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UDP-GlcNAc:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase is an ␣ 2 ␤ 2 ␥ 2 hexamer that mediates the first step in the synthesis of the mannose 6-phosphate recognition marker on lysosomal acid hydrolases. Using a multifaceted approach, including analysis of acid hydrolase phosphorylation in mice and fibroblasts lacking the ␥ subunit along with kinetic studies of recombinant ␣ 2 ␤ 2 ␥ 2 and ␣ 2 ␤ 2 forms of the transferase, we have explored the function of the ␣/␤ and ␥ subunits. The findings demonstrate that the ␣/␤ subunits recognize the protein determinant of acid hydrolases in addition to mediating the catalytic function of the transferase. In mouse brain, the ␣/␤ subunits phosphorylate about one-third of the acid hydrolases at close to wild-type levels but require the ␥ subunit for optimal phosphorylation of the rest of the acid hydrolases. In addition to enhancing the activity of the ␣/␤ subunits toward a subset of the acid hydrolases, the ␥ subunit facilitates the addition of the second GlcNAc-P to high mannose oligosaccharides of these substrates. We postulate that the mannose 6-phosphate receptor homology domain of the ␥ subunit binds and presents the high mannose glycans of the acceptor to the ␣/␤ catalytic site in a favorable manner.In higher eukaryotes, newly synthesized acid hydrolases acquire mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P) 3 residues on their N-linked glycans as they traverse the Golgi (1). These residues serve as high affinity ligands for binding to Man-6-P receptors in the trans-Golgi network. The hydrolase-receptor complexes are then packaged into transport carriers for delivery to endosomes and lysosomes. The Man-6-P recognition marker is synthesized in two steps. First, UDP-GlcNAc:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase (GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase) binds to a conformation-dependent protein determinant on the acid hydrolase and transfers GlcNAc-1-P from UDP-GlcNAc to one or two of the mannose residues of the N-linked high mannose oligosaccharide. Second, N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphodiester ␣-N-acetyglucosaminidase ("uncovering enzyme") excises the N-acetylglucosamine to generate the Man-6-P monoester.GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase is a heterohexamer composed of three subunits (␣ 2 ␤ 2 ␥ 2 ) (2). The ␣ and ␤ subunits are encoded by a single gene GNPTAB, and the ␥ subunit is encoded by a separate gene GNPTG (3-5). Although it has been established that the ␣/␤ subunits contain the catalytic activity of the enzyme, the possible participation of these subunits in the recognition of the common protein determinant of the acid hydrolases has not been explored. Furthermore, the role(s) of the ␥ subunit is poorly understood. The initial insight into the function of the subunits came from studies of patients with the autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorders termed mucolipidosis II (I-cell disease) and mucolipidosis III (pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy), the latter being the less severe of the two (6). These disorders arise from mutations in the genes encoding GlcNAc-1-phospho...

Multidomain scaffolding proteins are central components of many signaling pathways and are commonly found at membrane specializations. Here we have shown that multiple interdomain interactions in the scaffold Discs Large (Dlg) regulate binding to the synaptic protein GukHolder (GukH). GukH binds the Src homology 3 (SH3) and guanylate kinase-like (GK) protein interaction domains of Dlg, whereas an intramolecular interaction between the two domains inhibits association with GukH. Regulation occurs through a PDZ domain adjacent to the SH3 that allows GukH to interact with the composite SH3-GK binding site, but PDZ ligands inhibit GukH binding such that Dlg forms mutually exclusive PDZ ligand and GukH cellular complexes. The PDZ-SH3-GK module is a common feature of membrane associate guanylate kinase scaffolds such as Dlg, and these results indicate that its supramodular architecture leads to regulation of Dlg complexes.Communication and adhesion between cells is mediated by specialized regions of the plasma membrane. For example, in excitatory synapses in the brain, the postsynaptic membrane contains an actin-rich cytoskeletal region known as the postsynaptic density (1). Analogous structures are present at sites of cell-cell contact, including the junctions between epithelial cells, which are important for signaling and the formation of physical barriers (2, 3). The establishment and function of these important structures is regulated by a large number of proteins that serve to organize receptors and downstream signaling proteins and to anchor signaling complexes at specific membrane locations.Membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs) 2 are scaffolding proteins that regulate the formation and function of membrane specializations, such as synapses and tight junctions (3, 4). MAGUKs have a unique domain architecture that is typified by one or three PDZ domains, an SH3 domain, a variable HOOK sequence, and a region with homology to the enzyme guanylate kinase (GK) that lacks enzymatic activity but instead acts as a protein interaction domain. The SH3 and GK domains form an intramolecular interaction in the MAGUK PSD-95, which is thought to be a common feature of MAGUK proteins (5, 6).One of the best studied MAGUK proteins is the Drosophila tumor suppressor Discs Large (Dlg). Dlg plays a role in the formation and function of diverse polarized cellular structures, including epithelial junctions (7), stem cell cortical domains (8, 9), and neuronal synapses (10). In the neuromuscular synapse, Dlg is present at high levels at both pre-and postsynaptic sites (11). Dlg is thought to function at these sites by clustering ion channels and organizing signal transduction pathways.The intramolecular interaction between the SH3 and GK domains is important for MAGUK function. All genetically identified mutations in the SH3 and GK regions of dlg and the related Caenorhabditis elegans lin-2 gene disrupt the intramolecular interaction (5). However, the exact role of the intramolecular interaction in MAGUK function has remained o...

