Metabolism of 2-deoxy-D-galactose in liver induces phosphate and uridylate trapping

Synthesis of 2-deoxy-D-galactose containing gangliosides in vivo

Incorporation of 2-deoxy-D-galactose into the oligosaccharide moieties of different gangliosides of rat liver was examined. After intraperitoneal administration of 2-deoxy-D-galactose it was shown by GLC/MS analysis that this hexose analogue is metabolized and incorporated into all the gangliosides investigated, and predominantly into GM3 and GD3. In both of these gangliosides, 25-55% of the galactose residues were substituted by 2-deoxy-D-galactose. The epimer, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, was not detectable.

Inhibition of protein N-glycosylation by 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose

The effects of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose (dGalF) on N- and O-glycosylation of proteins was studied in rat hepatocyte primary cultures and in human monocytes. In hepatocytes, dGalF at concentrations of 1 mM or higher completely inhibited N-glycosylation of alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, whereas 4 mM-2-deoxy-D-galactose (dGal) only slightly impaired N-glycosylation. In monocytes, 1 mM- or 4 mM-dGalF blocked N-glycosylation of alpha 1-antitrypsin and of interleukin-6, while O-glycosylation of interleukin-6 remained unaffected. In monocytes, dGal had no effect on protein N-glycosylation. Addition of uridine effectively prevented the UTP deficiency induced by dGalF, but had no effect on the inhibition of protein N-glycosylation by dGalF. Using 19F-n.m.r. spectroscopy, 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose 1-phosphate (dGalF-1-P), UDP-dGalF and UDP-dGlcF could be identified as the major metabolites of dGalF in hepatocytes as well as in monocytes. In conclusion, compared with dGal, dGalF is a more efficient inhibitor of protein N-glycosylation. The effect is not caused by the depletion of UTP induced by dGalF, but rather by metabolites of dGalF. dGalF is metabolized not only in hepatocytes but also in peripheral blood monocytes, which can be used for ex vivo studies of disturbances in D-galactose metabolism.

Incorporation of the hexose analogue 2-deoxy-D-galactose into membrane glycoproteins in HepG2 cells

The incorporation of 2-deoxy-D-galactose into the oligosaccharide moieties of glycoproteins and the consequences of 2-deoxy-D-galactose treatment on the fucosylation of glycoproteins were investigated in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2. Using different methods, it was shown that treatment of HepG2 cells with 2-deoxy-D-galactose leads to an incorporation of 2-deoxy-D-galactose and a decrease of L-fucose incorporation into the oligosaccharides of glycoproteins. The extent of labeling by L-[3H]fucose was determined by removing L-[3H]fucose from labeled cells with the aid of a purified alpha 1,2-fucosidase from Aspergillus niger. Using this method, it was shown that 2-deoxy-D-galactose markedly inhibits alpha 1,2-fucosylation. Measurement of the amount of 2-deoxy-D-galactose incorporated, however, showed that replacement of D-galactose by 2-deoxy-D-galactose does not entirely account for the decrease in alpha 1,2-fucosylation. In addition, a hitherto unreported compensatory increase of alpha 1,3/alpha 1,4-fucosylation was found to occur when alpha-1,2-fucosylation was inhibited by treatment with 2-deoxy-D-galactose.

Inhibition of glycolysis by 2-deoxygalactose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The enzymatic steps involved in the inhibition of glycolysis by 2-deoxygalactose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been investigated. Yeast, incubated with 2-deoxygalactose, accumulates up to 8 mM-2-deoxygalactose, 30 mM-2-deoxygalactose-1-phosphate and 0.25 mM-UDP-2-deoxygalactose and UDP-2-deoxyglucose. An inverse correlation between 2-deoxygalactose-1-phosphate content and rate of glycolysis has been observed. The intracellular concentration of glycolytic intermediates and related metabolites point to the hexokinase and phosphofructokinase steps as the targets for the inhibition of glycolysis by 2-deoxygalactose and rule out all other mechanisms that have been proposed to explain this inhibition.

Metabolism and actions of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose in vivo

