The phospholipid composition of embryonic chick liver microsomes

1. The phospholipid composition of hepatic microsomal fractions from different developmental stages of embryonic chick was established. The major components were phosphatidylcholine (approx. 66%), phosphatidylethanolamine plus phosphatidylserine (approx. 21%) and sphingomyelin (approx. 9%). 2. There were no significant changes in the phospholipid composition during embryonic development from 9 to 20 days. 3. When microsomal subfractions were prepared it was found that the smooth-microsomal fractions (Ia and Ib) had a significantly greater sphingomyelin content than the rough-microsomal fraction (II). This was compensated by a lower phosphatidylcholine content in fractions Ia and Ib and an increase of phosphatidylcholine in fraction II. 4. The significance of the differences in the phospholipid composition of smooth and rough microsomes is discussed with particular reference to the origin and interrelation of smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum.     

Membranes of Tetrahymena. IV. Isolation and characterization of temperature-responsive smooth and rough microsomal subfractions.

Temperature-responsive microsomes of the ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena have been originally fractionated by step centrifugation on two-layered, Mg2+-containing sucrose gradients. Three fractions have been obtained, which are termed smooth I, smooth II and rough according to the appearance of the membrane vesicles upon electron-microscopy. Smooth I, smooth II, and rough microsomes exhibit RNA/protein ratios of 0.09, 0.20, and 0.34; their phospholipid/protein ratios and their neutral lipid/phospholipid ratios were 0.52, 0.43 and 0.25, and 0.17, 0.18 and 0.13, respectively. All three fractions contain equivalent, low succinic dehydrogenase and 5'-nucleotidase activities. Glucose-6-phosphatase and acid phosphatase are more concentrated in smooth I membranes than in rough membranes. The reverse is true for ATPase. The smooth II membranes occupy an intermediate position except that their ATPase activity is the lowest of the three fractions. The specific activities of these enzymes of the three microsomal fractions are compared to those of homogenates of whole cells. Thin-layer chromatography reveals a very similar polar and nonpolar lipid pattern of the three microsomal fractions. The major phospholipid compounds are phosphatidlethanolamine, glycerideaminoethylphosphonate and phosphatidylcholine, while diglycerides, an unknown NL-compound, and triglycerides are the major apolar lipids. Gas liquid chromatography shows that the fatty acids are mainly even-numbered ranging between C12 and C18. The smooth I, smooth II and rough membranes contain 65.2, 69.3 and 72.7% unsaturated fatty acids in their polar lipids, whereas only 52.7, 49.7 and 48.3% unsaturated acids are found in their apolar lipids, respectively. The fatty acids are more unevenly distributed among the individual polar lipids than in the apolar ones.     

Further studies on the stimulation of protein synthesis in androgen-dependent tissues by testosterone

1. By using centrifugation through a discontinuous sucrose gradient, four microsomal fractions are obtained from the prostate gland. 2. Administration of androgens to castrated rats stimulates protein synthesis in all fractions, particularly in the heavy rough fraction. 3. Androgens also increase the content of protein, RNA and phospholipid in the heavy rough fraction. 4. Time-course experiments in vivo show that androgens induce a rapid increase in the synthesis of ribosomal precursor RNA preceding the synthesis of new microsomal fraction and the increase in protein synthesis.     

Characterization of myelin of chick sciatic nerve during development.

Myelin was isolated from the sciatic nerves of chicks of ages 18-day embryonic, 1-day, 4-day, 7-day post-hatch, and adult to study developmental changes in lipid composition of this structure. The yield of myelin increased throughout the early stages of development and the preparations were of high purity. Although the lipid content of the myelin did not change, significant changes took place in lipid composition during development. The most significant changes were a relative increase in cerebrosides, phosphatidalethanolamine and long-chain fatty acids of cerebrosides, and a relative decrease in the content of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine. A second fraction ("lower band") was obtained during the isolation procedure. This "lower band" was present at all developmental stages and layered consistently at the interface of 1.2 and 0.8 M sucrose on a discontinuous gradient. The quantity of this fraction did not change during development and it differed from myelin in electron microscopic appearance. Its lipid composition, which did not change, resembled that of 18-day embryonic myelin in its high phospholipid:cholesterol ratio and low galactolipid content. The enzyme, 2':3'-cyclic-nucleosidemonophosphate phosphodiesterase was found to be present in both the myelin and "lower band" fractions; however there was no enrichment of this enzyme in purified myelin.     

