Lysosomal biogenesis is an orchestration of the structural and functio
nal elements of the lysosome to form an integrated organelle and invol
ves the synthesis, targeting, functional residence, and turnover of th
e proteins that comprise the lysosome. We have investigated lysosomal
biogenesis during the formation and dissipation of storage vacuoles in
two model systems. One involves the formation of sucrosomes in normal
skin fibroblasts and the other utilizes storage disorder-affected ski
n fibroblasts; both of these systems result in an increase in the size
and the number of lysosomal vacuoles. Lysosomal proteins, beta-hexosa
minidase, alpha-mannosidase, N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase, acid p
hosphatase, and the lysosome-associated membrane protein, LAMP-1, were
shown to be elevated between 2- and 28-fold above normal during lysos
omal storage. Levels of mRNA for the lysosome-associated membrane prot
eins LAMP-1 and LAMP-P, N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase, and the 46-
and 300-kDa mannose-6-phosphate receptors were also elevated 2- to 8-
fold. The up-regulation of protein and mRNA lagged 2-4 days behind the
formation of lysosomal storage vacuoles. Correction of storage, in bo
th systems, resulted in the rapid decline of the mRNA to basal levels,
with a slower decrease in the levels of lysosomal proteins. Lysosomal
biogenesis in storage disorders is shown to be a regulated process wh
ich is partially controlled at, or prior to, the level of mRNA. Althou
gh lysosomal proteins were differentially regulated, the coordination
of these events in lysosomal biogenesis would suggest that a common me
chanism(s) may be in operation. (C) 1997 Academic Press.