Production and characterization of a human lysosomal recombinant iduronate-2-sulfatase produced in Pichia pastoris.

Hunter syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis II, MPS II) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disease produced by the deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS). Currently, MPS II patients are mainly treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using recombinant enzymes produced in mammalian cells. As an alternative, several studies have shown the production of active and therapeutic forms of lysosomal proteins in microorganisms. In this paper, we report the production and characterization of a recombinant IDS produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris (prIDS). We evaluated the effect of culture conditions and gene sequence optimization on prIDS production. The results showed that the highest production of prIDS was obtained at oxygen-limited conditions using a codon-optimized IDS cDNA. The purified enzyme showed a final activity of 12.45 nmol mg-1 H-1 and an apparent molecular mass of about 90 kDa. The highest stability was achieved at pH 6.0, and prIDS also showed high stability in human serum. Noteworthy, the enzyme was taken up by culture cells in a dose-dependent manner through mannose receptors, which allowed the delivery of the enzyme to the lysosome. In summary, these results show the potential of Pichia pastoris as a host to produce an IDS intended for a MPS II ERT.

Expression in CHO cells and pharmacokinetics and brain uptake in the Rhesus monkey of an IgG-iduronate-2-sulfatase fusion protein.

Sulfatases are potential therapeutic biopharmaceuticals, as mutations in sulfatase genes leads to inherited disease. Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) Type II is caused by mutations in the lysosomal enzyme, iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS). MPS-II affects the brain and enzyme replacement therapy is ineffective for the brain, because IDS does not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To deliver IDS across the human BBB, the sulfatase has been re-engineered as an IgG-sulfatase fusion protein with a genetically engineered monoclonal antibody (MAb) against the human insulin receptor (HIR). The HIRMAb part of the HIRMAb-IDS fusion protein acts as a molecular Trojan horse to ferry the fused IDS across the BBB. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were stably transfected to produce the HIRMAb-IDS fusion protein. The fusion protein was triaged to the lysosomal compartment of MPS-II fibroblasts based on confocal microscopy, and 300 ng/mL medium concentrations normalized IDS enzyme activity in the cells. The HIRMAb-IDS fusion protein was tritiated and injected intravenously into the adult Rhesus monkey at a low dose of 0.1 mg/kg. The IDS enzyme activity in plasma was elevated 10-fold above the endogenous level, and therapeutic plasma concentrations were generated in vivo. The uptake of the HIRMAb-IDS fusion protein in the brain was sufficiently high to produce therapeutic concentrations of IDS in the brain following IV administration of the fusion protein.

Recombinant human iduronate-2-sulphatase: correction of mucopolysaccharidosis-type II fibroblasts and characterization of the purified enzyme.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II, Hunter syndrome) is an X-chromosome-linked recessive lysosomal storage disorder that results from a deficiency of iduronate-2-sulphatase (12S). Patients with MPS II store and excrete large amounts of partially degraded heparan sulphate and dermatan sulphate. In order to evaluate enzyme-replacement therapy for MPS II we have expressed a chimaeric I2S cDNA in CHO (Chinese-hamster ovary)-K1 cells utilizing a plasmid vector that places the cDNA under the transcriptional control of the human polypeptide-chain-elongation factor-1 alpha gene promoter. A clonal cell line that accumulated recombinant I2S at greater than 10 mg/ml in conditioned medium was identified. Enzyme secreted from this cell line grown in the presence of NH4Cl was shown to be endocytosed into MPS II fibroblasts via the mannose 6-phosphate receptor and localized to the lysosomal compartment, resulting in correction of the storage phenotype of these cells. Milligram quantities of the recombinant I2S were purified, and the enzyme was shown to have a pH optimum and kinetic parameters similar to those for the mature form of I2S purified from human liver. The recombinant I2S had a molecular mass of approx. 90 kDa; this was reduced to 60 kDa by endoglycosidase treatment.

Human liver iduronate-2-sulphatase. Purification, characterization and catalytic properties.

Human iduronate-2-sulphatase (EC 3.1.6.13), which is involved in the lysosomal degradation of the glycosaminoglycans heparan sulphate and dermatan sulphate, was purified more than 500,000-fold in 5% yield from liver with a six-step column procedure, which consisted of a concanavalin A-Sepharose-Blue A-agarose coupled step, chromatofocusing, gel filtration on TSK HW 50S-Fractogel, hydrophobic separation on phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B and size separation on TSK G3000SW Ultrapac. Two major forms were identified. Form A and form B, with pI values of 4.5 and less than 4.0 respectively, separated at the chromatofocusing step in approximately equal amounts of recovered enzyme activity. By gel-filtration methods form A had a native molecular mass in the range 42-65 kDa. When analysed by SDS/PAGE, dithioerythritol-reduced and non-reduced form A and form B consistently contained polypeptides of molecular masses 42 kDa and 14 kDa. Iduronate-2-sulphatase was purified from human kidney, placenta and lung, and form A was shown to have similar native molecular mass and subunit components to those observed for liver enzyme. Both forms of liver iduronate-2-sulphatase were active towards a variety of substrates derived from heparin and dermatan sulphate. Kinetic parameters (Km and Kcat) of form A were determined with a variety of substrates matching structural aspects of the physiological substrates in vivo, namely heparan sulphate, heparin and dermatan sulphate. Substrate with 6-sulphate esters on the aglycone residue adjacent to the iduronic acid 2-sulphate residue being attack were hydrolysed with catalytic efficiencies up to 200 times above that observed for the simplest disaccharide substrate without a 6-sulphated aglycone residue. The effect of incubation pH on enzyme activity towards the variety of substrates evaluated was complex and dependent on substrate aglycone structure, substrate concentration, buffer type and the presence of other proteins. Sulphate and phosphate ions and a number of substrate and product analogues were potent inhibitor of form A and form B enzyme activities.

