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46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate-specific receptor: purification, subunit composition, chemical modification

M Stein1, H E Meyer, A Hasilik

  • 1Physiologisch-Chemisches Institut der Universität Münster.

Biological Chemistry Hoppe-Seyler
|August 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified a cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor in human liver. Arginine residues are crucial for its ligand binding, while histidine

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • A cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) receptor has been isolated from murine macrophages and bovine liver.
  • The human liver M6P receptor subunit has a molecular size of 43 kDa, is rich in hydrophobic and charged amino acids, and has N-terminal threonine.
  • Human and rat liver M6P receptors are antigenically related but distinct from the cation-independent 215-kDa M6P receptor.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor from human liver.
  • To investigate the structural and functional properties of the M6P binding site.
  • To elucidate the role of specific amino acid residues in receptor-ligand interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Purification of the cation-dependent M6P receptor from human liver.
  • Chemical modification of arginine and histidine residues.
  • Ligand binding assays using immobilized ligands.
  • Cross-linking experiments to determine receptor quaternary structure.

Main Results:

  • The cation-dependent M6P receptor exists as a tetramer in solution.
  • Modification of arginine and histidine residues significantly reduced ligand binding.
  • Protection of arginine residues by M6P during modification preserved receptor binding activity.
  • Histidine modification abolished ligand binding, but its functional significance requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Arginine residues are integral to the mannose 6-phosphate binding site of the cation-dependent M6P receptor.
  • The cation-dependent M6P receptor exhibits distinct immunological and structural properties compared to the cation-independent receptor.
  • Further studies are needed to understand the role of histidine in the receptor's function.

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