Heterogeneity of N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphotransferase within mucolipidosis III.

The primary defect responsible for mucolipidosis III is a deficiency of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphotransferase activity (GlcNAc phosphotransferase). Genetic complementation analysis of cultured fibroblasts derived from 12 patients with mucolipidosis III identified complementation groups A, B, and C (Honey, N. K., Mueller, O. T., Little, L. E., Miller, A. L., and Shows, T. B. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 7420-7424). The GlcNAc phosphotransferase activity present in the cell lines comprising the complementation groups was characterized with respect to endogenous substrates and two exogenous acceptors, alpha-methyl-D-mannoside and high mannose glycopeptides. All group C cell lines and one group A cell line were found to have normal GlcNAc phosphotransferase activity levels at 37 degrees C when screened with these exogenous acceptors. The enzyme activity in group A cell lines was within normal range when assayed at 23 degrees C. Inhibition of the phosphorylation of alpha-methyl-D-mannoside in the presence of increasing amounts of endogenous substrate N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase B was demonstrated in normal cell lines at 23 and 37 degrees C and in group A cells at 23 degrees C. However, group C cell lines did not show any inhibition at either temperature. This suggests that the alteration of the GlcNAc phosphotransferase from individuals in group C affects the recognition site for the protein portion of lysosomal enzymes, whereas group A individuals have mutations which result in a temperature-sensitive enzyme.