GAA

UniProt ID: P10253
Organism: Homo sapiens
Review Status: INITIALIZED
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Gene Description

GAA encodes lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase (acid maltase; EC 3.2.1.20), a glycoside-hydrolase-family-31 (GH31) enzyme that acts within the acidic lysosomal lumen to completely hydrolyse glycogen to glucose. It cleaves terminal, non-reducing alpha-1,4-glucosidic bonds with highest activity and, more slowly, alpha-1,6 branch linkages, degrading the glycogen delivered to lysosomes by autophagy (glycophagy). This lysosomal glycogenolysis is distinct from the cytosolic pathway carried out by glycogen phosphorylase and the debranching enzyme. The enzyme is synthesised as a ~110 kDa N-glycosylated precursor, tagged with mannose-6-phosphate for delivery to the lysosome via the mannose-6-phosphate receptor, and proteolytically matured into shorter (76 kDa and 70 kDa) forms. Catalysis proceeds by a retaining GH31 double-displacement mechanism using an aspartate nucleophile (Asp518) and an acid/base aspartate (Asp616). Loss of GAA activity causes Pompe disease (glycogen storage disease type II / acid maltase deficiency), an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder in which glycogen accumulates in muscle, heart and other tissues; the infantile-onset form presents with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hypotonia, while late-onset disease manifests as a progressive limb-girdle and respiratory myopathy. Recombinant human GAA (alglucosidase alfa) is used for enzyme replacement therapy.

