Human acid phosphatase in somatic cell hybrids

Regional assignment of the human acid sphingomyelinase gene (SMPD1) by PCR analysis of somatic cell hybrids and in situ hybridization to 11p15.1----p15.4

Human acid sphingomyelinase (SMPD1) is the lysosomal phosphodiesterase that cleaves sphingomyelin to ceramide and phosphocholine. The deficient activity of SMPD1 is the enzymatic defect in Types A and B Niemann-Pick disease. Previously, the gene encoding human SMPD1 was assigned to chromosome 17 by the differential thermostability of human and hamster SMPD1 in somatic cell hybrids. The recent isolation of the human SMPD1 cDNA (L. E. Quintern, E. H. Schuchman, O. Levran, M. Suchi, K. Ferlinz, H. Reinke, K. Sandhoff, and R. J. Desnick, 1989, EMBO J. 8: 2469-2473) permitted the mapping of this gene by molecular techniques. Oligonucleotide primers were synthesized to PCR amplify the human, but not murine, SMPD1 sequences in man-mouse somatic cell hybrids. In a panel of 15 hybrid cell lines, amplification of the human SMPD1 sequence was 100% concordant with the presence of human chromosome 11. For each of the other human chromosomes there were at least 6 discordant hybrid lines. Further analysis of somatic cell hybrids containing only chromosome 11 or chromosome 11 rearrangements localized the human SMPD1 gene to the region 11p15.1----p15.4. To provide an independent regional gene assignment, in situ hybridization was performed using the radiolabeled human SMPD1 cDNA. In the 58 metaphase cells examined, 34% of the 122 hybridization sites scored were located in the distal end of chromosome 11 with the major peak of hybridization at band 11p15. The absence of any other in situ hybridization site indicated the absence of pseudogenes or homologous sequences elsewhere in the genome. In contrast to the previous provisional localization to chromosome 17, these results assign a single locus for human SMPD1 to 11p15.1----p15.4.

Human lysosomal acid phosphatase: cloning, expression and chromosomal assignment

A 2112-bp cDNA clone (lambda CT29) encoding the entire sequence of the human lysosomal acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) was isolated from a lambda gt11 human placenta cDNA library. The cDNA hybridized with a 2.3-kb mRNA from human liver and HL-60 promyelocytes. The gene for lysosomal acid phosphatase was localized to human chromosome 11. The cDNA includes a 12-bp 5' non-coding region, an open reading frame of 1269 bp and an 831-bp 3' non-coding region with a putative polyadenylation signal 25 bp upstream of a 3' poly(A) tract. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals a putative signal sequence of 30 amino acids followed by a sequence of 393 amino acids that contains eight potential glycosylation sites and a hydrophobic region, which could function as a transmembrane domain. A 60% homology between the known 23 N-terminal amino acid residues of human prostatic acid phosphatase and the N-terminal sequence of lysosomal acid phosphatase suggests an evolutionary link between these two phosphatases. Insertion of the cDNA into the expression vector pSVL yielded a construct that encoded enzymatically active acid phosphatase in transfected monkey COS cells.

Genetic variation of an acid phosphatase (Acp-2) in the laboratory rat: possible homology with mouse AP-1 and human ACP2

A genetic locus controlling the electrophoretic mobility of an acid phosphatase in the rat (Rattus norvegicus) is described. The locus, designed Acp-2, is not expressed in erythrocytes but is expressed in all other tissues studied. The product of Acp-2 hydrolyzes a wide variety of phosphate monoesters and is inhibited by L(+)-tartaric acid. Inbred rat strains have fixed either allele Acp-2a or allele Acp-2b. Codominant expression is observed in the respective F1 hybrids. Backcross progenies revealed the expected 1:1 segregation ratio. Possible loose linkage was found between the Acp-2 and the Pep-3 gene loci at a recombination frequency of 0.36 +/- 0.06.

The prostate of the gorilla

The prostate gland from a 32-year-old gorilla was examined. The prostate weighed 15 g and was composed primarily of dilated cystic acinar areas with only modest stromal thickening. The acini were lined by a low cuboidal epithelium. A second minor population of smaller glands with extensive papillary projections was also present. The epithelial cells stained densely for acid phosphatase and prostatic-specific antigen. Human prostatic acid phosphatase content of the gland as determined by radioimmunoassay was 2.3 mg/g protein. This is the first published histologic description of a gorilla prostate. The animal was in late middle age but did not display predominant prostatic stromal hyperplasia. Prostatic acid phosphatase from the gorilla cross-reacts immunologically, or is identical to human prostatic acid phosphatase.

Electrophoretically detectable mutations induced in CHO cells by varying doses of ultraviolet radiation

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were subjected to ultraviolet radiation (UV) at doses resulting in 100% (no irradiation), 50-30%, 20-10% and approximately 1% survival. 2 divisions after UV exposure surviving cells were cloned and clones expanded for electrophoretic analysis of the products of approximately 40 enzyme loci. 4 different classes of variants (electrophoretic shifts, nulls, enzyme re-expression and enzyme modification) were detected in 29 of 1329 clones analyzed and proven mutants by subclone analysis. The frequency of mutants in the irradiated groups (28/38391 loci screened or 7.3 X 10(-4) was significantly higher than controls. The frequency of shift mutants at 10-20% survival was higher than shifts at 30-50% survival and was significantly higher than shifts at approximately 1% survival. The frequency of nulls increased with dose. 12 of the 28 mutants obtained in the irradiated groups were at only 3 of the mean 41 loci screened/clone. These results indicated that shift mutants could be detected more efficiently than nulls at lower dose and that loci varied widely with respect to their susceptibility to UV mutagenesis. Multiple null mutants at 2 loci, isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 and hexokinase 2, indicated they may be hemizygous in CHO cells.

