Pyrimidine metabolism and sugar nucleotide synthesis in rat liver.

With radioactive precursors, the labelling kinetics of the soluble pyrimidine nucleotides and of RNA were measured in rat liver to determine the contribution of the metabolic flows through synthesis de novo and the salvage pathway. To separate and quantify all pyrimidine nucleotides, an h.p.l.c. technique was developed using anion-exchange chromatography and reversed-phase chromatography. The concentrations of cytidine nucleotides were in the range of 30-45 nmol/g wet weight, and the concentrations of the uridine phosphates and of the UDP-sugars were approx. 6 and 20 times higher respectively. After a single injection of [14C]orotic acid and of [3H]cytidine, the specific radioactivities were determined as a function of time. The 14C/3H ratio was calculated and gave a good indication of the involvement of the different flows. It could be concluded that UTP derived from synthesis de novo and from the salvage pathway is not completely mixed before being utilized. The flow of the salvage pathway is relatively more directed to RNA synthesis in the nucleus and that of synthesis de novo to cytoplasmic processes. For CTP it could also be concluded that the flow of the salvage pathway was relatively more directed to RNA synthesis in the nucleus. Because of the nuclear localization of the enzyme CMP-NeuAc (N-acetylneuraminate) synthase, special attention was paid to CMP-NeuAc. However, a conclusion about a location about the synthesis of CMP-NeuAc could not unequivocally be drawn, because of the small differences in 14C/3H ratio and the different values for the CDP-lipids.

Variant-specific differences in human unsaturated transcobalamin II.

Electrophoresis and subsequent autoradiography of 57Co-cobalamin (57 Co-Cbl)-labeled serum show intensity differences between the genetic variants of human transcobalamin II (TC2), suggesting differences in the unsaturated (apo-) TC2 concentration. In order to distinguish between variant-specific differences in the Cbl binding affinity and those in the total-TC2 concentration, techniques were developed to determine total, apo-, and holo-TC2. Prolonged incubation at 37 degrees C with a 20-fold excess of 57Co-Cbl resulted in an almost complete exchange of endogenously bound Cbl, which allowed determination of the total TC2. The holo-TC2 concentration of both gene products in TC2 heterozygotes could be estimated by comparison of the labeling levels of apo- and total TC2, using densitometric quantification of the autoradiographs. By means of ion-exchange chromatography, TC2 could be separated from other Cbl-binding proteins, permitting a simple quantitative assay of apo- and total TC2, the results of which correlate fairly well with those measured by an immunoadsorption assay. The results obtained in the present investigation indicate that the variant-specific variation in the apo-TC2 concentration is caused by differences in the total-TC2 concentration rather than in the Cbl binding affinity.

Purification and enzymatic characterization of CMP-sialic acid: beta-galactosyl1----3-N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha 2----3-sialyltransferase from human placenta.

