Immunocytochemistry of lysosomal hydrolases and their precursor forms in normal and mutant human cells

The acid hydrolases alpha-glucosidase, beta-galactosidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase, beta-glucocerebrosidase and cathepsin D were studied immunocytochemically in normal and mutant human cells using monoclonal and affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies. For light microscopy, Rhodamine or Fluorescein-labelled conjugates were used, and for electron microscopy protein A-gold conjugates were employed. With the double labelling procedure, it was found that in normal fibroblasts every lysosome contained all the enzymes studied. The method described also enabled us to demonstrate the presence or absence of mutant enzyme protein in fibroblasts derived from patients with a genetic lysosomal enzyme deficiency. Immunoreactive acid hydrolases or their precursor forms were found in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the cisternae of the Golgi complex, Golgi associated vesicles and lysosomes. This is in agreement with the present concept that the Golgi complex plays an essential role in the processing and targeting of lysosomal enzymes.