Formation of lipid-linked oligosaccharides by MOPC 315 plasmacytoma cells. Decreased synthesis by a nonsecretory variant

Nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 exerts a negative effect on starch accumulation and growth in rice seedlings under high temperature and CO2 concentration conditions

Nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (NPP) is a widely distributed enzymatic activity occurring in both plants and mammals that catalyzes the hydrolytic breakdown of the pyrophosphate and phosphodiester bonds of a number of nucleotides. Unlike mammalian NPPs, the physiological function of plant NPPs remains largely unknown. Using a complete rice NPP1-encoding cDNA as a probe, in this work we have screened a rice shoot cDNA library and obtained complete cDNAs corresponding to six NPP genes (NPP1-NPP6). As a first step to clarify the role of NPPs, recombinant NPP1, NPP2 and NPP6 were purified from transgenic rice cells constitutively expressing NPP1, NPP2 and NPP6, respectively, and their enzymatic properties were characterized. NPP1 and NPP6 exhibited hydrolytic activities toward ATP, UDP-glucose and the starch precursor molecule, ADP-glucose, whereas NPP2 did not recognize nucleotide sugars as substrates, but hydrolyzed UDP, ADP and adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate. To gain insight into the physiological function of rice NPP1, an npp1 knockout mutant was characterized. The ADP-glucose hydrolytic activities in shoots of npp1 rice seedlings were 8% of those of the wild type (WT), thus indicating that NPP1 is a major determinant of ADP-glucose hydrolytic activity in rice shoots. Importantly, when seedlings were cultured at 160 Pa CO2 under a 28°C/23°C (12 h light/12 h dark) regime, npp1 shoots and roots were larger than those of wild-type (WT) seedlings. Furthermore, the starch content in the npp1 shoots was higher than that of WT shoots. Growth and starch accumulation were also enhanced under an atmospheric CO2 concentration (40 Pa) when plants were cultured under a 33°C/28°C regime. The overall data strongly indicate that NPP1 exerts a negative effect on plant growth and starch accumulation in shoots, especially under high CO2 concentration and high temperature conditions.

Rice plastidial N-glycosylated nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase is transported from the ER-golgi to the chloroplast through the secretory pathway

A nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (NPP) activity that catalyzes the hydrolytic breakdown of ADP-glucose (ADPG) has been shown to occur in the plastidial compartment of both mono- and dicotyledonous plants. To learn more about this enzyme, we purified two NPPs from rice (Oryza sativa) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings. Both enzymes are glycosylated, since they bind to concanavalin A, stain with periodic acid-Schiff reagent, and are digested by Endo-H. A complete rice NPP cDNA, designated as NPP1, was isolated, characterized, and overexpressed in transgenic plants displaying high ADPG hydrolytic activity. Databank searches revealed that NPP1 belongs to a functionally divergent group of plant nucleotide hydrolases. NPP1 contains numerous N-glycosylation sites and a cleavable hydrophobic signal sequence that does not match with the N-terminal part of the mature protein. Both immunocytochemical analyses and confocal fluorescence microscopy of rice cells expressing NPP1 fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) revealed that NPP1-GFP occurs in the plastidial compartment. Brefeldin A treatment of NPP1-GFP-expressing cells prevented NPP1-GFP accumulation in the chloroplasts. Endo-H digestibility studies revealed that both NPP1 and NPP1-GFP in the chloroplast are glycosylated. Collectively, these data demonstrate the trafficking of glycosylated proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi system to the chloroplast in higher plants.

