The N-Acetylglucosaminyl-1-phosphotransferase plays a key role in the generation of mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) recognition markersessential for efficient transport of lysosomal hydrolases to lysosomes. The phosphotransferase is composed of six subunits (alpha2, beta2, gamma2). The alpha- and beta-subunits are catalytically active and encoded by a single gene, GNPTAB, whereas the gamma-subunit encoded by GNPTG is proposed to recognize conformational structures common to lysosomal enzymes. Defects in GNPTG cause mucolipidosis type III gamma, which is characterized by missorting and cellular loss of lysosomal enzymes leading to lysosomal accumulation of storage material. Using plasmon resonance spectrometry, we showed that recombinant gamma-subunit failed to bind the lysosomal enzyme arylsulfatase A. Additionally, the overexpression of the gamma-subunit in COS7 cells did not result in hypersecretion of newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes expected for competition for binding sites of the endogenous phosphotransferase complex. Analysis of fibroblasts exhibiting a novel mutation in GNPTG (c.619insT, p.K207IfsX7) revealed that the expression of GNPTAB was increased whereas in gamma-subunit overexpressing cells the GNPTAB mRNA was reduced. The data suggest that the gamma-subunit is important for the balance of phosphotransferase subunits rather for general binding of lysosomal enzymes.

Mucolipidosis type III gamma (MLIII, pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder where the activity of the multimeric GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase is reduced and formation of the mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) recognition marker on lysosomal enzymes is impaired. In this disease, the targeting of lysosomal enzymes is affected resulting in their hypersecretion, and an intracellular deficiency of multiple hydrolases. We report the biochemical and molecular diagnosis of MLIII in three siblings, aged 17, 15, and 14 years, who presented with joint pain and progressive joint stiffness. In addition to missorting of newly synthesized lysosomal protease cathepsin D, there were low levels of M6P-containing proteins in cell extracts and media of cultured fibroblasts of the Patients. Direct sequencing identified a novel homozygous mutation in intron 7, IVS7-10G>A, of the GNPTG gene, which encodes the gamma-subunit of the GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase. This mutation created a cryptic 3'-splice site resulting in a frameshift and premature translational termination (p.V176GfsX18). The GNPTG mRNA levels were markedly reduced in Patients' fibroblasts indicating that the intronic mutation mediates mRNA decay, which was confirmed by absence of the gamma-subunit protein. These data contribute to an efficient diagnostic strategy to identify Patients with MLIII gamma and characterize their biochemical defect in fibroblasts.

GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase is a Golgi-resident 540-kDa complex of three subunits, ␣ 2 ␤ 2 ␥ 2 , that catalyze the first step in the formation of the mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) recognition marker on lysosomal enzymes. Anti-M6P antibody analysis shows that human primary macrophages fail to generate M6P residues. Here we have explored the sorting and intracellular targeting of cathepsin D as a model, and the expression of the GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase complex in macrophages. Newly synthesized cathepsin D is transported to lysosomes in an M6P-independent manner in association with membranes whereas the majority is secreted. Realtime PCR analysis revealed a 3-10-fold higher GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase subunit mRNA levels in macrophages than in fibroblasts or HeLa cells. At the protein level, the ␥-subunit but not the ␤-subunit was found to be proteolytically cleaved into three fragments which form irregular 97-kDa disulfide-linked oligomers in macrophages. Size exclusion chromatography showed that the ␥-subunit fragments lost the capability to assemble with other GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase subunits to higher molecular complexes. These findings demonstrate that proteolytic processing of the ␥-subunit represents a novel mechanism to regulate GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase activity and the subsequent sorting of lysosomal enzymes.