Existing Annotations Review

GO Term Evidence Action Reason
GO:0004558 alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetically inferred alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity. This is the well-established, experimentally supported core molecular function of GAA and is annotated at an appropriate level of specificity.
Reason: GAA is the lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase; UniProt records EC 3.2.1.20 with the catalytic reaction being hydrolysis of terminal, non-reducing (1->4)-linked alpha-D-glucose residues. The IBA is consistent with the GH31 family assignment and with the direct experimental annotations below.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
glucose residues with release of alpha-D-glucose.; EC=3.2.1.20;
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
Belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 31 family.
GO:0005980 glycogen catabolic process
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetically inferred involvement in glycogen catabolism. This is the core biological process of GAA: lysosomal degradation of glycogen to glucose.
Reason: UniProt states GAA is essential for the degradation of glycogen in lysosomes, and PMID:29061980 describes GAA as involved in the lysosomal breakdown of glycogen. The IBA is supported by direct experimental annotations (PMID:29061980, PMID:9505277).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
Essential for the degradation of glycogen in lysosomes
PMID:29061980
involved in the lysosomal breakdown of glycogen
GO:0007040 lysosome organization
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Phylogenetically inferred role in lysosome organization. This reflects the downstream consequence of GAA activity (undegraded lysosomal glycogen distends and disrupts lysosomes when GAA is deficient) rather than a direct molecular role in organising the lysosome.
Reason: GAA does not build or organise the lysosome; the connection is that loss of its catalytic activity leads to lysosomal glycogen accumulation and secondary lysosomal/autophagic pathology. This is a valid but non-core, consequence-of-deficiency association, so it is retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16917947
glycogen degradation and its accumulation in the lysosomes
GO:0004553 hydrolase activity, hydrolyzing O-glycosyl compounds
IEA
GO_REF:0000002
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: InterPro-based mapping to the broad O-glycosyl hydrolase parent term. This is correct but less informative than the specific alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity.
Reason: GAA is an O-glycosyl-hydrolase (GH31), so this parent term is not wrong, but the specific and informative molecular function is alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity (GO:0004558). Retained as a correct broader classification.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
Belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 31 family.
GO:0004558 alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic (UniProt combined-methods / EC 3.2.1.20) assignment of the core alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity.
Reason: The IEA maps EC:3.2.1.20 to GO:0004558, matching the experimentally established catalytic activity of GAA. Correct and at the right level of specificity.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
glucose residues with release of alpha-D-glucose.; EC=3.2.1.20;
GO:0005764 lysosome
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic subcellular-location assignment to lysosome, the primary site of action of GAA.
Reason: GAA is the lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase; UniProt records Lysosome as the subcellular location and it is directly demonstrated (PMID:9505277, PMID:29061980). Correct core localization.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Lysosome {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17897319}. Lysosome
GO:0005765 lysosomal membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Subcellular-location-vocabulary mapping to lysosomal membrane. GAA is a soluble lumenal enzyme that co-purifies with / is associated with the lysosomal membrane fraction.
Reason: The mature enzyme is a soluble lumenal glucosidase, not an integral membrane protein, but UniProt lists Lysosome membrane as a location (detected in lysosomal membrane proteomics, PMID:17897319). This peripheral membrane association is retained as non-core; the core localization is the lysosomal lumen.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Lysosome {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17897319}. Lysosome
PMID:17897319
In membranes purified from placental lysosomes, we identified 58
GO:0005975 carbohydrate metabolic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000002
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: InterPro-based mapping to the broad carbohydrate metabolic process parent.
Reason: Correct but very general; the specific and informative process is glycogen catabolic process (GO:0005980). Retained as a correct broader classification.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
Essential for the degradation of glycogen in lysosomes
GO:0005980 glycogen catabolic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000117
ACCEPT
Summary: ARBA electronic assignment of the core glycogen catabolic process.
Reason: Matches the experimentally and phylogenetically supported core biological process of GAA (lysosomal glycogen degradation).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
Essential for the degradation of glycogen in lysosomes
GO:0005984 disaccharide metabolic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000117
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: ARBA electronic assignment reflecting GAA's in-vitro ability to hydrolyse disaccharides such as maltose (hence "acid maltase").
Reason: GAA can cleave the disaccharide maltose in vitro, but its physiological substrate is lysosomal glycogen (a polymer), not free disaccharides; dietary disaccharide metabolism is the role of intestinal sucrase-isomaltase/maltase-glucoamylase. This is an over-annotation of the in-vitro substrate scope rather than the biological function.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
Essential for the degradation of glycogen in lysosomes
GO:0030246 carbohydrate binding
IEA
GO_REF:0000002
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: InterPro (galactose-mutarotase-like domain) mapping to carbohydrate binding.
Reason: GAA necessarily binds its carbohydrate substrate (and a secondary carbohydrate-binding site exists in the trefoil domain, PMID:29061980), but "carbohydrate binding" is an uninformative molecular function that is subsumed by, and less useful than, the specific glucosidase catalytic activity. Flagged as over-annotation.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
GH31; Glycoside Hydrolase Family 31.
GO:0016020 membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Generic "membrane" location transferred electronically from the mouse ortholog.
