Incomplete arylamidase in psoriasis scales

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Dermatology
• Enzymology

Background:

• The epidermis contains arylamidase, an enzyme with specific electrophoretic properties.
• This enzyme is immunologically similar to arylamidase found in prostate secretions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the characteristics of arylamidase in normal and pathologically altered epidermis.
• To compare the arylamidase found in psoriasis scales with that of normal epidermis.

Main Methods:

• Electrophoretic analysis of epidermal and scale extracts.
• Immunological studies to compare enzyme identity.

Main Results:

• Normal and pathologically altered epidermis contain arylamidase with alpha-globulin mobility, immunologically identical to prostate arylamidase.
• In psoriasis scales, arylamidase exhibits beta-globulin mobility.
• The psoriasis-associated enzyme likely has fewer neuraminic acid groups than normal epidermal arylamidase.

Conclusions:

• Arylamidase in psoriasis scales differs from that in normal epidermis, indicated by altered electrophoretic mobility.
• The findings suggest a potential defect in arylamidase synthesis in psoriasis, possibly due to incomplete glycosylation.