Immunochemical studies on the subunits of rabbit-intestinal sucrase-isomaltase complex.

Purified sucrase-isomaltase complex sucrose alpha-glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.48 - dextrin 6-alpha-glycanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.10) solubilized by papain from rabbit intestine was dissociated by citraconylation into its subunits, sucrase and isomaltase, which were then isolated in a form active immunologically as well as enzymatically by affinity chromatography on Sephadex G-200 and gel-filtration on Bio-gel P-300. Antibodies against the purified complex inhibited isomaltase but not sucrase and formed precipitation lines, crossing each other, with isolated sucrase and isomaltase, showing that the two enzymes differ in antigenicity from each other. By absorbing the antibodies with isolated sucrase and isomaltase, antibodies specific for isomaltase and sucrase, respectively, were obtained. Like the original antibodies, both of the specific antibodies quantitatively agglutinated microvillous vesicles. Sucrase was inhibited by neither of the antibodies. In contrast, isomaltase was greatly inhibited by the isomaltase-specific antibodies, but not by the sucrase-specific ones.

Topographical relationship between sucrase and leucine beta-naphthylamidase on the microvilli membrane of rabbit intestinal mucosal cells.

The topographical relationship between sucrase [EC 3.2.1.26] and leucine beta-naphthylamidase (LNAase) on the microvilli membrane of rabbit small-intestinal mucosal cells was studied assuming that where enzymes with different antigenicities, A and B, are situated in close proximity on the surface of microvilli vesicles, the agglutination of vesicles by anti-A antibody is inhibited by the previous binding of monovalent fragments of anti-B antibody to enzyme B on the surface of vesicles. Like anti-sucrase antibody, anti-LNAase antibody quantitatively agglutinated microvilli vesicles. It inhibited the membrane-bound LNAase activity in the same manner as the detergent-solubilized activity. This inhibitory effect of anti-LNAase antibody was not interfered with by monovalent fragments of anti-sucrase antibody. However, the monovalent fragments inhibited vesicle agglutination by anti-LNAase antibody as well as by anti-sucrase antibody. These results indicate that LNAase is located on the outer surface of microvilli vesicles and suggest that LNAase and sucrase are situated in close proximity on the membrane surface of microvilli vesicles.

Purification and antigenic properties of intracellular invertase from Streptococcus mutans.

Intracellular invertase from Streptococcus mutans GS5 was purified to near homogeneity by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography followed by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The invertase appeared to be composed of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 48,000. Extracellular invertase was identified in strain GS5 and was determined to have a molecular weight of 500,000. No antigenic relationship between these two forms of invertase was observed since antibody prepared against purified intracellular invertase neither affected extracellular invertase activity nor precipitated that enzyme on immunodiffusion. No antigenic relatedness between intracellular invertase and glucosyl- and fructosyl- transferases was detected since cross-reactivity with antibody prepared against either enzyme fraction was not observed after immunodiffusion. Using immunodiffusion and quantitative precipitin data, we examined the relationships of other S. mutans intracellular invertases to the serotype c enzyme. It appeared that the intracellular invertases from serotypes e, f, and g were structurally similar to the enzyme from serotype c, whereas the structure of invertases from serotypes a, b, and d appeared less similar to that of enzyme from serotype c.

Catalytically inactive sucrase antigen of rabbit small intestine: the enzyme precursor.

By immunofluorescence microscopy using a specific antibody to the active rabbit sucrase-isomaltase complex, a catalytically inactive sucrase antigen was discovered on the small intestinal mucosa of young rabbits still lacking sucrase activity. In adult rabbits, the same antigen was demonstrated on enterocytes of mucosal crypts devoid of sucrase. Catalytically inactive antigen was isolated by means of immobilized antibody to active sucrase, and it was compared with the active sucrase-isomaltase complex. From structural similarities between the 2 proteins and from the fact that active sucrase succeeds the inactive antigen in both the maturing and the mature rabbit, it is concluded that the inactive antigen is the enzyme precursor. In some patients with hereditary sucrase-isomaltase deficiency, abnormal persistence of sucrase precurosr due to a faulty activation mechanism may be the underlying defect.

