Debranching Enzyme Gene Research Articles

Enhanced hypocrellin production of Shiraia sp. SUPER-H168 by overexpression of alpha-amylase gene.

Relative expression levels of twenty-four amylase genes in Shiraia sp. SUPER-H168 were investigated by real-time quantitative PCR when various carbohydrates, including glucose, sucrose, maltose, amylose, amylopectin and corn flour, were used as carbon source. Genes, including an α-glucosidase gene Amy33 (2997 bp), an α-amylase gene Amy365-1 (1749 bp) and a glycogen debranching enzyme gene Amy130 (2487 bp), were overexpressed, and four overexpression transformants were constructed, respectively. When Amy365-1 and Amy130 were co-overexpressed, relative expression levels of seven hypocrellin biosynthesis genes and four related genes in central carbon catabolism were all increased. Expression of Amy33 was also increased along with increase of Amy365-1 and Amy130. Under liquid state fermentation, biomasses and hypocrellin productions were both gradually increased in four overexpression strains than those of wild type strain. Under SSF, hypocrellin production of Amy365-1 and Amy130 co-expression strain reached 71.85 mg/gds, which was 2.83 fold than that of wild type strain, and residual sugar was decreased from 35.47% to 16.68%. These results can provide a practical approach for other secondary metabolites by filamentous fungi under SSF when raw starch material is used as carbon source.

Altering the Structure of Carbohydrate Storage Granules in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803 through Branching-Enzyme Truncations.

Carbohydrate storage is an important element of metabolism in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of plants. Understanding how to manipulate the metabolism and storage of carbohydrate is also an important factor toward harnessing cyanobacteria for energy production. While most cyanobacteria produce glycogen, some have been found to accumulate polysaccharides in the form of water-insoluble α-glucan similar to amylopectin. Notably, this alternative form, termed "semi-amylopectin," forms in cyanobacterial species harboring three branching-enzyme (BE) homologs, designated BE1, BE2, and BE3. In this study, mutagenesis of the branching genes found in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 was performed in order to characterize their possible impact on polysaccharide storage granule morphology. N-terminal truncations were made to the native BE gene of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. In addition, one of the two native debranching enzyme genes was replaced with a heterologous debranching enzyme gene from a semi-amylopectin-forming strain. Growth and glycogen content of mutant strains did not significantly differ from those of the wild type, and ultrastructure analysis revealed only slight changes to granule morphology. However, analysis of chain length distribution by anion-exchange chromatography revealed modest changes to the branched-chain length profile. The resulting glycogen shared structure characteristics similar to that of granules isolated from semi-amylopectin-producing strains. This study is the first to investigate the impact of branching-enzyme truncations on the structure of storage carbohydrates in cyanobacteria. The results of this study are an important contribution toward understanding the relationship between the enzymatic repertoire of a cyanobacterial species and the morphology of its storage carbohydrates.

Characterization of the equine glycogen debranching enzyme gene ( AGL): Genomic and cDNA structure, localization, polymorphism and expression

Glycogen debranching enzyme (AGL) is a multifunctional enzyme acting in the glycogen degradation pathway. In humans, the AGL activity deficiency causes a type III glycogen storage disease (Cori–Forbes disease). One particularity of AGL gene expression lies in the multiple alternative splicing in its 5′ region. The AGL gene was localized on ECA5q14-q15. The sequence of the equine cDNA was determined to be 7.5 kb in length with an open reading frame of 4602 bp. The gene is 69 kb long and contains 35 exons. The equine AGL gene has an ubiquitous expression and presents five tissue-dependent cDNA variants arising from alternative splicing of the first exons. The equine skeletal muscle and heart contain four out of six variants previously described in humans and the equine liver express three of these four human variants. We identified a new alternative splicing variant expressed in equine skeletal and heart muscles. All these mRNA variants most probably encode only two different protein isoforms of 1533 and 1377 amino-acids. Four SNPs were detected in the mRNA. The equine in silico promoter sequence reveals a structure similar to those of other mammalian species. The disposition of the transcription factor biding sites does not correlate to the transcription start sites of tissue-specific variants.

