Mutagenic activity of dioxydine]

A previous evaluation of mutagenic activity of some drugs and perspective substances is carried out using indicator microorganisms. The mutagenicity of dioxydine, a drag with discovered antibacterial activity, is investigated. Dioxydine is shown to induce reversions in mutant of Salmonella typhimurium TA-1950, the indicator strain which demonstrates mutagenic activity of agents, producing mutations of base pair substitution type. Dioxydine proved to affect logariphmiically growing bacterial culture with great activity. Mutageni effect of dioxydine is not modified itself in microsomal oxidation system in vitro. Some data concerning participation of excision reparation enzyme (uvr-B+ gene product) in repair of lethal damages induced by dioxydine, have been obtained. The dioxydine ability to cause bacterial gene mutations in host mediated assay as well as dominant and recessive sex-linked lethal mutations in Drosophila is demonstrated. Dioxydine is capable of inducing chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells and dominant lethal mutations in mouse germ cells.     

Sites of sulfatation in the chondrocytes of the articular cartilage of the rabbit

35S sulfate uptake by the articular cartilage chondrocytes, from biopsies of rabbit, have been studied by high resolution autoradiography. The Golgi apparatus, rough endoplasmic reticulum, cytosol, cytoplasmic membrane and extracellular space were considered as cell compartments in the quantitative analysis of the autoradiograms. The results obtained show: 1) a high activity of radiosotope incorporation in the Golgi apparatus; 2) a fast rhythm of transfer of the substances labelled in the Golgi apparatus to the cell membrane; 3) significant labelling of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, throughout the experiment. It is concluded: 1) The grains observed in the rough endoplasmic reticulum show a significant radioisotope uptake on this level, and this evidence some sulfotransferase activity. 2) The high 35S sulfate uptake level which is observed in the Golgi apparatus demonstrates that the highest sulfotransferase enzyme activity is located in this cell area, thus showing that the "early" sulfation that began in the rough endoplasmic reticulum was completed by a "late" sulfation in the Golgi apparatus. It is here that complete chondromucoprotein building takes place before being excreted. 3) The high transfer level of the labelled substances from the Golgi apparatus shows that the sulfated product secretion for building the cartilage matrix takes place rapidly since a great label increase can be already observed at the beginning of the chase period in the outer surrounding area of the chondrocyte membrane.     

Flow kinetics of a nucleoside phosphatase common to endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and plasma membrane of rat liver

Nucleoside mono-, di- and triphosphatase activities of highly purified endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi apparatus, and plasma membrane fractions of rat liver were compared. The highest rates of hydrolysis were always in ER or plasma membrane. Golgi apparatus activity was intermediate between those of ER and plasma membrane. This relationship was true for both freshly isolated fractions and salt-extracted membranes. Detergent solubilization of the membranes, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the solubilized proteins, and localization of the enzyme activities on the gel revealed bands of enzyme activity which had identical mobilities in all three membrane fractions as well as other bands of activity that occurred only in ER and to a lesser degree in the Golgi apparatus. Antibodies raised against one of the phosphatase bands of plasma membrane which was common to all three membrane fractions cross-reacted with the corresponding phosphatase band in ER and Golgi apparatus. The anti-nucleoside phosphatase was utilized in combination with pulse-chase techniques to investigate the flow kinetics of transfer of newly synthesized enzyme among different cell compartments. Label first appeared in nucleoside phosphatase within the ER. Maximum specific activity was observed at about 5 min after injection of label and was followed by rapid loss of label. This was followed by appearance of label in Golgi apparatus 15 to 25 min after injection of label and by subsequent rapid loss of label. Plasma membranes were labeled last with no evidence of either rapid accumulation of label or of rapid turnover. Flow of nucleoside phosphatase from its site of synthesis and insertion into the membrane at the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane via the Golgi apparatus is indicated but in a manner whereby a significant fraction of the protein may be processed (removed?) from the membrane concomitant with the flow process.     

Sensitivity of Brucella melitensis to various antibiotics, drug preparations and their combinations

In vitro activity of 13 antibiotics and drug preparations as well as some of their combinations was studied with respect to Brucella melitensis. It was shown that the strains of B. melitensis were sensitive to sisomicin, amikacin, gentamicin, cefotaxime, rifaprim +, nitroxoline and trimethoprim. Variations in the doxycycline sensitivity depending on the strain were observed. The strains of B. melitensis were resistant to cephalexin, phosphomycin, chinoxydine, dioxydine and oxolinic acid. Combinations of sisomicin and trimethoprim at a ratio of 1:10 and sisomicin and nitroxoline at a ratio of 1:2 had a summation effect.     