Physiologic and pathologic functions of the NPP nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family focusing on NPP1 in calcification

The catabolism of ATP and other nucleotides participates partly in the important function of nucleotide salvage by activated cells and also in removal or de novo generation of compounds including ATP, ADP, and adenosine that stimulate purinergic signaling. Seven nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase NPP family members have been identified to date. These isoenzymes, related by up conservation of catalytic domains and certain other modular domains, exert generally non-redundant functions via distinctions in substrates and/or cellular localization. But they share the capacity to hydrolyze phosphodiester or pyrophosphate bonds, though generally acting on distinct substrates that include nucleoside triphosphates, lysophospholipids and choline phosphate esters. PP_i generation from nucleoside triphosphates, catalyzed by NPP1 in tissues including cartilage, bone, and artery media smooth muscle cells, supports normal tissue extracellular PP_i levels. Balance in PP_i generation relative to PP_i degradation by pyrophosphatases holds extracellular PP_i levels in check. Moreover, physiologic levels of extracellular PP_i suppress hydroxyapatite crystal growth, but concurrently providing a reservoir for generation of pro-mineralizing P_i. Extracellular PP_i levels must be supported by cells in mineralization-competent tissues to prevent pathologic calcification. This support mechanism becomes dysregulated in aging cartilage, where extracellular PP_i excess, mediated in part by upregulated NPP1 expression stimulates calcification. PP_i generated by NPP1modulates not only hydroxyapatite crystal growth but also chondrogenesis and expression of the mineralization regulator osteopontin. This review pays particular attention to the role of NPP1-catalyzed PP_i generation in the pathogenesis of certain disorders associated with pathologic calcification.

Reappraisal of the currently prevailing model of starch biosynthesis in photosynthetic tissues: a proposal involving the cytosolic production of ADP-glucose by sucrose synthase and occurrence of cyclic turnover of starch in the chloroplast

A vast amount of information has accumulated which supports the view that sucrose and starch are end-products of two segregated, yet highly interconnected, gluconeogenic pathways taking place in the cytosol and chloroplast, respectively. However, several lines of experimental evidences indicate that, essentially identical to the case of heterotrophic tissues, starch formation in the photosynthetic tissues may involve the direct import to the chloroplast of cytosolic hexose (C6) units derived from the sucrose breakdown. This evidence is consistent with the idea that synthesis of a sizable pool of ADP-glucose takes place in the cytosol by means of sucrose synthase whereas, basically in agreement with recent investigations dealing with glycogen biosynthesis in bacteria and animals, chloroplastic phosphoglucomutase and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase are most likely playing a role in channelling of glucose units derived from the starch breakdown in the chloroplast, thus making up a regulatory starch turnover cycle. According to this new view, we propose that starch production in the chloroplast is the result of a flexible and dynamic mechanism wherein both catabolic and anabolic reactions take place simultaneously in a highly interactive manner. Starch is seen as an intermediate component of a cyclic gluconeogenic pathway which, in turn, is connected with other metabolic pathways. The possible importance of metabolic turnover as a way to control starch production is exemplified with the recently discovered ADP-glucose pyrophosphatase, an enzyme likely having a dual role in controlling levels of ADP-glucose linked to starch biosynthesis and diverting carbon flow towards other metabolic pathways.

Adenosine diphosphate sugar pyrophosphatase prevents glycogen biosynthesis in Escherichia coli

An adenosine diphosphate sugar pyrophosphatase (ASPPase, EC ) has been characterized by using Escherichia coli. This enzyme, whose activities in the cell are inversely correlated with the intracellular glycogen content and the glucose concentration in the culture medium, hydrolyzes ADP-glucose, the precursor molecule of glycogen biosynthesis. ASPPase was purified to apparent homogeneity (over 3,000-fold), and sequence analyses revealed that it is a member of the ubiquitously distributed group of nucleotide pyrophosphatases designated as "nudix" hydrolases. Insertional mutagenesis experiments leading to the inactivation of the ASPPase encoding gene, aspP, produced cells with marginally low enzymatic activities and higher glycogen content than wild-type bacteria. aspP was cloned into an expression vector and introduced into E. coli. Transformed cells were shown to contain a dramatically reduced amount of glycogen, as compared with the untransformed bacteria. No pleiotropic changes in the bacterial growth occurred in both the aspP-overexpressing and aspP-deficient strains. The overall results pinpoint the reaction catalyzed by ASPPase as a potential step of regulating glycogen biosynthesis in E. coli.

