Cationic Isoforms Research Articles

Lignification in Zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.) Stem Sections of Different Age: Biochemical and Molecular Genetic Traits

Lignification of the stem in zinnia provides its mechanical properties due to xylem formation, which depends on the stage of plant development and is responsible for the transport of water and minerals. The study was aimed at the lignin deposition, anatomical traits, biochemical markers of lignification, as well as the genetic regulation of this process in zinnia stem cross sections of different age during their radial growth. The anatomical traits were assessed on cross sections. The content of lignin (Cysteine-assisted sulfuric method (CASA) and the thioglycolic acid (TGA) methods), the spectrum of phenolics (by thin layer chromatography (TLC)), the total activity and the variety of class III peroxidases were determined. The expression level of genes regulating phenylpropanoids and lignin biosynthesis were assessed. We suggest that time-specific and organ-specific lignification is determined by the metabolism of phenolic compounds and depends on the expression of genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway. It was shown that in the hypocotyl, during xylem ring formation, lignification was associated with increased expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) genes responsible for the early stages of the phenylpropanoid pathway, and with the rise of class III peroxidases activity, including cationic isoforms. This caused increased content and diversity of phenolics in mature hypocotyl. In epicotyl, which is younger than the hypocotyl, the proportion of ferulic acid among phenolics increased, which could be considered as a marker of lignification in it. The high expression level of CAD and the activity of peroxidases, including anionic isoforms, led to accumulation of lignin. Thus, the hypocotyl and epicotyl, being characterized by different ages, differed in spectrum of phenolics, isoforms of class III peroxidases, expression of the PAL, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), peroxidases III class (PRX), and laccase (LAC) genes, and lignin content.

Biochemical characterization of peroxidases from the moss Dicranum scoparium

Mosses are a convenient model to study stress responses of plants because of their remarkable stress tolerance. Peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) activities were tested in three moss species, namely Dicranum scoparium, Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi growing together in the same location in a boreal forest. Peroxidase activity in D. scoparium was twice as high as in other mosses. Total peroxidase activity in unstressed D. scoparium was constitutively high; furthermore, long-term desiccation caused a significant increase in activity after 48 h of drying. Interestingly, when thalli desiccated for a week were rapidly rehydrated, peroxidase activity initially declined and then increased after 2 h rehydration. Diverse anionic and cationic isoforms were detected by native isoelectric focusing and PAGE of both crude extracts and partially purified peroxidases. The ability of peroxidases from D. scoparium to produce superoxide radical (O2•−) was confirmed using the 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay and in-gel nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) staining; specific O2•− producing isoforms were revealed using 2D electrophoresis. Given a quinone and chelated Fe3+D. scoparium could produce extracellular hydroxyl radical (•OH), and production was increased by desiccation/rehydration stress. The possible roles of peroxidases and quinone reductases in apoplastic •OH production is discussed. Our data demonstrate that D. scoparium possesses high constitutive peroxidase activity that can be further increased by desiccation stress. Among the diverse moss peroxidases, some anionic isoforms displayed both pro- and antioxidative activities. These findings suggest that the ability of peroxidases to produce and detoxify reactive oxygen species is an evolutionarily ancient characteristic, important for plant stress tolerance.

Effect of stress conditions on the activity and isozyme composition of peroxidase of vacuoles and tissue extract of red beet roots

Changes in the enzymatic activity of phenol-dependent peroxidase (PO) of vacuoles and tissue extract of red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) roots in different phases of plant development and in hyperosmotic stress and pathogen infection were found. The highest activity was observed during root growth and the lowest PO activity occurred in dormancy, respectively. Activation of the enzyme was observed in infected roots. The isozyme composition of PO was characterized by lability, and the number of cationic isoforms varied significantly. The optimum pH of the enzyme changed depending on the growth phase and stressor, tending to shift towards low values at rest and in hyperosmotic stress. The shift in the optimum pH coincided with the appearance of additional cationic PO isoforms.