Glycogen Storage Disease Type IIIa in Curly-Coated Retrievers

Inborn errors of metabolism impose a significant genetic burden on purebred dogs and cats. The glycogen storage diseases are a category of such disorders that are typed by enzyme analysis, but deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) based carrier tests are needed for definitive, noninvasive diagnosis and to prevent at-risk matings. Glycogen storage disease type IIIa (GSD IIIa) is caused by a mutation of the glycogen debranching enzyme gene (AGL) in Curly-Coated Retrievers (CCR). Two CCR exhibiting episodic exercise intolerance, collapse, and lethargy, and related dogs were studied. Structure and amount of glycogen isolated from tissue biopsy specimens was determined by enzymatic digestion, and activities of enzymes of glycogen metabolism were measured. The 33 AGL coding exons and flanking splice sites of an affected dog were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Debranching enzyme activity was undetectable in liver and skeletal muscle of affected dogs, and accumulated glycogen had absent or short outer chains of alpha1, 4-linked glucose. A single adenosine (A) deletion in AGL exon 32 of affected dog genomic DNA predicted a frame-shift and truncation of the protein product by 126 amino acid residues. The mutation was homozygous in affected dogs and heterozygous in both parents. In addition, the deletion mutation was heterozygous in 16 or not detected at all in 31 related but clinically normal CCR. GSD IIIa in CCR is an autosomal recessive trait caused by mutation of AGL. A DNA sequence-based carrier test was developed, and carriers were identified in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Finland.

Glycogen Storage Disease Type IIIa in Curly‐Coated Retrievers

Background: Inborn errors of metabolism impose a significant genetic burden on purebred dogs and cats. The glycogen storage diseases are a category of such disorders that are typed by enzyme analysis, but deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) based carrier tests are needed for definitive, noninvasive diagnosis and to prevent at‐risk matings. Hypothesis: Glycogen storage disease type IIIa (GSD IIIa) is caused by a mutation of the glycogen debranching enzyme gene (AGL) in Curly‐Coated Retrievers (CCR). Animals: Two CCR exhibiting episodic exercise intolerance, collapse, and lethargy, and related dogs were studied. Methods: Structure and amount of glycogen isolated from tissue biopsy specimens was determined by enzymatic digestion, and activities of enzymes of glycogen metabolism were measured. The 33 AGL coding exons and flanking splice sites of an affected dog were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Results: Debranching enzyme activity was undetectable in liver and skeletal muscle of affected dogs, and accumulated glycogen had absent or short outer chains of α1, 4‐linked glucose. A single adenosine (A) deletion in AGL exon 32 of affected dog genomic DNA predicted a frame‐shift and truncation of the protein product by 126 amino acid residues. The mutation was homozygous in affected dogs and heterozygous in both parents. In addition, the deletion mutation was heterozygous in 16 or not detected at all in 31 related but clinically normal CCR. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: GSD IIIa in CCR is an autosomal recessive trait caused by mutation of AGL. A DNA sequence‐based carrier test was developed, and carriers were identified in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Finland.

Glycogen storage disease type IIIa: first report of a causative missense mutation (G1448R) of the glycogen debranching enzyme gene found in a homozygous patient

Several different mutations in the glycogen-debranching enzyme gene AGL have been found in patients with glycogen storage disease type III (GSD III) to date, but no missense mutations have been reported for GSD III, only nonsense, splicing, and deletion/insertion lesions. Here we describe a novel G1448R missense mutation in a Japanese GSD IIIa patient from a consanguineous family. Sequence analysis of cDNA from the patient' liver specimen revealed two separate nucleotide changes: a G-to-A transition at nucleotide 3737 in exon 26 (3737G>A) and a G-to-C transversion at nucleotide 4742 in exon 33 (4742G>C), both of which result in substitution of glycine by arginine (G1115R and G1448R). Because homo-zygotes for G1115R were found in healthy controls, G1115R seems to be a polymorphism. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis with Bsa JI showed that the patient was homozygous for G1448R and that none of the normal controls had the mutation. This missense mutation is located at a putative glycogen-binding site that is indispensable for enzyme activity. Thus, G1448R is likely to be the causative mutation in this patient. This is the first report of a missense mutation associated with GSD III.

