Molecular basis of GM1 gangliosidosis and Morquio disease, type B. Structure-function studies of lysosomal beta-galactosidase and the non-lysosomal beta-galactosidase-like protein. (1/75)

GM1 gangliosidosis and Morquio B disease are distinct disorders both clinically and biochemically yet they arise from the same beta-galactosidase enzyme deficiency. On the other hand, galactosialidosis and sialidosis share common clinical and biochemical features, yet they arise from two separate enzyme deficiencies, namely, protective protein/cathepsin A and neuraminidase, respectively. However distinct, in practice these disorders overlap both clinically and biochemically so that easy discrimination between them is sometimes difficult. The principle reason for this may be found in the fact that these three enzymes form a unique complex in lysosomes that is required for their stability and posttranslational processing. In this review, I focus mainly on the primary and secondary beta-galactosidase deficiency states and offer some hypotheses to account for differences between GM1 gangliosidosis and Morquio B disease.  (+info)

The mouse N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (Galns) gene: cDNA isolation, genomic characterization, chromosomal assignment and analysis of the 5'-flanking region. (2/75)

Deficiency of lysosomal enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS) leads to mucopolysaccharidosis IV A (MPS IV A), for which there is no definitive treatment so far. Although a number of mutations of the GALNS gene of MPS IV A patients have been described, pathogenesis of the disorder still remains elusive. In order to facilitate in vivo studies using model animals for MPS IV A, we isolated and performed molecular characterization of the mouse homolog of human GALNS. The 2.3-kb cDNA contains a 1560-bp open reading frame encoding 520 amino acid residues. The coding region has 84% similarity to the human GALNS cDNA at amino acid level. The mouse Galns gene was mapped by interspecific backcross analysis to the distal region of chromosome 8 where it co-segregates with Aprt. Northern blot analysis showed a wide expression of a single-copy gene, being higher especially in liver and kidney. The Galns gene was isolated from S129vJ genomic library and its genomic organization was characterized. The mouse Galns gene was about 50-kb long and organized into 14 exons and 13 introns. All intron-exon splice junctions conformed to the GT/AG consensus sequence except exon 8/intron 8 junction. Primer extension shows multiple transcription initiation sites between -44 and -75 although major transcription initiation site was observed at -90 bp from the ATG codon. The 5'-flanking region lacks canonical TATA and CAAT box sequences, but is G+C rich with 10 GC boxes (potential Sp1 binding sites), characteristic of a housekeeping gene promoter.  (+info)

Biochemical and structural analysis of missense mutations in N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase causing mucopolysaccharidosis IVA phenotypes. (3/75)

Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA; OMIM#253000), a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of N -acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS), has variable clinical phenotypes. To date we have identified 65 missense mutations in the GALNS gene from MPS IVA patients, but the correlation between genotype and phenotype has remained unclear. We studied 17 missense mutations using biochemical approaches and 32 missense mutations, using structural analyses. Fifteen missense mutations and two newly engineered active site mutations (C79S, C79T) were characterized by transient expression analysis. Mutant proteins, except for C79S and C79T, were destabilized and detected as insoluble precursor forms while the C79S and C79T mutants were of a soluble mature size. Mutants found in the severe phenotype had no activity. Mutants found in the mild phenotype had a considerable residual activity (1.3-13.3% of wild-type GALNS activity). Sulfatases, including GALNS, are members of a highly conserved gene family sharing an extensive sequence homology. Thus, a tertiary structural model of human GALNS was constructed from the X-ray crystal structure of N -acetylgalacto-samine-4-sulfatase and arylsulfatase A, using homology modeling, and 32 missense mutations were investigated. Consequently, we propose that there are at least three different reasons for the severe phenotype: (i) destruction of the hydrophobic core or modification of the packing; (ii) removal of a salt bridge to destabilize the entire conformation; (iii) modification of the active site. In contrast, mild mutations were mostly located on the surface of the GALNS protein. These studies shed further light on the genotype-phenotype correlation of MPS IVA and structure-function relationship in the sulfatase family.  (+info)

Impaired elastic-fiber assembly by fibroblasts from patients with either Morquio B disease or infantile GM1-gangliosidosis is linked to deficiency in the 67-kD spliced variant of beta-galactosidase. (4/75)

We have previously shown that intracellular trafficking and extracellular assembly of tropoelastin into elastic fibers is facilitated by the 67-kD elastin-binding protein identical to an enzymatically inactive, alternatively spliced variant of beta-galactosidase (S-Gal). In the present study, we investigated elastic-fiber assembly in cultures of dermal fibroblasts from patients with either Morquio B disease or GM1-gangliosidosis who bore different mutations of the beta-galactosidase gene. We found that fibroblasts taken from patients with an adult form of GM1-gangliosidosis and from patients with an infantile form, carrying a missense mutations in the beta-galactosidase gene-mutations that caused deficiency in lysosomal beta-galactosidase but not in S-Gal-assembled normal elastic fibers. In contrast, fibroblasts from two cases of infantile GM1-gangliosidosis that bear nonsense mutations of the beta-galactosidase gene, as well as fibroblasts from four patients with Morquio B who had mutations causing deficiency in both forms of beta-galactosidase, did not assemble elastic fibers. We also demonstrated that S-Gal-deficient fibroblasts from patients with either GM1-gangliosidosis or Morquio B can acquire the S-Gal protein, produced by coculturing of Chinese hamster ovary cells permanently transected with S-Gal cDNA, resulting in improved deposition of elastic fibers. The present study provides a novel and natural model validating functional roles of S-Gal in elastogenesis and elucidates an association between impaired elastogenesis and the development of connective-tissue disorders in patients with Morquio B disease and in patients with an infantile form of GM1-gangliosidosis.  (+info)

