Acid Alpha-glucosidase Activity Research Articles

Bovine glycogenosis type II. Biochemical and morphological characteristics of skeletal muscle in culture.

The biochemical and morphological properties of cultured skeletal muscle from calves born into a herd of cattle, which are heterozygous for glycogenosis type II, were studied over 17 days. Muscle was cultured by a modification of the explant technique in which the mononucleated cells that grew from the explants were subcultured. Skeletal muscle from animals up to 15 months of age grew in culture to produce mature, cross-striated and spontaneously contractile myotubes. The creatine kinase activity was 310 (+/- 45.4) mU/mg protein on day 7 when fusion was complete, and 210 (+/- 15.1) mU/mg protein on day 17 of culture. Mature muscle cultures from animals affected by glycogenosis type II showed the characteristic biochemical and morphological abnormalities previously observed in vivo. Acid alpha-glucosidase activity was absent whereas the activities of neutral alpha-glucosidase, lysosomal alpha-mannosidase and creatine kinase were the same as in cultures of unaffected muscle. The concentration of glycogen was higher in cultured affected muscle than in cultured unaffected muscle. On days 7, 9 and 17 of culture the glycogen concentrations were 66.7 (+/- 2.7), 89.0 (+/- 5.5) and 120.3 (+/- 34.2) micrograms/mg protein respectively in affected muscle and 51.8 (+/- 3.6), 59.9 (+/- 5.4) and 55.4 (+/- 1.0) micrograms/mg protein respectively in non-affected muscle. Electron microscopic studies showed that the glycogen accumulated within the lysosomes. These results indicate that bovine glycogenosis type II is expressed in tissue culture since the cultured skeletal muscle from affected animals shows the same abnormalities as skeletal muscle in vivo.

The effect of age on biochemical and morphological changes in the semitendinosus muscle of cattle with generalized glycogenosis type II.

Progressive changes in acid alpha-glucosidase activity, glycogen content and light microscopical and ultrastructural features in skeletal muscle of calves affected by generalized glycogenosis type II were assessed in biopsies from semitendinosus muscle of nine affected, twenty-six carrier and fifteen normal calves taken at varying times between birth and 17 months of age. Affected animals could be identified by using the PAS technique on paraffin and epon embedded material or by electron microscopy. However, estimation of acid alpha-glucosidase activity was required for precise diagnosis of generalized glycogenosis type II or to distinguish between normal and carrier animals. The glycogen content of the semitendinosus muscle of affected animals was approximately three times that in non-affected animals and although storage of glycogen reached a plateau soon after birth, the muscle fibre damage seen in very young calves increased with age. Morphological evidence of glycogen accumulation, both within the cytoplasm and within membrane bound structures, was present at birth. In some animals evidence of muscle fibre regeneration and damage was seen in the same sections.

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of glycogen-storage disease type II by electron microscopy of uncultured amniotic-fluid cells.

Glycogen-storage disease Type IIa is a fatal, genetically determined disease of infancy or early childhood that is characterized by deficient activity of acid alpha-glucosidase and by the presence of intracellular vacuoles full of glycogen, which are found in most tissues, including skin and liver. On electron microscopy these specific vacuoles are tightly packed accumulations of glycogen particles surrounded by a single membrane. We did electron-microscopical examinations on uncultured amniotic-fluid cells from 26 women whose fetuses were at risk for glycogen-storage disease Type IIa and from 8 normal control pregnant women. We found specific vacuoles in cells from 6 of the 26 high-risk patients. At delivery, glycogen-storage disease Type IIa was present in the infants of these 6 women and absent in those of the other 20 according to results of clinical, biochemical, and electron-microscopical studies of gestational products. After amniocentesis at 15 to 18 weeks of gestation, the prenatal diagnosis made by electron microscopy of uncultured amniotic-fluid cells was available in three to six days, whereas it took from three to six weeks to make the diagnosis by enzymatic analysis of the cultured amniotic-fluid cells. We conclude that the electron-microscopical prenatal diagnosis of glycogen-storage disease Type IIa is rapid, safe, and reliable. It should facilitate earlier diagnosis and thereby help to preserve parental options.