Sphingomyelin synthesis in rat liver occurs predominantly at the cis and medial cisternae of the Golgi apparatus

The intracellular site of sphingomyelin (SM) synthesis was examined in subcellular fractions from rat liver using a radioactive ceramide analog N-([1-14C]hexanoyl)-D-erythro-sphingosine. This lipid readily transferred from a complex with bovine serum albumin to liver fractions without disrupting the membranes, and was metabolized to radioactive SM. To prevent degradation of the newly synthesized SM to ceramide, all experiments were performed in the presence of EDTA to minimize neutral sphingomyelinase activity and at neutral pH to minimize acid sphingomyelinase activity. An intact Golgi apparatus fraction gave an 85-98-fold enrichment of SM synthesis and a 58-83-fold enrichment of galactosyltransferase activity. Controlled trypsin digestion demonstrated that SM synthesis was localized to the lumen of intact Golgi apparatus vesicles. Although small amounts of SM synthesis were detected in plasma membrane and rough microsome fractions, after accounting for contamination by Golgi apparatus membranes, their combined activity contributed less than 13% of the total SM synthesis in rat liver. Subfractions of the Golgi apparatus were obtained and characterized by immunoblotting and biochemical assays using cis/medial (mannosidase II) and trans (sialyltransferase and galactosyltransferase) Golgi apparatus markers. The specific activity of SM synthesis was highest in enriched cis and medial fractions but far lower in a trans fraction. We conclude that SM synthesis in rat liver occurs predominantly in the cis and medial cisternae of the Golgi apparatus and not at the plasma membrane or endoplasmic reticulum as has been previously suggested.     

The origin of the zymogen granule membrane of the pancreatic acinar cell as examined by ultrastructural cytochemistry of acid phosphatase, thiamine pyrophosphatase, and ATP-diphosphohydrolase activities

Cytochemical distributions of acid phosphatase, thiamine pyrophosphatase, and ATP-diphosphohydrolase activities have been examined on thin sections of rat pancreas and on isolated zymogen-granule membranes. Acid phosphatase was found in the rigid lamellae separated from the Golgi stacked cisternae, in condensing vacuoles, and in the trans-saccules of Golgi apparatus; it was not detected in purified zymogen-granule membranes. Thiamine pyrophosphatase was detected in trans-saccules of the Golgi apparatus, in purified zymogen-granule membranes, and in the plasmalemma of the acinar cell. It was absent in condensing vacuoles. The ATP-diphosphohydrolase activity has a distribution similar to thiamine pyrophosphatase. These observations illustrate the similarity between the trans-saccules of the Golgi apparatus and the membrane of mature zymogen granules and the disparity between the latter membrane and the membrane of the condensing vacuole. They suggest that the condensing vacuole might not be the immediate precursor of the zymogen granule as commonly assumed. An alternative possibility would be that condensing vacuoles would fuse with the trans-saccule (transition) of the Golgi apparatus which in turn would form mature zymogen granules.     

Ultrastructural localization of acid phosphatase activity in the small intestinal absorptive cells of postnatal rats

Summary The ultrastructural localization of acid phosphatase activity was investigated in ultrathin (0.05 m) and semithin (0.5 m) sections of the small intestinal epithelial cells of postnatal rats. Until around the 15th day of neonatal life acid phosphatase activity in the duodenal and jejunal epithelial cells was observed on the microvillous membrane, the membrane of the tubulo-vacuolar system, the lateral cell membrane, the lysosomes, the Golgi apparatus and the GERL of Novikoff (1963). After about the 15th neonatal day, the tubulo-vacuolar system enzyme disappeared from both cells. Acid phosphatase activity then became localized on the microvillous membrane, the lateral cell membrane, the lysosomes, the Golgi apparatus, and the GERL, as in adult rats. During the suckling period, acid phosphatase in the ileal cells could be seen on the microvillous membrane, the lateral cell membrane, the Golgi apparatus, the GERL, the membrane of tubulo-vacuolar system and the supranuclear vacuole. At weaning, however, the tubulovacuolar system and the supranuclear vacuole enzyme disappeared, and only the lysosomes and the GERL of these cells showed acid phosphatase activity, as in the adult rat. It was concluded that the acid-phosphatase-containing tubulo-vacuolar system and the supranuclear vacuole in the epithelial cells of the distal intestine of suckling rats may possess a strong phagolysosomal function as well as having an absorptive capacity.     