Activity and isoenzyme composition of vacuolar peroxidase in the roots of red beet at different stages of development and upon changes in storage conditions

Activity and isoenzyme composition of phenol-dependent vacuolar peroxidase (PO) were examined at different stages of development of red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) roots. The enzyme activity was found to increase during growth and decrease during the period of root dormancy. The isoenzyme composition of PO was also altered; additional cationic and anionic isoforms were revealed at certain stages of growth and dormancy. The dormant roots are often subjected to stresses, such as water deficiency and pathogenesis. For this reason, the enzyme activity in beet roots showing obvious signs of shrivel and infection with pathogenic microorganisms was investigated. The activation of PO was observed in infected roots, whereas the increase in the number of cationic PO isoforms was noted in water-stressed roots. The pH optima of the enzyme were found to shift depending on the developmental stage and the nature of stress factors: during dormancy and under water stress the pH optima shifted towards the acidic values. The shift in pH optima occurred concurrently with the appearance of cationic inducible isoforms. The pH dependences of cationic PO isoforms (these POs were mainly associated with the tonoplast) showed that their activity was optimal at pH 4.0 and 5.0. The observed changes in activity and composition of isoenzymes suggest the active involvement of the vacuolar peroxidase in metabolic processes and cell defense responses in beet roots.

Identification of Cysteine Residues in Human Cationic Amino Acid Transporter hCAT-2A That Are Targets for Inhibition by N-Ethylmaleimide

In most cells, cationic amino acids such as l-arginine, l-lysine, and l-ornithine are transported by cationic (CAT) and y(+)L (y(+)LAT) amino acid transporters. In human erythrocytes, the cysteine-modifying agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) has been shown to inhibit system y(+) (most likely CAT-1), but not system y(+)L (Devés, R., Angelo, S., and Chávez, P. (1993) J. Physiol. 468, 753-766). We thus wondered if sensitivity to NEM distinguishes generally all CAT and y(+)LAT isoforms. Transport assays in Xenopus laevis oocytes established that indeed all human CATs (including the low affinity hCAT-2A), but neither y(+)LAT isoform, are inhibited by NEM. hCAT-2A inhibition was not due to reduced transporter expression in the plasma membrane, indicating that NEM reduces the intrinsic transporter activity. Individual mutation of each of the seven cysteine residues conserved in all CAT isoforms did not lead to NEM insensitivity of hCAT-2A. However, a cysteine-less mutant was no longer inhibited by NEM, suggesting that inhibition occurs through modification of more than one cysteine in hCAT-2A. Indeed, also the double mutant C33A/C273A was insensitive to NEM inhibition, whereas reintroduction of a cysteine at either position 33 or 273 in the cysteine-less mutant led to NEM sensitivity. We thus identified Cys-33 and Cys-273 in hCAT-2A as the targets of NEM inhibition. In addition, all proteins with Cys-33 mutations showed a pronounced reduction in transport activity, suggesting that, surprisingly, this residue, located in the cytoplasmic N terminus, is important for transporter function.

Suspension cell culture as a tool for the characterization of class III peroxidases in sugarcane

Secreted class III peroxidases (EC 1.11.1.7) are implicated in a broad range of physiological processes throughout the plant life cycle. However, the unambiguous determination of the precise biological role of an individual class III peroxidase isoenzyme is still a difficult task due to genetic redundancy and broad substrate specificity invitro. In addition, many difficulties are encountered during extraction and analysis of cell wall proteins. Since class III peroxidases are also secreted into the apoplast, the use of suspension cell cultures can facilitate isolation and functional characterization of individual isoforms. Here, we report on the characterization of class III peroxidases secreted in the spent medium of sugarcane suspension cell cultures. After treatment with specific inducers of cell wall lignification, peroxidases were isolated and activities assayed with guaiacol, syringaldazine and coniferyl alcohol. Enzymatic activity was not significantly different after treatments, regardless of the substrate, with the exception of methyl-jasmonate treatment, which led to a decreased guaiacol peroxidase activity. Remarkably, peroxidases isolated from the medium were capable of oxidizing syringaldazine, an analog to sinapyl alcohol, suggesting that sugarcane cultures can produce peroxidases putatively correlated to lignification. A proteomic approach using activity staining of 2-DE gels revealed a complex isoperoxidase profile, composed predominantly of cationic isoforms. Individual spots were excised and analyzed by LC-ESI-Q-TOF and homology-based search against the Sugarcane EST Database resulted in the identification of several proteins. Spatio-temporal expression pattern of selected genes was determined for validation of identified class III peroxidases that were preferentially expressed during sugarcane stem development.

