Catalase activity of immature and mature red cells from acatalasemic mouse mutant

cDNA cloning of mutant catalase in acatalasemic beagle dog: single nucleotide substitution leading to thermal-instability and enhanced proteolysis of mutant enzyme

The mutant catalase purified previously from acatalasemic dog liver was heat-labile but possessed normal activity, suggesting a mutation within the coding region distal from the catalytic site. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of acatalasemic beagle dog catalase were determined by analysis of cDNA obtained by 5'- and 3'-RACE and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods. Comparative analysis of cDNA sequences of normal and acatalasemic dog catalases indicated a single nucleotide difference where alanine(327) (G macro CT) was substituted with threonine (ACT). The mutant catalase, which was overexpressed in COS-1 cells, was heat-labile as previously observed with the purified enzyme from acatalasemic dog liver, indicating that this amino acid substitution can lead to structural instability. No catalase protein and activity were detected by immunoblotting and spectrophotomeric assay in acatalasemic dog reticulocytes although almost the same level of mRNA expression as that in the normal reticulocytes was observed. Pulse-labeling and immunoprecipitation examination indicated that the level of catalase synthesis in the acatalasemic dog reticulocytes was almost the same (approximately 80%) as that in the normal reticulocytes. On the other hand, the synthesized mutant catalase in reticulocytes was rapidly degraded (t(1/2): 1.8 h) compared with the normal catalase (t(1/2): 14.0 h) and this degradation was almost completely inhibited by lactacystin (LC). These results suggested that the proteolytic degradation mediated most likely by proteasome might be involved in disposing of the mutant catalase in acatalasemic erythroid cells.

Acatalasemia

The abnormalities in acatalasemia at the gene level as well as properties of the residual catalase in Japanese acatalasemia are historically reviewed. The replacement of the fifth nucleic acid, guanine, in the fourth intron by adenine in the acatalasemic gene causes a splicing mutation and hence a deficiency of mRNA. The guanine-to-adenine substitution was detected in two Japanese acatalasemic cases from different families. The properties of the residual catalase are similar to those of normal catalase; the exons are identical. The properties of the residual catalase and the molecular defect in the catalase gene are compared among Japanese, Swiss, and mouse acatalasemias. The physiological role of catalase, as judged from human acatalasemic blood and acatalasemic mice, is also described.

Isoelectric focusing of catalase from acatalasemic mouse and human blood, and cultured human skin fibroblasts

Hemolysates of normal, heterozygous hypocatalasemic and acatalasemic mice and of Japanese acatalasemic subjects were separated into three fractions, A, B and C, by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, and pI values of A, B and C fractions were determined by isoelectric focusing. The pI value of catalase in the A, B and C fractions increased in the order of normal, hypocatalasemic and acatalasemic mouse blood. The results obtained from Japanese acatalasemic blood samples showed that the pI values of catalase in the A, B and C fractions were similar to those in normal blood. Catalase in Japanese acatalasemic cultured skin fibroblasts was also analyzed by isoelectric focusing. The pI values of catalase in the extract from the cultured skin acatalasemic fibroblasts was similar to that in normal fibroblasts.