Prognostic impact of perihepatic lymph node metastases in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Although perihepatic lymph node metastases (PLNMs) are known to be a poor prognosticator for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs), optimal management remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for PLNMs, and the survival impact of their number and location in patients with resectable CRLMs. METHODS: Data on patients with CRLM who underwent hepatectomy during 2003-2014 were analysed retrospectively. Recurrence-free (RFS) and overall (OS) survival were calculated according to presence, number and location of PLNMs. Risk factors for PLNM were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 1485 patients, 174 underwent lymphadenectomy, and 54 (31·0 per cent) had PLNM. Ten patients (5·7 per cent) who had lymphadenectomy and 176 (13·4 per cent) who did not underwent repeat hepatectomy. Survival of patients with PLNM was significantly poorer than that of patients without (RFS: 5·3 versus 13·8 months, P < 0·001; OS: 20·5 versus 71·3 months; P < 0·001). Median OS was significantly better in patients with para-aortic versus hepatoduodenal ligament PLNMs (58·2 versus 15·5 months; P = 0·011). Patients with three or more PLNMs had significantly worse median OS than those with one or two (16·3 versus 25·4 months; P = 0·039). The presence of primary tumour lymph node metastases (odds ratio 2·35; P = 0·037) and intrahepatic recurrence requiring repeat hepatectomy (odds ratio 5·61; P = 0·012) were significant risk factors for PLNM on multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing repeat hepatectomy and those with primary tumour lymph node metastases are at significant risk of PLNM. Although PLNM is a poor prognostic factor independent of perihepatic lymph node station, patients with one or two PLNMs have a more favourable outcome than those with more PLNMs.

Differential diagnosis of liver tumours using intraoperative real-time tissue elastography.

BACKGROUND: Real-time tissue elastography is an innovative tool that informs the surgeon about tissue elasticity by applying the principle of ultrasonography. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of intraoperative real-time tissue elastography (IORTE) for the detection and characterization of liver tumours. METHODS: Between October 2010 and November 2011, IORTE was performed for liver lesions after the completion of routine B-mode intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS). The elasticity images of all tumours, except those of cysts, were classified into six categories according to modified criteria (types 1-6), according to the degree of strain contrast with the surrounding liver. The concordance of IORTE with pathological examination of the tumour, B-mode IOUS and clinical diagnosis after follow-up was assessed. RESULTS: Images were obtained from 92 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 92 adenocarcinomas, 19 other malignant tumours and 18 benign tumours in 158 patients. Using a minilinear probe, 73 of 88 HCCs were classified as having a 'HCC pattern' (type 3, 4 or 5), resulting in a sensitivity of 83·0 per cent, a specificity of 67·2 per cent and an accuracy of 73·7 per cent. Some 66 of 90 adenocarcinomas were classified as 'adenocarcinoma pattern' (type 6), resulting in a sensitivity of 73·3 per cent, specificity of 95·1 per cent and accuracy of 85·9 per cent. IORTE detected seven new lesions (8 per cent). CONCLUSION: IORTE is useful for the detection and characterization of liver tumours.

Identification of the characteristic amino-acid sequence for human alpha-amylase encoded by the AMY2B gene.

Human salivary and pancreatic alpha-amylases (HSA and HPA) are the respective gene products of the AMY1 and AMY2A genes. AMY2B is a newly found human alpha-amylase gene. The presence of the AMY2B gene product (HXA) in the urine of healthy humans was examined. A mixture of alpha-amylases that seemed to contain HXA, judging from the substrate specificity, was purified from urine of healthy volunteers by affinity adsorption on starch and then by ion-exchange chromatography. The mixture was reduced and S-alkylated, and the product was digested with trypsin. The digest was separated by reversed-phase HPLC. LVGLLDLALEKDYVR and LVGLLDLALEK, which were found in the digest, are peptides of HXA, but not of HSA and HPA. The detection of these characteristic peptides of HXA demonstrates the presence of HXA in the urine of healthy humans.

Identification of a novel alpha-amylase by expression of a newly cloned human amy3 cDNA in yeast.

