Stimulation of ion transport by ascorbic acid through inhibition of 3':5'-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase in the corneal epithelium and other tissues.

Ascorbic acid stimulates active transport of Cl-minus by the isolated intact cornea. The effect is not present in corneas previously stimulated by the theophylline, an inhibitor of 3':5"-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17), and vice versa, theophylline has no action after stimulation with ascorbic acid. This indicated inhibition of 3':5'-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase by ascorbic acid. Assay of phosphodiesterase using 3-H-labeled cyclid AMP of frog and rabbit corneal epithelial homogenates showed an inhibitory effect of ascorbic acid. Concentration of 5 mM produced 16% inhibition with 20 mM producing 46%. This compares with 58% inhibition by theophylline at 5 mM. Phosphodiesterase activity is mostly soluble in frog corneal epithelium but in rabbit 45% is particulate. Soluble and particulate fractions are inhibited by ascorbate, but in rabbits greater inhibition (50%) was observed in the particulate fraction than in the soluble fraction. Other tissues showed inhibition also: frog retina 12%, rat brain (caudate nucleus) 48%, rabbit brain 14%, rabbit liver 16%. It is concluded that ascorbate produces an increase in cyclic AMP content of corneal epithelium and other tissues by inhibition of 3':5'-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase. This action may be one of the main functions of the high ascorbic acid content of ocular tissues and explain some of the effects of high dosis of ascorbate in other systems.     

Adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine-binding protein of calf thymus

An adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine (Ap4A) binding protein has been purified from calf thymus. The protein is comprised of a single polypeptide of Mr 54000 and is capable of high-affinity (Kd = 13 microM) binding of Ap4A with great substrate specificity. The Ap4A binding protein has been isolated in two forms: a 'free', or non-polymerase-bound, form which predominates, and a similar form which copurifies with DNA polymerase alpha, but which can be resolved from it. The free form of Ap4A binding protein contains associated adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine phosphohydrolase (Ap4Aase) activity, while the form resolved from DNA polymerase alpha contains no such activity. The Ap4Aase activity, which catalyzes the phosphohydrolysis of Ap4A to ATP and AMP, is strongly inhibited by low levels (50-100 microM) of Zn2+ without any effect on the Ap4A binding protein activity. This difference in associated Ap4Aase activity between free and polymerase-bound forms of the protein, plus the copurification mentioned above, indicate a specific association between Ap4A binding protein and DNA polymerase alpha.     

Stimulation of ion transport by ascorbic acid through inhibition of 3′:5′-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase in the corneal epithelium and other tissues

Ascorbic acid stimulates active transport of Cl^? by the isolated intact corneas. The effect is not present in corneas previously stimulated by theophylline, an inhibitor of 3′: 5′-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17), and vice versa, theophylline has no action after stimulation with ascorbic acid. This indicated inhibition of 3′: 5′-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase by ascorbic acid. Assay of phosphodiesterase using ³H-labeled cyclid AMP of frog and rabbit corneal epithelial homogenates showed an inhibitory effect of ascorbic acid. Concentration of 5 mM produced 16% inhibition with 20 mM producing 46 %. This compares with 58 % inhibition by theophylline at 5 mM. Phosphodiesterase activity is mostly soluble in frog corneal epithelium but in rabbit 45 % is particulate. Soluble and particulate fractions are inhibited by ascorbate, but in rabbits greater inhibition (50 %) was observed in the particulate fraction than in the soluble fraction. Other tissues showed inhibition also: frog retina 12 %, rat brain (caudate nucleus) 48 %, rabbit brain 14 %, rabbit liver 16 %. It is concluded that ascorbate produces an increase in cyclic AMP content of corneal epithelium and other tissues by inhibition of 3′: 5′-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase. This action may be one of the main functions of the high ascorbic acid content of ocular tissues and explain some of the effects of high dosis of ascorbate in other systems.     