Alkaline phosphatase biosynthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum and its transport through the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane: cytochemical evidence

Enzyme induction of HeLa cell placental alkaline phosphatase with various agents such as prednisolone, sodium butyrate, hyperosmolality (NaCl), or combination of these inducers resulted in the appearance of enzyme activity in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear envelope, Golgi apparatus, and plasma membrane. In the Golgi apparatus, intense reaction product deposits tended to be concentrated on its trans side, with small vesicles and granules also being positively stained. Inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide was followed by the disappearance of enzyme activity from these cytoplasmic organelles but not from the plasma membrane. Treatment with monensin, a secretory protein transport inhibitor, uniformly increased activity in the rough endoplasmic reticulum while causing marked dilatation of the intensely positive Golgi cisternae. These results suggest that intracellular alkaline phosphatase is newly synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum and then passes en route through the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane. Accordingly, the present system could represent the biosynthesis, transport, and incorporation of the model cell surface enzyme protein to add to the vesicular stomatitus virus glyco-1 (VSV-G) protein and acetylcholine receptor model systems for studying the dynamics of cell surface protein genesis, transport, and membrane integration.     

Distribution of glycosyltransferases among Golgi apparatus subfractions from liver and hepatomas of the rat.

Glycosyltransferase activities of highly purified fractions of Golgi apparatus, plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum, all from the same homogenates, were analyzed and compared. Additionally, Golgi apparatus were unstacked and the individual cisternae separated into fractions enriched in cis, median and trans elements using the technique of preparative free-flow electrophoresis. Golgi apparatus from both liver and hepatomas were enriched in all glycosyltransferases compared to endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membranes. However, Golgi apparatus from hepatomas showed both elevated fucosyltransferase and galactosyltransferase activities but reduced sialyltransferase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) activities compared to liver. Activity of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase was approximately the same in both liver and hepatoma Golgi apparatus. With normal liver, sialyl- and galactosyltransferase activities and DPP IV showed a marked cis-to-trans gradient of activity. Fucosyltransferase was concentrated in two regions of the electrophoretic separations, one corresponding to cis cisternae and one corresponding to trans cisternae. N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity was more widely distributed but the endogenous acceptor activity was predominantly cis. With hepatoma Golgi apparatus, the pattern for DPP IV was similar to that for liver but those of sialyl- and galactosyltransferases differed markedly from liver. Instead of activity increasing cis to trans, the activities for sialyl- and galactosyltransferases decreased. For fucosyltransferases, activity dependent on exogenous acceptor was medial whereas with endogenous acceptor, two activity peaks, cis and trans, still were observed. For N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase the pattern for hepatoma was similar to that for liver. The results indicate alterations in the distribution of glycosyltransferase activities within the Golgi apparatus in hepatotumorigenesis that may reflect altered cell surface glycosylation patterns.     

Differential association of rat liver heparan sulfate proteoglycans in membranes of the Golgi apparatus and the plasma membrane

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) of rat liver are associated with the plasma membrane in a hydrophobic intrinsic and a hydrophilic extrinsic form. We were interested in determining whether or not these two forms could be detected in the Golgi apparatus, the subcellular site of addition of oligosaccharides and sulfate to HSPG. In vivo and in vitro radiolabeled HSPG from rat liver Golgi apparatus membranes could only be solubilized with detergents that disrupt the membrane lipid bilayer, suggesting that they are solely associated via hydrophobic interactions. Both forms of HSPG were detected in plasma membranes of rat liver and isolated rat hepatocytes. The detergent-solubilized HSPG bound to octyl-Sepharose columns, whereas the hydrophilic form did not; this latter form, however, was released from the membrane by heparin. The hydrophobic anchor of HSPG in the Golgi and plasma membranes was insensitive to treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C under conditions in which alkaline phosphatase was sensitive; this suggests that the hydrophobic anchor of HSPG is the core protein itself. Preliminary experiments suggest that the subcellular site of processing of the hydrophobic to the hydrophilic form of HSPG is the plasma membrane. A specific processing activity, probably a protease of the plasma membrane not present in serum or the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, converted hydrophobic HSPG of the Golgi membrane to the hydrophilic form. In addition, pulse-chase experiments with [35S]Na2SO4 in rats demonstrated that at short times, the bulk of the radiolabeled cellular HSPG was in the Golgi apparatus; later on, the bulk of the radioactivity was found in the plasma membrane, the only subcellular site where the hydrophilic form of HSPG was detected.     

