Molecular analysis of the iduronate-2-sulfatase gene in Thai patients with Hunter syndrome.

Molecular defects in the gene encoding the enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) result in Hunter disease (mucopolysaccharidosis type II, MPS II). To determine the molecular basis of MPS II in Thailand, the IDS gene was analysed in 20 Thai patients with Hunter syndrome from 18 unrelated families. A total of 19 different mutations, including 9 missense mutations, 3 nonsense mutations, 3 splice site alterations, 1 deletion, 2 indels, and 1 rearrangement were identified, 8 of which were novel (p.R101C, p.D148V, p.G224A, p.K227E, p.E254X, p.W337X, c.440_442delinsTT and c.720_731delinsTTTCAGATGTTCTCCCCAG). Evaluation of the IDS activity of two hemizygous variants identified in the same patient, p.R101C and p.R468Q, by expression of IDS with the individual mutations in COS 7 cells indicated that only the p.R468Q mutation affected IDS protein activity. Two exonic mutations, c.257C>T (p.P86L) and c.418G>A, were found to activate multiple cryptic splice sites, resulting in aberrantly spliced transcripts. Thus, MPS II in Thailand is caused by a diverse set of defects affecting both IDS protein production and activity.

Molecular characterization of type 3 (neuronopathic) Gaucher disease in Thai patients.

Gaucher disease is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder due to deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase. Three clinical phenotypes, type 1, nonneuronopathic; and types 2 and 3, acute and subacute neuronopathic are recognized. The incidence of Gaucher disease in the Thai population is unknown, but likely under-diagnosed. We performed molecular analysis in four patients, from three sibships, with type 3 Gaucher disease. Four mutant glucocerebrosidase (GBA) alleles were identified including two novel splice site mutations, IVS6-1G>C and IVS9-3C>G; both are predicted to result in truncated protein products, p.F255fsX256, and p.K464fsX487 and p.S463fsX480, respectively. One patient, homozygous for the L444P point mutation, had a "Norbottnian-like" phenotype, with more severe visceral involvement, kyphosis, barreled chest, and no neurological involvement other than supranuclear gaze palsy. These molecular studies of neuronopathic Gaucher disease will provide additional genotype-phenotype correlation particularly in non-Caucasian population.

Detection of haemoglobin variants and inference of their functional properties using complete oxygen dissociation curve measurements.

Complete oxygen dissociation curves for red cell suspensions of three haemoglobinopathies, namely haemoglobin (Hb) H, Hb Köln and Hb Tak/beta thalassaemia diseases, were measured using automatic recording methods. These curves were left-shifted compared with the normal red cell curve and showed a biphasic shape as a result of co-existence of the high and normal affinity haemoglobin components. Computer-assisted simulation of these biphasic curves enabled us to infer the curves for the pure abnormal haemoglobins and their fraction in the total haemoglobin of the red cell. The inferred values of fraction agreed with those determined by haemoglobin type analysis or the literature values. The curve for Hb Köln red cells deviated from the normal red cell curve in the whole range of oxygen saturation, whereas the curve for Hb H was close to the normal curve at the middle and upper portions. This difference in deviation was ascribed to a possible interaction between Hb Köln and Hb A through subunit exchange, and its absence between Hb H and Hb A. The present results indicate that measurement of the complete oxygen dissociation curve is important for the detection of non-interacting variants such as Hb H and is useful for inferring the functional properties of haemoglobin components that are not easily isolated.

Normal plasma free amino acid levels in Thai children.

Analysis of plasma free amino acid levels is important for diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism. Traditionally, this is performed using commercially available dedicated amino acid analyzers, but few such instruments are available in Thailand, and many are not used in routine operations. Here, the authors describe the analysis of plasma free amino acid levels in 57 normal children by reverse-phase HPLC and pre-column derivatization with phenylisothiocyanate. Plasma free amino levels are reported as mean +/- SD and 95 per cent confidence interval of mean for each of 5 age groups: 0-6 months; 6-12 months; 1-3 years; 3-6 years; 6-12 years. Mean amino acid levels were generally similar in all age groups (p > or = 0.01), except that hydroxyproline tended to be higher in the 0-6 months age group compared to other age groups (p<0.01). Comparisons were made between the present data with the normal free plasma amino acid levels in children of similar age groups reported both in Thailand and overseas in terms of both mean +/- SD and maximum and minimum values. Overall, our methodology involving HPLC can identify 35 amino acid derivatives, including all the major amino acids except for cysteine, which is substantially more than the number reported in earlier work on plasma free amino acid levels in normal Thai children. Moreover, the present methodology gives mean +/- SD values similar to an overseas report. For these reasons, HPLC should be considered as an alternative approach in laboratories, where demand does not justify the need for dedicated amino acid analyzers. However, there can be substantial variations between the results from different laboratories, and each laboratory should establish its own normal values.