Fluoride is a strong and specific inhibitor of (asymmetrical) Ap4A hydrolases

Fluoride acts as a noncompetitive, strong inhibitor of (asymmetrical) Ap4A hydrolases (EC 3.6.1.17). The Ki values estimated for the enzymes isolated from seeds of some higher plants (yellow lupin, sunflower and marrow) are in the range of 2-3 microM and I50 for the hydrolase from a mammalian tissue (beef liver) is 20 microM. The anion, up to 25 mM, does not affect the following other enzymes which are able to degrade the bis(5'-nucleosidyl)-oligophosphates: Escherichia coli (symmetrical) Ap4A hydrolase (EC 3.6.1.41), yeast Ap4A phosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.53), yellow lupin Ap3A hydrolase (EC 3.6.1.29) and phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.1). None of halogenic anions but fluoride affects the activity of (asymmetrical) Ap4A hydrolases. Usefulness of the fluoride effect for the in vivo studies on the Ap4A metabolism is shortly discussed.     

Activation of guanylate cyclase in cerebral cortex of rat by hydroxylamine.

Hydroxylamine actived guanylate cyclase in particulate fraction of cerebral cortex of rat. Activation was most remarkable in crude mitochondrial fraction. When the crude mitochondrial fraction was subjected to osmotic shock and fractionated, guanylate cyclase activity recovered in the subfractions as assayed with hydroxylamine was only one-third of the starting material. Recombination of the soluble and the particulate fractions, however, restored guanylate cyclase activity to the same level as that of the starting material. When varying quantities of the particulate and soluble fractions were combined, enzyme activity was proportional to the quantity of the soluble fraction. Heating of the soluble or particulate fraction at 55 degrees for 5 min inactivated guanylate cyclase. The heated particulate fraction markedly activated guanylate cyclase activity in the native soluble fraction, while the heated soluble fraction did not stimulate enzyme activity in the particulate. The particulate fraction preincubated with hydroxylamine at 37 degrees for 5 min followed by washing activated guanylate cyclase activity in the soluble fraction in the absence of hydroxylamine. Further fractionation of the crude mitochondrial fraction revealed that the factor(s) needed for the activation by hydroxylamine is associated with the mitochondria. The mitochondrial fraction of cerebral cortex activated guanylate cyclase in supernatant of brain, liver, or kidney in the presence of hydroxylamine. The mitochondrial fraction prepared from liver or kidney, in turn, activated soluble guanylate cyclase in brain. Activation of guanylate cyclase by hydroxylamine was compared with that of sodium azide. Azide activated guanylate cyclase in the synaptosomal soluble fraction, while hydroxylamine inhibited it. The particulate fraction preincubated with azide followed by washing did not stimulate guanylate cyclase activity in the absence of azide. The activation of guanylate cyclase by hydroxylamine is not due to a change in the concentration of the substrate GTP, Addition of hydroxylamine did not alter the apparent Km value of guanylate cyclase for GTP. Guanylate cyclase became less dependent on manganese in the presence of hydroxylamine. Thus the activation of guanylate cyclase by hydroxylamine is due to the change in the Vmax of the reaction.     

Peptidase activities in human semen

Enkephalins are one of the opioids present in human semen and to date their function in this tissue remains unknown. The present work studies enkephalin-degrading enzyme activities, puromycin-sensitive alanyl aminopeptidase (AAP-S), puromycin-insensitive alanyl aminopeptidase N (Ap N) and neprilysin (NEP) in human seminal fractions. AAP-S activity was not detected in any fractions, whereas Ap N appeared in soluble and particulate sperm fractions in seminal fluid and in prostasome fraction. With regard to NEP activity, this was exclusively located in prostasome membranes. The high activity values observed in the prostasome fraction suggested that these peptidases and their substrates could be involved in seminal physiology.     

Characterization of particulate cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases from bovine brain: purification of a distinct cGMP-stimulated isoenzyme

In the absence of detergent, approximately 80-85% of the total cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in bovine brain was associated with washed particulate fractions; approximately 85-90% of the calmodulin-sensitive PDE was soluble. Particulate cGMP-stimulated PDE was higher in cerebral cortical gray matter than in other regions. Homogenization of the brain particulate fraction in 1% Lubrol increased cGMP-stimulated activity approximately 100% and calmodulin-stimulated approximately 400-500%. Although 1% Lubrol readily solubilized these PDE activities, approximately 75% of the cAMP PDE activity (0.5 microM [3H]cAMP) that was not affected by cGMP was not solubilized. This cAMP PDE activity was very sensitive to inhibition by Rolipram but not cilostamide. Thus, three different PDE types, i.e., cGMP stimulated, calmodulin sensitive, and Rolipram inhibited, are associated in different ways with crude bovine brain particulate fractions. After solubilization and purification by chromatography on cGMP-agarose, heparin-agarose, and Superose 6, the brain particulate cGMP-stimulated PDE cross-reacted with antibody raised against a cGMP-stimulated PDE purified from calf liver supernatant. The brain enzyme exhibited a slightly greater subunit Mr than did soluble forms from calf liver or bovine brain, as evidenced by protein staining or immunoblotting after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. Incubation of brain particulate and liver soluble cGMP-stimulated PDEs with V8 protease produced several peptides of similar size, as well as at least two distinct fragments of approximately 27 kDa from the brain and approximately 23 kDa from the liver enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Exercise promotes a subcellular redistribution of calcium-stimulated protease activity in striated muscle.