Distribution of carbonic anhydrase, K+-ATPase and K+-phosphatase in subcellular fractions of gastric mucosa]

The distribution of carbonic anhydrase, K+-ATPase and K+-phosphatase in the subcellular fractions of gastric mucosa was studied. It was found that 90% of carbonic anhydrase are localized in the hyaloplasm, whereas K+-ATPase and K+-phosphatase are predominantly localized in the microsomal fraction. Subfractionation of the microsomal fraction in a sucrose density gradient showed that the membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase (5% of total content) and K+-ATPase are bound to various cell organelles. It is concluded that carbonic anhydrase functions as an intracellular pH-stat and is not directly involved in proton generation by the cell.     

THE RELATION BETWEEN THE INTRACELLULAR RIBONUCLEIC ACID DISTRIBUTION AND AMINO ACID INCORPORATION IN THE LIVER OF THE DEVELOPING CHICK EMBRYO

The RNA-P and DNA-P content of the nucleus and the RNA-P content of the whole cell of the livers of 8- to 20-day chick embryos and of adult fowls have been determined. The DNA-P content of the liver nuclei was slightly higher in the 8- and 10-day embryo than in all the other stages examined. A significant decrease in the RNA content of the cell occurred during embryonic development. The RNA content of the adult cell was the same as that of the 14- to 16-day embryo. The proportion of the cellular RNA contributed by the nucleus also decreased during development. In respect to both nuclear RNA content and distribution of RNA between nucleus and cytoplasm, the adult resembled the 8- to 12-day embryo. Examination of the fine structure of the cell showed that, as development progressed, free ribosomes decreased in number and the rough membranes increased. Slices of 8-, 14-, and 20-day embryonic livers and of adult livers were incubated with ¹⁴C-leucine, and the amount of labeled amino acid incorporated into whole tissue protein and into the proteins of the subcellular fractions was measured. Embryonic liver incorporated ¹⁴C-leucine 15 to 30 times more rapidly than adult liver. The microsomal protein was always more highly labelled than the protein in any other subcellular fraction; however, in the 8-day embryonic and the adult liver the proportion of total counts found in the nuclear fraction was considerably higher than in the 14- or 20-day embryonic liver. The significance of an apparent correlation between the proportion of the cell's RNA contributed by the nucleus and the proportion of total counts in the nuclear fraction is discussed.     

A simple procedure for isolation of microsomes from human placenta

A method for rapid isolation of human placenta microsomes, which does not require facilities for ultracentrifugation was described. Such microsomes were compared with microsomes prepared by conventional ultracentrifugation technique. Both microsomal preparations were tested for protein, RNA and phospholipid content as well as for sulphohydrolase activities and glucose-6-phosphatase activity. The degree of contamination with other subcellular particles were tested as well. The data presented showed that microsomal proteins precipitated at pH 5.3 may be conveniently used for preparative separation of microsomal enzymes.     

Analysis of cerebro-spinal fluid protein composition in early developmental stages in chick embryos

Foetal cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) has a very high protein concentration when compared to adult CSF, and in many species five major protein fractions have been described. However, the protein concentration and composition in CSF during early developmental stages remains largely unknown. Our results show that in the earliest stages (18 to 30 H.H.) of chick development there is a progressive increase in CSF protein concentration until foetal values are attained. In addition, by performing electrophoretic separation and high-sensitivity silver staining, we were able to identify a total of 21 different protein fractions in the chick embryo CSF. In accordance with the developmental pattern of their concentration, these can be classified as follows: A: high-concentration fractions which corresponded with the ones described in foetal CSF by other authors; B: low-concentration fractions which remained stable throughout the period studied; C: low-concentration fractions which show changes during this period. The evolution and molecular weight of the latter group suggest the possibility of an important biological role. Our data demonstrate that all the CSF protein fractions are present in embryonic serum; this could mean that the specific transport mechanisms in neuroepithelial cells described in the foetal period evolve in very early stages of development. In conclusion, this paper offers an accurate study of the protein composition of chick embryonic CSF, which will help the understanding of the influences on neuroepithelial stem cells during development and, as a result, the appropriate conditions for the in vitro study of embryonic/foetal nervous tissue cells.     

