Peroxisomal β-oxidation enzyme proteins in the Zellweger syndrome

Abstract

The absence of peroxisomes in patients with the cerebro-hepato-renal (Zellweger) syndrome is accompanied by a number of biochemical abnormalities, including an accumulation of very longchain fatty acids. We show by immunoblotting that there is a marked deficiency in livers from patients with the Zellweger syndrome of the peroxisomal β-oxidation enzyme proteins acyl-CoA oxidase, the bifunctional protein with enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities and 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase. Using anti-(acyl-CoA oxidase), increased amounts of cross-reactive material of low M r were seen in the patients. With anti-(oxoacyl-CoA thiolase), high M r cross-reactive material, presumably representing precursor forms of 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase, was detected in the patients. Catalase protein was not deficient, in accordance with the finding that catalase activity is not diminished in the patients. Thus in contrast to the situation with catalase functional peroxisomes are required for the stability and normal activity of peroxisomal β-oxidation enzymes.