A novel amylase gene (amy3) that differs in nucleotide sequence from salivary amylase gene (amy1) and pancreatic amylase gene (amy2) has been described [Tomita et al., Gene 76 (1989) 11-18], but whether this gene can ever code for an active enzyme has not been shown. We prepared cDNA of this gene from an mRNA obtained from lung carcinoid tissue, and expressed it in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the control of an acid phosphatase promoter. The product was secreted into culture media, and showed enzymatic activity, demonstrating that this novel alpha-amylase gene (amy3) can code for a functional isozyme. We purified this enzyme, and compared its biological properties with those of salivary and pancreatic human amylases similarly expressed in yeast. We observed that the novel amylase isozyme is more heat-sensitive than others, and that its substrate specificity is different from the other two isozymes.

Preparation of a new fluorogenic substrate of alpha-amylases and a simple alpha-amylase assay by HPLC.

A new substrate of alpha-amylases, O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-D-glucopyranose, was prepared using dextrin as a starting material. Compared with other substrates so far reported, the fluorogenic substrate is unique in that it is resistant to exo-alpha-glucosidases due to the blocking group introduced into the non-reducing end glucose residue. The product of alpha-amylase digestion was rapidly separated from the substrate and was detected very sensitively by HPLC and a fluorescence detector. This method for alpha-amylase assay was also applied for determination of alpha-amylase in human serum.

Fluorometric rate assay of alpha-amylase using an intramolecularly-quenched fluorescent substrate (FG5P).

The complete hydrolysis of a fluorogenic derivative of rho-nitrophenyl alpha-maltopentaoside, FG5P, by human salivary alpha-amylase, resulted in a 5-fold increase in fluorescence. This is due to disruption of the intramolecular quenching of the fluorescence of the 2-pyridylamino residue by the rho-nitrophenyl residue by separation of the two residues. This change of fluorescence accompanying the cleavage of the glucosidic bond was exploited to develop a fluorometric rate assay of alpha-amylase in human serum.

Inspection of active sites of human salivary alpha-amylase isozymes by means of non-reducing-end substituted maltooligosaccharides with 2-pyridylamino residue.

The modes of action of four alpha-amylase isozymes, which were purified from human saliva, on p-nitrophenyl alpha-maltopentaoside (G5P), maltohexaitol (G6R), and their 2-pyridylamino derivatives, p-nitrophenyl O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha- D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (FG5P) and O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)- O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O- alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-D- glucitol (FG6R) were examined at various pH values. No differences in their modes of action on the substrates was found. Irrespective of which enzyme was used, the molar ratio of the hydrolysis products of G5P or G6R was almost constant at any pH examined. On the other hand, those of FG5P and FG6R varied with pH such that predominantly O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-D-glucose (FG3) was formed at high pH ranges, while the formation of O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)- O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-D-gl ucose (FG4) increased at lower pH. The result indicates that the binding mode of FG5P or FG6R to the active sites of the enzymes changed with pH; namely, interactions between the 2-pyridylamino residue of the substrates and some amino acid residue(s) located in the active sites were influenced by pH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Differential rate assay of human pancreatic and salivary alpha-amylases in serum using two coupled enzymes.

p-Nitrophenyl O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha- D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (FG5P) is hydrolyzed by human pancreatic a-amylase (HPA) or salivary alpha-amylase (HSA) to O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-D-glucose (FG3) and p-nitrophenyl alpha-maltoside or to O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha- D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-D-glucose (FG4) and p-nitrophenyl alpha-glucoside. The use of alpha-D-glucosidase (maltase) [EC 3.2.1.20] of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis and oligo-1,6-glucosidase (isomaltase) [EC 3.2.1.10] of bakers' yeast as coupled enzymes differentiates between the two reactions, because alpha-D-glucosidase liberates p-nitrophenol from both p-nitrophenyl alpha-glucoside and p-nitrophenyl alpha-maltoside, but oligo-1,6-glucosidase liberates it only from p-nitrophenyl alpha-glucoside. HPA produces more FG4 and p-nitrophenyl alpha-glucoside than HSA. Taking advantage of the differences in the action of the two amylases and in the substrate specificity of the coupled enzymes, we have developed a new colorimetric differential rate assay of alpha-amylases in human serum.

Linkage position analysis of pyridylamino-disaccharides by HPLC of fluorogenic Smith degradation products.

