Subcellular Localization of Sorbitol-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase in Protoplast from Apple Cotyledons

The subcellular localization of sorbitol-6-phosphate (S6P) dehydrogenasein protoplasts of apple cotyledons was examined by differentialcentrifugation and linear sucrose density gradient centrifugation(30–60%, w/w). The distribution of S6P dehydrogenase activitywas 55% in the 500 x g pellet of the homogenate and 35% in thesupernatant of 105,000 x g. When the x g pellet was recentrifugedin a linear sucrose density gradient, one major peak of activitywas found at a density of 1.23. This peak coincided with themajor peak of chlorophyll and NADP⁺-triose-P dehydrogenase activity.When the 500 x g pellet was sonicated, the major peak of S6Pdehydrogenase activity shifted to a lighter density (d=1.18).The shifted peak also coincided with the peak of chlorophyll.The enzyme detected in the major peak of chlorophyll (d=1.23)was partially solubilized by sonic or detergent treatment, butnot by hypotonic solution. The results supported the localizationof S6P dehydrogenase in chloroplasts, and presumably their associationwith thylakoid membranes. Part of the enzyme was assumed tobe naturally present in the cytosol, too. (Received November 4, 1980; Accepted January 21, 1981)