Reason: "Membrane" is an uninformative cellular-component term for a soluble lumenal lysosomal enzyme; the informative locations are lysosome / lysosomal lumen. Over-annotation.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Lysosome {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17897319}. Lysosome
GO:0061723 glycophagy
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Involvement in glycophagy (autophagy-mediated delivery and lysosomal degradation of glycogen), transferred from the mouse ortholog. GAA performs the terminal lysosomal glucosidase step of this pathway.
Reason: Glycophagy is the physiological pathway by which glycogen reaches the lysosome for GAA-mediated degradation, so involvement is well justified. Retained as non-core relative to the direct molecular-function-linked process glycogen catabolic process.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
Essential for the degradation of glycogen in lysosomes
GO:0120282 autolysosome lumen
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Activity in the autolysosome lumen, transferred from the mouse ortholog. The autolysosome (autophagosome-lysosome fusion product) is where autophagy-delivered glycogen is degraded by GAA.
Reason: Consistent with GAA's role in degrading autophagy-delivered glycogen; the autolysosome lumen is a specific compartment of the broader lysosomal system. Retained as non-core; the core location is the lysosomal lumen.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
Essential for the degradation of glycogen in lysosomes
GO:0005980 glycogen catabolic process
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-70221
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome traceable assertion placing GAA in glycogen breakdown (glycogenolysis), specifically the lysosomal glycogen degradation reaction.
Reason: Reactome curates GAA-mediated hydrolysis of lysosomal glycogen; consistent with the core biological process.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
Essential for the degradation of glycogen in lysosomes
GO:0004558 alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity
EXP
PMID:18429042
Molecular and functional characterization of eight novel GAA...
ACCEPT
Summary: Experimental characterization of alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity through enzyme-activity assays of GAA and disease-causing missense mutants.
Reason: Pittis et al. functionally characterized eight novel GAA mutations using enzyme activity and protein processing, confirming their detrimental effect on the protein and its (glucosidase) function; this directly supports the alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity of GAA.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:18429042
detrimental effect of the eight mutations on the protein and its function
GO:0004558 alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity
EXP
PMID:1856189
Human lysosomal alpha-glucosidase. Characterization of the c...
ACCEPT
Summary: Experimental characterization of the catalytic site of human lysosomal alpha-glucosidase, identifying Asp-518 as the essential active-site carboxylate.
Reason: Hermans et al. used the active-site-directed inhibitor CBE and site-directed mutagenesis to define the catalytic residues (Trp-516, Asp-518) of GAA, with glycogen as the natural substrate; strong direct evidence for alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:1856189
Asp-518 is predicted to be the essential carboxylate in the active site
PMID:1856189
The residues Trp-516 and Asp-518 are demonstrated
GO:0004558 alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity
EXP
PMID:7717400
Leaky splicing mutation in the acid maltase gene is associat...
ACCEPT
Summary: GAA (acid alpha-glucosidase) catalytic activity assessed in the context of a leaky-splicing GSD II mutation, where residual normally-spliced mRNA yielded ~12% of normal active enzyme.
Reason: Boerkoel et al. measured residual acid alpha-glucosidase activity in patients, directly relating enzyme activity to phenotype; supports the alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity of GAA.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:7717400
An autosomal recessive deficiency of acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA), type II
GO:0090599 alpha-glucosidase activity
EXP
PMID:5264799
Simultaneous absence of alpha-1,4-glucosidase and alpha-1,6-...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Demonstration that both alpha-1,4-glucosidase and alpha-1,6-glucosidase activities (at acidic pH 4) are absent in tissues of GSD II (Pompe) children, establishing GAA as the acid alpha-glucosidase.
Reason: Correct but this is the broad parent (alpha-glucosidase activity) of the specific alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity (GO:0004558) that is annotated elsewhere; retained as a valid, less-specific classification.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:5264799
Simultaneous absence of alpha-1,4-glucosidase and alpha-1,6-glucosidase
GO:0090599 alpha-glucosidase activity
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-9036729
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Reactome traceable assertion of alpha-glucosidase activity (in the module describing defective GAA that does not hydrolyse lysosomal glycogen).
Reason: Correct broad molecular function; less specific than GO:0004558 alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity. Retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
glucose residues with release of alpha-D-glucose.; EC=3.2.1.20;
GO:0004558 alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity
IDA
PMID:24417
The molecular heterogeneity of purified human liver lysosoma...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct assay of purified human liver lysosomal alpha-glucosidase (acid alpha-glucosidase) supporting alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity.
Reason: Murray et al. purified and characterized human liver acid alpha-glucosidase; direct biochemical evidence for the core catalytic activity of GAA. (Cached record is abstract/title only; deferring to the curator who read the full text.)
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24417
The molecular heterogeneity of purified human liver lysosomal alpha-glucosidase
GO:0043896 glucan 1,6-alpha-glucosidase activity
IDA
PMID:24417
The molecular heterogeneity of purified human liver lysosoma...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Direct evidence that purified human lysosomal alpha-glucosidase also hydrolyses alpha-1,6-linked glucans (branch points), a genuine secondary activity of GAA.
Reason: GAA can hydrolyse alpha-1,6-linkages, which is important in the lysosome because no debranching enzyme is present there; however this activity is secondary, with a ~32-fold lower specificity constant than for alpha-1,4-linkages (PMID:29061980). Retained as a valid non-core secondary function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:29061980
Within the lysosome, no debranching enzyme is present and GAA must assure the hydrolysis of both Ξ±-1,4- and Ξ±-1,6-glycosidic linkages
PMID:29061980
rhGAA shows clear preference for the former linkage, as the specificity constant on maltose is 32-fold higher when compared to the specificity constant on isomaltose