Selective determination of the activities of neutral and acid alpha-glucosidase using discontinuous assays.

Most biological fluids contain both neutral and acid alpha-glucosidase. Optimal conditions were therefore developed for the selective determination of the activity of neutral and acid alpha-glucosidase, using 2-step, discontinuous assays. In the first step of the assay of neutral alpha-glucosidase, glucose was liberated from maltose (citrate-phosphate buffer, pH 6.8, 20 mmol/l maltose, 25 mmol/l turanose). Under these incubation conditions, turanose inhibited the residual activity of acid alpha-glucosidase almost completely without influencing the activity of neutral alpha-glucosidase. In the first step of the acid alpha-glucosidase assay, glucose was liberated from maltose (citrate-phosphate buffer, pH 3.8, 50 mmol/l maltose, 2 mol/l potassium chloride). Under these incubation conditions, potassium ions stimulate the activity of acid alpha-glucosidase and simultaneously inhibit almost completely the residual activity of neutral alpha-glucosidase. In the second step of the assay of neutral and acid alpha-glucosidase, the liberated glucose was measured by hexokinase/glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The effect of turanose and potassium ions on neutral and acid alpha-glucosidase from human urine was characterized.

Mechanism of placental glycogen deposition in diabetes in the rat.

The metabolic basis for glycogen accumulation in the placenta of rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin on day 12 of pregnancy was studied on days 15 and 20. On day 15 glycogen content of the placenta was 1.5-fold higher in the diabetic than in the control rats and this difference increased to greater than fivefold on day 20 of gestation whether calculated per g tissue or per total placenta. Accumulation of glycogen was associated with increased specific activities of both glycogen synthase and phosphorylase. The activities of these enzymes regulating synthase and phosphorylase activities and the activity of acid alpha-glucosidase were not significantly affected by diabetes. Glucose-6-phosphate concentration of the placenta was 67 and 23 nmol/g in diabetic and control rats, respectively. Incubation of placental homogenates with glucose increased the rate of inactivation of phosphorylase and activation of glycogen synthase. These results indicate that the enhanced glucogenesis in diabetes is not due to changes in the activities of these enzymes, as measured in vitro under standard conditions. The factors promoting glycogen accumulation in vivo are related to the abundance of glucose and glucose-6-phosphate as substrates for glycogen synthesis, which may also cause an increase in the activity ratio glycogen synthase a/phosphorylase a. In addition, the high intracellular glucose-6-phosphate concentration is likely to enable glycogen synthase b to contribute to glycogen synthesis.

Excretion of neutral alpha-glucosidase, determined with a continuous assay, and of acid alpha-glucosidase in the urine of human reference subjects.

The catalytic activities of neutral and acid alpha-glucosidase were selectively determined in human urine. Urinary excretion of neutral and acid alpha-glucosidase in reference subjects was found to be in the range 1.61 to 20.36 microkat/mol creatinine and 7.47 to 33.60 microkat/mol creatinine, respectively. Urinary excretion of both enzymes was not related to sex, age or diuresis. A continuous assay was introduced to improve the determination of neutral alpha-glucosidase.

Glycohydrolases in diabetes: characterization of acid α-glucosidase from liver and neutral α-glucosidase from sera of diabetic patients and controls