Involvement of Golgi-associated Lyn tyrosine kinase in the translocation of annexin II to the endoplasmic reticulum under oxidative stress

Src-family tyrosine kinases, known to participate in signaling pathways of a variety of receptors at the plasma membrane, are found in cellular endomembranes such as the Golgi apparatus and endosomes. Recently, we showed that Lyn, a member of the Src kinases, accumulates on the Golgi apparatus and then traffics to the plasma membrane. We show here that a majority of endogenous Lyn but not c-Src is accumulated in Golgi-enriched heavy-membrane fractions on a sucrose-density gradient, whereas a small amount of endogenous Lyn is present in light-membrane fractions containing the plasma membrane. Inducible expression of kinase-active Lyn, which biosynthetically reaches the Golgi apparatus, triggers tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins including annexin II. Coimmunoprecipitation analyses reveal that Lyn physically associates with annexin II, and an in vitro kinase assay shows that Lyn phosphorylates annexin II directly. Furthermore, stimulation of cells with H2O2 induces tyrosine phosphorylation of annexin II on the Golgi apparatus in a manner that is dependent on the kinase activity of Src kinases, leading to the translocation of annexin II from the Golgi apparatus to the endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, these results suggest that endomembranes containing the Golgi apparatus where Lyn is anchored can serve as a signaling platform under oxidative stress.     

Appearance of acid phosphatase activity in the developing anterior pituitary of the rat

The ultrastructure of the anterior pituitary gland in developing rats was investigated according to Gomori's method for acid phosphatase. During the earlier period of development (day 14 to 16 of gestation), enzyme activity could not be found, although nonspecific deposits of lead were observed within the nuclear envelope, ER, and Golgi cisternae. This facilitated observation of the topographical relationship of the intracellular membrane system and suggestive evidence was obtained that the nuclear envelope in the pituitary anlage is involved in formation of the Golgi apparatus.During days 17 and 18 of gestation, when granule formation begins, little acid phosphatase activity was detectable in the Golgi apparatus and in the secretory granules. A polarized distribution of acid phosphatase was first detected in the Golgi apparatus on day 20 of gestation, with a concomitant increase of lysosomes.From these findings it seems that acid phosphatase begins to contribute to the secretory process a few days after granule formation has started.     

Ultrastructural cytochemistry of phosphatases in the ductal component of pleomorphic adenoma of human parotid and submandibular salivary glands

Summary Some ductal cells of pleomorphic adenomas showed evidence of secretory activity, with apical secretory granules, thiamine pyrophosphatase activity in the Golgi apparatus, and acid phosphatase activity in GERL-like structures and in immature secretory granules. Alkaline phosphatase activity was demonstrated rarely at the luminal plasma membrane and in intracellular vesicles, suggesting resorptive activity. ATPase reaction product was associated with contiguous surfaces of tumour cells, particularly of those cells adjacent to the basement membrane, these latter cells apparently differentiating in a different manner to the luminal cells. A comparison of luminal ductal cells of the tumours with normal salivary glands revealed most similarity with intercalary ductal cells.     

Influence of D,L-ethionine intoxication on galactosyl transferase activity and morphology of the rat liver Golgi apparatus

Eight hours after single, intraperitoneal injection of D,L-ethionine to rats, statistically significant increased activity of liver Golgi apparatus UDP-Gal-GlcNAc transferase calculated per g as well as per total liver in comparison with control was found. Specific activity of the enzyme was higher than normal, however not statistically significant. Yield of Golgi-rich membrane fraction was unchanged in comparison with control. Slight stimulation of liver Golgi apparatus expressed in increased area of this organelle and marginal dilatation of dictyosome cisternae and secretory vacuoles were found in morphological analysis performed in electron microscope.     

Identification of nonmitochondrial creatine kinase enzymatic activity in isolated sea urchin mitotic apparatus

ATP-dependent calcium sequestration was previously localized in vesicles of mitotic apparatus isolated from sea urchins. We now demonstrate that the mitotic apparatus contains an ATP-regenerative system characterized as creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2). Mitotic apparatus isolated with vesicles intact converted ADP to ATP if phosphocreatine was present. Omission of ADP or phosphocreatine gave negligible ATP. When mitotic apparatus were washed with detergent-containing buffer to remove vesicles, their ability to produce ATP from ADP and phosphocreatine was reduced. Assays of creatine kinase activity using NADP+:glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase indicated that 70% of the creatine kinase activity was extractable with 0.5% Triton X-100. The insoluble residue containing the skeleton of the mitotic apparatus had the rest of the activity. Experiments with a luciferin/luciferase assay showed that Triton removed above 82% of the activity. Preparations of intact mitotic apparatus were free of cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) activity and therefore free of mitochondria. About 10(8) mitotic apparatus (total volume about 1 liter) could produce 17 mmol of ATP/min when substrates were not limiting. The creatine kinase enzyme activity described herein and the previously described membrane vesicular calcium sequestration system are nonmitochondrial, integral constituents of the sea urchin mitotic apparatus.     

Localization of the plasma membrane and mitochondrial H(+)-ATPases in Leishmania donovani promastigotes.

Immunochemical methods were used to characterize the proton-translocating ATPases (H(+)-ATPases) of the plasma membrane and mitochrondrion of Leishmania donovani promastigotes. Antisera directed against the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae reacted with a 66 kDa membrane protein of L. donovani promastigotes. By immunocytochemistry, the antiserum was shown to label the cell and flagellar surface of promastigotes as well as the Golgi apparatus and the membrane of intracellular organelles. The target antigen was shown to possess ATPase activity resembling the leishmanial H(+)-ATPase activity. Antisera raised against the beta-subunit of the F0F1-ATPase of Escherichia coli reacted with a 56 kDa protein in L. donovani promastigotes. Ultrastructurally, the anti-beta-subunit antibody was exclusively associated with the mitochondrion in these cells. This antiserum immunoprecipitates ATP hydrolytic activity typical of the F1 beta-subunit activity of the mitochondria of higher eukaryotes.     

The amounts and rates of export of polysaccharides found within the membrane system of maize root cells

1. Maize seedling roots were incubated in vivo with d-[U-(14)C]glucose for 2, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45min. The total incorporation of radioactivity into polysaccharide components in isolated fractions was investigated, and the pattern of incorporation into different polysaccharide components within the rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and exported material was analysed. 2. The membrane compartments reached a saturation value of radioactivity in polysaccharide components by 30min incubation. Radioactivity in exported polysaccharide continued to increase after that time. The latter was formed and maintained by a steady-state turnover of polysaccharide synthesis and transport from the membrane system. 3. If the only access of the slime polysaccharide to the cell surface is via dictyosome-derived vesicles, the amount of slime components in the Golgi apparatus would have to be displaced every 0.3min in order to maintain the observed rates of increase in slime. This is in contrast with a displacement time of about 2.5min that is necessary for polysaccharide components in the Golgi apparatus to produce the observed increase in cell-wall material. The activity of the membrane system in the production of maize root slime is 8 times as great as that of the membrane system involved in cell-wall synthesis. 4. If the amount of polysaccharide material in the Golgi apparatus is maintained only by inflow of polymeric material from the rough endoplasmic reticulum the total amount of slime components in the rough endoplasmic reticulum would have to be displaced every 7min to maintain a constant amount in the Golgi apparatus. If the endoplasmic reticulum contributed directly to the cell surface in the synthesis of cell-wall material, displacement times necessary to maintain the observed rate of polymer production would be very slow.     

Acylation of monoacylglycerophosphoethanolamine in the inner and outer membranes of the envelope of an Escherichia coli K12 strain and its phospholipase A-deficient mutant

The site of the Escherichia coli envelope of the conversion of 1-acylglycero-3-phosphoethanolamine to diacylglycerophosphoethanolamine was explored, using two K12 strains with a wild-type phospholipid-degradative apparatus and a K12 mutant lacking detectable phospholipase A₁ and A₂ activity.Experiments with various radioactively labeled substrates show that acylation by crude envelope preparations as well as isolated inner and outer membranes of parent and mutant strains involves neither exogenous fatty acids nor a transacylation reaction with added monoacylglycerophosphoethanolamine. Furthermore, acylation exhibits no absolute requirement for added ATP and coenzyme A.Specific activity of acylating activity is the same in inner membrane preparations of parent and mutant strain and in outer membrane preparations of the mutant deficient in phospholipase A. Although clearly evident, net diacylglycerophosphoethanolamine formation by outer membranes of the parent strain, however, was about 6-fold less. This lower conversion may be attributed to activation during incubation of phospholipases A within the outer membrane, resulting in breakdown of the diacylcompound formed.Reacylation of lysophospholipids formed in the E. coli envelope by the action of endogenous or exogenous phospholipases A provides the organism with the potential of biochemically inexpensive repair and modification of the envelope phospholipids. Moreover, major phospholipids hydrolyzed in the outer membrane of E. coli can be resynthesized in the same location, without need for the transport of the products of hydrolysis to the lipid biosynthetic apparatus associated with the cytoplasmic membrane.     

