Estimation and characterization of glycosylated carbonic anhydrase I in erythrocytes from patients with diabetes mellitus.

Glycosylated form of carbonic anhydrase isozyme I was found in human erythrocytes. The percent of glycosylated enzyme of the total erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase I of patients with diabetes mellitus was significantly higher than that from normal controls. Characterization of the glycosylated carbonic anhydrase I was studied using an enzyme purified from diabetic patients. The glycosylated enzyme showed a slightly acidic isoelectric point in comparison with that of a nonglycosylated enzyme. The specific activity of the glycosylated enzyme was approximately 40% of that of the normal enzyme, and the immunological activity decreased to 52% of that of the normal enzyme. Estimation of carbohydrates which may form a ketoamine linkage with the enzyme was studied using [3H]-labelled glycosylated enzyme synthesized by incubation of the enzyme with [3H]-D-glucose in vitro, and it was found that one mol of glucose binds to one mol of enzyme. Exposure of red cells to a higher concentration of glucose in diabetics brought about glycosylation of carbonic anhydrase, which is associated with its low activity enzymatically and immunologically.