Acid alpha-glucosidase activity measured in the supernatant fraction of liver homogenates obtained from adult-onset diabetic patients is significantly decreased when compared to controls (2.86 +/- 1.18 and 5.79 +/- 1.82 nmoles/min/mg protein +/- S.D., respectively). The biochemical properties (Km values, thermostability, pH optimum, isoelectric focusing profiles) of acid alpha-glucosidase obtained from the livers of diabetic patients were similar to those of acid alpha-glucosidase obtained from the livers of controls. Mixing studies gave additivity of acid alpha-glucosidase activity suggesting that neither inhibitors nor activators are present (in diabetic and control livers, respectively). Neutral alpha-glucosidase activity measured in the sera of diabetic patients was significantly increased when compared to controls (4.35 +/- 1.82 and 2.44 +/- 1.05 nmoles/h/ml +/- S.D., respectively). Neutral alpha-glucosidase in the sera of diabetic and control patients has a similar pH optimum but the enzyme in the serum of diabetics has a slightly lower apparent Km value for the 4-methylumbelliferyl substrate (0.6 vs. 0.9 mmol/L) and slightly increased thermostability. Experiments involving dialysis of patient serum, addition of glucose to patient serum and mixing of control and diabetic patient sera all suggest that glucose exhibits only slight inhibition of serum neutral alpha-glucosidase activity. Isoelectric focusing indicates that neutral alpha-glucosidase activity in the sera of diabetic patients is consistently different from the enzyme in the sera of control patients in that a significantly smaller percentage of activity is found in the acidic region with pI values less than 4.8.

Extension of human acid alpha-glucosidase polymorphism by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel.

1. A method to analyse acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) activity in human tissues by flatbed polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing has been devised. 2. With this method the GAA polymorphism has been extended from three to six commonly occurring phenotypes. 3. After isoelectric focusing the GAA2 isozyme migrated cathodally with respect to the GAA1 isozyme, whereas with the previous starch-gel electrophoresis method their relative positions were reversed. 4. The six common phenotypes are generated by three alleles, GAA*1, GAA*2 and GAA*4 with frequencies of 0.91, 0.03 and 0.06, respectively.

Skeletal-muscle alpha-glucosidases in bovine generalized glycogenosis type II.

The skeletal muscle of cattle suffering from generalized glycogenosis type II was shown to lack acid alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.3) activity. Furthermore, there was no evidence of enzymically inactive proteins that cross-reacted with antibodies raised against acid alpha-glucosidase from the muscle of normal animals.

Infantile and late onset form of generalised glycogenosis type II in cattle.

A herd of cattle which produces calves with generalised glycogenosis type II has been established. Seven affected animals have been born and their disease status as indicated by a decreased acid alpha-glucosidase activity and excessive glycogen deposition in muscle, can be detected on the day of birth. Two animals have died of heart failure aged 3 and 5 months and have shown cardiomegally. Five animals were clinically normal until 9 months of age when they failed to maintain weight gain, showed muscle weakness and four were killed aged between 12 and 16 months after showing difficulty in rising. All affected animals had abnormal ECG tracings and had elevated levels of CK, LDH and HBDH in serum. Excessive amounts of glycogen were deposited in voluntary, cardiac and smooth muscle, and in cells of the nervous system. The muscles showed a vacuolar myopathy. Both the infantile and late onset forms of generalised glycogenosis type II are present in this herd of cattle. The condition appears to be controlled by a recessive allele at a single autosomal locus.

Identification of heterozygotes for glycogenosis 2 (acid maltase deficiency).

In 21 obligate and 9 possible heterozygotes for acid maltase deficiency (AMD) (glycogenosis 2, Pompe's disease), different methods of identifying heterozygotes have been studied. Heterozygosity could not be demonstrated by physical examination, serum CPK assays, morphological examination of muscle biopsy (including light-microscopy, histochemistry and electron-microscopy), or by ultrastructural examination of a skin biopsy. Heterozygotes could be identified to a large, but still limited extent, by measuring the acid alpha-glucosidase activity in urine, cultivated fibroblasts, leucocytes, or skeletal muscle. Heterozygotes for the generalized from of AMD could not be distinguished from those for the muscular form. The limitations of heterozygote identification by means of enzyme assays are discussed, and some practical aspects for genetic counselling are mentioned.