Blood group activity of human sucrase from intestinal metaplasia.

Sucrases were purified from human small intestine and from areas of intestinal metaplasia of the stomach mucosa surrounding stomach cancers. The kinetic constants and pH activity profiles of enzyme preparations from the two sources were similar. No blood group activity of sucrase was detectable in preparations from three cases of intestinal metaplasia, but preparations from two other cases showed activity like that of the small intestine. These results indicate that sucrase from areas of intestinal metaplasia has similar enzymatic properties to those of enzyme from the small intestine, but that the antigenic sugar moiety of the enzyme associated with blood group activity varies.

Human intestinal sucrase-isomaltase. Identification of free sucrase and isomaltase and cleavage of the hybrid into active distinct subunits.

Sucrase-isomaltase complex and its functional subunits have been identified in homogenates of human small intestinal mucosa by use of Sephadex G-200 (superfine) chromatography aided by affinity of the isomaltase moiety for the dextran gel. The isomaltase subunit binds strongly to the gel at 4 degrees, and is eluted only after 2 column volumes; earlier recovery as a sharp peak can be achieved by raising column temperature to 37 degrees after elution of other proteins. Bio-Gel P-300 chromatography, density gradient, and equilibrium centrifugation demonstrated that the sucrase subunit (Stokes radius = 45 A, frictional ratio = 1.32, s20,w = 6.9, MW = 130,000) and the isomaltase subunit (Stokes radius = 45 A, frictional ratio = 1.30, s20,w = 6.6, MW = 120,000) are similar but unequal in size. The sucrase-isomaltase complex (Stokes radius = 70 A, frictional ratio = 1.61, s20,w = 9.8, MW = 280,000), appears to be an elongated hybrid molecule that is less symmetrical than either of itt subunits. Apparent Km and pH activity curves were indistinguishable for each enzyme whether present in the hybrid or in the free state. The sucrase-isomaltase complex, accounting for approximately 90 percent of native intestinal sucrase and isomaltase activities, was isolated and cleaved by 0.01 M beta-mercaptoethanol/6 M urea treatment into active sucrase and isomaltase subunits having biochemical characteristics identical with those of the free native moieties. Sodium dodecyl sulfate acrylamide gell electrophoresis of the complex also produced subunits having molecular weights very close to those for the active free sucrase and isomaltase moieties, indicating that each alpha-glucosidase appears to consist of a single polypeptide chain. Immunization of rabbits with pure sucrase-isomaltase complex yielded a monospecific precipitating antibody that reacted with the hybrid and the sucrase subunit, but had minimal affinity for the isomaltase subunit, providing further evidence that the sucrase-isomaltase molecule is a hybrid consisting of two distinct alpha-glucosidases.

Detection and characterization of sucrase-isomaltase in adult human colon and in colonic polyps.

A panel of monoclonal antibodies specific for sucrase-isomaltase, but differing in their ability to stain the proliferative crypt cells in human jejunum, was used to investigate expression of this enzyme in adult human colon and colonic tumors. Immunofluorescence staining on cryostat sections demonstrated the presence of sucrase-isomaltase in the apical region of normal colonic crypt cells but not on surface epithelium. Colonic sucrase-isomaltase was purified by immunoprecipitation with selected monoclonal antibodies and identified predominantly as high-mannose and complex glycosylated single-chain precursors endowed with relatively low levels of enzyme activities. Most polyps examined (10/16) were also found to express significant amounts of sucrase-isomaltase. In contrast, only 3 of 45 adenocarcinomas were positive by immunofluorescence staining; no correlation was found between enzyme expression and tumor classification either by "Dukes" stage or degree of histological differentiation. These results demonstrate that colonic crypt cells and some benign tumor cells synthesize and express at their cell surface a form of sucrase-isomaltase immunologically distinct from that present in the brush borders of small intestinal villose cells.