A CMP-NeuAc:Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-R alpha 2----3-sialyltransferase has been purified over 20,000-fold from a Triton X-100 extract of human placenta by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and CDP-hexanolamine-Sepharose in a yield of 10%. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions revealed that the enzyme consists of a major polypeptide species with a molecular weight of 41,000 and some minor forms with molecular weights of 40,000, 43,000, and 65,000, respectively, which can be resolved partially by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. Isoelectric focusing revealed that the enzyme occurs in a major and a minor charged form with pI values of 5.0-5.5 and 6.0, respectively. Acceptor specificity studies indicated that the enzyme catalyzes the incorporation of sialic acid from CMP-NeuAc into glycoproteins, glycolipids, and oligosaccharides which possess a terminal Gal beta----3GalNAc unit. Analysis of the structure of the product chain by high-pressure liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography as well as methylation analysis revealed that a NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc sequence is elaborated. The best glycoprotein acceptors are antifreeze glycoprotein and porcine submaxillary asialo/afucomucin. The disaccharide Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-Thr shows values for Km and V which are close to those of the latter glycoprotein. Lactose as well as oligosaccharides in which galactose is linked beta 1----3 or beta 1----4 to N-acetylglucosamine are less efficient acceptors. Of the glycolipids tested only gangliosides GM1 and GD1b served as an acceptor. The enzyme does not show an absolute aglycon specificity, and attaches sialic acid regardless the anomeric configuration of the N-acetylgalactosaminyl residue in the accepting Gal beta 1----3GalNAc unit. By use of specific acceptor substrates it could be demonstrated that the purified enzyme is free from other known sialyltransferase activities. Studies with rabbit antibodies raised against a partially purified sialyltransferase preparation indicated that the enzyme is immunologically unrelated to a Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc-R alpha 2----3-sialyltransferase, which previously had been identified in human placenta (Van den Eijnden, D.H., and Schiphorst, W. E. C. M. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 3159-3162). Initial-rate kinetic studies suggest that the sialyltransferase operates through a mechanism involving a ternary complex of enzyme, sugar donor, and acceptor. This is the first report on the extensive purification and characterization of a sialyltransferase from a human tissue.

Subcellular localization and tissue distribution of sialic acid-forming enzymes. N-acetylneuraminate-9-phosphate synthase and N-acetylneuraminate 9-phosphatase.

The activities of N-acetylneuraminate 9-phosphate synthase and N-acetylneuraminate 9-phosphatase, the two enzymes involved in the final steps of the biosynthetic pathway of N-acetylneuraminic acid, were measured with the substrates N-acetyl[14C]mannosamine 6-phosphate and N-acetyl[14C]neuraminic acid 9-phosphate respectively. Subcellular localization studies in rat liver indicated that both enzymes are localized in the cytosolic fraction after homogenization in sucrose medium. To test the possibility of misinterpretation due to the hydrolysis of N-acetylneuraminic acid 9-phosphate by non-specific phosphatases, the hydrolysis of various phosphate esters by the cytosolic fraction was tested. Only p-nitrophenyl phosphate was hydrolysed; however, competition studies with N-acetylneuraminic acid 9-phosphate and p-nitrophenyl phosphate indicated that two different enzymes were involved and that no competition existed between the two substrates. In various other rat tissues N-acetylneuraminate-9-phosphate synthase and N-acetylneuraminate 9-phosphatase activities were detected, suggesting that N-acetylmannosamine 6-phosphate is a general precursor for N-acetylneuraminic acid biosynthesis in all the tissues studied.

On the presence of two non-specific nucleotide-sugar-hydrolysing enzymes in rat liver.

Evidence is presented for the occurrence of two different non-specific nucleotide-sugar hydrolases in rat liver and other rat tissues. These two enzymes (I and II) were separated by chromatography on a 5'-AMP-aminohexyl-Sepharose column. Enzyme I is most probably identical with phosphodiesterase I (EC 3.1.4.1). Enzyme II appeared to be identical with an enzyme described in literature as 'CMP-sialic acid hydrolase' [Kean & Bighouse (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 7813-7823], since almost all activity with CMP-N-acetylneuraminate as substrate was recovered in this enzyme fraction. CMP-N-acetylneuraminate was a poor substrate for Enzyme I, whereas deoxythymidine-5'-p-nitrophenyl phosphate and all nucleoside-diphosphosugars tested were good substrates for both Enzyme I and II. Therefore it is suggested that CMP-N-acetylneuraminate is used as an additional substrate to discriminate between the activities of Enzyme I and II in homogenates or membrane preparations. The various substrates appeared to be competitive inhibitors of each other, suggesting that, in each enzyme preparation, only one enzyme is responsible for the hydrolysis of the various substrates. The dissimilar properties of the two enzymes are substantiated by studying the subunit molecular masses (Enzyme I, 125 kDa; Enzyme II, 50-55 kDa), the sensitivity towards Triton X-100, Sarkosyl and sodium dodecyl sulphate and towards trypsin treatment. It is discussed whether the alpha-N-acetylglucosamine phosphodiesterase described by Varki & Kornfeld [(1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 9937-9943] is identical with one of the nucleotide-sugar hydrolases described here.

