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M Cantz

Publications and source records attributed to M Cantz.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The defect in the Hunter syndrome: deficiency of sulfoiduronate sulfatase.

Skin fibroblasts cultured from patients affected with the Hunter syndrome are deficient in the activity of a protein, named the "Hunter corrective factor," that is required for degradation of dermatan and heparan sulfates. We now show that this factor, purified from human urine, removes about 2% of the sulfate residues from [(35)S]mucopolysaccharide accumulated within Hunter fibroblasts; these groups are derived from "oversulfated" regions of the polymer. Acetone-powder extracts of fibroblasts derived from patients with the Hunter syndrome are deficient in this sulfatase, in contrast to similar extracts from fibroblasts of individuals of other genotype. Hunter corrective factor coupled to alpha-L-iduronidase (or alternatively, mixed extracts from Hurler and Hunter fibroblasts) release iduronic acid from 4-O-alpha-L-sulfoiduronosyl-D-sulfoanhydromannose. We conclude that the Hunter corrective factor is a sulfatase for sulfated iduronic acid residues.

Carbohydrate Metabolism, Inborn Errors

Prenatal diagnosis and confirmation of infantile sialic acid storage disease.

Amniocentesis was performed in a pregnancy at risk for infantile sialic acid storage disease. Greatly elevated levels of free sialic acid were found in cell-free amniotic fluid as well as in cultured amniotic cells from the fetus at risk. After incubation of the cultured amniocytes with fetuin labelled in its sialic acid moiety, pulse and chase experiments respectively showed accumulation and impaired release of TCA-soluble radioactive material in the amniotic cells at risk. These data thus clearly indicated that the fetus was affected. After pregnancy termination, ultrastructural studies of fetal organs and placenta showed a generalized storage picture characterized by clear membrane-bound inclusions. The diagnosis was further confirmed by the finding of greatly increased amounts of free sialic acid in fetal organs and cultured fibroblasts.

Amniocentesis