Mannose 6-phosphate-independent endocytosis of beta-glucuronidase. II. Purification of a cation-dependent receptor from bovine liver

Two translation initiation codons direct the expression of annexin VI 64kDa and 68kDa isoforms

Annexin A6 is a multicompetent, multifunctional protein involved in several biological processes within and outside of the cell. Whereas HeLa cells express annexin A6 only as a 68/67-kDa doublet, indicating alternative splicing (Smith PD et al. (1994) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91, 2713-2717), the GMO2784 human fibroblast cell line expresses two additional isoforms at 64 and 58kDa. In both cell lines, annexin A6 is located intracellularly and on the plasma membrane. In vitro eukaryotic protein synthesis of pIRESneoAnxA6 cDNA and pIRESneoAnxA6/Met^1- or Met^33- using a reticulocyte lysate coupled transcription/translation system revealed that this gene contains two translation start codons, Met¹ and Met³³. Immunoprecipitation of the products obtained from the transcription/translation system using various anti-annexin A6 antibodies confirmed the presence of several isoforms and suggested that this protein might be present in different configurations.

Inflammation-associated extracellular β-glucuronidase alters cellular responses to the chemical carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene

Neutrophils infiltrate tissues during inflammation, and when activated, they release β-glucuronidase. Since inflammation is associated with carcinogenesis, we investigated how extracellular β-glucuronidase changed the in vitro cellular response to the chemical carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P). For this we exposed human liver (HepG2) and lung (A549) cells to B[a]P in the presence or absence of β-glucuronidase. β-Glucuronidase reduced B[a]P-induced expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 at 6 h after exposure, which did not depend on β-glucuronidase activity, because the inhibitor D-saccharic acid 1,4-lactone monohydrate did not antagonize the effect of β-glucuronidase. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of β-glucuronidase on CYP expression was dependent on signalling via the insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF2R, a known receptor for β-glucuronidase), because co-incubation with the IGF2R inhibitor mannose-6-phosphate completely abolished the effect of β-glucuronidase. Extracellular β-glucuronidase also reduced the formation of several B[a]P metabolites and B[a]P-DNA adducts. Interestingly, at 24 h of exposure, β-glucuronidase significantly enhanced CYP expression, probably because β-glucuronidase de-glucuronidated B[a]P metabolites, which continued to trigger the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ah receptor) and induced expression of CYP1A1 (in both cell lines) and CYP1B1 (in A549 only). Consequently, significantly higher concentrations of B[a]P metabolites and DNA adducts were found in β-glucuronidase-treated cells at 24 h. DNA adduct levels peaked at 48 h in cells that were exposed to B[a]P and treated with β-glucuronidase. Overall, these data show that β-glucuronidase alters the cellular response to B[a]P and ultimately enhances B[a]P-induced DNA adduct levels.

Annexin VI is a mannose-6-phosphate-independent endocytic receptor for bovine β-glucuronidase

Endocytosis and transport of bovine liver β-glucuronidase to lysosomes in human fibroblasts are mediated by two receptors: the well-characterized cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (IGF-II/Man6PR) and an IGF-II/Man6PR-independent receptor, which recognizes a Ser-Trp*-Ser sequence present on the ligand. The latter receptor was detergent extracted from bovine liver membranes and purified. LC/ESI-MS/MS analysis revealed that this endocytic receptor was annexin VI (AnxA6). Several approaches were used to confirm this finding. First, the binding of bovine β-glucuronidase to the purified receptor from bovine liver membranes and His-tagged recombinant human AnxA6 protein was confirmed using ligand-blotting assays. Second, western blot analysis using antibodies raised against IGF-II/Man6PR-independent receptor as well as commercial antibodies against AnxA6 confirmed that the receptor and AnxA6 were indeed the same protein. Third, double immunofluorescence experiments in human fibroblasts confirmed a complete colocalization of the bovine β-glucuronidase and the AnxA6 receptor on the plasma membrane. Lastly, two cell lines were stably transfected with a plasmid containing the cDNA for human AnxA6. In both transfected cell lines, an increase in cell surface AnxA6 and in mannose 6-phosphate-independent endocytosis of bovine β-glucuronidase was detected. These results indicate that AnxA6 is a novel receptor that mediates the endocytosis of the bovine β-glucuronidase.