GO:0061723 glycophagy
IMP
PMID:5264799
Simultaneous absence of alpha-1,4-glucosidase and alpha-1,6-...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Involvement in glycophagy inferred from the loss of acid glucosidase activities and consequent lysosomal glycogen storage in GSD II patients.
Reason: The GSD II phenotype (absent acid alpha-1,4/1,6-glucosidase activities, lysosomal glycogen accumulation) places GAA in the glycophagy pathway. Retained as non-core relative to the direct process glycogen catabolic process. (Cached record is title-only; deferring to the curator.)
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:5264799
Simultaneous absence of alpha-1,4-glucosidase and alpha-1,6-glucosidase
GO:0004558 alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity
IDA
PMID:29061980
Structure of human lysosomal acid Ξ±-glucosidase-a guide for ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Structural and biochemical characterization of recombinant human GAA confirming alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity, catalytic residues, and substrate recognition.
Reason: Roig-Zamboni et al. solved the rhGAA structure with substrate analogues and assigned the catalytic nucleophile/acid-base (D518/D616), directly supporting alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity with preference for alpha-1,4 over alpha-1,6 linkages.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:29061980
the catalytic nucleophile and acid/base can be assigned to D518 and D616, respectively
PMID:29061980
rhGAA shows clear preference for the former linkage, as the specificity constant on maltose is 32-fold higher when compared to the specificity constant on isomaltose
GO:0005980 glycogen catabolic process
IDA
PMID:29061980
Structure of human lysosomal acid Ξ±-glucosidase-a guide for ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence that GAA is involved in the lysosomal breakdown of glycogen.
Reason: PMID:29061980 explicitly describes GAA as involved in the lysosomal breakdown of glycogen and characterizes its activity on glycogen-derived substrates; core biological process.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:29061980
involved in the lysosomal breakdown of glycogen
GO:0005886 plasma membrane
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6798739
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Plasma-membrane localization asserted via Reactome neutrophil-degranulation (azurophil granule exocytosis) pathway.
Reason: GAA is detected in neutrophil secretory granules (lysosome-related organelles) and appears at the plasma membrane upon degranulation/exocytosis; this is a specialized secretory context, not GAA's core lysosomal localization. Retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Lysosome {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17897319}. Lysosome
GO:0005886 plasma membrane
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6798747
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Plasma-membrane localization asserted via Reactome neutrophil-degranulation (tertiary granule exocytosis) pathway.
Reason: Duplicate of the plasma-membrane assignment from a related neutrophil degranulation module; specialized secretory context, non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Lysosome {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17897319}. Lysosome
GO:0005886 plasma membrane
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6800426
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Plasma-membrane localization asserted via Reactome neutrophil-degranulation (ficolin-rich granule exocytosis) pathway.
Reason: Duplicate of the plasma-membrane assignment from a related neutrophil degranulation module; specialized secretory context, non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Lysosome {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17897319}. Lysosome
GO:0035577 azurophil granule membrane
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6798739
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Localization to azurophil (primary) granule membrane via Reactome neutrophil-degranulation curation.
Reason: Azurophil granules are lysosome-related organelles; GAA is detected there, consistent with its lysosomal identity, but this is a specialized neutrophil context rather than the core lysosomal function. Retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Lysosome {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17897319}. Lysosome
GO:0070821 tertiary granule membrane
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6798747
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Localization to tertiary granule membrane via Reactome neutrophil-degranulation curation.
Reason: Neutrophil tertiary (gelatinase) granules are lysosome-related organelles where GAA is detected; specialized context, non-core relative to the lysosomal lumen.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Lysosome {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17897319}. Lysosome
GO:0101003 ficolin-1-rich granule membrane
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6800426
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Localization to ficolin-1-rich granule membrane via Reactome neutrophil-degranulation curation.
Reason: Ficolin-1-rich (specific) granules are lysosome-related organelles where GAA is detected; specialized context, non-core relative to the lysosomal lumen.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Lysosome {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17897319}. Lysosome
GO:0070062 extracellular exosome
HDA
PMID:23533145
In-depth proteomic analyses of exosomes isolated from expres...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: High-throughput detection of GAA in exosomes purified from expressed prostatic secretions in urine.
Reason: Generic large-scale exosome proteomics detects many lysosomal/secreted proteins; this does not represent a specific functional localization of GAA and is uninformative relative to its lysosomal role. Flagged as over-annotation.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23533145
exosome preparations were characterized by a shotgun proteomics procedure
GO:0016020 membrane
HDA
PMID:19946888
Defining the membrane proteome of NK cells.
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: High-throughput detection of GAA in an NK-cell (YTS) membrane-proteome analysis.
Reason: Generic "membrane" from a large-scale membrane-proteome dataset; uninformative for a soluble lysosomal lumenal enzyme. Over-annotation.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19946888
predicted as plausible membrane proteins
GO:0043202 lysosomal lumen
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-9036729
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome traceable assertion placing mature GAA in the lysosomal lumen.
Reason: The mature, proteolytically processed GAA is a soluble enzyme acting in the lysosomal lumen; this is the core, most-specific localization.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Lysosome {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17897319}. Lysosome
GO:0043202 lysosomal lumen