The aims of this study were (i) to investigate whether the contractile activity associated with running increases calcium-stimulated, calpastatin-inhibited protease activity (calpain-like) in a time-dependent manner and (ii) to determine whether the changes, if any, are proportionately distributed between soluble (cytosolic) and particulate (bound) fractions of striated muscle in vivo. Calcium-dependent, calpastatin-inhibited caseinolysis (i.e., calpain-like activity) was measured in control and exercised rats (25 m/min, 0% grade) at 2, 5, 15, 30, and 60 min. Total calpain-like activity in skeletal muscle increased by 26% (13.2 +/- 1.3 vs. 17.9 +/- 2.2 U/g wet wt.) (p < 0.05) after running (60 min), accompanied by an increased activity in the particulate fraction. In cardiac muscle, exercise (60 min) increased total calpain-like activity by 33% (p < 0.05), which was attributable to increases in both the cytosolic and particulate fractions. Both tissues responded with an early (2-5 min) activation of total calpain-like activity (p < 0.05), supported by early increases for particulate fractions from skeletal muscle; whereas for cardiac muscle, a noticeable early drop (p < 0.05) occurred in the particulate fraction. Minimal changes were observed for total, cytosolic, and particulate fractions of noncontracting tissue (i.e., liver). The results of this study support the hypothesis that the total calpain-like activity increases associated with level running occur early on with exercise and that the increases are accompanied by changes in the redistribution of soluble to particulate fractions. The changes would set the stage for enhanced rates of protein degradation known to occur in striated muscle with exercise.     

Retinal Hexokinase: Kinetic Properties and the Effect of Cyclic 3',5'-Adenosine Monophosphate

Abstract: We measured hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1) activity in particulate and soluble fractions isolated from bullfrog ( Rana catesbeiana ) retinas. Seventy-three percent of the hexokinase (HK) activity was associated with the particulate fraction, 27% with the soluble fraction. Both HK fractions could phosphorylate fructose, glucose, 2-deoxy-d-glucose, and mannose, but not galactose. The K _m for glucose was 0.14 m M , for 2-deoxy-d-glucose. 3.6 m M . With glucose as substrate, the V _max for particulate HK was 125–148 μ M retina⁻¹ min⁻¹, for soluble HK, 37 μ M retina⁻¹ min⁻¹. Product inhibition of particulate HK activity by glucose 6-phosphate was marked, whereas 2-deoxy-d-glucose 6-phosphate did not inhibit the activity. Cyclic AMP stimulated the HK activity of both retinal fractions nearly twofold at concentrations of 0.2–0.8 m M; AMP was much less effective in this regard.     

Changes in Hexokinase Isoenzymes in Regions of Rat Brain During Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia

Activities of hexokinase isoenzymes were determined during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in soluble and total particulate fractions from three regions of rat brain. Type I hexokinase isoenzyme activity showed a small decrease in both soluble and particulate fractions from the cerebral hemispheres. In cerebellum and brain stem, however, Type I isoenzyme showed a decrease only in the soluble fraction. A significant increase was observed in hexokinase Type II isoenzyme from both the fractions, in all the three brain regions 1 h after insulin administration.     