The effects of manganese and copper in vitro and in vivo on peroxidase catalytic cycles

Here we present the results of in vitro and in vivo studies of the influence of Mn 2+ and Cu 2+ on the peroxidative and oxidative catalytic functions of class III peroxidase. Complex peroxidase catalysis by intermediates generated in the reaction was analyzed by utilizing the activating effect of Mn 2+ and the inhibitory effect of Cu 2+ on the oxidative reaction in vitro. p-Coumaric acid was used as an enzyme substrate in the peroxidative reaction and as a cofactor in the oxidative reaction. In order to correlate the observed in vitro effects with the in vivo situation, we exposed maize plants to excess concentrations of Mn 2+ and Cu 2+ in the hydroponic solutions. Copper severely arrested plant growth, while manganese exerted no significant effect. The effects on peroxidase activity and isoforms profile of root soluble and cell wall bound fractions were studied. Inhibition of the peroxidase oxidative function by copper was reversible, localized in the cell wall, and accompanied by disappearance of some and appearance of new cationic isoforms. Copper-mediated changes were suppressed by the presence of manganese, although Mn 2+ treatment per se did not affect the activity of the peroxidase enzyme. The results on the peroxidase activity in maize roots grown with excess Mn 2+ and Cu 2+ point to the coupling between the oxidative cycle, root growth and different peroxidase isoforms.

Molecular peculiarities of the chitin-binding peroxidases of plants

The chitin-binding ability of isoperoxidases isolated from 23 plants of different species was studied. The activation of peroxidases in a protein extract in the presence of this polysaccharide was found for 14 of the studied plants. Anionic isoperoxidases were shown to be sorbed on chitin and eluted from them with 1 M NaCl for 16 of the plant species. Cationic isoforms of the peroxidases of some species of the Fabaceae and Cucurbitaceae plant families also bound to chitin. An immunochemical similarity was found between the chitin-binding isoperoxidases of taxonomically distant plant species (the Pomaceous, Fabaceae, and gourd families). Moreover, a high homology of the molecular structures of the polysaccharide-binding sites was revealed for the anionic peroxidases of rice, wheat, oat, zucchini, cucumber, and radish. We propose the existence of a special class of plant peroxidases that bind with polysaccharides (chitin) and participate in the protective reactions of plants against pathogens.

Profile of peroxidase isoforms influenced by spongy tissue disorder in Alphonso mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruits

This paper describes the profile of peroxidase (POX) isoenzymes induced due to the natural infection of Staphylococcus xylosus in spongy Alphonso mango fruits. Very low levels of protein and POX activity was observed in non-spongy unripe fruits, and when these fruits turned table-ripe, the levels of both the protein content and POX activity increased several fold. The spongy fruits, however, showed further 2-fold increase in POX activity; although drastic decrease in protein content was observed. Anionic and cationic PAGE, and isoelectric focusing (IEF), resulted in separation of various isoenzymes of POX. Both, anionic and cationic PAGE indicated that, at unripe stage, only basic isoforms were present in trace amounts. In non-spongy ripe fruits, increased levels of both anionic and cationic isoforms were observed after staining the gel with o-dianisidine, the POX substrate. In spongy fruits, however, an anionic PAGE showed appearance of four acidic isoforms with relative electrophoretic mobility (REM) of 0.52, 0.73, 0.78, and 0.84 and an isoenzyme (REM 0.52), showed further activation, as indicated by the intense dark color formation. Cationic PAGE also indicated higher levels of two basic isoforms (REM 0.56 and 0.62), in the spongy fruits. Isoelectric focusing resolved these isoenzymes in acidic, neutral, and basic isoforms. Two acidic isoforms in the pI range of 2–3.5 were detected toward the anode region and two cationic isoforms of pI 7.8 and 8.7, toward the cathode, giving visible indication of increased levels of these isoforms. The increased intensities of the POX bands observed in anionic and cationic PAGE, and IEF, gave confirmatory evidence for the up regulation of anionic and cationic isoforms in spongy fruits. These isoenzymes could have been overexpressed as a defense response of the spongy fruits against the Staphylococcus infection.