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-9036727
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome traceable assertion (GAA hydrolyzes lysosomal glycogen module) placing GAA in the lysosomal lumen.
Reason: Core, most-specific localization of the mature soluble enzyme; consistent with the lysosomal glycogen-degradation reaction.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Lysosome {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17897319}. Lysosome
GO:0070062 extracellular exosome
HDA
PMID:19056867
Large-scale proteomics and phosphoproteomics of urinary exos...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: High-throughput detection of GAA in urinary exosomes.
Reason: Generic large-scale urinary-exosome proteomics; not a specific functional localization of GAA. Over-annotation (duplicate of the other exosome HDA).
Supporting Evidence:
GO:0005765 lysosomal membrane
HDA
PMID:17897319
Integral and associated lysosomal membrane proteins.
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Detection of GAA in a placental lysosomal-membrane proteome, reflecting association of the lumenal enzyme with the lysosomal membrane fraction.
Reason: GAA co-purifies with lysosomal membranes but is a soluble lumenal enzyme, not an integral membrane protein; UniProt lists Lysosome membrane as a location based on this dataset. Retained as non-core; core location is the lysosomal lumen.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17897319
In membranes purified from placental lysosomes, we identified 58
GO:0000023 maltose metabolic process
IC
PMID:9505277
Recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase corrects acid alpha...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Curator inference (from GO:0004558) that GAA participates in maltose metabolism, reflecting its historical name "acid maltase" and its in-vitro hydrolysis of maltose.
Reason: Maltose is a convenient in-vitro substrate for GAA, but the physiological substrate is lysosomal glycogen (a polymer); there is no evidence GAA has a biological role in maltose metabolism (dietary maltose is handled by intestinal maltase-glucoamylase/sucrase-isomaltase). This IC extrapolation from the enzyme activity over-states the biological process.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
Essential for the degradation of glycogen in lysosomes
GO:0004558 alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity
IDA
PMID:9505277
Recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase corrects acid alpha...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct assay of recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) activity in enzyme-replacement experiments correcting deficient fibroblasts/myoblasts.
Reason: Yang et al. showed recombinant GAA normalizes intracellular GAA and glycogen levels in deficient cells; the enzyme is endocytosed via mannose-6-phosphate receptor and localizes to lysosomes. Direct evidence for the alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity of GAA.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9505277
and glycogen levels in deficient human
GO:0005764 lysosome
IDA
PMID:9505277
Recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase corrects acid alpha...
ACCEPT
Summary: Immunofluorescence demonstration that endocytosed recombinant GAA localizes to lysosomes (mannose-6-phosphate-receptor-mediated uptake).
Reason: Yang et al. showed the endocytosed enzyme localized to the lysosomes on immunofluorescence staining, with uptake inhibited by mannose-6-phosphate. Direct evidence for the core lysosomal localization.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9505277
the endocytosed enzyme localized to the
PMID:9505277
endocytosis was inhibited by
GO:0005980 glycogen catabolic process
IDA
PMID:9505277
Recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase corrects acid alpha...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence that GAA activity reduces intracellular glycogen, correcting the storage defect in GAA-deficient cells.
Reason: Recombinant GAA normalized both intracellular GAA and glycogen levels in deficient human fibroblasts, directly demonstrating its role in glycogen catabolism.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9505277
and glycogen levels in deficient human
GO:0005985 sucrose metabolic process
IC
PMID:9505277
Recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase corrects acid alpha...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Curator inference (from GO:0004558) that GAA participates in sucrose metabolism.
Reason: GAA is not a sucrase; sucrose hydrolysis is the role of intestinal sucrase-isomaltase. This IC extrapolation from alpha-glucosidase activity to sucrose metabolism is not biologically supported for GAA and is an over-annotation.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
Essential for the degradation of glycogen in lysosomes
GO:0006006 glucose metabolic process
IC
PMID:9505277
Recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase corrects acid alpha...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Curator inference (from GO:0004558) that GAA participates in glucose metabolism, reflecting that its reaction releases free glucose from glycogen.
Reason: GAA does release alpha-D-glucose as its product, so glucose metabolic process is a valid but broad parent-type association; retained as non-core relative to the specific glycogen catabolic process.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
glucose residues with release of alpha-D-glucose.; EC=3.2.1.20;
GO:0007040 lysosome organization
IMP
PMID:7717400
Leaky splicing mutation in the acid maltase gene is associat...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Involvement in lysosome organization inferred from a GSD II patient phenotype (leaky-splicing mutation with reduced enzyme causing lysosomal glycogen storage).
Reason: As with the IBA lysosome-organization annotation, this reflects the downstream consequence of GAA deficiency (lysosomal glycogen accumulation and secondary lysosomal disruption) rather than a direct organizing role. Retained as non-core. (Cached record is abstract-only; deferring to the curator's full-text reading.)
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:7717400
An autosomal recessive deficiency of acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA), type II
GO:0002086 diaphragm contraction
IMP
PMID:16917947
Mutation profile of the GAA gene in 40 Italian patients with...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Involvement in diaphragm contraction inferred from the respiratory/diaphragm muscle failure seen in late-onset Pompe disease patients.
Reason: Diaphragm/respiratory muscle failure is a clinical consequence of glycogen accumulation in GAA-deficient muscle, not a molecular function of GAA in muscle contraction. This disease-phenotype-to-process annotation over-states GAA's biological role; the underlying defect is impaired lysosomal glycogen degradation. (Cached record is abstract-only; deferring to the curator on the specific evidence.)
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16917947
deficiency of acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) that results in impaired

