Prenatal diagnosis of Sanfilippo A syndrome: experience in 35 pregnancies at risk and the use of a new fluorogenic substrate for the heparin sulphamidase assay.

We have investigated the use of a 4-methylumbelliferone (MU)-derived artificial substrate, MU-alpha-D-N-sulphoglucosaminide, for the sulphamidase assay in chorionic villi and amniotic fluid cells. In the new two-step enzyme assay, fluorescent MU is released by the successive action of endogenous sulphamidase and an added yeast enzyme preparation which hydrolyses the MU-alpha-glucosaminide intermediate. Optimal conditions for a sensitive, accurate, and convenient procedure for use in the prenatal diagnosis of Sanfilippo A syndrome are described.

A fluorimetric enzyme assay for the diagnosis of Sanfilippo disease type A (MPS IIIA).

4-Methylumbelliferyl-alpha-D-N-sulphoglucosaminide (MU-alpha-GlcNS) was synthesized and shown to be a substrate for the lysosomal heparin sulphamidase. Sanfilippo A patients' fibroblasts (n = 42) and lymphocytes (n = 1) showed 0-3% of mean normal heparin sulphamidase activity; in total leukocytes from patients (n = 8) sulphamidase activity was clearly deficient. In fibroblasts from obligate heterozygotes for Sanfilippo A, the sulphamidase activity was reduced in 9 out of 10 cases.

Prenatal diagnosis of Sanfilippo disease type C using a simple fluorometric enzyme assay.

A new fluorogenic substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-glucosaminide, was used for the assay of acetyl CoA:glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase in chorionic villi, cultured villus cells, and amniocytes. Optimal conditions for the assay and the ranges of enzyme activity were established for the various types of fetal cells. This simple fluorometric assay provides a reliable method for early prenatal diagnosis of Sanfilippo disease type C which is more convenient than current methods using radiolabelled substrates.

A fluorimetric enzyme assay for the diagnosis of Sanfilippo disease C (MPS III C).

Both the alpha- and beta-anomers of 4-methylumbelliferyl-D-glucosaminide were synthesized and shown to be substrates for the lysosomal acetyl-CoA:glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase. Using the beta-anomer, fibroblasts and leukocytes from 11 different Sanfilippo C patients showed < 1% of mean normal N-acetyltransferase activity. Heterozygotes showed intermediate activities.

A fluorimetric enzyme assay for the diagnosis of Sanfilippo disease type D (MPS IIID).

4-Methylumbelliferyl-alpha-N-acetylglucosamine 6-sulphate was synthesized and shown to be a substrate for the lysosomal N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulphate sulphatase (GlcNAc-6S sulphatase). Fibroblasts and leukocytes from 3 different Sanfilippo D patients showed < 1% of mean normal GlcNAc-6S sulphatase activity. The enzymatic liberation of the fluorochrome from 4-methyl-umbelliferyl-alpha-N-acetylglucosamine 6-sulphate requires the sequential action of the GlcNAc-6S sulphatase and alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase.

Applications of a new fluorimetric enzyme assay for the diagnosis of aspartylglucosaminuria.

L-Aspartic acid-beta-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin is a sensitive and specific fluorogenic substrate for lysosomal glycoasparaginase (aspartylglucosaminidase). Fibroblasts and leukocytes from 8 patients with aspartylglucosaminuria, showed 1-7% of the mean normal glycoasparaginase activity. Heterozygotes showed intermediate activities.

4-Trifluoromethylumbelliferyl glycosides as new substrates for revealing diseases connected with hereditary deficiency of lysosome glycosidases.

The following glycosides of 4-trifluoromethylumbelliferone: alpha-D-mannopyranoside, alpha-L-fucopyranoside, alpha-D-glucopyranoside, beta-D-glucopyranoside, alpha-D-galactopyranoside, beta-D-galactopyranoside, alpha-L-iduronide and beta-D-glucuronide were studied. 4-Trifluoromethylumbelliferyl glycosides were shown to be substrates for glycosidases. Some of them were cleaved even better than the corresponding methylumbelliferyl glycosides.