The synthetic D-galactose analog 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose (dGalF) offers unique advantages for studies of the D-galactose pathway by non-invasive techniques using 19F-NMR spectroscopy or positron emission from the 18F-labeled compound. The metabolism of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose was studied in rodents using the unlabeled, the 18F-labeled, and the 14C-labeled D-galactose analog. Analyses for the metabolites of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose were performed by HPLC, enzymatic methods, and 19F-NMR spectroscopy in vivo and in vitro. The metabolism of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose was most active in the liver which took up the major part of the administered dose of the 14C-labeled D-galactose analog, but renal excretion was also pronounced. This was confirmed by in vivo scanning of the rat using the 18F-labeled sugar (1.5 microCi/g; 25 nmol/g) and examination by positron-emission tomography and gamma camera. The dose dependence of the levels of the hepatic metabolites of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose was investigated for doses between 25 nmol/g body mass and 1 mumols/g body mass. After 1 h, the major part of the acid-soluble uracil nucleotides consisted of UDP-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-hexoses when the dose was at least 0.1 mumols/g. With higher doses, 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose 1-phosphate became the predominant initial metabolite. After a dose of 1 mumols/g 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose 1-phosphate accumulated rapidly (5.3 +/- 0.4 mumols/g liver after 30 min) followed by the formation of UDP-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose and UDP-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose (0.7 +/- 0.1 mumols/g and 1.8 +/- 0.1 mumols/g, respectively, after 5 h). The diversion of uridylate, due to the accumulation of UDP-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-hexoses, was associated with a rapid depletion of hepatic UTP, UDP-glucose, and UDP-galactose. The UTP content was decreased to 11 +/- 6% of normal within 15 min after administration of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose at a dose of 1 mumols/g. The UTP-depleting action was minimal, however, at a dose of 25 nmols/g or less, indicating that interference in uridylate metabolism would be negligible at the doses required for positron-emission tomography of the liver using the 18F-labeled compound. At higher doses, the UTP deficiency induced by 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-galactose could be useful in the chemotherapy of D-galactose-metabolizing tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Galactose disorders: an overview

There are three separate disorders of galactose metabolism of clinical importance. Galactokinase deficiency mainly causes cataracts which regress without complications providing a galactose-free diet is started early enough. UDPgalactose-4-epimerase deficiency seems extremely rare. A common feature of the two reported cases is nerve deafness. Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase deficiency poses the greatest problems because of the poor long-term outcome in spite of a galactose-restricted diet, and with no clear indications of how and when the underlying damage occurs. Recent evidence of low erythrocyte and tissue UDPgal levels, associated with ovarian dysfunction, may indicate impaired galactoside synthesis. Administration of uridine corrects the UDPgal depletion and trials in which it is added to the galactose-restricted diet have begun.

Accumulation of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-galactose in the liver by phosphate and uridylate trapping

To investigate the highest accumulation of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-galactose ([18F]FdGal) in the liver, metabolic studies with [18F]FdGal were carried out in Wistar rats for 120 min after i.v. injection. As main metabolites 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-galactose 1-phosphate ([18F]FdGal-1-P) and UDP-2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-D-galactose (UDP-[18F]FdGal) were identified in the liver and other tissues. The [18F]FdGal was phosphorylated by galactokinase. The phosphorylation rate was very rapid in the liver, in which at 5 min after injection 81% of 18F was detected as [18F]FdGal-1-P. After this time the phosphate form decreased with time, which was explained by conversion of [18F]FdGal-1-P to UDP-[18F]FdGal by UDP-glucose: galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase. At 120 min after injection 77% of the 18F was measured in the UDP-[18F]FdGal. In the brain both reaction rates were slower than in the liver. Both phosphate and uridylate derivates were also observed as main metabolites in the heart, lung, spleen and small intestine. On the other hand, a small amount of [18F]FdGal-1-P was detected in the plasma, in which the percentage of phosphate increased gradually and was 6% at 120 min. These results show that the [18F]FdGal metabolism in tissue results in phosphate and uridylate trapping and that the [18F]FdGal has potential for measuring in vivo galactose metabolism with positron emission tomography.

Impairment of glycoprotein fucosylation in rat hippocampus and the consequences on memory formation

The intraventricular injection of 2-deoxy-D-galactose led to a dose- and time-dependent decrease in the fucosylation of hippocampal glycoproteins in rats whereas the incorporation of 3H-N-acetyl-glucosamine was not influenced. This effect is not related to an interference with fucose activating or transferring enzymes but can be abolished by an application of D-galactose. Thus, it seems likely that also in brain tissue a deoxy-galactose induced decrease in the fucosylation is due to a hindering of a glycosidic linkage of fucose to the deoxy-sugar incorporated into glycoprotein chains. As a consequence of an intrahippocampal injection of the deoxy-sugar the retention performance of the animals in a foot-shock motivated brightness discrimination task was considerably impaired. But deoxy-galactose is effective only when administered before and immediately after training whereas either a pre- or a post-training injection did not influence the retention performance of the rats. Thus, an effective metabolic inhibition of the glycoprotein completion by the deoxy-sugar starting at the time of training seems to be crucial to interfere with such morphofunctional alterations in the neuronal network underlying the formation of a memory trace.