Oligosaccharides are often converted to fluorogenic pyridylamino-oligosaccharides (PA-oligosaccharides) to be analyzed sensitively. A method for determining the glycosidic linkage position to the PA-reducing-end residue was developed with PA-disaccharides as model compounds. Periodate oxidation of PA-disaccharides was carried out at 0 degrees C for 15 min or at 4 degrees C for 40 h, and the reaction mixtures were reduced with borohydride. The fluorogenic products obtained at 4 degrees C for 40 h were purified by reversed phase HPLC, and the fraction collected were hydrolyzed with acid. The hydrolysates were analyzed by reversed phase HPLC. PA-glyceraldehyde was formed from 2-substituted PA-disaccharides with PA-hexose, PA-threose (or PA-erythrose) from 3-substituted ones, and PA-glycolaldehyde from 4- or 6-substituted ones. HPLC analysis of the products obtained at 0 degrees C for 15 min revealed a difference between 4- and 6-substituted ones. PA-glyceraldehyde was formed from 6-substituted ones, but not from 4-substituted ones. The linkage position, therefore, can be determined by analyzing fluorogenic product(s). As for PA-disaccharides with PA-N-acetylglucosamine, the linkage position can be simply determined by analysis of 40-h oxidation-reduction mixtures. 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy derivatives of PA-threose, PA-xylose, and PA-glyceraldehyde were formed from 3-, 4-, and 6-substituted ones, respectively. The linkage position analysis was successfully applied to determination of the structures of two Fuc-Man-PAs produced through the transglycosylation action of bovine kidney alpha-L-fucosidase.

Detection of human urinary alpha-amylase encoded by the AMY2B gene using a fluorogenic substrate, FG5P.

The existence of alpha-amylase (HXA) encoded by alpha-amylase gene AMY2B in healthy humans was examined using a fluorogenic substrate, FG5P (FG-G-G-G-G-P: FG, 6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-D-glucose residue; G, glucose residue; P, p-nitrophenyl residue; -, alpha-1,4-glycosidic bond). Chromatofocusing of urine from a healthy human was carried out. FG5P was digested with the fractions exhibiting alpha-amylase activity and each digest at an early stage was analyzed by HPLC. FG5P was hydrolyzed to FG3 (FG-G-G) and p-nitrophenyl alpha-maltoside (G-G-P), and to FG4 (FG-G-G-G) and p-nitrophenyl alpha-glucoside (G-P). The molar ratios of FG4 to FG3 (FG4/FG3) in the digests with basic fractions were larger than those in the digests of human pancreatic alpha-amylase (HPA, 1.11) and human salivary alpha-amylase (HSA, 0.51). Considering that the value for the AMY2B gene product with yeast (yHXA) is 1.88, a value of more than 1.11 implies that HXA exists. The amount of HXA was determined after removal of HSA on an anti-human salivary alpha-amylase antibody bound column. The FG4/FG3 values for six urine samples free from HSA were 1.23-1.26. Assuming that the FG4/FG3 value for HXA is the same as that for yHXA, the ratios of HXA and HPA were estimated to be 1:5.4-4.1. The results obtained showed that the AMY2B gene is usually expressed as HXA in healthy humans.

An assay method for glycogen debranching enzyme using new fluorogenic substrates and its application to detection of the enzyme in mouse brain.

An assay method for glycogen debranching enzyme involving fluorogenic dextrins as substrates was developed. Two dextrins were prepared from 6-O-alpha-D-glucosyl-alpha-cyclodextrin and glucose by taking advantage of the action of Bacillus macerans cyclodextrin glucanotransferase, and converted by pyridylamination to fluorogenic derivatives. Structural analysis of the fluorogenic dextrins by FAB-MS, partial acid hydrolysis, and glucoamylase digestion revealed that they were Glcalpha1-4(Glcalpha1-6)Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1- 4Glcalpha1-4Glc-PA (FD6) and Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4(Glcalpha1-6)Glcalpha1- 4Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4G lc-PA (FD7). Using the glycogen debranching enzyme from rabbit muscle, FD6 and FD7 were, respectively, hydrolyzed to PA-maltopentaose and PA-maltohexaose, in addition to glucose, showing that these two fluorogenic dextrins are suitable substrates for assaying the glycogen debranching enzyme. An assay method involving the separation and quantification by HPLC of the characteristic fluorogenic products was successfully applied to determination of the distribution of the enzyme activity in mouse cerebrum.

Studies on the substrate specificity of Taka-amylase A1. XIV. Preparation of 6-deoxy-6-halogenomaltotrioses and their hydrolysis by Taka-amylase A.