Core Functions

Lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase (acid maltase; GH31): at acidic lysosomal pH, hydrolyses terminal alpha-1,4-glucosidic bonds (and, more slowly, alpha-1,6 branch linkages) of glycogen, releasing glucose. This is the terminal step of lysosomal glycogen degradation (glycophagy), degrading glycogen delivered to the lysosome by autophagy; it is distinct from cytosolic glycogenolysis. Loss of this activity causes Pompe disease.

Directly Involved In:
Cellular Locations:
Supporting Evidence:
  • file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
    Essential for the degradation of glycogen in lysosomes
  • file:human/GAA/GAA-uniprot.txt
    highest activity on alpha-1,4-linked glycosidic linkages, but can also
  • PMID:29061980
    involved in the lysosomal breakdown of glycogen

References

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Suggested Questions for Experts

Q: Does GAA have any physiological substrate beyond lysosomal glycogen (e.g. a biological role for its in-vitro maltose/disaccharide-hydrolysing activity)?

Q: What is the functional significance of GAA's presence in neutrophil secretory granules and its detection at the plasma membrane upon degranulation?

Suggested Experiments

Experiment: Quantify the relative in-vivo contribution of GAA's alpha-1,6 (debranching) activity to complete lysosomal glycogen clearance, e.g. using structurally defined branched substrates or branch-specific mutants.

πŸ“š Additional Documentation

Notes

(GAA-notes.md)

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πŸ“„ View Raw YAML

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