2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-galactose: a new tracer for the measurement of galactose metabolism in the liver by positron emission tomography

We prepared 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-galactose as a potential radiopharmaceutical for liver imaging and for the assessment by positron emission tomography of regional metabolic function of the liver. In biodistribution studies of rats, the liver uptake of the compound was very high, almost reaching a plateau (6.33% dose/g) at 30 min and remaining constant until 120 min. This high uptake was reduced by simultaneous administration of D-galactose, but D-glucose had no effect. The compound was much less concentrated in the liver that had been damaged by CCl4 treatment. Positron imaging of a rabbit liver showed a remarkable uptake of the compound with a high liver-to-blood ratio. The high concentration in the liver was also reduced by the administration of D-galactose. These data suggest that the compound was trapped in the liver by a metabolic process and could be used for the measurement by positron emission tomography of galactose metabolism in the liver.

2-deoxy-D-glucose metabolism in individual tissues of the rat in vivo

The nature of and rates of loss of products of systemic radiolabelled 2-deoxy-D-glucose in rat tissues in vivo were investigated to validate the use of this tracer to measure rates of metabolism of circulating glucose by tissues in vivo. Apparent first order rate constants for loss of products ranged from 8.0 +/- 0.10 (SD) X 10(-3) min-1 (liver) to 2.2 +/- 0.8 X 10(-3) min-1 (skeletal muscle). 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate was the major product found in all tissues examined except liver; all tissues contained other minor products. Products were effectively trapped by rat tissues in vivo allowing the use of this tracer for the measurement of rates of circulating glucose utilisation by tissues in vivo.

A coordinate relationship between the GALK and the TK1 genes of the Chinese hamster

Chinese hamster cells in culture were treated with various concentrations of thymidine, 5-bromodeoxyuridine, trifluorothymidine, and 2-deoxy-D-galactose. Selection was made for deficiencies in the activities of galactokinase and thymidine kinase. Selection in the presence of thymidine, 5-bromodeoxyuridine, and trifluorothymidine was expected to produce clones deficient in thymidine kinase only, whereas those deficient in galactokinase were expected to be selected in the presence of 2-deoxy-D-galactose. However, it was found that clones growing in the presence of these inhibitors were frequently deficient in both enzymes. Or if a clone was deficient in only one, the deficiency frequently was not expected according to the selection procedure. This indicates some sort of coordinate relationship between the two gene loci, GALK and TK1, which specify galactokinase and thymidine kinase, respectively. GALK and TK1 are linked in all primates and rodents in which linkage determinations have been made. It is therefore probable that this linkage has been conserved for a long period of time. It is suggested that the apparent relationship between the two genes shown by the data presented here, as well as by others, supports the conclusion that linkage has been conserved by natural selection and is therefore not fortuitous.

Selection and characterization of a glucokinase-deficient mutant of Tetrahymena thermophila

We have isolated a mutant of Tetrahymena thermophila that is resistant to inhibition of growth by the glucose analog 2-deoxyglucose. The mutant exhibits a deficiency in a cytoplasmic glucokinase. This enzymatic defect and the attendant inability to convert 2-deoxyglucose to toxic phosphorylated derivatives is apparently the sole basis for the mutant phenotype since transport of glucose and 2-deoxyglucose is unimpaired; there is no elevation of glucose-6-phosphatase activity, which could decrease the level of toxic 2-deoxyglucose metabolites. Genetic analyses have shown that the mutant allele is recessive and inherited as a single Mendelian mutation. The glucokinase-deficient strain described here is useful for the selection of other mutants in this organism and for the investigation of various cellular processes initiated or modulated by glucose and its analogs. We have exploited the molecular defect in this strain to investigate the initial steps in the cyclic AMP-mediated repression of galactokinase gene expression which is caused by glucose.

Uridylate trapping, induction of UTP deficiency, and stimulation of pyrimidine synthesis de novo by D-galactosone

d-Galactosone (d-lyxo-2-hexosulose) is phosphorylated and metabolized to the uridine diphosphate derivative in AS-30D hepatoma cells and rat liver. These reactions were catalysed in vitro by galactokinase and hexose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase. Nucleotide analyses by high-performance liquid chromatography and enzymic assays revealed that this galactose analogue interferes with cellular pyrimidine nucleotide metabolism leading to a deficiency of UTP. [(14)C]Uridine labelling of hepatoma cells indicated a division of [(14)C]uridylate from UTP into UDP-galactosone; the latter was formed at a rate of more than 1.7mmolxh(-1)x(kg AS-30D or liver wet wt.)(-1). As a consequence of UTP deficiency, d-galactosone (1mmol/1 or 1mmol/kg body wt.) strongly enhanced the rate of pyrimidine synthesis de novo as evidenced by incorporation of (14)CO(2) into uridylate and by an expansion of the uridylate pool. This resulted in a doubling of the total acid-soluble uridylate pool within 70min in the hepatoma cells and within 110min in rat liver. Combined treatment of hepatoma cells with d-galactosone and N-(phosphonoacetyl)-l-aspartate, an inhibitor of aspartate carbamoyltransferase, prevented the expansion of the uridylate pool and led to a synergistic reduction of UTP to 10% of the content in control cells. Hepatic UTP deficiency was selective with respect to other nucleotide 5'-triphosphates but was associated with reduced contents of UDP-glucose, UDP-glucuronate, and UDP-N-acetylhexosamines. Isolation of the UDP derivative of d-galactosone revealed an extremely alkali-labile UDP-sugar, probably an isomerization product of UDP-galactosone, that was degraded by elimination of UDP with a half-life of 45min at pH7.5 and 37 degrees C. The instability of UDP-galactosone may contribute in vivo to limit the time period of severe uridine phosphate deficiency in addition to the compensatory role of pyrimidine synthesis de novo. During the initial time period, however, d-galactosone is effective as a powerful uridylate-trapping sugar analogue.