Differences in distribution of esterase between cell fractions of rat liver homogenates prepared in various media. Relevance to the lysosomal location of the enzyme in the intact cell

The distribution of esterase in subcellular fractions of rat liver homogenates was compared with that of the lysosomal enzyme acid phosphatase and the microsomal enzyme glucose 6-phosphatase. Most of the esterase from sucrose homogenate sediments with glucose 6-phosphatase and about 8% is recovered in the supernatant. However, up to 53% of the esterase can be washed from microtome sections of unfixed liver, in which less cellular damage would be expected than that caused by homogenization. About 40% of both esterase and acid phosphatase are recovered in the soluble fraction after homogenization in aqueous glycerol or in a two-phase system (Arcton 113-0.25m-sucrose), although glucose 6-phosphatase is still recovered in the microsomal fraction of such homogenates. The esterase of the microsomal fraction prepared from a sucrose homogenate is much more readily released by treatment with 0.26% deoxycholate than are other constituents of this fraction. The release of esterase from the microsomal fraction by the detergent and its concomitant release with acid phosphatase after homogenization in glycerol or the two-phase system suggests that a greater proportion of esterase may be present in lysosomes of the intact cell than is indicated by the results of standard fractionation procedures.     

Characterization of the membrane matrix derived from the microsomal fraction of rat hepatocytes

A highly purified membrane preparation derived from the microsomal fraction of rat hepatocytes has been chemically characterized and fractionated by means of gel filtration. The preparation has been freed of ribosomes and intravesicular protein and has a composition on a w/w basis of 52.1% protein, 45.0% phospholipid, 2.9% carbohydrate and no RNA. $\text{97 ± 2\%}$ of the total membrane phosphorus is accounted for as phospholipid phosphorus.Determination of the molecular weight distribution of the constituent polypeptides by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gave values ranging from 171 000 to 16 000 for the major classes of proteins. Although several membrane glycoproteins have been identified, the most prominent species has an apparent molecular weight of 171 000, 40% of the total microsomal protein is present' in the 49 000–60 000 molecular weight region. Examination of the intrinsic polypeptide composition of membranes obtained from smooth and degranulated rough endoplasmic reticulum revealed no detectable qualitative differences.Sodium dodecyl sulfate-solubilized microsomal membrane proteins were separated by gel filtration into much simplified molecular weight classes, some of which showed predominantly a single electrophoretic component. Amino acid analysis of individual fractions showed a noticeable trend toward a decreasing ratio of acidic to basic residues with decreasing molecular weight.Membrane phosphorus was distributed between two chromatographic fractions: one containing the membrane phospholipid (97% of the total) as well as essentially all the cholesterol, the other, at the inclusion volume of the gel filtration system, containing small molecular weight species (3% of the total phosphorus). The absence of a ribonuclease-resistant RNA component eluting near the void volume clearly distinguishes the microsomal membrane from the nuclear envelope.     

Effect of hypoxia and ischemia on the distribution of protein in brain cellular fractions

The effect of postdecapitative ischemia (5 min at 37°) and hypoxia (5% O₂, 95% N₂, 30 min) on the distribution of protein radioactivity in the cellular fractions of guinea pig cerebral cortex was studied. Ischemic conditions resulted in the increase of total radioactivity level and protein content in the mitochondrial fraction. In the cytosol the opposite effect was observed; the radioactivity and protein content were decreased. The amino acid analysis of microsomal proteins and the distribution of glucose-6-phosphatase activity, differing from those in control animals, suggest structural disturbances in the microsomal fraction. The results indicate a different sedimentation of proteins in the given experimental conditions. After hypoxia such effects were not observed.     

Abnormal membrane phospholipid content in subcellular fractions from the Morris 7777 hepatoma.

1. Mitochondrial and microsomal fractions were prepared from normal rat liver and the Morris 7777 hepatoma and characterized by the use of the marker enzymes, succinate dehydrogenase and rotenone-insensitive NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. 2. The phospholipid content per mg membrane protein of Morris 7777 hepatoma mitochondria was increased by 75% as compared with mitochondria from normal rat liver. Microsomes from this poorly-differentiated tumor were found to have a 45% decrease in the content of phospholipid. These abnormalities were independent of tumor size or age. 3. The percent phospholipid content of the subcellular fractions was determined, and revealed an increase in the percent sphingomyelin in both the microsomal and mitochondrial fractions of the tumor. Decreases in the percent phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were noted in tumor microsomes as compared with normal liver. Diphosphatidylglycerol was not found in significant quantities in the microsomal fraction of this hepatoma line. 4. The content of the various phospholipid classes per mg protein in the respective mitochondrial and microsomal fractions was determined. Large increases in nearly all the major phospholipid classes were found in tumor mitochondria; tumor microsomes were characterized by an increased content of sphingomyelin but the content of nearly all other phospholipids was significantly decreased. These findings suggest the presence of disturbances in the regulation of phospholipid metabolism in subcellular organelle membranes of the Morris 7777 hepatoma.     

