Occurrence of a multimeric high-molecular-weight glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in human serum

J Proteome Res. 2015 Apr 3;14(4):1645-56. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00089. Epub 2015 Mar 18.

Abstract

Cellular glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a phylogenetically conserved, ubiquitous enzyme that plays an indispensable role in energy metabolism. Although a wealth of information is available on cellular GAPDH, there is a clear paucity of data on its extracellular counterpart (i.e., the secreted or extracellular GAPDH). Here, we show that the extracellular GAPDH in human serum is a multimeric, high-molecular-weight, yet glycolytically active enzyme. The high-molecular-weight multimers of serum GAPDH were identified by immunodetection on one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis using multiple antibodies specific for various epitopes of GAPDH. Partial purification of serum GAPDH by DEAE Affigel affinity/ion exchange chromatography further established the multimeric composition of serum GAPDH. In vitro data demonstrated that human cell lines secrete a multimeric, high-molecular-weight enzyme similar to that of serum GAPDH. Furthermore, LC-MS/MS analysis of extracellular GAPDH from human cell lines confirmed the presence of unique peptides of GAPDH in the high-molecular-weight subunits. Furthermore, data from pulse-chase experiments established the presence of high-molecular-weight subunits in the secreted, extracellular GAPDH. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the presence of a high-molecular-weight, enzymatically active secretory GAPDH in human serum that may have a hitherto unknown function in humans.

Keywords: 2D gel electrophoresis; DEAE Affigel Blue column chromatography; extracellular GAPDH; multimer; serum GAPDH.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Extracellular Fluid / enzymology*
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / analysis*
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mammals
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Serum / enzymology*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases