title: The interrelations between high- and low-molecular weight forms of normal and mutant (Krabbe-disease) galactocerebrosidase.
abstract: Galactocerebrosidase (beta-d-galactosyl-N-acylsphingosine galactohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.46) activity of brain and liver preparations from normal individuals and patients with Krabbe disease (globoid-cell leukodystrophy) have been separated by gel filtration into four different molecular-weight forms. The apparent mol.wts. were 760000+/-34000 and 121000+/-10000 for the high- and low-molecular-weight forms (peaks I and IV respectively) and 499000+/-22000 (mean+/-s.d.) and 256000+/-12000 for the intermediate forms (peaks II and III respectively). On examination by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, the high- and low-molecular-weight forms revealed a single protein band with a similar mobility corresponding to a mol.wt. of about 125000. Antigenic identity was demonstrated between the various molecular-weight forms of the normal and the mutant galactocerebrosidases by using antisera against either the high- or the low-molecular-weight enzymes. The high-molecular-weight form of galactocerebrosidase was found to possess higher specific activity toward natural substrates when compared with the low-molecular-weight form. It is suggested that the high-molecular-weight enzyme is the active form in vivo and an aggregation process that proceeds from a monomer (mol.wt. approx. 125000) to a dimer (mol.wt. approx. 250000) and from the dimer to either a tetramer (mol.wt. approx. 500000) or a hexamer (mol.wt. approx. 750000) takes place in normal as well as in Krabbe-disease tissues.
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005696:Galactosidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005698:Galactosylceramidase / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007965:Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell / Q000201:enzymology*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011233:Precipitin Tests
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D005696:Galactosidases; D005698:Galactosylceramidase