ELECTROFOCUSING PATTERNS OF FUCOSYLTRANSFERASES IN PLASMA OF PATIENTS WITH NEOPLASTIC DISEASE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (9) , 3377-3380
Abstract
Electrofocusing patterns of plasma fucosyltransferases provide information concerning marrow status of patients with myeloproliferative disorders. Enzymes [3] were detected in normal plasmas using an acceptor terminating in the sequence N-acetylglucosamine-galactose. The enzyme which focused at pH 4.7 was elevated during rapid proliferation of myeloid cells, e.g., acute myelogenous leukemias and certain infectious diseases. Activity at pl = 5.1 was decreased in acute myelogenous leukemia patients, and from other observations, appears related to the level of erythropoietic activity. Acceptor studied show this enzyme to be specified by the H gene. A 3rd enzyme focused at pH 5.5 and appeared to be correlated with a later step in granulocyte maturation. Two other plasma fucosyltransferases (pl = 5.6 and 8.3) were detected with a high MW acceptor terminating in N-acetylglucosamine. This activity was markedly elevated during regeneration of a normal marrow population during drug-induced remission of acute myelogenous leukemia. Additional isoenzymes were detected, using this acceptor, in plasma of patients with certain solid tumors and multiple myeloma. The new isoelectric point observed (pH 6.0, 6.9 and 7.8) suggest these enzymes are probably not derived from hematopoietic tissues.