Basic defect in the expression of adenosine deaminase in ADA- SCID disease investigated through the cells of an obligate heterozygote

The nature of the defect of a female baby who died of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) disease associated with adenosine deaminase deficiency (ADA-) was investigated. Since tissue or tissue culture material was not available for subsequent studies, the expression of ADA in her cells was investigated in the somatic cell hybrid clones derived from a fusion between the lymphocytes from one of her two obligate heterozygote parents and thymidine kinase deficient Chinese hamster (a3) fibroblasts. The results of analyses of the human chromosomes and biochemical markers in 12 independent clones and 27 subclones indicated that the ADA deficiency in the patient is determined probably by a mutation in the structural gene for ADA in chromosome 20 leading either to the production of catalytically defective molecules or to the cessation of the production of ADA. Incidentally, the involvement of chromosome 2, which carries a gene for adenosine deaminase complexing protein (ADCP), in the causation of ADA deficiency was excluded. The in vitro approach through the cells from an obligate heterozygote described in this paper may have a general application in pursuing studies on other cases of inborn errors of metabolism whenever the material from the affected individuals (i.e., the homozygotes) is not available or not suitable for direct investigations.

Human lysosomal genes: arylsulfatase A and beta-galactosidase

The segregation of human lysosomal arylsulfatase A (ARS-A) has been evaluated in 50 primary hybrid clones derived from four separate fusions involving WBCs from two unrelated individuals and three hamster cell lines. ARS-A was expressed in the hybrids as a dimeric molecule of very similar or identical subunits. The expression of this enzyme was concordant with that of mitochondrial aconitase (ACON-M), an isozyme assigned to chromosome 22, in all 50 clones and with chromosome 22 segregation in all but one of the 29 karyotyped hybrids. No other human chromosome cosegregated with 22 in these clones, suggesting that this enzyme is specified in hybrid cells by a locus (or loci) on a single chromosome. beta-Galactosidase (B-GAL) expression was analyzed with two different electrophoresis systems and with a number of cell extract preparation methods in 39 of the primary hybrid clones. The B-GAL isozyme expressed in these hybrid cells was concordant with the expression of glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX-1), an isozyme assigned to chromosome 3, in all 39 clones and with the segregation of this chromosome in 97% of the 29 karyotyped hybrids. These observations substantiate the prior tentative assignments of an ARS-A locus to chromosome 22 and a B-GAL locus to chromosome 3 (Bruns et al., 1978a, b). The implications of the chromosome assignments of loci for 12 human lysosomal enzymes for the cellular assembly of these organelles are discussed.

Regional mapping of the gene for human lysosomal acid phosphatase (ACP2) using a hybrid clone panel containing segments of human chromosome 11

A clone panel containing various segments of human chromosome 11 has been selected and use for regional assignment of the gene for human lysosomal acid phosphatase (ACP2) to the short arm of chromosome 11, in the region 11p11 leads to 11p12. Further evidence has also been presented to update the regional assignment of the gene for lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) to 11p12 leads to 11p13, and to support a previous assignment of the genes for the two components of the human cell-surface antigens of the SA11 (previously designated AL) group, SA11-1 and SA11-3 (previously designated AL-a1 and AL-a3), to 11pter leads to 11p13. This regional clone panel will be useful for rapid regional mapping of other genes assigned to chromosome 11.

Expression of alpha-D-mannosidase in man-hamster somatic cell hybrids

Two types of alpha-D-mannosidase isozymes are present in human white blood cells, human diploid fibroblasts, and HeLa cells. One of these (the S isozyme) constitutes the major alpha-D-mannosidase of the human cells, has a pH optimum of 4.4, and is associated with lysosomes. The other (the F isozyme) is most active at pH 6, is acid labile, and is located in the soluble portion of the cytoplasm. The expression of human lysosomal alpha-D-mannosidase was examined in man-hamster hybrid clones, and was found to be concordant with that of phosphohexose isomerase in 54 of 55 primary clones. A locus specifying human lysosomal alpha-D-mannosidase has therfore been assigned to chromosome 19.

Expression of the human adenylate kinase isozymes, phosphopyruvate hydratase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and phosphoglucomutase-1 in man-rodent somatic cell hybrids

The expression of the adenylate kinase isozymes and of phosphopyruvate hydratase was studied in man-mouse and man-hamster hybrid clones. Concordant segregation of the loci coding for AK-2 and PPH was observed in 54 of 55 primary hybrid clones, and these loci were demonstrated to be synthetic with the loci specifying PGM-1 and PGD. The pattern of expression of the four enzymes in discordant clone suggests the gene order 1pter-(PGD, PPH)-AK-2-PGM-1-centromere. In addition, AK-1 was found to be expressed independently of AK-2.