Purification of feline lysosomal α-mannosidase, determination of its cDNA sequence and identification of a mutation causing α-mannosidosis in Persian cats

α-Mannosidosis is a lysosomal storage disorder that is caused by the deficiency of lysosomal α-mannosidase. Feline α-mannosidosis is a well-characterized animal model used for studying pathological and therapeutic aspects of lysosomal storage disorders. We here report the purification of feline liver lysosomal a-mannosidase and determination of its cDNA sequence. The active enzyme consisted of three polypeptides, with molecular masses of 72, 41 and 12 kDa, joined by non-covalent forces. The cDNA sequence of feline lysosomal α-mannosidase was determined from reverse transcriptase PCR products obtained from skin fibroblast mRNA. The deduced amino acid sequence contained the N-terminal sequences of the 72 and 41 kDa peptides. This indicated that the enzyme is synthesized as a single-chain precursor with a putative signal peptide of 50 amino acids followed by a polypeptide chain of 957 amino acids, which is cleaved into the three polypeptides of the mature enzyme. The deduced amino acid sequence was 81.1 and 83.2% identical with the human and bovine lysosomal α-mannosidases sequences respectively. A 4 bp deletion was identified in an α-mannosidosis-affected Persian cat by DNA sequencing of reverse transcriptase PCR products. The deletion resulted in a frame shift from codon 583 and premature termination at codon 645. No lysosomal α-mannosidase activity could be detected in the liver of this cat. A domestic long-haired cat expressing a milder α-mannosidosis phenotype than the Persian cat had a lysosomal α-mannosidase activity of 2% of normal. This domestic long-haired cat did not possess the 4 bp deletion, proving molecular heterogeneity for feline α-mannosidosis.