A nonsense mutation due to a single base insertion in the 3′‐coding region of glycogen debranching enzyme gene associated with a severe phenotype in a patient with glycogen storage disease type IIIa

Glycogen storage disease type III (GSD-III) is an autosomal recessive disease resulting from deficient glycogen debranching enzyme (GDE) activity. A child with GDE deficient in both liver and muscle (GSD-IIIa) had recurrent hypoglycemia, seizures, severe cardiomegaly, and hepatomegaly and died at 4 years of age. Analysis of the GDE gene in this child by single-strand conformation polymorphism, followed by direct DNA sequencing and restriction analysis, revealed an insertion of a nucleotide A into position 4529 of the GDE cDNA (4529insA). This insertion resulted in substitution of a tyrosine to a stop codon at amino acid 1510 (Y1510X). The 4529insA mutation appeared to be homozygous in this patient and was not found in 20 unrelated controls or 18 other GSD-III patients (14 GSD-IIIa and 4 GSD-IIIb). This is the first identification of a disease mutation in this gene, and the data suggest that homozygous 4529insA may be associated with a severe phenotype in GSD-IIIa. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Polymorphic markers of the glycogen debranching enzyme gene allowing linkage analysis in families with glycogen storage disease type III.

Glycogen storage disease type III (GSD-III), an autosomal recessive disease, is caused by deficient glycogen debranching enzyme (GDE) activity. We identified three polymorphic markers in the GDE gene using single...

Human Glycogen Debranching Enzyme Gene (AGL): Complete Structural Organization and Characterization of the 5′ Flanking Region

Glycogen debranching enzyme (gene symbol, AGL) is a multifunctional enzyme acting as 1,4-α-D-glucan:1,4-α-D-glucan 4-α-D-glycosyltransferase and amylo-1,6-glucosidase in glycogen degradation. Genetic deficiency of AGL activity causes glycogen storage disease type III (GSD-III). To determine the molecular basis of GSD-III and elucidate the mechanisms for controlling tissue-specific gene expression, we report the isolation and structural organization of the human chromosomal AGL gene. The gene is 85 kb in length and is composed of 35 exons, encoding a 7.0-kb mRNA. The first 2 exons and 68 bp of exon 3 contain 5′ untranslated region. Translation begins in exon 3, which encodes the first 27 amino acids of the AGL. Exons 4 to 35 encode the remaining 1505 amino acids. Among the 6 isoforms identified, the major isoform (isoform 1) starts with exon 1 and is widely expressed, including expression in both liver and muscle. Muscle-specific isoforms (2, 3, and 4) begin with exon 2. Isoforms 5 and 6 are minor isoforms that begin further within the gene. Reporter assays revealed that promoter region 1 (for isoform 1) was functional in liver (HepG2 cells), muscle (C2C12 cells), and ovary (Chinese hamster ovary cells), and promoter region 2 (for muscle-specific isoforms) was active only in muscle. These results suggest that the human AGL gene contains at least 2 promoter regions that confer differential expression of isoform mRNAs in a tissue-specific manner.

Mutations in exon 3 of the glycogen debranching enzyme gene are associated with glycogen storage disease type III that is differentially expressed in liver and muscle.