Changes in the proportions of two mitochondrial populations during the development of embryonic chick liver

1. Two populations of morphologically intact mitochondria were isolated from embryonic, neonatal and adult chick liver by isopycnic centrifugation. 2. The protein/phospholipid ratio of the total mitochondrial fraction, the low-density mitochondria (B2, d1.176) and the high-density mitochondria (B3, d1.206) did not differ significantly. 3. During development there is a marked increase in the B2 fraction in relation to the B3 fraction. 4. Cytochrome oxidase and malate dehydrogenase activities as well as respiratory control increased during the embryonic development of the chick, though their rates of increase were not correlated. 5. In the three different embryonic stages that were investigated, as well as in the neonatal and adult chick, the protein/lipid as well as the protein/phospholipid ratio stayed constant and showed no progressive increase, as had been previously reported. 6. It was shown that forces greater than 18400g(av.) for 2h have to be used before chick liver mitochondria reach isopycnic equilibrium. 7. As for rat liver mitochondria, the constant protein/phospholipid ratio of the B2 and B3 fractions and their apparent morphological intactness leads one to conclude that the matrix space of B2 mitochondria is inaccessible to sucrose, whereas B3 mitochondria possess an inner membrane that is permeable to sucrose.     

Heterogeneous distribution of glucose 6-phosphatase in rat liver microsomal fractions as shown by adaptation of a cytochemical technique

1. A novel technique for the subfractionation of rat liver smooth and rough microsomal fractions according to their content of glucose 6-phosphatase is described. This technique, based on the Gomori lead histochemical procedure, involves incubation of smooth and rough microsomal fractions with low concentrations of Pb(NO(3))(2) and glucose 6-phosphate. Control experiments, in which enzyme was assayed in the presence of various amounts of Pb(NO(3))(2) or in which microsomal fractions were reisolated after incubation with low concentrations of Pb(NO(3))(2) and glucose 6-phosphate, showed that lead does not interfere with glucose 6-phosphatase activity. 2. Discontinuous sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation of microsomal fractions which had previously been incubated with various amounts of Pb(NO(3))(2) and glucose 6-phosphate showed that it is possible to subfractionate both smooth- and rough-microsomal fractions into several bands, owing to a differential modification of the density of the microsomal vesicles by the trapping of lead phosphate within them. 3. When the material in the bands obtained by density-gradient centrifugation of incubated microsomal fractions was assayed for glucose 6-phosphatase activity, it was found that the modification of the density of the microsomal fractions was directly related to their relative enrichment in glucose 6-phosphatase activity. Control experiments, in which microsomal fractions were incubated with Pb(NO(3))(2) and glucose 6-phosphate and then treated with EDTA, showed that the subfractionation was not due to aggregation of microsomal vesicles, lead and glucose 6-phosphate. Thus the resolution of microsomal preparations into subfractions with different glucose 6-phosphatase activities is interpreted as indicating heterogeneity of glucose 6-phosphatase distribution in the microsomal vesicles. 4. Electron micrographs of both smooth- and rough-microsomal subfractions show deposits of lead phosphate within the microsomal vesicles. The frequency and extent of these deposits correlate with the different amounts of glucose 6-phosphatase activity measured biochemically. 5. The nature of the heterogeneous distribution of glucose 6-phosphatase is discussed and the more general applicability of the technique for studying membrane fractions containing a heterogeneous distribution of phosphatases is indicated.     

Antigenic Makeup of Subcellular Fractions of Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes from cultures were separated into nuclear, mitochondrial, lysosomal, microsomal, and cell-sap fractions. Enzymic and ultrastructutal controls served to determine the cleanness of separation. The bulk of the DNA was in the nuclear (78%) and mitochondrial (12%) fractions. RNA was found in microsomal (74%) and cell-sap (14%) fractions. Marker enzyme distribution (succinic dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase) was compared with their distribution in mammalian tissues. Subcellular localization of antigens by Ouchterlony tests revealed 2 specific precipitin lines in cell sap and 1 in the microsomal fraction. These antigens may prove diagnostically and immunoprotectively valuable.     