On the heterogeneous glycosylation of the membranes of the trans Golgi network in rabbit luteal cells

In rabbit luteal cells the transmost element (G2) of the Golgi apparatus bears cytochemical resemblances to the limiting membrane of lysosomes and it was suggested that lysosomal membranes may originate from the above element. But in the normal Golgi apparatus it cannot be made out whether the considered molecules are indeed membrane bound. Perfusing the rabbit ovary with buffer containing monensin or ammonium chloride allowed to vesiculate the trans Golgi network (G2-G1) selectively. Controls showed a well-preserved ultrastructure. Parts of the limiting membrane of the vacuoles derived from the transmost reticulum (G2) were spiny coated and carried an osmiophilic inner layer. They also showed a heavy precipitate for acid phosphatase (AcPase) and were strongly stained with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) at low pH. By neutralizing the acidic groups, involved in the PTA-staining, it was possible to show that the same membranes were more heavily glycosylated. The MvB's and the limiting membrane of lysosomes showed the same staining characteristics. The other membrane domains revealed a gradient in PTA staining and in AcPase activity. It is concluded that the trans Golgi network (G2-G1) is an acidic compartment. The presence of differentially glycosylated membranes reveals a sorting mechanism for membranous components. The highly glycosylated membrane stretches seem to be involved in endocytosis and in the formation of lysosomal membranes.     

Separation of membranes by flotation centrifugation for in vitro synthesis of plant cell wall polysaccharides

Summary Membranes from etiolated maize seedlings were isolated using sucrose gradients for in vitro studies of polysaccharide synthesis. Following downward centrifugation, flotation centrifugation improved the purity of membrane fractions, in particular the Golgi apparatus. Based on naphthylphthalamic acid binding to plasma membrane and inosine-5-diphosphatase activity in Golgi apparatus, flotation centrifugation removed about 70% of the plasma membrane which cosedimented with the Golgi apparatus in downward centrifugation. The addition of chelators during flotation centrifugation allowed separation of the Golgi apparatus from endoplasmic reticulum, as indicated by NADH cytochromec reductase activity. Glucan and xylan synthase activities were measured as the radioactivity incorporated from either UDP-¹⁴C-glucose or UDP-¹⁴C-xylose into 80% ethanol insoluble materials. Glucan synthase activity at a substrate concentration of 1 mM UDP-glucose without CaCl₂ was greatest in fractions enriched in Golgi apparatus, but in the presence of 3 mM CaCl₂ the activity was greatest in fractions enriched in plasma membrane. Glucan synthase activity at a substrate concentration of 10M UDP-glucose in the presence of 3 mM MnCl₂ was greatest in fractions enriched in plasma membrane, but was also high in fractions enriched in Golgi apparatus. Xylan synthase activity, at a substrate concentration of 1 M UDP-xylose in the presence of 3 mM MnCl₂, was greatest in fractions enriched in Golgi apparatus. To further characterize these synthase reactions, the glycosyl linkages of the products formed were analyzed with a gas chromatograph coupled to a radiogas proportional counter. With the substrate, UDP-¹⁴C-glucose, and fractions enriched in Golgi apparatus, both (13)- and (14)-radioactive glucosyl linkages were formed, whereas the main linkage formed by fractions enriched in plasma membrane was (13)-glucosyl. With the substrate, UDP-¹⁴C-xylose, mostly (14)-xylosyl and some terminal-xylosyl linkages were formed by fractions enriched in Golgi apparatus. Only xylan synthase activity copurified with Golgi apparatus and, because plasma membrane lacked this activity, xylan synthase may be used as a reasonable indicator of Golgi apparatus.Abbreviations ATP adenosine-5-triphosphate - CR crude fraction from downward centrifugation - FL purified fraction from flotation centrifugation - GC gas chromatography - GC-RPC gas chromatography-radiogas proportional counting - IDP inosine-5-disphosphate - NPA naphthylphthalamic acid - UDP uridine-5-diphosphate - TEM transmission electron microscopy