Nucleotide pyrophosphatases/phosphodiesterases on the move

Nucleotide pyrophosphatases/phosphodiesterases (NPPs) release nucleoside 5'-monophosphates from nucleotides and their derivatives. They exist both as membrane proteins, with an extracellular active site, and as soluble proteins in body fluids. The only well-characterized NPPs are the mammalian ecto-enzymes NPP1 (PC-1), NPP2 (autotaxin) and NPP3 (B10; gp130(RB13-6)). These are modular proteins consisting of a short N-terminal intracellular domain, a single transmembrane domain, two somatomedin-B-like domains, a catalytic domain, and a C-terminal nuclease-like domain. The catalytic domain of NPPs is conserved from prokaryotes to mammals and shows remarkable structural and catalytic similarities with the catalytic domain of other phospho-/sulfo-coordinating enzymes such as alkaline phosphatases. Hydrolysis of pyrophosphate/phosphodiester bonds by NPPs occurs via a nucleotidylated threonine. NPPs are also known to auto(de)phosphorylate this active-site threonine, a process accounted for by an intrinsic phosphatase activity, with the phosphorylated enzyme representing the catalytic intermediate of the phosphatase reaction. NPP1-3 have been implicated in various processes, including bone mineralization, signaling by insulin and by nucleotides, and the differentiation and motility of cells. While it has been established that most of these biological effects of NPPs require a functional catalytic site, their physiological substrates remain to be identified.

Two isoforms of a nucleotide-sugar pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase from barley leaves (Hordeum vulgare L.) are distinct oligomers of HvGLP1, a germin-like protein

Two isoforms of ADPglucose pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (AGPPase) have been characterized using barley leaves (Hordeum vulgare L.). Whilst one of the isoforms, designated as soluble AGPPase1 (SAGPPase1), is soluble in low ionic strength buffers, the other, SAGPPase2, is extractable using cell wall hydrolytic enzymes or high salt concentration solutions, thus indicating that it is adventitiously bound to the cell wall. Both AGPPase isoforms are highly resistant to SDS, this characteristic being utilized to purify them to homogeneity after zymographic detection of AGPPase activity in SDS-containing gels. N-terminal and internal amino acid sequencing analyses revealed that both SAGPPase1 and SAGPPase2 are distinct oligomers of the previously designated HvGLP1, which is a member of the ubiquitously distributed group of proteins of unknown function designated as germin-like proteins (GLPs).

Reversal of increased lymphocyte PC-1 activity in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin

BACKGROUND

The plasma cell differentiation antigen (PC-1) is an inhibitor of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity, and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes. Metformin increases peripheral insulin sensitivity and, therefore, we have studied the effect of metformin treatment on lymphocyte PC-1 (ecto-alkaline phosphodiesterase I, APD) in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Basal, concanavalin A (Con A)-, and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated lymphocyte PC-1, aminopeptidase N (APN), and dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV) activities were determined in 16 patients with Type 2 diabetes before and after 3 months of metformin treatment.

RESULTS

Lymphocyte PC-1 in patients with Type 2 diabetes was increased significantly (p<0.001) over control; however, metformin treatment brought its activity in unstimulated and Con A-stimulated lymphocytes to the control level. PMA-stimulated PC-1 in patients with Type 2 diabetes was 17-times higher than in controls, and was reduced to near the control level by 3-month metformin treatment. In Type 2 diabetes, PMA-stimulated ecto-DPP IV was significantly (p<0. 005) increased over control, but was reduced after metformin treatment.

CONCLUSION

This study has shown an increased activity of lymphocyte PC-1 in Type 2 diabetes and its reversal by 3-month metformin treatment, corresponding to the improvement of insulin sensitivity. Data obtained are consistent with a role of PC-1 in insulin resistance and suggest a new mechanism of action for metformin via PC-1 inhibition.