Studies on the fractionation of mucosal homogenates from the small intestine

1. Homogenates of the mucosa of the small intestine of the guinea pig were separated by fractional sedimentation into seven different fractions. The enzymic properties of some of these subcellular fractions were compared with those obtained from the mucosa of the small intestine of the rabbit and cat. 2. The enzymic properties of the low-speed sediment (15000g-min.) were investigated and it was shown that invertase and alkaline ribonuclease were predominantly located in this subcellular fraction, whereas alkaline phosphatase, aryl-amidase, acid phosphatase, acid ribonuclease and phosphoprotein phosphatase, though true constituents of this fraction, occurred to varying degrees in other subcellular structures also. 3. It was shown that the most probable source of the enzymic activities observed in the low-speed sediment was the brush border. Electron micrographs of the purified brush-border fraction indicated vesicles derived from the brush-border membrane. 4. A method is described for the fractionation of mucosal homogenates into a brush border-plus-nuclei fraction, a mitochondrial fraction, a microsomal fraction and a particle-free supernatant. The fractions were shown to be relatively pure, as indicated by the distribution of invertase, DNA, succinate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphatase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. 5. Most of the activity of four lysosomal enzymes present in the nuclei-free homogenate was sedimented at 375000g-min., suggesting the occurrence of lysosomal particles in mucosal homogenates. 6. Further fractionation of the microsomal membranes into three fractions is described. The enzymic composition of the membrane fractions is given and discussed in relation to their structure as seen in electron micrographs.     

Ultrastructure and polysome content of the microsomal subfractions of mouse plasmacytoma cells

Summary The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of MPC-11 cells released as vesicles upon cell disruption by nitrogen cavitation was separated from the bulk of mitochondria, lysosomes and plasma membranes by a low speed centrifugation. The ER membranes were fractionated on discontinuous sucrose gradients into heavy rough (HR), light rough (LR) and smooth (S) membranes. The morphology of subcellular fractions was studied by electron microscopy and the ER membranes were shown to be virtually free of contaminating organelles. The S fraction was easily distinguishable because of the lack of ribosomes but there were no apparent morphological differences between the HR and LR fractions. Of total activity in the microsomal subfractions, 70% of the UDPase and 67% of the 5′-nucleotidase activity was associated with the S fraction. Polysomes were present in the HR, LR and nuclear-associated ER fractions but not in the S fraction. The HR and LR fractions did not appear to be contaminated to any great extent with free polysomes. RNA/protein and RNA/phospholipid ratios of the HR fraction were higher than those of the LR fraction, indicating a greater density of ribosomes in the former fraction. These ratios were much lower in the S fraction reflecting the low ribosome content.     

Lipids of the liver microsomal fraction in the ground squirrel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spermophilus undulatus</Emphasis> during hibernation

Winter sleep of the ground squirrel Spermophilus undulatus was accompanied by a 20% decrease in phospholipid content (µg phospholipid per 1 mg protein) in microsomal fractions of the liver as compared with summer-active squirrels. The phosphatidylcholine level (mol %) in hibernating squirrels was lower than in summer-active squirrels, and the content of sphingomyelin (mol %) during the torpor bout was higher than in winter- and summer-active squirrels. The cholesterol, fatty acid, monoglyceride, and diglyceride levels in the microsomal fraction of the liver were elevated during hibernation. Pronounced seasonal changes in the lipid/protein ratio implicate the lipids of the liver microsomal fraction in adaptation of the ground squirrel to hibernation.     

Identification and purification of a liver microsomal glucose 6-phosphatase.

1. Hepatic glucose 6-phosphatase activity was purified 65-fold in good yield over that in cholate-solubilized microsomal fractions. 2. This preparation still contained five major polypeptides and numerous minor contaminants. 3. The smallest of the five major polypeptides (Mr approx. 18 500) could be purified from heat-treated microsomal fractions. 4. Antisera raised against the heat-stable protein doublet was used to immunoprecipitate specifically glucose 6-phosphatase activity from cholate-solubilized microsomal fractions. 5. This work indicates that hepatic microsomal glucose 6-phosphatase appears to be one or both of the low-molecular-weight heat-stable polypeptides.