Iduronate sulfatase from human placenta.

The major enzyme component of iduronate sulfatase from human placenta was purified 30 000-fold by a five-step procedure. Sucrose gradient centrifugation of the native enzyme gave a molecular weight estimate of 80 000 +/- 10 000. Electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate of the enzyme reduced with mercaptoethanol showed a protein band of Mr 82 000. We suggest that the enzyme is composed of a single polypeptide chain of Mr 80 000-90 000.

Improved concanavalin A-Sepharose elution by specific readsorption of glycoproteins.

Elution of bound glycoproteins from concanavalin A-Sepharose can be made more efficient by their readsorption to a Blue A agarose column (specific) and Green A agarose column (less-specific) during recycling of the elution buffer. Three lysosomal enzymes were eluted in this way with marked improvement in their specific activities, time and handling and amount of eluting ligand used.

Multiple forms of iduronate 2-sulphate sulphatase in human tissues and body fluids.

Iduronate 2-sulphate sulphatase (EC 3.1.6.-) was found in human placenta in three forms which could be separated by elution from DEAE-cellulose using an NaCl gradient. Form C, most firmly bound to DEAE-cellulose, was 40% larger than the other two (forms A and B in order of ease of elution from the ion exchanger). Forms B and C contained sialic acid which could be removed by neuraminidase digestion. After removal of sialic acid form B became indistinguishable from form A. The enzyme forms found in placenta were compared with those from other human tissues and fluids by means of DEAE-cellulose chromatography and gel chromatography. Serum and amniotic fluid contained only form C, urine and cultured fibroblasts contained the less-anionic forms as well, and kidney contained appreciable amounts only of form A. Pre- and post-natal diagnosis of the Hunter syndrome both involve measurements on the enzyme which is present in form C. This is not accompanied by less-anionic forms which constitute the bulk of the enzyme as it is isolated from easily available sources such as urine.

Purification and some properties of human liver iduronate sulfatase.

Iduronate sulfatase was purified from human liver for an investigation of the degradative pathway of dermatan sulfate. An overall 80-fold purification was achieved and, more importantly, the preparation was free of alpha-L-iduronidase, beta-glucuronidase, N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfate sulfatase (arylsulfatase B) and highly enriched in beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase. The liver enzyme appeared to be composed of several molecular species. The enzyme activity was optimal at pH 4.0 and its Km was 10--20 microM with sulfoiduronyl sulfoanhydromannitol. Chloride was inhibitory at high concentration and among divalent metal ions, only copper was inhibitory. Nitrocatechol sulfate was not a substrate, but did show competitive inhibition. Its Ki for iduronate sulfatase was similar to its Km for arylsulfatase, suggesting a similarity in the substrate binding sites of iduronate sulfatase and arylsulfatases.

Identification and partial characterization of two enzyme forms of iduronate sulfatase from human placenta.

Iduronate sulfatase of human placenta separates on DEAE Bio-Gel A chromatography into two components, a less acidic form A and a more acidic form B. The two forms have different mobilities on gel electrophoresis and different isoelectric points, pH 5.0 for form A and pH 4.5 for form B. They show the same pH optima in sodium acetate buffer and similar Km values for [3H]disulfated disaccharide substrate. Iduronate sulfatase A is more heat labile than iduronate sulfatase B. Different molecular weights were found by gel filtration while similar values were estimated by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Neuraminidase treatment of the two forms gives evidence that these enzymes contain sialic acid residues.

[Preparation of iduronate sulfatase from the human placenta]. / Preparazione di iduronato solfatasi da placenta umana.

The preparation of the enzyme iduronate sulfatase from human placenta has been undertaken. The substrate O-(alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic acid 2-sulfate) (1 leads to 4)-2,5-anhydro-D-[3H]mannitol 6-sulfate was used to measure the enzymatic activity. The enzyme shows a pH optimum of 4.0 in 0.1 M sodium formiate or acetate buffer. Chromatography on DE-52 gives a 5.4 fold purification. The enzyme is inhibited by NaCl or KCl: in 20 mM salt the reaction rate was only 63% and 34% respectively. Inhibition by salt can be removed by extensive dialysis after the chromatographic step.