J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 259, Issue 2, 1037-1042, 01, 1984
Glutamyl ribose 5-phosphate storage disease. A hereditary defect in the degradation of poly(ADP-ribosylated) proteins
JC Williams, JP Chambers and JG Liehr
A patient with a lysosomal storage disease, progressive neurologic
degeneration, and renal failure was found to have accumulated a low
molecular weight ninhydrin and phenol-H2SO4 reactive compound. Amino acid
analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified a glutamic
acid moiety. Direct insertion mass spectrometry proved the carbohydrate
portion to be a sugar phosphate. NaB3H4 reduction and borate
electrophoresis, paper chromatography, and enzymatic digestion indicated
the presence of ribose 5-phosphate. Quantitative analysis of the intact
compound indicated a 1:1:1 ratio for glutamic acid: ribose:phosphate. Brain
was found to contain 0.96 mumol/g, wet weight, and kidney 0.60 mumol/g, wet
weight, of glutamyl ribose 5-phosphate. This substance is the linkage
region in ADP-ribosylation of histones and other proteins. It is suggested
that the primary defect in this patient is a genetic abnormality of
ADP-ribose protein hydrolase (Okayama, H., Honda, M., and Hayaishi, O.
(1978) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S .A. 75, 2254-2257).