Defective galactosylation of serum transferrin in galactosemia

The glycosylation of serum transferrin from galactosemic patients with a deficiency of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (EC 2. 7.7 12) is abnormal but becomes normal after treatment with a galactose-free diet. To understand the structural and biochemical basis of the abnormal glycosylation, transferrin was purified from the serum of untreated and treated galactosemic patients and normal controls and the N-linked glycans analyzed by HPLC. The glycans from normal transferrin consisted predominantly (86%) of the disialylated biantennary complex type. The glycans from untreated galactosemic patients were more heterogeneous and contained four major truncated glycans in addition to a smaller amount (13%) of the disialylated biantennary complex type. The truncated glycans were deficient in galactose and sialic acid and their structures were consistent with a decrease in galactosyltransferase activity in hepatocytes, the probable cells of origin of the transferrin. This is postulated to be due to direct inhibition of the galactosyltransferase activity by the accumulated galactose-1-phosphate or to an effect on the formation of UDP-galactose, the donor substrate in the reaction. After treatment the proportion of the truncated glycans decreased and the proportion of the disialylated biantennary complex type increased, returning almost but never completely to normal, even after prolonged treatment in some cases. There was no clear relationship between the length of treatment and the normalization of glycosylation and the level of galactose-1-phosphate in red blood cells, the usual parameter for monitoring the treatment of galactosemics. It is suggested that the persistence of abnormally glycosylated proteins may contribute to the long-term complications in galactosemia.