Background: Mutations in GNPTAB cause the lysosomal disorders mucolipidosis II and III ␣␤. Results: All reported missense mutations were studied and showed various consequences on its gene product, ␣␤ GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase. Conclusion: Domains responsible for catalytic activity and lysosomal hydrolase recognition were identified. Significance: Analysis of patient mutations provided new insight into the functional domains of ␣␤ GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase.

The Golgi enzyme UDP-GlcNAc:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase (GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase), an ␣ 2 ␤ 2 ␥ 2 hexamer, mediates the initial step in the addition of the mannose 6-phosphate targeting signal on newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes. This tag serves to direct the lysosomal enzymes to lysosomes. A key property of GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase is its unique ability to distinguish the 60 or so lysosomal enzymes from the numerous nonlysosomal glycoproteins with identical Asn-linked glycans. In this study, we demonstrate that the two Notch repeat modules and the DNA methyltransferase-associated protein interaction domain of the ␣ subunit are key components of this recognition process. Importantly, different combinations of these domains are involved in binding to individual lysosomal enzymes. This study also identifies the ␥-binding site on the ␣ subunit and demonstrates that in the majority of instances the mannose 6-phosphate receptor homology domain of the ␥ subunit is required for optimal phosphorylation. These findings serve to explain how GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase recognizes a large number of proteins that lack a common structural motif.Correct targeting of newly synthesized acid hydrolases to lysosomes is essential for this organelle to maintain its function of degrading intracellular and endocytosed material. In higher eukaryotes, this process is mediated by the mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P) 5 recognition system whereby the newly synthesized acid hydrolases acquire Man-6-P residues in the Golgi that serve as high affinity ligands for binding to Man-6-P receptors (MPRs) in the trans-Golgi network and subsequent transport to the endo-lysosomal system (1). The initial and most critical step in the generation of the Man-6-P tag is mediated by the Golgi enzyme UDP-GlcNAc:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase (GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase). This enzyme binds selectively to conformation-dependent protein determinants in the 60 or so lysosomal acid hydrolases and transfers GlcNAc-1-P from UDP-GlcNAc to mannose residues on high mannose-type N-linked glycans of the hydrolases (2). The GlcNAc is subsequently excised by a second Golgi enzyme ("uncovering enzyme") to generate the high affinity Man-6-P ligand (3).GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase is an ␣ 2 ␤ 2 ␥ 2 hexamer that is encoded by two genes (4 -7). The GNPTAB gene encodes the ␣ and ␤ subunits, whereas the GNPTG gene encodes the ␥ subunit. Enzyme kinetic studies have indicated that the ␣ and ␤ subunits specifically bind lysosomal acid hydrolases and mediate the catalytic function of the enzyme (8, 9). The ␥ subunit enhances the rate of GlcNAc-P transfer to a subset of the acid hydrolases without substantially altering the binding to these acceptors. Consistent with this, analysis of the level of mannose phosphorylation of the acid hydrolases in the brain of mice lacking the ␥ subunit, as estimated by the extent of binding to a cation-independent (CI)-MPR affinity resin, indicated that about one-third of the acid hydrol...

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UDP-GlcNAc:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase (GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase) is an α 2 β 2 γ 2 heterohexamer that mediates the initial step in the formation of the mannose 6-phosphate recognition signal on lysosomal acid hydrolases. We previously reported that the specificity of the reaction is determined by the ability of the α/β subunits to recognize a conformationdependent protein determinant present on the acid hydrolases. We now present evidence that the DNA methyltransferase-associated protein (DMAP) interaction domain of the α subunit functions in this recognition process. First, GST-DMAP pulled down several acid hydrolases, but not nonlysosomal glycoproteins. Second, recombinant GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase containing a missense mutation in the DMAP interaction domain (Lys732Asn) identified in a patient with mucolipidosis II exhibited full activity toward the simple sugar α-methyl D-mannoside but impaired phosphorylation of acid hydrolases. Finally, unlike the WT enzyme, expression of the K732N mutant in a zebrafish model of mucolipidosis II failed to correct the phenotypic abnormalities. These results indicate that the DMAP interaction domain of the α subunit functions in the selective recognition of acid hydrolase substrates and provides an explanation for the impaired phosphorylation of acid hydrolases in a patient with mucolipidosis II.

Contaminated heparin was associated with adverse reactions by activating the contact system. Chemically oversulfated/modified glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) consisting of heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate have been identified as heparin contaminants. Current studies demonstrated that each component of oversulfated GAGs was comparable with oversulfated chondroitin sulfate in activating the contact system. By testing a series of unrelated negatively charged compounds, we found that the contact system recognized negative charges rather than specific chemical structures. We further tested how oversulfated GAGs and contaminated heparins affect different cell signaling pathways. Our data showed that chemically oversulfated GAGs and contaminated heparin had higher activity than the parent compounds and authentic heparin, indicative of sulfation-dominant and GAG sequencedependent activities in BaF cell-based models of fibroblast growth factor/fibroblast growth factor receptor, glial cell linederived neurotrophic factor/c-Ret, and hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met signaling. In summary, these data indicate that contaminated heparins intended for blood anticoagulation not only activated the contact system but also modified different GAGdependent cell signaling pathways.