Sequence and expression of Thai Rosewood beta-glucosidase/beta-fucosidase, a family 1 glycosyl hydrolase glycoprotein.

Dalcochinin-8'-O-beta-glucoside beta-glucosidase (dalcochinase) from the Thai rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis Pierre) has aglycone specificity for isoflavonoids and can hydrolyze both beta-glucosides and beta-fucosides. To determine its structure and evolutionary lineage, the sequence of the enzyme was determined by peptide sequencing followed by PCR cloning. The cDNA included a reading frame coding for 547 amino acids including a 23 amino acid propeptide and a 524 amino acid mature protein. The sequences determined at peptide level were found in the cDNA sequence, indicating the sequence obtained was indeed the dalcochinase enzyme. The mature enzyme is 60% identical to the cyanogenic beta-glucosidase from white clover glycosyl hydrolase family 1, for which an X-ray crystal structure has been solved. Based on this homology, residues which may contribute to the different substrate specificities of the two enzymes were identified. Eight putative glycosylation sites were identified, and one was confirmed to be glycosylated by Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. The protein was expressed as a prepro-alpha-mating factor fusion in Pichia pastoris, and the activity of the secreted enzyme was characterized. The recombinant enzyme and the enzyme purified from seeds showed the same K(m) for pNP-glucoside and pNP-fucoside, had the same ratio of V(max) for these substrates, and similarly hydrolyzed the natural substrate, dalcochinin-8'-beta-glucoside.

Inherited metabolic disorders in Thailand--Siriraj experience.

The incidence of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) in Thailand is yet unknown. However, by estimation it is generally accepted to be 1 in 5,000. From a survey in 7 medical schools from different parts of the country and a large pediatric hospital in Bangkok, we found numerous cases of IEM nationwidc. Thesc were amino acid disorders, carbohydrate disorders, urea cycle defects, peroxisomal, lysosomal storage disorders, and many others. Since Thais are quite homogeneous in their genetic make-up; it is, therefore, very likely that IEM is much more prevalent than we realized. With the exception of thalassemias, IFAM is probably very common in Thailand and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. IEM identified were amino acid disorders eg phenylketonuria, maple syrup urine disease: urea cycle disorders eg ornithine transcarbamylase deficincy (OTC), argininosuccinic lyase deficiency (ALD), argininosuccinic acid synthetasc deficiency (ASD); glycogen storage disorders eg Pompe's discase, Von Gierkc's; organic acid disorders eg, isovaleric acidemia, methylmalonic acidemia. Lysosmal storagc disorders identified were GM1 gangliosidosis, mucolipidosis II, Hurler, Hunter, Maroteaux-Lamy, Sialidosis (neuraminidase deficicncy), Sly, Scheie, Gaucher, Niemann-Pick, Sandhoff and many other neurodegeneraative disorders identified were rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) and Zellweger. Recently fatty acid oxidation disorders: MCAD, translocase deficiency and multiple carbosxylase deficiency 9biotinidase deficiency) were also identified.

Plasma amino acid analyses in two cases of maple syrup urine disease.

Maple syrup urine disease is a rare inborn error of metabolism, characterized by elevated plasma levels of branched chain amino acids and urinary excretion of branched chain keto acids. Plasma amino acid levels in two subjects were followed by deproteinizing plasma, derivatizing the free amino acids with phenylisothiocyanate, and analysis by HPLC. The results indicate that valine, leucine and isoleucine are elevated in Maple syrup urine disease, and that leucine remains high even after dietary treatment.

Plasma amino acid and urine organic acid analyses of methylmalonic acidemia in a Thai infant.

Methylmalonic acidemia is an inborn error of organic acid metabolism resulting from defects in methylmalonyl CoA mutase. Analysis of plasma free amino acids in a 15-month-old Thai infant by HPLC showed marked elevation of glycine. HPLC analysis of urinary organic acids showed high levels of methylmalonic acid.

Detection and structural analysis of abnormal hemoglobins found in Thailand.

In Thailand, some 20 different abnormal hemoglobins have been found in the last 30 years. Most are rare except for Hb E and Hb Constant Spring, found with frequencies of 10-53% and 1-8% respectively in different parts of the country. Most mutations are point mutations, but C-terminal elongations and crossing-over are also found. Most mutations do not cause clinical problems, but some can give rise to mild thalassemia syndromes, or cause problems in association with thalassemia. Abnormal hemoglobins may often be diagnosed by electrophoresis, but some variants have the same mobility, so that other techniques are required, such as HPLC and the use of allele-specific polymerase reaction or oligonucleotide probes. Novel variants, not previously described in Thailand, require structural analysis at the protein and DNA level.