Biosynthesis of the O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharide chains of fetuin. Indications for an alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha 2 leads to 6 sialyltransferase with a narrow acceptor specificity in fetal calf liver.

Fetal calf liver microsomes were found to be capable of sialylating 14C-galactosylated ovine submaxillary asialomucin. The main oligosaccharide product chain could be obtained by beta-elimination under reductive conditions and was identified as NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 3GalNAcol (where GalNAcol represents N-acetylgalactosaminitol) by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis and methylation. The branched trisaccharide Gal beta 1 leads to 3(NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 6)-GalNAcol and the disaccharide NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 6GalNAcol were not formed. Very similar results were obtained when asialofetuin and antifreeze glycoprotein were used as an acceptor. When 3H-sialylated antifreeze glycoprotein ([3H]NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 3GalNAc-protein) was incubated with fetal calf liver microsomes and CMP-[14C]NeuAc, a reduced tetrasaccharide could be isolated. The structure of this product chain appeared to be [3H]NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 3([14C]NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 6)GalNAcol, as established by means of HPLC analysis, specific enzymatic degradation with Newcastle disease virus neuraminidase, and periodate oxidation. These data indicate that fetal calf liver contains two sialyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of the O-linked bisialotetrasaccharide chain. The first enzyme is a beta-galactoside alpha 2 leads to 3 sialyltransferase which converts Gal beta 1 leads to 3 GalNAc chains to the substrate for the second enzyme, a (NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 3)GalNAc-protein alpha 2 leads to 6 sialyltransferase. The latter enzyme does not sialylate GalNAc or Gal beta 1 leads to 3GalNAc units but is capable of transferring sialic acid to C-6 of GalNAc in NeuAc alpha 2 leads to 3Gal beta 1 leads to 3GalNAc trisaccharide side chains, thereby dictating a strictly ordered sequence of sialylation of the Gal beta 1 leads to 3 GalNAc units in fetal calf liver.

Subcellular localization and tissue distribution of sialic acid precursor-forming enzymes.

The enzymes UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase, N-acetylmannosamine kinase, N-acetylglucosamine kinase and N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase, which are involved in the metabolism of N-acetylneuraminic acid, were studied in rat with regard to their subcellular localization and tissue distribution. The subcellular distribution studies in liver indicated that the enzymes are localized in the soluble cell fraction. In other tissues the comparison of enzyme activities in homogenates with that in high-speed supernatants led to a similar conclusion. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase, N-acetylglucosamine kinase and N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase were detected in almost all tissues studied. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase and N-acetylmannosamine kinase, two enzymes considered to be key enzymes in the N-acetylneuraminic acid biosynthesis, were detected only in sialoglycoprotein-secreting tissues, i.e. liver, salivary gland and intestinal mucosa. The low activity of the key enzymes in other tissues suggests that the biosynthetic pathway of N-acetylneuraminic acid is not the same in various tissues.

Biosynthesis of blood-group I and i substances. Specificity of bovine colostrum beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminide beta 1 leads to 4 galactosyltransferase.