Physicochemical and Ultrastructural Studies on Glycogenosomes in Newborn Rat Hepatocytes

In the newborn rat liver, glycogenosomes appeared at about 6 hours after birth and gradually increased in number, despite high activity of lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase. The glycogenosomes then disappeared completely with 2 days after birth. Glycogen extracted from fetal rat liver differed in molecular structure from that of adult rat liver. In measurements of optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and circular dichroism (CD) absorption spectra, fetal-type glycogen showed the Cotton effect whereas the adult rat liver glycogen did not. The degree of branching and S-values of the two glycogens were also different. With the disappearance of glycogenosomes, fetal-type glycogen disappeared completely, and adult-type glycogen then appeared strongly. This was demonstrated in the intracytoplasmic matrix by electron microscopy. The present experiments indicate that glycogenosomes may be formed even under conditions of high acid alpha-glucosidase, and that autophagy of glycogen macromolecules in the lysosomal system is closely related to different structural features of fetal-type glycogen in the neonatal period.

Ultrastructural and Biochemical Studies of Glycogenosome Formation in Ascites Hepatoma AH 13 Cells

Appreciable numbers of glycogenosomes were found in ascites hepatoma cells. They were lined by a single or sometimes double membranous structure exhibiting weakly positive acid phosphatase activity. Some were closely related to the Golgi apparatus, and a few showed wrapping of glycogen particles. The glycogen extracted from ascites hepatoma AH 13 cells was of two major types: a normal adult liver type, and a muscle type. Only the latter type gave the Cotton effect on measurement of the ORD and CD spectra. Small particulate, muscle type glycogen was observed in the glycogenosomes. Autophagy of normal adult liver type glycogen was never found. The engulfment of muscle type glycogen was accompanied by high acid and neutral alpha-glucosidase activity levels.

Acid hydrolases and their Release in Food Vacuole‐Less Mutants of Tetrahymena thermophila*

Mutants (NP1 and PSJ5) of Tetrahymena thermophila strains B and D 1968 exist that are unable to construct a functional oral apparatus and form food vacuoles at 37 C but which do so normally at 30 C. Food vacuole-less cells starved in dilute salt solution released similar amounts of acid phosphatase, beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and alpha-glucosidase activity into the medium as wildtype cells during an 8-h period. Actively growing, food vacuole-less cells had approximately 50% less total protein, acid phosphatase, beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, and alpha-glucosidase per cell than wildtype cells after 72-h growth. During this time food vacuole-less cells released significant amounts of the 3 acid hydrolases into the growth medium. For each hydrolase, the total activity released from growing, food vacuole-less cells was less, on a per cell basis, tahn the amount released from food vacuole formers. The proportion of the total activity secreted by the mutant and the wildtype cells was the same for acid phosphatase and beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and somewhat lower for alpha-glucosidase. It is concluded that the release of a significant amount of acid hydrolase activity from Tetrahymena is independent of food vacuole formation and may be analogous to the secretory activity of other nonphagocytic eukaryotic cells.

Acid Hydrolases and Autolytic Properties of Protein Bodies and Spherosomes Isolated from Ungerminated Seeds of Sorghum bicolor (Linn.) Moench

Protein bodies and spherosomes isolated from mature seeds of Sorghum bicolor (Linn.) Moench have measurable activity of acid protease, alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, beta-galactosidase, phytase, acid pyrophosphatase, p-nitrophenyl phosphatase, and RNase. Protein bodies have largely insoluble activities, and produce soluble protein and soluble amino nitrogen during autolysis. They have the dual function of protein storage and protein catabolism. Spherosomes have considerable amounts of soluble enzymes and autolytically produce soluble amino nitrogen and inorganic phosphate but release little soluble protein. Spherosomes are similar to animal lysosomes but have an additional storage function for protein, phosphorus, and metals. Mature sorghum seed contains the necessary enzymes and substrates to generate two basic metabolites, amino acids and inorganic phosphate.

