An improved assay for iduronate 2-sulphate sulphatase in serum and its use in the detection of carriers of the Hunter syndrome.

A more sensitive assay procedure has been developed for the enzyme iduronate 2-sulphate sulphatase which is deficient in the Hunter syndrome. The substrate is the same as previously described by Lim et al. [1], O-(alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic acid 2-sulphate)-(1leads to 4)-2,5 anhydro-D-[3H-1]mannitol 6-sulphate, but, after incubation, it is separated from the product by ion-exchange chromatography on a micro-column of Dowex 1 x 2 (Cl-1) instead of high voltage electrophoresis or ECTEOLA cellulose chromatography. Since the blank correction is then much smaller, a shorter incubation time can be used and conversion of the substrate reduced from approximately 50% down to levels where complications resulting from substrate depletion and product inhibition are minimal. Using whole serum the apparent Km for the substrate is 0.2 mmol/l. With an incubation time of 20 min, sera from heterozygotes exhibited approximately 35% of the normal levels of iduronate 2-sulphate sulphatase (0.11-0.61, mean 0.34 nmol.h-1.mg-1 protein for carriers; 0.24-2.35, mean 0.94 nmol.h-1.mg-1 protein for 37 normal females). Serum analyses can thus be used to supplement those on hair roots in the detection of carriers of the Hunter syndrome.