Highly purified bovine colostrum beta-N-acetylglucosaminide beta 1 leads to 4 galactosyltransferase was used to investigate the galactosylation of the synthetic, branched trisaccharide GlcNAcbeta 1 leads to 3(GlcNAcbeta 1 leads to 6)Gal, which is the branching point in blood-group I antigenic structures. Two galactose residues could readily be incorporated from UDP-galactose into the trisaccharide, yielding a pentasaccharide with the following structure: Galbeta 1 leads to 4GlcNAcbeta 1 leads to 3(Galbeta 1 leads to 4GlcNAcbeta 1 leads to 6)Gal. From a partially completed incubation an intermediate tetrasaccharide was isolated, the structure of which was investigated by use of an acetolysis method, involving high-pressure liquid chromatography and double labelling techniques. It appeared that this intermediate consisted for more than 95% of one of two possible structures: GlcNAcbeta 1 leads to 3(Galbeta 1 leads to 4GlcNAcbeta 1 leads to 6)Gal. This reveals that the enzymatic galactosylation of the trisaccharide proceeds in a highly preferred order, in which the 1 leads to 6-linked N-acetylglucosamine residue is galactosylated first and thus that the galactosyltransferase displays a high degree of 'branch specificity'. Kinetic data suggest that galactosylation of the 1 leads to 6-linked N-acetylglucosamine in the trisaccharide enhances the acceptor properties of the 1 leads to 3-linked N-acetylglucosamine residue.

Sialylation in vitro of purified human liver beta-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase.

In order to study structure-function relationships of lysosomal enzymes, human liver beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-hexoside acetamidodeoxyhexohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.52) has been purified by an extraction/affinity chromatography/ion-exchange procedure. The isoenzymes A and B, native as well as neuraminidase-treated, were incubated with a partially purified preparation of bovine colostrum sialyltransferase (CMP-N-acetylneuraminate: D-galactosyl-glycoprotein N-acetylneuraminyltransferase, EC 2.4.99.1). Native beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases were found to be poor acceptors for the sialyltransferase used. However, incorporation of sialic acid into neuraminidase-treated beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A and B amounted to a 58 to 72% saturation of the theoretical acceptor sites, respectively. The acceptor specificity of the sialyltransferase suggests that Gal beta(1 leads to 4)-GlcNAc units may be present on at least part of the beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A and B molecules. However, oligomannosidic-type chains may also occur on the lysosomal enzyme, as shown by sugar composition of the enzyme. The presence and/or amount of sialic acid residues does not appear to affect the kinetic properties of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A and B towards 4-methylumbelliferyl glycoside substrate.

Specificity of porcine liver gal beta (1 leads to 3)galnac-r alpha(2 leads to 3) sialyltransferase sialylation of mucin-type acceptors and ganglioside GM1 in vitro.

Porcine liver microsomes are capable of transferring sialic acid from CMP-NeuAc to [14C]galactosylated ovine submaxillary asialo-mucin, porcine submaxillary asialo/afuco-mucin and ganglioside GM1. The specificity of the porcine liver sialyltransferase (CMP-N-acetylneuraminate: D-galactosyl-glycoprotein N-acetylneuraminyltransferase, EC 2.4.99.1) towards the first acceptor, [14C]Gal-GalNAc-protein, was investigated by means of methylation studies on the oligosaccharides changes cleft-off from the sialylated product glycoprotein by beta-elimination under reductive conditions. It appeared that sialic acid was transferred solely to position C-3 of galactose residues on Gal beta(1 leads to 3)GalNAc disaccharide units. Transfer to GalNAc residues was completely absent. Competition experiments and heat activation studies suggested that the same enzyme also converts ganglioside GM1 to ganglioside GD1a. Therefore, this porcine liver sialyltransferase can be designated as a Gal beta(1 leads to 3)GalNAc-R alpha(2 leads to 3) sialyltransferase.

Retrograde transport of radioactivity along axons of ascending cerebellar pathways after injection of N-[3H]acetyl-D-mannosamine into the mesencephalon of the rat.