1. O-6-Deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-D-glucopyranose, O-6-chloro-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-D-glucopyranose, O-6-bromo-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-D-glucopyranose, and O-6-deoxy-6-iodo-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-D-glucopyranose were prepared, taking advantage of the substrate specificities of Taka-amylase A and glucoamylase, and the action of Taka-amylase A on these substrates was investigated. 2. The Michaelis constant Km and the molecular activity ko were determined at 37 degrees C and pH 5.2 using the modified maltotrioses. The values of Km and ko decreased upon modification of maltotriose and those of ko/Km were in agreement with the comparative initial rates for the corresponding derivatives of phenyl alpha-maltoside at low substrate concentrations. This result suggested that a subsite of the enzyme may have a specific interaction with halogen atoms in the substrate. 3. All halogenomaltotrioses examined showed substrate inhibition at high substrate concentrations.

Inspection of human salivary alpha-amylase action by its transglycosylation action.

The course of the action of human salivary alpha-amylase (HSA) on a substrate was examined taking advantage of its transglycosylation action. IG5 phi (IG-G-G-G-G-phi), IG4 phi (IG-G-G-G-phi), and GIG4 phi (G-IG-G-G-G-phi) were used as the substrates and p-nitrophenyl alpha-glucoside (GP, G-P) as the acceptor. HSA hydrolyzes IG5 phi, IG4 phi, and GIG4 phi to IG3 (IG-G-G) and G2 phi (G-G-phi), to IG3 and G phi (G-phi), and to GIG3 (G-IG-G-G) and G phi, respectively. In the presence of GP, a part of the glycon residues, IG3 and GIG3, were transferred to the acceptor to give IG4P (IG-G-G-G-P) and GIG4P (G-IG-G-G-G-P), respectively. Whenever the enzyme attacks the substrate, G phi or G2 phi is liberated in both transglycosylation and hydrolysis. The extent of transglycosylation can be, therefore, estimated from the molar ratio of the transfer product to the liberated aglycon, G phi or G2 phi. HPLC analysis of the reaction mixtures revealed that the value of IG4P/G phi in the digest of IG4 phi was nearly equal to that of GIG4P/G phi in the digest of GIG4 phi and these values were ten times larger than that of IG4P/G2 phi in the digest of IG5 phi. These data suggested that G phi residue would fall away from aglycon binding site more rapidly than G2 phi residue after the cleavage of the alpha-1,4-glycosidic linkage to offer GP more chance to attack to the activated glycon and also indicated that the space of the glycon binding site corresponds to three glucose residues.

Difference in transglycosylation between human pancreatic and salivary alpha-amylases.

Transglycosylation reactions of alpha-amylases from human pancreatic juice and saliva were examined by using O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-D-glucopyranose as a substrate and O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-1-deoxy-1-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-D-glucitol as an acceptor. The transfer reaction was estimated by quantitation of O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-1-deoxy-1-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-D-glucitol produced by the enzymes from the transfer products, because the acceptor was not hydrolyzed. The amount of O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-1-deoxy-1-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-D-glucitol in the digest with pancreatic alpha-amylase was six times that in the digest with salivary alpha-amylase at the stage when the substrate was completely consumed, and the difference increased gradually on further incubation. The phenomenon can be applied to differentiate the two alpha-amylases in human serum.

Preparation of non-reducing-end substituted p-nitrophenyl alpha-maltopentaoside (FG5P) as a substrate for a coupled enzymatic assay for alpha-amylases.

p-Nitrophenyl O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D - glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, FG5P, was prepared, taking advantage of the action of Bacillus macerans cyclodextrin glucanotransferase on a mixture of O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)-amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha- D- glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-D-glucose and p-nitrophenyl alpha-glucoside. The maltopentaose derivative is resistant to alpha-glucosidase and is suitable as a substrate for the alpha-amylase assay coupled with alpha-glucosidase in which the activity of alpha-amylase is determined by measuring the amount of p-nitrophenol liberated by alpha-glucosidase from p-nitrophenyl alpha-glucoside and p-nitrophenyl alpha-maltoside produced by the action of alpha-amylase. This alpha-amylase assay method was applied for determination of alpha-amylases in human serum.

Examination of aglycone-binding site of human salivary alpha-amylase by means of transglycosylation reactions.