Matrix vesicle plasma cell membrane glycoprotein-1 regulates mineralization by murine osteoblastic MC3T3 cells

A naturally occurring nonsense truncation mutation of the inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi)-generating nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (NTPPPH) PC-1 is associated with spinal and periarticular ligament hyperostosis and cartilage calcification in "tiptoe walking" (ttw) mice. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that PC-1 acts directly in the extracellular matrix to restrain mineralization. Cultured osteoblastic MC3T3 cells expressed PC-1 mRNA and produced hydroxyapatite deposits at 12-14 days. NTPPPH activity increased steadily over 14 days. Transforming growth factor-beta and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 increased PC-1 and NTPPPH in matrix vesicles (MVs). Because PC-1/NTPPPH was regulated in mineralizing MC3T3 cells, we stably transfected or infected cells with recombinant adenovirus, in order to express 2- to 6-fold more PC-1. PC-1/NTPPPH and PPi content increased severalfold in MVs derived from cells transfected with PC-1. Furthermore, MC3T3 cells transfected with PC-1 deposited approximately 80-90% less hydroxyapatite (by weight) than cells transfected with empty plasmid or enzymatically inactive PC-1. ATP-dependent 45Ca precipitation by MVs from cells overexpressing active PC-1 was comparably diminished. Thus, regulation of PC-1 controls the PPi content and function of osteoblast-derived MVs and matrix hydroxyapatite deposition. PC-1 may provide a novel therapeutic target in certain disorders of bone mineralization.

Vicia villosa B4 lectin inhibits nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity toward UDP-GalNAc specifically

Plant seed lectins play a defense role against plant-eating animals. Here, GalNAc-specific Vicia villosa B4 lectin was found to inhibit hydrolysis of UDP-GalNAc by animal nucleotide pyrophosphatases, which are suggested to regulate local levels of nucleotide sugars in cells. Inhibition was marked at low concentrations of UDP-GalNAc, and was reversed largely by the addition of GalNAc to the reaction mixture. In contrast, lectin inhibited enzymatic hydrolysis of other nucleotide sugars, such as UDP-Gal and UDP-GlcNAc, only to a small extent, and GalNAc did not affect such an inhibition. The binding constant of the lectin for UDP-GalNAc was as high as 2.8 x 10(5) M-1 at 4 degrees C, whereas that for GalNAcalpha-1-phosphate was 1.3 x 10(5) M-1. These findings indicate that lectin inhibition of pyrophosphatase activity toward low concentrations of UDP-GalNAc arises mainly from competition between lectin and enzyme molecules for UDP-GalNAc. This type of inhibition was also observed to a lesser extent with GalNAc-specific Wistaria floribunda lectin, but not apparently with GalNAc-specific soybean or Dolichos biflorus lectin. Thus, V. villosa B4 lectin shows unique binding specificity for UDP-GalNAc and has the capacity to modulate UDP-GalNAc metabolism in animal cells.

Expression of the nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase PC-1 is induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and modulated by activation of the protein kinase A and C pathways in osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells

The closely related cytokines bFGF and aFGF regulate the function of bone cells and mineralization. Osteoblasts express PPi-generating nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (NTPPPH)/nucleotide phosphodiesterase I activity. bFGF and aFGF (10 ng/ml) up-regulated NTPPPH in human SaOS-2 and U2OS osteosarcoma cells, which express osteoblast-like features in culture. The induction was selective as alkaline phosphatase activity was down-regulated and specific as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) were not active. Furthermore, IL-1 beta but not IGF-1 inhibited bFGF-induced up-regulation of NTPPPH. The induced NTPPPH remained predominantly associated with cells. bFGF can induce signaling through pathways including protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated transduction. An activator of the PKA pathway (8-bromo cyclic adenosine monophosphate [cAMP]) induced NTPPPH. Furthermore, pretreatment with the PKC activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) (80 nM) markedly increased subsequent NTPPPH induction by both bFGF and cAMP. The PMA effect was associated with morphologic changes characterized by long, thin intercellular extensions. PKC desensitization also potentially contributed to this effect because the PKC inhibitors staurosporine and H-7 enhanced bFGF-induced and cAMP-induced NTPPPH expression in the absence of morphologic changes. We observed that bFGF induced expression of PC-1, a member of the NTPPPH gene family. The majority of NTPPPH activity was depleted by immunoadsorption using a monoclonal antibody to native human PC-1. bFGF- and aFGF-induced production of PC-1/NTPPPH in osteoblastoid cells may contribute to the effects of FGFs on bone metabolism.