Either the sialic acid precursor N-[3H]acetyl-D-mannosamine ([3H]ManNAc) or horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or both were injected into the mesencephalon of 15 rats. Localisation of radioactivity was performed by light microscopic autoradiography and HRP was histochemically localised with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine. After injection of either [3H]ManNAc or HRP, cell bodies in the central cerebellar nuclei were filled with radioactivity or HRP respectively. The distribution over contra- and ipsilateral interposed, dentate and fastigial nuclei of [3H]ManNAc-labelled and HRP-labelled cells is similar for both types of labelling. Since HRP is known to be transported retrogradely, a similar localisation of radioactivity-accumulating cells and HRP-filled cell bodies in the central cerebellar nuclei, lead us to the conclusion that radioactively-labelled ManNAc or its derivatives are also retrogradely transported in this system. There seem to be two possibilities for label uptake in afferents axons: (1) the uptake into axons which are disrupted by the injection needle and (2) the uptake by intact nerve endings or axons. After injection of [3H]ManNAc, the neuropil of central cerebellar nuclei shows a higher concentration of silver grains than the labelled cell bodies. This could be due to labelled dendrites caused by retrograde transport.

Comparison of the PI patterns of alpha 1-antitrypsin on acid starch gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing.

An acid starch gel electrophoresis procedure was developed for recognition of PI M subtypes of alpha 1-antitrypsin, proving that their electrophoretic mobilities correspond to their relative isoelectric points on isoelectric focusing. From transfer experiments, it could be concluded that the PI patterns obtained after acid starch gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing are formed by identical molecular populations. These findings justify the replacement of acid starch gel electrophoresis by isoelectric focusing as the method of choice for typing, including the assignment of new PI variants.

A semi-quantitative micromethod for the determination of free glycosaminoglycans in serum. Results from studies on serum of healthy children of various age and patients affected by mucopolysaccharidosis.

A method is presented for the determination of free glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration in as little as 30 microliter serum. By filtration of the serum through DEAE-cellulose paper, the free GAG fraction is selectively adsorbed and concentrated on a circular area of 15.9 mm2; these GAG spots are stained with Alcian Blue. The relationship between the amounts of adsorbed GAG and the optical density of the Alcian Blue spots is linear with a certain range; e.g. for chondroitin sulfate (mixed isomers), from 0.25 to 1.00 micrograms. With this method--which we will refer to as the "DEAE Alcian Blue" method--we estimated the free GAG concentration in sera of individuals of various ages including newborns.

Influence of chronic Cd intoxication on the alkaline phosphatase activity of liver and kidney; biochemical, histochemical and histological investigations.

To distinguish between: (a) the decrease of activity of alkaline phosphatase due to inhibition by cadmium; and (b) the decline of enzyme activity due to cell destruction, 20 adult female Wistar rats were treated 3 times/week with 0.5 mg/kg CdCl2 (by subcutaneous injection) during 28 weeks. Controls received the same volume of 0.9% NaCl solution. The animals were killed at different intervals. The liver and kidneys were investigated with biochemical, histochemical, light and electron microscopical techniques. The liver homogenates show an increase of alkaline phosphatase activity after about 12-13 weeks, whereas the activity of this enzyme in the kidney decreases. This activity could not be restored by the administration of Zn ions to the medium of the enzyme assay. However, in previous in vitro experiments the Cd inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity could be totally restored by such a Zn administration. By histochemical assay of alkaline phosphatase in the renal cortex a decrease of enzyme activity was demonstrated. By evaluation of the results obtained with light and electron microscopy, in combination with the biochemical results, the decrease of alkaline phosphatase activity in the kidney should be considered as a real decrease in the amount of this enzyme due to cell degeneration.

Organic solvent soluble lipofuscin pigment in brain tissues of mice fed large amounts of polyunsaturated fats in presence and absence of various antioxidants.

The amount of lipid soluble fluorescent pigment is compared in brain tissues of mice fed a diet containing 10% safflower oil with and without a supplement of antioxidants as Vitamin E, Ascorbyl-Palmitate and Sodium-Selenite. Addition of 0.2 g/kg Vitamin E to the diet gives a high raise in the mortality. The addition of 0.2 g/kg Vitamin E and 0.5 g/kg Ascorbyl-Palmitate leads to higher values of extractable lipid soluble fluorescent pigment in mice brain tissues.