Charge differences between in vivo deposits in immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis and non‐amyloid light chain deposition disease*

Immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL) and non-amyloid light chain deposition disease (NALCDD) are different forms of protein aggregation disorders that may occur in plasma cell dyscrasias with dysproteinemia. In systemic AL, the deposits are fibrillar and patchy in distribution, within and amongst different organs, whereas in NALCDD, the deposits are granular and diffusely distributed in systemic basement membranes, suggesting different mechanisms of aggregation and deposition. Previous evidence, that charge differences between the light chains in AL and NALCDD might account for their different phenotypes, prompted the present study, which compared the isoelectric points (pIs) of AL and NALCDD protein deposits extracted from human tissues. The pI profiles (5.2-8.8) of polypeptides in AL deposits were heterogenous in four cases, with a spread of both anionic and cationic isoforms; in contrast, in three of NALCDD the pI profiles (8.2-8.8) were homogeneous and restricted in the cationic range. These in vivo findings in human disease, together with other reported in vitro and in vivo experimental data, suggest that the fibrillar deposits in AL may form by electrostatic interaction between oppositely charged polypeptides, whereas the granular deposits in NALCDD form by the binding of cationic polypeptides to anionic proteoglycans sites in basement membranes.

Lipid composition of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) root plasma membrane and membrane-bound peroxidase and superoxide dismutase

Plasma membrane was isolated from roots of pea and maize plants and used to analyze POD and SOD isoforms, as well as lipid composition. Among lipids, phospholipids were the main lipid class, with phosphatidylcho?line being the most abundant individual component in both pea and maize plasma membranes. Significant differences between the two plant species were found in the contents of cerebrosides, free sterols, and steryl glycosides. Most maize POD isoforms were with neutral and anionic pI values, but the opposite was observed in pea. While both anionic and cationic SOD isoforms were isolated from maize, only two anionic SOD isoforms were detected in pea.

Arginase in patients with breast cancer

The mean arginase activity in breast cancers ( n=80) was significantly higher than in control tissues and it accounted for 0.31±0.23 U/g wet tissue and 0.083±0.061 U/g ( P<0.05), respectively. With the cutoff value of 0.1 U/g wet tissue, raised arginase activity was observed in 74% of tumors. The preoperative arginase activity in blood serum from women with breast cancer was 11.2±7.9 U/l ( n=115), and it was significantly higher than in 70 healthy controls, where it was 5.7±2.4 U/l ( P<0.05). With the cutoff value for normal serum arginase activity above 8.0 U/l, the activity was raised in 10% of control individuals, and in 63% of women with breast cancer. The sensitivity and specificity of the arginase test in blood serum were 63% and 60%, respectively. Two isoforms immunologically identical to human kidney arginases ( l-arginine amidinohydrolase) were found in both normal and cancerous breast tissues. The level of anionic form was similar in control and cancerous tissues, whereas the cationic isoform predominated in breast cancer. The cationic isoform was the only one present in serum of both ill and healthy women, and its level was higher in patients with breast cancer. Thus, it can be concluded that the cationic isoform is responsible for the increase of arginase activity in serum of patients with breast cancer.

"Chitin-specific" peroxidases in plants.

The activity of various plant peroxidases and the ability of their individual isoforms to bind chitin was studied. Some increase in peroxidase activity was observed in crude extracts in the presence of chitin. Activated peroxidases of some species fell in the fraction not sorbed on chitin and those of other species can bind chitin. Only anionic isoperoxidases from oat (Avena sativa), rice (Oryza sativa), horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), garden radish (Raphanus sativus var. radicula), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum Link et Otto) were sorbed on chitin. Both anionic and cationic isoforms from pea (Pisum sativum), galega(Galega orientalis), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), and zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) were sorbed on chitin. Peroxidase activation under the influence of chitin was correlated to the processes that occur during hypersensitive reaction and lignification of sites, in which pathogenic fungus penetrates into a plant. The role of chitin-specific isoperoxidases in inhibition of fungal growth and connection of this phenomenon with structural characteristics of isoperoxidases are also discussed.

