cases have been reported from elsewhere. In northern Norway, however, nine patients from seven families have been diagnosed with AGU. All these Norwegian patients were homozygous for the most prevalent Finnish AGU mutation (AGUFin) and show the polymorphism uniquely associated with AGUFin in Finland. Genealogical investigation of nine parents proved Finnish ancestry in all pedigrees. Therefore, AGU in Norway most likely resulted from immigration of Finnish carriers. These Finnish immigrants originated mostly from the Tornio valley area in northern Finland in a continuous immigration movement from 1700 to 1900. The majority settled in the western part of northern Norway, leading to a "cluster" of AGU in that particular area. The Finnish immigrants intermixed considerably with Lapps and these two ethnic origins should thus be considered as high risk groups for AGUFin in northern Norway.

Dissection of the molecular consequences of a double mutation causing a human lysosomal disease

Aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) is a lysosomal enzyme, the deficiency in which leads to human storage disease aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU). AGUFin is the most common AGU mutation in the world and is found in 98% of AGU alleles in Finland, where the population displays enrichment of the disease allele. The AGUFin allele actually contains a double mutation, both individual mutations resulting in amino acid substitutions: Arg-161-->Gln and Cys-163-->Ser. The separate consequences of these two amino acid substitutions for the intracellular processing of the AGA polypeptides were analyzed using a stable expression of mutant polypeptides in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The synthesized polypeptides were monitored by metabolic labeling, followed by immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and immunoelectron microscopy. The Arg-161-->Gln substitution did not affect the intracellular processing or transport of AGA and the fully active enzyme was correctly targeted to lysosomes. The Cys-163-->Ser substitution prevented the early proteolytic cleavage required for the activation of the precursor AGA polypeptide and the inactive enzyme was accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The precursors of the translation products of the AGUFin double mutant and the Cys-163-->Ser mutant were also observed in the culture medium. When cells expressing the normal AGA or AGUFin double mutation were treated with DTT to prevent the formation of disulfide bonds, both normal and mutated AGA polypeptides remained in the inactive precursor form and were not secreted into the medium. These results indicate that correct initial folding is essential for the proteolytic activation of AGA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dissection of the molecular pathology of aspartylglucosaminuria provides the basis for DNA diagnostics and future therapeutic interventions

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is exceptional among lysosomal storage diseases since it represents the only known amidase deficiency in man, being caused by an inadequate function of aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA, E.C. 3.5.1.26.). This amidase is essential in one of the final steps in the ordered breakdown of glycoproteins since it cleaves Asn from the residual N-acetylglucosamines (for reviews see 1, 2). The deficiency of the enzyme activity results in the typical lysosomal accumulation of the abnormal degradation products (mainly aspartylglucosamine, 2-acetamido-1-beta-L-aspartamido-1,2-dideoxyglucose) in patients' cells and tissues. The diagnosis of AGU has so far been based on the detection of abnormal metabolites in urine and decreased enzyme activity in the cultured fibroblasts or isolated lymphocytes. Prenatal diagnosis has been possible by demonstrating the deficient enzyme activity of amniocytes or chorion villus biopsies. Identification of carriers has been difficult and unreliable due to the high individual variation in AGA activity and prerequisite for isolated blood lymphocytes. During the past few years we have purified the human enzyme into homogeneity, isolated the full length cDNA and characterized the majority of AGU mutations in this cDNA. This work facilitated the development of a reliable DNA diagnostic test suitable also for large scale carrier screening. The molecular pathology of the most common AGU mutation was unravelled, this being a prerequisite for the oncoming developments for therapy. Although AGU is a relatively rare disease, characterization of the AGU mutations and their cellular consequences have revealed highly interesting new phenomena in the biosynthesis of this lysosomal enzyme, some of which carry general biological significance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Human aspartylglucosaminidase. A biochemical and immunocytochemical characterization of the enzyme in normal and aspartylglucosaminuria fibroblasts

Aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA, EC 3.5.1.26) is an essential enzyme in the degradation of asparagine-linked glycoproteins. In man, deficient activity of this enzyme leads to aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU), a recessively inherited lysosomal storage disease. Here we used affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies against the native AGA and its denatured subunits to establish the molecular structure and intracellular location of the enzyme in normal and AGU fibroblasts. Inactivation of the enzyme was found to coincide with the dissociation of the heterodimeric enzyme complex into subunits. Although the subunits were not linked by covalent forces, the intrapolypeptide disulphide bridges were found to be essential for the normal function of AGA. AGA was localized into lysosomes in control fibroblasts by both immunofluorescence microscopy and immuno-electron microscopy, whereas in AGU cells the location of antigen was different, suggesting that, owing to the mutation, a missing disulphide bridge, most of the enzyme molecules get retarded in the cis-Golgi region and most probably face intracellular degradation.

Quantitative determination of rare mRNA species by PCR and solid-phase minisequencing

We present a new method for quantification of mRNA, in which the limitations of the current quantitative PCR methods can be overcome. A known amount of a synthetic RNA standard differing from the mRNA to be quantified by a single nucleotide is reverse-transcribed and amplified together with the mRNA template using a biotinylated primer. The biotinylated PCR product is immobilized on a streptavidin-coated solid support and denatured. The ratio between the two amplified sequences is determined by separate "mini-sequencing" reactions, in which a detection step primer annealing immediately adjacent to the site of the variable nucleotide is elongated by a single labeled dNTP complementary to the nucleotide at the variable site. The ratio between the incorporated labels accurately determines the ratio between the two sequences in the original RNA sample. We applied this method to quantify the mRNA of human aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) in tissues and cultured cells. AGA is a lysosomal enzyme participating in the degradation of glycoproteins. A mutation in the AGA gene abolishes the enzyme activity and leads to aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU), a recessively inherited metabolic disorder. The mRNA quantification revealed that the normal and mutant genes are expressed at similar levels in kidney, liver, and cultured fibroblast, whereas the amount of AGA mRNA in normal placenta and brain is significantly higher than that found in the corresponding samples from AGU patients. The method presented here is generally applicable for PCR-based quantification of rare mRNAs and DNA as well.

Mutations causing aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU): a lysosomal accumulation disease

This article provides a review of the mutations reported so far in the lysosomal storage disease aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU). The clinical symptoms, biochemical findings, and diagnostic possibilities of the disease are introduced. The prevalence and biological consequences of the found mutations are then described, as well as the availability of a new rapid DNA test suitable for carrier screening. This test will be especially applicable in the genetically isolated Finnish population, where the carrier frequency of AGU was found to be as high as 1:36. Finally, future prospects dealing with the foreseeable therapeutic interventions of the disease are discussed.

Spectrum of mutations in aspartylglucosaminuria

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is an inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of aspartylglucosaminidase. We have earlier reported a single missense mutation (Cys163----Ser) to be responsible for 98% of the AGU alleles in the isolated Finnish population, which contains about 90% of the reported AGU patients. Here we describe the spectrum of 10 AGU mutations found in unrelated patients of non-Finnish origin. Since 11 out of 12 AGU patients were homozygotes, consanguinity has to be a common denominator in most AGU families. The mutations were distributed over the entire coding region of the aspartylglucosaminidase cDNA, except in the carboxyl-terminal 17-kDa subunit in which they were clustered within a 46-amino acid region. Based on the character of the mutations, most of them are prone to affect the folding and stability and not to directly affect the active site of the aspartylglucosaminidase enzyme.