Abstract
By immunofluorescence microscopy using specific antibody to active rabbit or human sucrase, a catalytically inactive sucrase antigen was discovered on enterocytes of young rabbits still lacking sucrase. This antigen was also located in the mucosal crypts /which are devoid of sucrase/ of adult rabbits and of normal humans. The catalytically inactive antigens of both species were isolated by immunesobents and were compared with their corresponding active sucrases. There were structural similarities between active and inactive proteins. Active sucrase succeeded the inactive antigen in the maturing rabbit as well as during cell migration from crypts to villi in mature rabbit and man. It was concluded that the inactive antigens were the enzyme precursors. In six patients with sucrase-isomaltase deficiency an inactive enzyme antigen was demonstrated. Abnormal persistence of sucrase precursor due to a fault in the transition of precursor to sucrase could be the underlying defect in some of the patients.
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Steinmann, B., Dubs, R. & Gitzelmann, R. DEMONSTRATION AND ISOLATION OF THE ENZYME PRECURSOR OF ACTIVE SUCRASE IN RABBIT AND HUMAN SMALL INTESTINE. Pediatr Res 9, 869 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197511000-00101
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197511000-00101