THE “FIXED” CHARGE OF GLOMERULAR CAPILLARY WALL AS DETERMINANT OF PERMSELECTIVITY

The determinants of glomerular capillary wall (GCW) permeability to proteins have been subject of controversial discussion. To study this question we have developed a modified isolated perfused rat kidney model in which tubular transport processes are completely blocked by perfusion fixation with glutaraldehyde. This model allows to directly titrate the charge density of the GCW using albumin solutions buffered over a wide pH-range, a manipulation that cannot be performed in the intact kidney. Analyzing the results of these experiments helped to determine a fixed charge density of the GCW of 43mEq/L. In the present work, we used the isolated perfused fixed rat kidney model to study the influence of this fixed charge on the transglomerular passage of proteins. To do this, the fixed kidney was perfused with albumin solutions containing different isoforms of horseradish peroxidase. The lowest sieving coefficient was obtained with the acidic isoform (0.035±0.008, n=7), while the isoforms at pI 6.85 and 8.45 showed higher sieving coefficients (0.059±0.008, n=7 and 0.090±0.008, n=4, respectively). The highest sieving coefficient (0.59±0.031, n=6) was observed in perfusion experiments of the fixed kidney with cationic HRP (pI≥9.30). However, when comparing the sieving coefficients, the highly cationic isoform was excluded because it has a lower molecular weight than the other isoforms. The sieving coefficients of the other isoforms were significantly different (p < 0.05, ANOVA, Scheffé test). In conclusion, the presence of a discrete (even if lower than previously thought) “fixed” charge on the GCW of 43 mEq/L restricts the transglomerular passage of isoforms of horseradish peroxidase by a factor 2–3. These results imply that the influence of charge selectivity has been overstated in the literature.

Influence of light conditions on development, apoplastic peroxidase activities and peroxidase isoenzymes in chicory root explants

Cichorium intybus L. (cv. Bea) root explants grown in continuous light had a higher fresh weight, lignin and chlorophyll content than explants grown in darkness. Intermediary values were found when the light conditions were switched after 6 days. Peroxidase activities (EC 1.11.1.7) were measured in the apoplastic fluid with guaiacol, indoleacetic acid (IAA) and syringaldazine as substrates. There was an inverse relationship between specific IAA oxidase activity and explant growth. Specific syringaldazine oxidase activity (SSO) correlated with the lignin content. Analysis by isoelectric focusing (IEF) showed that the apoplastic fluid contained both cationic and anionic peroxidase isoforms, whose expression differed according to culture conditions. Isoform isoelectric point (pI) 7.0 was only detectable when the explants were cultured for 12 days in darkness. When explants were grown for the first 6 days in light, SSO and lignin content were high and the isoforms pI 4.0, 6.6, 7.6 and 8.1 were highly expressed. Conversely, when the first 6 days were in darkness, specific IAA oxidase activity was high and the isoforms pI 4.5, 6.7 and 6.8. were most strongly expressed. The isoperoxidases pI 7.8 and 7.9 were strongly expressed when the explants were cultured for at least 6 days in darkness.

In vitro cross-linking of extensin precursors by mustard extracellular isoforms of peroxidase that respond either to phytochrome or to wounding

The activities of extracellular peroxidase isoforms A 3 and A 4 from mustard (Sinapis alba) are known to respond to wounding treatments and to phytochrome status, respectively. To investigate the affinity of A 3 and A 4 for extensin precursors in vitro, these acidic isoforms were extracted by low-speed centrifugation of intact mustard internodes infiltrated with CaCl 2 and isolated by chromatofocusing. Extensin precursors from carrot (Daucus carota) roots or mustard stems and leaves were isolated by saline extraction followed by purification on carboxymethyl-cellulose ion exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. Cross-linking of extensin precursors in vitro in the presence of peroxidase isoforms and exogenous H 2 O 2 , was quantified following Sephacryl S-400 gel-filtration, as a shift of extensins to higher molecular mass values. Isoforms A 3 and A 4 had similar affinities for natural extensin precursors. A cationic isoform (previously not characterized) was unable to cross-link extensin precursors. Tissue prints of mustard stems indicate that extensin precursors are present in the cell wall of all the tissues, with maximum staining in vascular bundles and epidermis. Isoforms A 3 and A 4 were detected in extracts from vascular bundles, cortex and pith. Only A 3 was detected in epidermal extracts. The observations are consistent with a role of isoforms A 3 and A 4 in cross-linking of extensin in muro.