Receptor-mediated induction of human glomerular epithelial cell alkaline phosphodiesterase I by glucocorticoids

Alkaline phosphodiesterase I was demonstrated in human glomerular mesangial cells (HGEC) as an ectoenzyme. Treatment of HGEC by dexamethasone increased surface phosphodiesterase I activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Maximal increase of phosphodiesterase I activity, about twice, occurred after treatment with 5 microM dexamethasone for 6 days. Cycloheximide prevented and RU 38486, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, suppressed the dexamethasone induced increase in phosphodiesterase I activity. This study shows that HGEC have a surface phosphodiesterase I controlled by glucocorticoids through a receptor-mediated mechanism.

Rat liver nucleoside diphosphosugar or diphosphoalcohol pyrophosphatases different from nucleotide pyrophosphatase or phosphodiesterase I: substrate specificities of Mg(2+)-and/or Mn(2+)-dependent hydrolases acting on ADP-ribose

Three rat liver nucleotides(5') diphosphosugar (NDP-sugar) or nucleoside(5') diphosphoalcohol pyrophosphatases are described: two were previously identified in experiments measuring Mg(2+)-dependent ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase activity (Miró et al. (1989) FEBS Lett. 244, 123-126), and the other is a new, Mn(2+)-dependent ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase. They are resolved by ion-exchange chromatography, and differ by their substrate and cation specificities, KM values for ADP-ribose, pH-activity profiles, molecular weights and isoelectric points. The enzymes were tested for activity towards: reducing (ADP-ribose, IDP-ribose) and non-reducing NDP-sugars (ADP-glucose, ADP-mannose, GDP-mannose, UDP-mannose, UDP-glucose, UDP-xylose, CDP-glucose), CDP-alcohols (CDP-glycerol, CDP-ethanolamine, CDP-choline), dinucleotides (diadenosine pyrophosphate, NADH, NAD+, FAD), nucleoside(5') mono- and diphosphates (AMP, CMP, GMP, ADP, CDP) and dTMP p-nitrophenyl ester. Since the enzymes have not been purified to homogeneity, more than three pyrophosphatases may be present, but the co-purification of activities, thermal co-inactivation, and inhibition experiments give support to: (i) and ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase highly specific for ADP(IDP)-ribose in the presence of Mg2+, but active also on non-reducing ADP-hexoses and dinucleotides (not on NAD+) when Mg2+ was replaced with Mn2+; (ii) a Mn(2+)-dependent pyrophosphatase active on ADP(IDP)-ribose, dinucleotides and CDP-alcohols; (iii) a rather unspecific pyrophosphatase that, with Mg2+, was active on AMP(IMP)-containing NDP-sugars and dinucleotides (not on NAD+), and with Mn2+, was also active on non-adenine NDP-sugars and CDP-alcohols. The enzymes differ from nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-I (NPPase/PDEaseI) by their substrate specificities and by their cytosolic location and solubility in the absence of detergents. Although NPPase/PDEaseI is much more active in rat liver, its known location in the non-cytoplasmic sides of plasma and endoplasmic reticulum membranes, together with the known cytoplasmic synthesis of NDP-sugars and CDP-alcohols, permit the speculation that the pyrophosphatases studied in this work may have a cellular role.

Causal link between nucleotide pyrophosphohydrolase overactivity and increased intracellular inorganic pyrophosphate generation demonstrated by transfection of cultured fibroblasts and osteoblasts with plasma cell membrane glycoprotein-1. Relevance to calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease

OBJECTIVE

In subjects with idiopathic calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition disease, cartilage chondrocytes elaborate increased amounts of PPi. The mechanism of the intracellular PPi elevation is not known. Plasma membrane 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase I/nucleotide pyrophosphohydrolase (NTPPPH) activity also is elevated in chondrocytes and dermal fibroblasts of patients with idiopathic CPPD deposition disease. NTPPPH, as an ecto-enzyme, could act within certain intracellular compartments. Thus, we hypothesized a potential causal link between increased NTPPPH activity and increased intracellular PPi.

