Lysosomal and microsomal beta-glucuronidase of monkey brain. Differential elution characteristics from con A-sepharose and neutral sugar composition.

Microsomal and lysosomal beta-glucuronidase (beta-D-glucuronide glucuronosohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.31) of monkey brain were differentially eluted from Con A-Sepharose when subjected to chromatography and linear gradient elution with methyl alpha-glucoside at 28+/-1 degree C. The lysosomal enzyme was eluted as a sharp peak in the first few fractions, while the microsomal enzyme was eluted as a broad peak extending over several fractions. This differential pattern of elution was dependent only on the temperature of elution and the concentration of methyl alpha-glucoside used. The lysosomal and microsomal glucuronidases were purified to apparent homogeneity and their neutral sugar analysed. Both of them contained glucose, mannose and fucose but the microsomal enzyme contained about 3-times as much of all these sugars as the lysosomal enzyme. Sodium periodate treatment of the microsomal enzyme resulted in a shift in its elution pattern, similar to the lysosomal enzyme when subjected to Con A-Sepharose chromatography. The content of neutral sugars and the structural features of the oligosaccharide units in the microsomal glucuronidase might be responsible for its elution pattern. A processing of the carbohydrate units of the microsomal glucuronidase might be envisaged to take place if it were to act as a precursor of the lysosomal glucuronidase.