Saposins (sap) A and C activate the degradation of galactosylsphingosine. (5/75)

As previously shown for [(3)H-galactosyl]ceramide, the breakdown of [(3)H-galactosyl]sphingosine was reduced in prosaposin-deficient skin fibroblast homogenates. Galactosylsphingosine hydrolysis was also deficient in cell homogenates from Krabbe's disease (beta-galactocerebrosidase-deficient) patients, but not acid beta-galactosidase-deficient patients. Moreover, hydrolysis of galactosylsphingosine in the prosaposin-deficient cell homogenates could be partially restored by adding pure saposin A or C, thereby identifying these saposins as essential facilitators of galactosylsphingosine hydrolysis. By contrast, saposins B and D had little effect on galactosylsphingosine hydrolysis in the prosaposin-deficient cells. The reduced galactosylsphingosine turnover in prosaposin-deficiency suggests that there could be a pathogenetic cerebral accumulation of galactosylsphingosine in this disorder.  (+info)

Novel mutations (Asn 484 Lys, Thr 500 Ala, Gly 438 Glu) in Morquio B disease. (6/75)

Primary deficiency of beta-galactosidase results in GM1 gangliosidosis and Morquio B disease. Of the more than 40 disease-causing mutations described in the Gal gene to date, about 75% are of the missense type and are scattered along the length of the gene. No single, major common mutation has been associated with GM1 gangliosidosis. However, a Trp 273 Leu mutation has been commonly found in the majority of patients with Morquio B disease defined genotypically to date. We now report three new mutations in three Morquio B patients where the Trp 273 Leu mutation is absent. Two of the mutations, C1502G (Asn 484 Lys) and A1548G (Thr 500 Ala), were found in twins (one male, one female) who display a mild form of Morquio B disease and keratan sulfate in the urine. In their fibroblasts, residual activity was 1.9% and 2.1% of controls. On Western blots, the 84-kDa precursor and the 64-kDa mature protein were barely detectable. The occurrence of a 45-kDa degradation product indicates that the mutated protein reached the lysosome but was abnormally processed. In the third case, we identified only a G1363A (Gly 438 Glu) mutation (a major deletion on the second allele has not been ruled out). This female patient too displays a very mild form of the disease with a residual activity of 5.7% of control values. In fibroblasts from this case, the 84-kDa precursor and the 45-kDa degradation product were present, while the mature 64-kDa form was barely detectable. The occurrence of these three mutations in the same area of the protein may define a domain involved in keratan sulfate degradation.  (+info)

Upper airways abnormalities and tracheal problems in Morquio's disease. (7/75)

Morquio's disease is a metabolic disorder that can cause various respiratory abnormalities. Patients who live into adulthood are likely to develop upper airway problems and respiratory failure. With advances in home ventilation, these patients are increasingly likely to be referred to specialist respiratory units. We describe our experiences with two such patients.  (+info)

Mouse model of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase deficiency (Galns-/-) produced by targeted disruption of the gene defective in Morquio A disease. (8/75)

Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS), a lysosomal enzyme required for the stepwise degradation of keratan sulfate (KS) and chondroitin-6-sulfate (C6S). To generate a model for studies of the pathophysiology and of potential therapies, we disrupted exon 2 of Galns, the homologous murine gene. Homozygous Galns-/- mice have no detectable GALNS enzyme activity and show increased urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAGs) levels. These mice accumulate GAGs in multiple tissues including liver, kidney, spleen, heart, brain and bone marrow. At 2 months old, lysosomal storage is present primarily within reticuloendothelial cells such as Kupffer cells and cells of the sinusoidal lining of the spleen. Additionally, by 12 months old, vacuolar change is observed in the visceral epithelial cells of glomeruli and cells at the base of heart valves but it is not present in parenchymal cells such as hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelial cells. In the brain, hippocampal and neocortical neurons and meningeal cells had lysosomal storage. KS and C6S were more abundant in the cytoplasm of corneal epithelial cells of Galns-/- mice compared with wild-type mice by immunohistochemistry. Radiographs revealed no change in the skeletal bones of mice up to 12 months old. Thus, targeted disruption of the murine Galns gene has produced a murine model, which shows visceral storage of GAGs but lacks the skeletal features. The complete absence of GALNS in mutant mice makes them useful for studies of pharmacokinetics and tissue targeting of recombinant GALNS designed for enzyme replacement.  (+info)