The interaction of phosphorylated oligosaccharides and lysosomal enzymes with bovine liver cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor.

We have analyzed the interaction of phosphorylated oligosaccharides and lysosomal enzymes with immobilized bovine liver cation-dependent mannose-6-P receptor. Oligosaccharides with phosphomonoesters were the only species that interacted with the receptor, and molecules with two phosphomonoesters showed the best binding. Lysosomal enzymes with several oligosaccharides containing only one phosphomonoester had a higher affinity for the receptor than did the isolated oligosaccharides, indicating the possible importance of multivalent interactions between weakly binding ligands and the receptor. The binding of a mixture of phosphorylated lysosomal enzymes to the cation-dependent Man-6-P receptor was markedly influenced by pH. At pH 6.3, almost all of the lysosomal enzymes bound to the receptor; whereas at pH 7.0-7.5, approximately one-third of the material passed through the column, one-third interacted weakly, and one-third bound tightly. The distribution of individual lysosomal enzyme activities was similar to that of the total material. The species of phosphorylated oligosaccharides present on the lysosomal enzymes which interacted poorly with the receptor were similar to those found on the tightly bound material and included species of oligosaccharides with two phosphomonoester groups. Isolated oligosaccharides of this type bound to the receptor over the entire pH range tested. These findings indicate that at neutral pH the phosphorylated oligosaccharides on some lysosomal enzyme molecules are oriented in a manner which makes them inaccessible to the binding site of the cation-dependent Man-6-P receptor. Since the same enzymes bind to the cation-independent Man-6-P receptor at neutral pH, at least a portion of the phosphomannosyl residues must be exposed. We conclude that small variations in the pH of the Golgi compartment where lysosomal enzymes bind to the receptors could potentially modulate the extent of binding to the two receptors.