Separation, characterization, and specificity of alpha-mannosidases from Vigna umbellata.

Information about the specificity of glycosidase enzymes is important since it affects their use for characterization and synthesis of oligosaccharides. Two alpha-mannosidases (EC 3.2.1.24), I and II, were isolated from rice beans (Vigna umbellata). The native molecular weight of both isozymes was estimated to be 329,000, but pIs of form I were 5.03-5.34 and pIs of form II were 5.46-6.20. The two isozymes were characterized in terms of optimal pH and temperature, effects of metal ions, inhibition by swainsonine and 1-deoxymannojirimycin, and kinetic parameters for p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside and Man alpha (1-2)Man. Both enzymes were more specific towards Man alpha (1-2)Man in both hydrolysis and synthesis, but their hydrolytic specificities towards Man alpha (1-3)[Man alpha (1-6)]Man were different.

Isolation and characterization of an enzyme with beta-glucosidase and beta-fucosidase activities from Dalbergia cochinchinensis Pierre.

A glycosidase enzyme with both beta-glucosidase and beta-fucosidase activities has been purified from the seeds of Dalbergia cochinchinensis Pierre (Thai Rosewood) by ammonium sulfate fractionation, preparative isoelectric focusing, and Sephadex G-150 chromatography. The enzyme has molecular weights of 330,000 in the native state and 66,000 in the denatured state. Hydrolysis of p-NP-beta-D-glucoside and p-NP-beta-D -fucoside showed pH optimum at pH 5.0 and was inhibited by delta-gluconolactone, HgCl2, and p-chloromercuribenzoate. The Km and kcat values of the purified enzyme were 5.4 mM and 307 s-1 for p-NP-beta-D-glucoside and 0.54 mM and 151 s-1 for p-NP-beta-D-fucoside, so that the latter had by far the higher kcat/Km ratio. p-NP-beta-D-galactoside, p-NP-beta-D-xyloside, and p-NP-alpha-L-arabinoside were hydrolyzed more slowly. Hydrolysis of sophorose, laminaribiose, and gentiobiose were also rather slow, and hydrolysis of cellobiose was even slower. No hydrolysis of the cyanogenic glucosides linamarin or prunasin, but some hydrolysis of amygdalin and salicin was found. Further studies are required to identify the natural substrates of the enzyme. However, high yields, ease of purification, and storage stability of the enzyme make it a useful candidate for various applications, such as study of oligosaccharide synthesis by reversal of hydrolysis.

Identification of Hb C [beta 6(A3)Glu-->Lys] in a Thai male.

The propositus was a 29-year-old Thai male, whose electrophoretic pattern showed Hb A (58%) plus an abnormal hemoglobin (42%) with mobility identical to Hb A2 and Hb E. Protein sequencer analysis and tryptic peptide mapping of the beta chain indicated that the abnormal hemoglobin was Hb C [beta 6(A3)Glu-->Lys], rather than Hb E which is more commonly found in South East Asia. This conclusion was confirmed by direct sequence analysis of the propositus' DNA, which showed AAG as well as GAG at codon 6 of the beta gene, in agreement with heterozygosity for Hb C and Hb A. Furthermore, the beta gene framework (Ava II-, Bam HI+) of the propositus suggested that the beta C gene may have arisen from an independent mutation. Since Hb C and Hb E have the same mutation (Glu-->Lys) in the beta chain, although at different positions, and behave similarly in electrophoresis, cases of Hb C and Hb E may sometimes have been mistakenly identified for each other, based on whichever variant is most prevalent in the particular population.

Identification of Hb Lepore-Washington-Boston in association with Hb E [beta 26(B8)Glu----Lys] in a Thai female.

The proposita was a Thai female showing signs of a mild anemia (Hb: 11.4 g/dl; RBC: 4.91 X 10(6)/mm3; reticulocytes: 2.4%; MCV: 70 fl; MCHC: 23.3 g/dl). Hemoglobins were isolated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography in the following relative amounts: Hb E + Hb A2 = 53%; Hb F0 = 30.0%; Hb delta beta-Lepore = 12.7%; Hb F1 = 4.3%. The beta E and delta beta-Lepore chains were isolated by CM-cellulose chromatography and were subjected to tryptic peptide mapping on paper in comparison to normal beta A chains. Amino acid analysis of selected peptides permitted unambiguous identification of the abnormal hemoglobins as Hb E [beta 26(B8)Glu----Lys] and Hb Lepore-Washington-Boston, which has a delta chain sequence for residues 1-87, and a beta chain sequence for residues 116-146. The presence of a Lepore hemoglobin was further confirmed by Pst I digestion of the proposita's DNA. The association of the two hemoglobin variants gave rise to elevated levels of Hb F.