METHODS

Transformed simian fibroblasts (COS cells) and human osteoblasts (U2OS cells) were transfected with the 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase I ecto-enzyme plasma cell membrane glycoprotein-1 (PC-1), recently shown to be expressed in cartilage, osteoblasts, and fibroblasts.

RESULTS

Transfection with PC-1 markedly up-regulated 5'-nucleotode phosphodiesterase I activity and increased intracellular PPi concentrations by increasing the capacity of cells to generate PPi. Importantly, this did not require supplementation with exogenous nucleotides.

CONCLUSION

Cellular overexpression of PC-1 produces NTPPPH overactivity and increased intracellular PPi generation in vitro. These findings support the potential importance of NTPPPH overactivity in PPi generation, both inside and outside the cell, in some subjects with CPPD deposition disease.

Expression of nucleotide pyrophosphatase and alkaline phosphodiesterase I activities of PC-1, the murine plasma cell antigen

Nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.9) is a membrane enzyme purified from a number of mammalian sources that may have alkaline phosphodiesterase I (EC 3.1.4.1) activity as well. The mol. wt and subunit structure of this membrane glycoprotein are similar to that of the murine plasma cell alloantigen, PC-1. The PC-1 protein is a disulfide-bonded dimer of identical 115 kDa polypeptides that is selectively expressed on B lineage cells that have reached the degree of maturation associated with immunoglobulin secretion. It also has restricted expression in certain non-lymphoid tissues. In this report, we show that alkaline phosphodiesterase I activity parallels PC-1 mRNA expression in a number of B lineage cell lines at different stages of differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrate increases in both nucleotide pyrophosphatase and alkaline phosphodiesterase I enzymatic activities in transiently transfected COS-7 cells expressing a cloned PC-1 cDNA construction. These results extend our previous immunological and correlative studies and directly ascribe an enzymatic activity to this cell surface differentiation antigen. These experiments also demonstrate that a single protein is responsible for both alkaline phosphodiesterase I and nucleotide pyrophosphatase activities.

Modulation of nucleotide pyrophosphatase in plasmacytoma cells

The effect of glucocorticoid hormones on the protein responsible for both nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.9) and alkaline phosphodiesterase I (EC 3.1.4.1) activities was examined in murine MOPC 315 plasmacytoma cells. Incubation of these cells with dexamethasone resulted in parallel increases in pyrophosphatase and phosphodiesterase specific activities. The incorporation of [3H]mannose into N-linked oligosaccharide precursors was also analyzed in cells following hormone modulation. In cells treated for 36 hours or cultured continuously with dexamethasone, the resulting increase in enzyme specific activities was accompanied by a decrease in [3H]mannose incorporation, consistent with the hypothesis that in some cell types, nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity is involved in the regulation of glycoprotein synthesis.

Developmental regulation of glycosyltransferases involved in biosynthesis of asparagine-linked glycoproteins in mouse mammary gland

Three glycosyltransferases, namely N-acetylglucosaminyl-1-phosphotransferase, mannosyltransferase and glucosyltransferase, involved in the biosynthesis of asparagine-linked glycoproteins in the mouse mammary gland, were identified by characterization of the products formed by these enzymes. The tissue capacities of the glycosyltransferases, measured as pmol product formed g tissue-1 min-1, increase during developmental cycle of the gland until, at late lactational stage, they reach more than 34, 14 and 60 times, respectively, the basal level found in the tissue of virgin animals. Among the three enzymes at late lactational stage the specific activities of glucosyltransferase and N-acetylglucosaminyl-1-phosphotransferase increase 7-fold and 4-fold respectively, whereas mannosyltransferase shows a mere 1.4-fold increase during tissue development. All of the enzymes, both in terms of tissue capacity and specific activity, return to the basal levels of the virgin gland one month after the end of lactation. The activities of the three enzymes in the lactating gland decrease precipitously following treatment of mice with bromocriptine, a drug that interferes with the release of prolactin from the pituitary gland and thereby inhibits milk synthesis and secretion. These results indicate that the three glycosyltransferases are developmentally regulated during the growth and differentiation of the mouse mammary gland.