The active site of human salivary alpha-amylase is composed of tandem subsites (S3, S2, S1, S1',S2', etc.) geometrically complementary to several glucose residues, and the glycosidic linkage of the substrate is split between S1 and S1'. As a matter of convenience, the subsites to which the non-reducing-end part (glycone) and the reducing-end part (aglycone) of the substrate being hydrolyzed are bound are named the glycone-binding site (S3, S2, S1) and the aglycone-binding site (S1', S2'), respectively. The features of the aglycone-binding site of human salivary alpha-amylase were examined by means of transglycosylation reaction using phenyl alpha-maltoside (GG phi: G-G-phi) and its derivatives (GAG phi: G-AG-phi, GCG phi: G-CG-phi, AGG phi: AG-G-phi, and CGG phi: CG-G-phi) in which one of the glucose residues (G) has been converted to 6-amino-6-deoxy-glucose (AG) or glucuronic acid (CG) residue as the acceptor. A fluorogenic derivative of maltotetraose, p-nitrophenyl O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl)amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D -glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (FG4P, FG-G-G-G-P), was used as the substrate. HSA catalyzed both hydrolysis of FG4P to FG3 (FG-G-G) and p-nitrophenyl alpha-glucoside (G-P) and transfer of the FG3 residue of FG4P to the acceptors. Transfer to GAG phi occurred more effectively than to GG phi. Transfers to GCG phi and CGG phi were less than to GG phi and very little transfer to AGG phi occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A new disaccharide Fuc alpha 1-2Man found in human urine.

Human urine collected from healthy individuals was ultrafiltered and the filtrate was gel-filtered. The fraction including disaccharides was pyridylaminated to convert the reducing sugars to fluorescent pyridylamino (PA)-derivatives. A PA-disaccharide consisting of Fuc and Man was purified by gel filtration, reversed-phase HPLC, and size fractionation HPLC. Structural analysis revealed that the disaccharide was Fuc alpha 1-2Man-PA. The disaccharide is considered to be a metabolite of unknown glycoconjugates.

The reactive site of Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor.

The reactive of Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor (SSI) was investigated by chymotryptic cleavage of the reactive site peptide bond and its resynthesis by inhibitor-subtilisin complex formation. The results show that the reactive site peptide bond of the inhibitor is Met(73)-Val(74) and that subtilisin specifically cleaved the Leu(6)-Tyr(7) bond of SSI upon complex formation.

Substrate specificity of bovine liver cytosolic neutral alpha-mannosidase activated by Co2+.

A cytosolic neutral alpha-mannosidase was purified from bovine liver. Its molecular weight was found to be 500,000 on gel filtration. The activity of the enzyme toward Man alpha 1-6-(Man alpha 1-3)Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc-PA was increased 26-fold by preincubation with 1 mM Co2+. Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc was hydrolyzed by the enzyme to Man alpha 1-3Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc, which was further hydrolyzed to Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc. The rate of hydrolysis was 15-fold greater than that of Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc. This substrate specificity suggested that the enzyme could be involved in the degradation of oligomannose-type sugar chains with one GlcNAc residue released from glycoproteins by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, and supported a pathway for glycoprotein catabolism via oligomannosyl glycans with one GlcNAc residue proposed on the basis of an earlier study on a cytosolic neutral alpha-mannosidase from Japanese quail oviduct [Oku, H. and Hase, S. (1991) J. Biochem. 110, 982-989].

Glycogen debranching enzyme in bovine brain.

Glycogen debranching enzyme was partially purified from bovine brain using a substrate for measuring the amylo-1,6-glucosidase activity. Bovine cerebrum was homogenized, followed by cell-fractionation of the resulting homogenate. The enzyme activity was found mainly in the cytosolic fraction. The enzyme was purified 5,000-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion-exchange chromatography, gel-filtration, anion-exchange HPLC, and gel-permeation HPLC. The enzyme preparation had no alpha-glucosidase or alpha-amylase activities and degraded phosphorylase limit dextrin of glycogen with phosphorylase. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 190,000 and the optimal pH was 6.0. The brain enzyme differed from glycogen debranching enzyme of liver or muscle in its mode of action on dextrins with an alpha-1,6-glucosyl branch, indicating an amino acid sequence different from those of the latter two enzymes. It is likely that the enzyme is involved in the breakdown of brain glycogen in concert with phosphorylase as in the cases of liver and muscle, but that this proceeds in a somewhat different manner. The enzyme activity decreased in the presence of ATP, suggesting that the degradation of brain glycogen is controlled by the modification of the debranching enzyme activity as well as the phosphorylase.