Glycogen storage disease type HI (GSD-III), an autosomal recessive disease, is caused by deficient glycogen debranching enzyme (GDE) activity. Most GSD-III patients are GDE deficient in both liver and muscle (type IIIa), and some GSD-III patients have GDE absent in liver but retained in muscle (type IIIb). The molecular basis for this enzymatic variability is largely unknown. In the present study, the analysis of the GDE gene in three GSD-IIIb patients by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), DNA sequencing, restriction analysis, and family studies, revealed each of them as being a compound heterozygote for two different mutations. The first mutant alleles in all three patients involved mutations in exon 3 at amino acid codon 6 of the GDE protein. Two had an AG deletion at nucleotides 17 and 18 of the GDE cDNA (17delAG) which resulted in change of subsequent amino acid sequence and a truncated protein (25X); the other had a C to T transition at nucleotide 16 of the cDNA which changed a Glutamine codon to a stop codon (Q6X). The 17delAG mutation was also found in 8 of the 10 additional GSD-IIIb patients. The Q6X mutation was found in one of the remaining two GSD-IIIb patients. These two mutations were not found in any of the 31 GSD-IIIa patients, 2 GSD-IIId patients, nor 28 unrelated normal controls. The second mutant alleles in each of the three GSD-IIIb patients were R864X, R1228X, and W68OX. The R864X and R1228X were not unique for GSD-IIIb as they were also found in GSD-IIIa patients (frequency of 10.3% and 5.2% in Caucasian patients, respectively). Our data demonstrated that both IIIa and IIIb had mutations in the same GDE gene and established for the first time the molecular basis of GSD-III that differentially expressed in liver and muscle. The striking and specific association of exon 3 mutations with GSD-IIIb may provide insight into mechanisms controlling tissue-specific expression of the GDE gene. The identification of exon 3 mutations has clinical significance as well because it distinguished GSD-IIIb from IIIa hence permitting diagnosis from a blood sample rather than a more invasive muscle biopsy.

A Novel Donor Splice Site Mutation in the Glycogen Debranching Enzyme Gene Is Associated with Glycogen Storage Disease Type III

Analysis of glycogen debranching enzyme (debrancher) cDNA from a patient with glycogen storage disease type III revealed a deletion of 124 base pairs. A donor splice site mutation (IVS G+1to T) was identified in the patient's debrancher gene, which caused exon skipping of the upstream exon and resulted in a truncated enzyme due to premature termination. Mutational analysis of the patient's family showed that this point mutation was inherited from the father. Southern blot analysis of the patient's genomic DNA showed an additional, uniqueEcoRI fragment of 5.8 kb, which was inherited from the mother. These results suggested that the patient was a compound heterozygote for the donor splice site mutation, which is the first identified in the debrancher gene, and had a genetic defect relating to an aberrant 5.8-kbEcoRI fragment.

Starch debranching enzyme (R-enzyme or pullulanase) from developing rice endosperm: purification, cDNA and chromosomal localization of the gene.

Starch debranching enzyme (R-enzyme or pullulanase) was purified to homogeneity from developing endosperm of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Fujihikari) using a variety of high-performance liquid chromatography columns, and characterized. A cDNA clone encoding the full length of the rice endosperm debranching enzyme was isolated and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The cDNA contains an open reading frame of 2958 bp. The mature debranching enzyme of rice appears to be composed of 912 amino acids with a predicted relative molecular mass (Mr) of 102,069 Da, similar in size to its Mr of about 100,000 Da estimated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. The amino acid sequence of rice debranching enzyme is substantially similar to that of bacterial pullulanase, while it bears little similarity to that of bacterial isoamylase or to glycogen debranching enzymes from human muscle and rabbit muscle. Southern blot analyses strongly suggest that the debranching enzyme gene is present as a single copy in the rice genome. Analysis by restriction fragment length polymorphism with a probe including the 3'-untranslated region of cDNA for rice debranching enzyme confirmed that the debranching enzyme gene is located on chromosome 4.