Inhibition of various isoforms of rat liver glutathione S‐transferases by tannic acid and butein

Glutathione S-transferases (EC.2.5.1.18, GSTs) were purified from rat liver by S-hexylglutathione affinity chromatography and six isoforms, namely C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, A-2 and A-1, were isolated by CM-cellulose and DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange columns. Tannic acid and butein showed varying degrees of inhibition on the six individual GST isoforms. When 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was used as a substrate, butein exerted significantly more potent inhibition on the cationic isoforms C-2, C-3 and C-4 with IC50 values of 6.8, 8.5 and 8.0 muM respectively. All the isoforms showed lower activity towards p-nitrobenzyt chloride when compared to CDNB and inhibition of the p-nitrobenzyl chloride-activity by tannic acid and butein was also weaker. The inhibitory effects of tannic acid and butein on each isoform decreased generally with increasing pH in the range of 6.0 to 8.0. The optimum pHs for inhibitions by tannic acid and butein on the six individual isoforms lie in the pH range of 6.0 to 6.5.

Temperature and pH sensitivity of trypsins from atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar) in comparison with bovine and porcine trypsin

Four differently charged trypsins were purified from pyloric caeca of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar). The isoelectric points of three anionic isoforms were 4.70, 4.60, and 4.55 (anionic trypsin I, II and III, respectively). And for the first time a cationic isoform (isoelectric point above 9.3) has been isolated from a marine species. The apparent molecular weights of all four isoforms were about 25 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. The salmon enzymes were inhibited by serine proteinase inhibitors in general and also by specific trypsin inhibitors. Anionic trypsin I and the cationic isoform were further examined. Anionic trypsin 1 showed the typical cold-adaptation features, low pH and temperature stability (also lower Gibb's free energy of GdnHCl-induced unfolding) and high catalytic efficiency as compared to the mammalian trypsins. The cationic isoform did not show these features, but resembled the mammalian trypsins.

Immobilization and stabilization of horseradish peroxidase isoforms.

Purified anionic and cationic isoforms of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immobilized by coupling the amino acid side-chain amino groups and/or carbohydrate moieties to Sepharose have been studied for their resistance to denaturation. The isoforms were treated with periodate followed by ethylenediamine to generate additional amino groups in the glycosyl residues. The immobilized preparations were: Preparation I (Sp-aHRP, Sp-cHRP), in which HRP was covalently immobilized via side-chain amino groups exclusively; Preparation II (Sp-NHaHRP, Sp-NHcHRP), in which periodate and ethylenediamine-treated HRP was covalently immobilized via side-chain amino groups and amino groups incorporated into glycosyl residues. HRP isoforms in preparation II lacked about 33-55% carbohydrate. Both strategies of immobilization induced significant stabilization against denaturation. Inclusion of 2 mM calcium enhanced isoenzyme stability significantly.

Kurloff cell lysosomal arylsulphatases: presence of both cationic and highly anionic isoforms of the sole B class.

Following the previous ultrastructural demonstration of the presence of arylsulphatase (Asase) activities in Kurloff cells (KC) and of their quasi-exclusive localization in the Kurloff body (KB), this work investigates their biochemical and zymographic properties after extraction from purified KC suspensions. Using the discriminative inhibitory conditions of both the Baum or Lee-Vaupel and Conzelmann methods, nitrocatechol sulphate hydrolyzing enzymes of the KC were assumed to belong to the B class of the type II Asase alone. After electrophoretic separation under non-denaturing conditions in a 4-23% polyacrylamide gel, they were characterized by 55 kDa and 62 kDa zymographic bands. After isoelectric focusing, 'classical' cationic isoforms (pI 8.5) and two anionic isoforms (pI 4.4 and 4.6) were observed on zymograms. As expected for class B Asase, the different zymographic forms of KC Asase were only recovered in the unadsorbed fraction after anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose column equilibrated with high ionic strength buffer. Their Km (2.1 mM), their optimum pH (5.8) and their inhibitions by sulfite, phosphate, sulphate and ascorbic acid as well as their slight stimulation by AgNO3 were also characteristic of this class of Asase. Finally, chondroitin-4-sulphate was shown to potentially be a physiological substrate for these lysosomal enzymes.