In vitro mannose trimming property of human ER α-1,2 mannosidase I.

Endoplasmic reticulum α-1,2 mannosidase I (ERManI) is an enzyme, which removes α(1-2) linked mannoses from asparagine-linked oligosaccharides on glycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ERManI preferentially removes one α(1-2) linked mannose from B-chain of Man(9)GlcNAc(2). When glycoproteins fail to achieve properly folding, increased removal of α(1-2) linked mannoses on their oligosaccharides is induced and leads them to be disposed and degraded by ER-associated degradation pathway. However, it is still inconclusive whether accelerated removal of α(1-2) linked mannoses on those glycoproteins is catalyzed by the α-1,2 mannosidase I, proteins similar to mannosidase I [e.g. ER degradation-enhancing α-1,2 mannosidase-like protein (EDEM)], or both of them. Therefore, to approach this issue, we have investigated its in vitro activities using various oligosaccharides and glycoproteins as substrates. A recombinant form of human ERManI (hERManI) was prepared by using Escherichia coli. First, the enzyme generated Man(6)GlcNAc(2)-PA and Man(5)GlcNAc(2)-PA from 100 μM Man(9)GlcNAc(2)-PA after a one-hour reaction. Second, we have exposed bovine thyroglobulin and soybean agglutinin to denaturing conditions, e.g. 8 M urea, and used those glycoproteins as substrates. Sugar moieties were released from the reactant by PNGase F and their structures and amounts were elucidated by HPLC analysis. Intriguingly, the enzyme was shown to remove mannoses from bovine thyroglobulin and soybean agglutinin to larger extents when they were exposed to a denaturant. Therefore, our results suggested that hERManI could recognize tertiary and/or quaternary structures of glycoproteins and remove more α-1,2 linked mannoses from misfolded glycoproteins in living cells.