Lysosomal physiology in Tetrahymena. I. Effect of glucose, acetate, pyruvate, and carmine on intracellular content and extracellular release of three acid hydrolases.

Log-phase Tetrahymena were washed and resuspended in a dilute salt solution supplemented with glucose, acetate, pyruvate, or carmine, as desired, and then incubated for 5 h. Intra- and extracellular activities of acid phosphatase, alpha-glucosidase, and ribonuclease were assayed. Extracellular activities were corrected for proteolytic degradation. The three nutritive substrates affected both the amount and pattern of extracellular enzyme release, but carmine had no effect. Intracellular activities declined early in the starvation period, but partially recovered with time, particularly alpha-glucosidase activity. Acetate reduced the decline in acid phosphatase activity; acetate and glucose enhanced the recovery of alpha-glucosidase activity; carmine had no effect on intracellular enzyme activities. Protein content changed little and was unaffected by the addition of substrates. Glycogen content increased during incubation; acetate and glucose enhanced the increase.

The maltase, glucoamylase and transglucosylase activities of acid -glucosidase from rabbit muscle.

1. The maltase and glucoamylase activities of acid alpha-glucosidase purified from rabbit muscle exhibited marked differences in certain physicochemical properties. These included pH stability, inactivation by thiol-group reagents, inhibition by alphaalpha-trehalose, methyl alpha-d-glucoside, sucrose, turanose, polyols, glucono-delta-lactone and monosaccharides, pH optimum and the kinetics and pH-dependence of cation activation. 2. The results are interpreted in terms of the existence of at least two specific substrate-binding sites or sub-sites. One site is specific for the binding of maltose and probably other oligosaccharides. The second site binds polysaccharides such as glycogen. 3. The sites appear to be in close proximity, since glycogen and maltose are mutually inhibitory substrates and interact directly in transglucosylation reactions. 4. Acid alpha-glucosidase exhibited intrinsic transglucosylase activity. The enzyme catalysed glucosyl-transfer reactions from [(14)C]maltose (donor substrate) to polysaccharides (glycogen and pullulan) and to maltose itself (disproportionation). The pH optimum was 5.1, with a shoulder or secondary activity peak at pH5.4. The glucose transferred to glycogen was attached by alpha-1,4- and alpha-1,6-linkages. Three major oligosaccharide products of enzyme action on maltose (disproportionation) were detected. 5. The kinetics of enzyme action on [(14)C]maltose showed that the rate of transglucosylation increased in a sigmoidal fashion as a function of substrate concentration, approximately in parallel with a decrease in the rate of glucose release. 6. The results are interpreted to imply competitive interaction at a specific binding site between maltose and water as glucosyl acceptors. 7. The results are discussed in terms of the possible existence of multiple subgroups of glycogen-storage disease type II.

Studies on type II glycogenosis. Effects of cortisone derivatives on acid -glucosidase.

Cortisone causes a marked increase in the activity of liver acid alpha-glucosidase 2h after injection into male Wistar rats. Studies on rat liver tissue slices, isolated lysosomes and cultured skin fibroblasts have demonstrated similar elevations of acid alpha-glucosidase activity after incubation with cortisone. Cortisone-treated human liver tissue, obtained by needle biopsy, also shows an increase in acid alpha-glucosidase activity. Neutral alpha-glucosidase activity was not stimulated by cortisone in vivo or in liver slices.

Purification of an acid alpha-glucosidase by dextran-gel filtration.

1. The behaviour of rat liver alpha-glucosidases on dextran gel (Sephadex G-100) columns was studied. A ;retardation' of an acid alpha-glucosidase activity was observed. This activity was identified as lysosome alpha-(1-->4)-glucosidase. A single gel-filtration step resulted in a 700-fold purification of the enzyme. The same technique was also used to purify the acid alpha-glucosidase of human kidney. 2. The acid alpha-glucosidases of both tissues show very similar pH optima when tested with maltose or glycogen as substrate.