Levels of Alpha-L-fucosidase in serum of ostensibly healthy individuals are genetically determined. The mechanism controlling levels of the enzyme in serum is unknown. As an experimental tool to investigate this problem, lymphoid cell cultures derived from individuals who have inherited either high or low activity of Alpha-L-fucosidase in serum will be established. With these cell lines, the following questions will be asked: 1) Are there differences in the relative rates of synthesis of the polypeptide and carbohydrate chains of Alpha-L-fucosidase? 2) Are there differences in the processing the polypeptide and/or carbohydrate moieties of Alpha-L-fucosidase? 3) Are there differences in the sorting of Alpha-L-fucosidase into intracellular and extraccellular compartments? 4) Are there differences in Alpha-L-fucosidase m-RNA activity? Answers to these questions will provide novel information concerning the biosynthesis and processing of Alpha-L-fucosidase and will contribute to an understanding of the mechanism determining levels of Alpha-L-fucosidase in serum. This knowledge, besides being scientifically important, may also have clinical significance. The inheritance of decreased activity of Alpha-L-fucosidae in serum of females has been associated with increased risk for developing ovarian cancer. Thus, an understanding of the mechanism controlling levels of Alpha-L-fucosidase in serum may provide information concerning the etiology of ovarian cancer and the genetic factors involved in disease susceptibility. Moreover, alterations of Alpha-L-fucosidase have been associated with other severe diseases. These include fucosidosis, I-cell disease, cystic fibrosis, gastric cancer, diabetes mellitus, hepatic cirrhosis, acute viral hepatitis, Graves disease, various muscular diseases and acute and chronic lymphoblastic leukemia. Thus, the proposed investigations may be relevant for an improved understanding of the molecular pathology of these diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK032161-03
Application #
3230614
Study Section
Biochemistry Study Section (BIO)
Project Start
1985-04-01
Project End
1989-06-30
Budget Start
1987-04-01
Budget End
1989-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Buffalo
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14263
Yang, M; DiCioccio, R A (1994) A Gln-281 to Arg substitution in alpha-L-fucosidase is responsible for a common polymorphism detected by isoelectric focusing. Hum Genet 93:597-9
Seo, H C; Yang, M; Tonlorenzi, R et al. (1994) A missense mutation (S63L) in alpha-L-fucosidase is responsible for fucosidosis in an Italian patient. Hum Mol Genet 3:2065-6
Yang, M; Allen, H; DiCioccio, R A (1993) Pedigree analysis of alpha-L-fucosidase gene mutations in a fucosidosis family. Biochim Biophys Acta 1182:245-9
DiCioccio, R A; Miller, A L (1993) Phosphorylation and subcellular location of alpha-L-fucosidase in lymphoid cells from patients with I-cell disease and pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy. Glycobiology 3:489-95
Yang, M; Allen, H; DiCioccio, R A (1992) A mutation generating a stop codon in the alpha-L-fucosidase gene of a fucosidosis patient. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 189:1063-8
Sharma, A; DiCioccio, R A; Allen, H J (1992) Identification and synthesis of a novel 15 kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin in human leukocytes. Glycobiology 2:285-92
Ahmed, H; Sharma, A; DiCioccio, R A et al. (1992) Lymphoblastoid cell adhesion mediated by a dimeric and polymeric endogenous beta-galactoside-binding lectin (galaptin). J Mol Recognit 5:1-8
Dicioccio, R A; Miller, A L (1992) Binding receptors for alpha-L-fucosidase in human B-lymphoid cell lines. Glycoconj J 9:56-62
Allen, H J; Gottstine, S; Sharma, A et al. (1991) Synthesis, isolation, and characterization of endogenous beta-galactoside-binding lectins in human leukocytes. Biochemistry 30:8904-10
Ahmed, H; Allen, H J; DiCioccio, R A (1991) Binding of hydroxylysine-linked saccharides by galaptin, a galactoside-binding animal tissue lectin. Carbohydr Res 213:321-4

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