Guanidinylated neomycin mediates heparan sulfate-dependent transport of active enzymes to lysosomes

Guanidinylated neomycin (GNeo) can transport bioactive, high molecular weight cargo into the interior of cells in a process that depends on cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. In this report, we show that GNeo-modified quantum dots bind to cell surface heparan sulfate, undergo endocytosis and eventually reach the lysosomal compartment. An N-hydroxysuccinimide activated ester of GNeo (GNeo-NHS) was prepared and conjugated to two lysosomal enzymes, beta-D-glucuronidase (GUS) and alpha-L-iduronidase. Conjugation did not interfere with enzyme activity and enabled binding of the enzymes to heparin-Sepharose and heparan sulfate on primary human fibroblasts. Cells lacking the corresponding lysosomal enzyme took up sufficient amounts of the conjugated enzymes to restore normal turnover of glycosaminoglycans. The high capacity of proteoglycan-mediated uptake suggests that this method of delivery might be used for enzyme replacement or introduction of foreign enzymes into cells.

78 kDa receptor for Man6P-independent lysosomal enzyme targeting: biosynthetic transport from endoplasmic reticulum to "high-density vesicles"

Recent work has shown that the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate and the 78 kDa receptors for lysosomal enzyme targeting are located in different cell compartments. While the mannose 6-phosphate receptor is enriched in the Percoll fractions that contain Golgi apparatus, most of the 78 kDa receptor is localized in a heavy fraction at the bottom of the Percoll gradient. This report presents the biosynthetic transport of the 78 kDa receptor. Newly synthesized 78 kDa receptor was transported to Golgi from endoplasmic reticulum with a half life of 5 min. From the Golgi apparatus, the receptor takes two routes; about 15-25% is transported to the plasma membrane, and the rest migrates to late endosomes, subsequently to prelysosomes and finally to the dense vesicles. The 78 kDa receptor starts appearing at the dense vesicles 120 min after biosynthesis and reaches a maximum of 40-50% of the total receptor. Treatment of cells with NH4Cl causes depletion of the receptor from the dense vesicles and prelysosomes and corresponding augmentation in endosomes and plasma membrane. These results suggest that the 78 kDa receptor cycles between compartments and that the dense vesicles seem to represent the most distal compartment in the biosynthetic pathway of this receptor.

Biotin availability regulates expression of the sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter and the rate of biotin uptake in HepG2 cells

In human cells, biotin is essential to maintain metabolic homeostasis and as regulator of gene expression. The enzyme holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS) transforms biotin into its active form 5'-biotinyl-AMP and this compound is used to biotinylate five biotin-dependent carboxylases or to activate a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). The HCS-sGC-PKG pathway is responsible for maintaining the mRNA levels of enzymes involved in biotin utilization including HCS, carboxylases, and a biotin carrier known as sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT). To understand the role of SMVT in the control of biotin utilization, we have studied the effect of biotin availability on SMVT protein and mRNA expression levels in HepG2 cells by Western blot analysis and rtPCR, respectively; and their functional impact on the rate of [3H]biotin uptake in human cells. Our results showed that human HepG2 cells grown in a biotin-deficient medium have a lower rate of biotin uptake than normal cells. The impairment in biotin uptake is associated with a reduction in the amount of both SMVT protein mass and mRNA levels. Transfection of HepG2 cells with a vector containing a luciferase reporter gene under the control of the rat SMVT promoter demonstrated that its transcriptional activity is regulated by biotin availability through activation of the HCS-sGC-PKG pathway. Our results support the proposed role of SMVT in the altruistic regulation of biotin utilization in liver cells that has been associated with sparing biotin depletion of the brain.

Cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate and 78 kDa receptors for lysosomal enzyme targeting are located in different cell compartments

The distribution of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate and 78 kDa receptors was studied in postnuclear subcellular fractions from two rat liver cell lines. ELISA assays revealed that the mannose 6-phosphate receptor is enriched in the light buoyant Percoll fractions that contain Golgi structures and early endosomes. Most of the 78 kDa receptor is localized in a heavy fraction at the bottom of the Percoll gradient and smaller amounts in the endosomal fractions. The high-density compartment is denser than lysosomes, contains LAMP2 but not LIMPII or acid hydrolases, and is not disrupted with glycyl-l-phenylalanine 2-naphthylamide, a substrate for cathepsin C that selectively disrupts lysosomes. Immunofluorescence microscopy studies indicate no colocalization of the 78 kDa receptor with the mannose 6-phosphate receptor or LIMPII. Mannose 6-phosphate-independent endocytosed beta-glucuronidase was found in the lysosomal, the early and late endosomal fractions. These fractions were immunoadsorbed in columns containing antibodies against the 78 kDa receptor. Only the endocytosed beta-glucuronidase present in the early and late endosomal fractions is associated to immunoadsorbed vesicles. In these vesicles, LAMP2 was detected but no LIMPII or the mannose 6-phosphate receptor. Results obtained suggest that the 78 kDa receptor is found along the endocytic pathway, but in vesicles different from the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor.

Low levels of occupational exposure to arsenic and antimony: effects on lysosomal glycohydrolase levels in plasma of exposed workers and in lymphocyte cultures

BACKGROUND

Heavy metals have been shown to alter the mechanism and release of lysosomal enzymes. In the present study, the activities of lysosomal glycohydrolases were determined in order to evaluate the asymptomatic toxic effects of low levels of exposure to arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) in art glass workers.

METHODS

N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), beta-D-glucuronidase (GCR), alpha- and beta-D-galactosidase, alpha-D-glucosidase, and alpha-D-mannosidase were determined by a fluorimetric assay in the plasma of 26 art glass workers. Lymphocytes cultured in the presence of different species of As and Sb served as an in vitro model for the study of the protective action of selenium and zinc.

RESULTS

No significant difference in the plasma levels of the various enzymes was detected in art glass workers or control subjects. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that secretion of lysosomal glycohydrolases was increased by Sb (225%) and decreased by As (57%) at the same concentration of elements (200 microg/L). The addition of bivalent selenium to the culture neutralized the effects of both metals, while zinc chloride did not show any protective effect.

CONCLUSIONS

As for the plasma glycohydrolases, no praecox signs of toxicity related to a low concentration of As and Sb was evident in art glass workers. This may be due to the antagonistic effects demonstrated by these two metals in vitro. Their different mechanism of action on release of glycohydrolases is being discussed.

Expression of active human beta-glucuronidase in Sf9 cells infected with recombinant baculovirus

Antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT) using glucuronide prodrugs is an experimental approach to reduce systemic toxicity of anti-cancer agents. Bioactivation of such prodrugs is achieved by fusion proteins consisting of targeting moieties (e.g. ligands of tumor specific antigens) and human beta-glucuronidase. In order to test a large panel of possible beta-glucuronidase fusion proteins for their applicability in ADEPT, an easy, rapid and high-yield expression system like the baculovirus/insect cell expression system would be needed. A prerequisite for using such fusion proteins is functional and biochemical characterization of human beta-glucuronidase expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells. Therefore, recombinant human beta-glucuronidase was expressed in Sf9 insect cells and characterized at the protein and functional level. As shown by Western blot analysis the recombinant enzyme consists of dimers with their monomers being linked via disulfide bonds. Posttranslational modifications of the monomers seem to be different as compared with mammalian cells or tissues. The enzyme is functionally active in cleaving the substrates 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucuronic acid, 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide and the glucuronide prodrug HMR 1826, respectively, with similar enzyme kinetic parameters as those found in human tissues. Our data demonstrate that beta-glucuronidase expressed in Sf9 cells displays the same enzymatic features as the protein expressed in mammalian cells. Therefore, we suggest that beta-glucuronidase fusion proteins produced in this cell line will be valuable tools for testing a large panel of various targeting moieties in human tumor xenograft models or may be used for ADEPT in man.