Human lysosomal alpha-glucosidase: functional characterization of the glycosylation sites

N-linked glycosylation is one of the important events in the post-translational modification of human lysosomal alpha-glucosidase. Phosphorylation of mannose residues ensures efficient transport of the enzyme to the lysosomes via the mannose 6-phosphate receptor. The primary structure of lysosomal alpha-glucosidase, as deduced from the cDNA sequence, indicates that there are seven potential glycosylation sites. We have eliminated these sites individually by site-directed mutagenesis and thereby demonstrated that all seven sites are glycosylated. The sites at Asn-882 and Asn-925 were found to be located in a C-terminal propeptide which is cleaved off during maturation. Evidence is presented that at least two of the oligosaccharide side chains of human lysosomal alpha-glucosidase are phosphorylated. Elimination of six of the seven sites does not disturb enzyme synthesis or function. However, removal of the second glycosylation site at Asn-233 interferes dramatically with the formation of mature enzyme. The mutant precursor is synthesized normally and assembles in the endoplasmic reticulum, but immunoelectron microscopy reveals a deficiency of alpha-glucosidase in the Golgi complex and in the more distal compartments of the lysosomal transport pathway.