Galactokinase-deficient mutants of Tetrahymena thermophila: selection and characterization

We have isolated a series of mutants of Tetrahymena thermophila which are resistant to inhibition of growth by the galactose analog, 2-deoxygalactose. These mutants were obtained after mutagenesis with nitrosoguanidine and the induction of cytogamy to permit the recovery of recessive mutations induced in the germline micronucleus. Resistance to 2-deoxygalactose is correlated with a decreased rate of growth in galactose minimal medium and greatly reduced levels of galactokinase. The resistant phenotype of the mutants is apparently due to the galactokinase deficiency, which prevents the accumulation of toxic phosphorylated metabolites of 2-deoxygalactose. Genetic analyses reveal that the 2-deoxygalactose resistance alleles segregate as single Mendelian loci. The galactokinase-deficient strains described here represent the first mutants in this organism for which the biochemical basis of the mutant phenotype is known. These mutants, as well as others isolated similarly, should be of value in the elucidation of the mechanisms governing galactokinase gene regulation and in improving techniques of selection for other recessive mutations in Tetrahymena.

Consequences of recurrent phosphate trapping induced by repeated injections of 2-deoxy-D-galactose. Biochemical and morphological studies in rats

2-Deoxy-D-galactose, in a dose of 3 mmol/kg, was administered intraperitoneally twice daily to young rats for periods up to 12 weeks. This dosage schedule resulted in recurrent phosphate trapping predominantly in liver. UTP deficiency was excluded by simultaneous uridine injections. Phosphate trapping was caused by the rapid accumulation of 2-deoxy-D-galactose 1-phosphate and was most pronounced in liver but also demonstrated in small intestine, brain, spleen, and thymus. The marked, although transient, drop in the hepatic content of inorganic phosphate triggered the catabolism of adenine nucleotides and a loss of ATP. Other metabolic pathways affected by phosphate deficiency include glycogenolysis and glycolysis. Increasing with time, repeated doses of the galactose analog led to retardation and arrest of growth, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly. The average relative liver and spleen weights were elevated 2.5- and 4.5-fold, respectively, after 12 weeks of treatment. Liver damage was indicated by hyperbilirubinaemia and a progressive rise in the activity in plasma of sorbitol dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase. Examination by light and electron microscopy showed increasing numbers of vacuoles, surrounded by a single membrane, in hepatocytes, sinusoidal endothelial cells, and Kupffer cells. Focal cytoplasmic degeneration in hepatocytes was occasionally indicated by formation of autophagic vacuoles and finger print lysosomes. Hepatocytes of 2-deoxy-D-galactose-treated rats showed a dissociation and fragmentation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells were markedly enlarged, the latter contained a PAS-positive but amylase resistant substance. Extrahepatic changes included an increased occurrence of vacuolated cells in thymus. Phosphate trapping and its metabolic consequences are common phenomena in the experimental injury induced b 2-deoxy-D-galactose and in some hereditary diseases such as uridylyltransferase deficiency galactosaemia, fructose intolerance and glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency.

Inverse relationship between galactokinase activity and 2-deoxygalactose resistance in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Galactokinase activity is reduced in 12 independent clones of Chinese hamster ovary cells resistant to 2-deoxygalactose. The frequency of resistant colonies is increased with chemical mutagens. The resistant phenotype is stable in the absence of selection. There is an inverse correlation between the levels of galactokinase activity and the cloning efficiency in deoxygalactose. Cells with high resistance have 1% or less of the enzyme activity observed in the parental cells; while cells with low resistance have 10-30% galactokinase activity. Studies with tetraploid hybrid cells reveal that resistance to deoxygalactose is a recessive trait and that cells with high resistance do not complement those with low resistance. In cell lines with low resistance, the Km for galactose, Ki for deoxygalactose, Km for ATP, and thermolability were not significantly altered compared to sensitive parental cells. Although the possibility of mutation at the structural gene locus has not been ruled out, the reduced enzyme activity may also be due to mutation at a regulatory site which affects the number of galactokinase molecules per cell.