Multiple molecular forms of arylsulfatase A in different forms of metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD)

Abstract

Arylsulfatase A (ARA) can be separated into six to eight individual enzymatic bands of activity by isoelectric focusing on cellulose acetate membranes. The residual ARA activity in juvenile metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) has a single band of activity with a pI of 5.5, whereas the residual ARA in the late infantile form of MLD has three bands of activity with a pI range of from 5.4 to 5.8. The technique of isoelectric focusing on cellulose acetate membranes demonstrates enzymatic differences which can be correlated with the clinical form of the disease.