Catabolism of Ap4A and Ap3A in human serum. Identification of isoenzymes and their partial characterization

A hydrolase splitting adenosine (5')triphospho(5')adenosine (Ap3A) and adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine (Ap4A) has recently been highly purified from human plasma [Lüthje, J. and Ogilvie, A. (1985) Eur. J. Biochem. 149, 119-127]. This enzyme has been shown to have 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity (5'-NPD). Three isoenzymes splitting Ap4A and Ap3A were found in human serum by means of native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. They exactly comigrated with the 5'-NPD isoenzymes I, III and IV according to published nomenclature, and were designated Ap4Aase isozymes I, III and IV. Their Km values with Ap4A as a substrate were 3 microM, 2 microM and 10 microM, respectively. No Ap4A splitting activity corresponding to 5'-NDP-II was found. Further experiments were designed to prove the identity of Ap4Aases with 5'-NPD isoenzymes. Corresponding isozymes of both activities showed identical behaviour upon delipidation of serum with n-butanol: activities I and III were inactivated, whereas IV remained unaffected. Addition of phosphate stimulated Ap4Aase and 5'-NPD isoenzymes I and III, whereas both activities of isozyme IV were inhibited. Further evidence for the identity was obtained when investigating a series of normal and pathological sera showing decreased as well as increased activities of the single isoenzymes. In all cases Ap4Aase and 5'-NPD isoenzymes showed a linear correlation.     

Biochemical and immunochemical characterisation of human diadenosine triphosphatase provides evidence for its identification with the tumour suppressor Fhit protein

We describe here the purification and characterisation of the human enzyme diadenosine triphosphatase isolated from human platelets and leukocytes, offering biochemical and immunochemical evidence to identify this enzyme with the novel tumour suppressor Fhit protein, a homodimer composed of approximately 17 kDa monomers. It catalyses the Mg(2+)-dependent hydrolysis of diadenosine triphosphate, Ap(3)A, to AMP+ADP. The fluorogenic substrate di-ethenoadenosine triphosphate, epsilon-(Ap(3)A), and Fhit antibodies were used for enzymatic and immunochemical characterisations, respectively. Human Ap(3)Aase presents a native molecular mass of approximately 32 kDa and no significant differences were found in K(m) values (2 microM), activating effects by Mg(2+), Ca(2+), and Mn(2+), optimum pH (7.0-7.2) or inhibition by Zn(2+) and diethyl pyrocarbonate between the human enzyme and the recombinant Fhit protein. Suramin is a very potent competitive inhibitor of both human Ap(3)Aase and Fhit protein with K(i) values in the range 20-30 nM. Both human and rat Ap(3)Aase activity co-purifies with Fhit immunoreactivity under gel filtration, ion-exchange and affinity chromatography. Homogeneous human Ap(3)Aase preparations analysed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis with Fhit antibodies elicit immunochemical responses corresponding to a approximately 17 kDa polypeptide, indicating a dimeric structure for the enzyme Ap(3)Aase. The strong inhibition of Fhit enzyme by the drug suramin, supports the need to investigate the therapeutic potential of Fhit-Ap(3)Aase mediated by its interaction with suramin or related drugs.     

3-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in tissues from normal and ketonaemic sheep

1. In liver, rumen epithelium and kidney cortex of the sheep, a dehydrogenase active against dl-3-hydroxybutyrate occurred in both the cytosol and particulate fractions of the tissues. In brain, heart, skeletal and smooth muscles, the enzyme occurred only in the particulate fraction. 2. Enzyme activity in the cytoplasmic fraction of liver and rumen epithelium was similar with either d(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate or dl-3-hydroxbutyrate, but was less with acetoacetate as the substrate. The cytosol fraction of kidney cortex showed very little activity with d(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate, confirming that most of the activity with dl-3-hydroxybutyrate was with the l(+) isomer in this tissue. 3. 3-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activities in the cytosol and particulate fractions of liver, rumen epithelium and kidney cortex and in the particulate fraction of brain tissue were not stimulated by phosphatidylcholine, unlike the enzyme in sheep muscle and in tissues of other species. 4. The activity of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase was not increased significantly in any of the tissues of ketonaemic sheep. 5. Comparison of rates of 3-hydroxybutyrate production in vivo with the enzyme activity in ketogenic tissue suggested that in sheep the maximum rate of production might be limited by this activity.     

Concentrations of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase subunits in various tissues.

The concentrations of the regulatory (R) and catalytic (C) subunits of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase(s) were measured in extracts of skeletal muscle, heart, liver, kidney, and brain. These concentrations were also estimated for the particulate fraction from brain, the only tissue in which a major part of the total activity was not readily extracted in a soluble form. Values for R were determined by measuring the amount of cyclic [3H]amp bound to protein in these tissue fractions under specified conditions; it was assumed that 1 mol of cyclic AMP binds to 1 mol of R. Values for C were determined from measurements of the specific protein kinase activity of the fractions utilizing the turnover number of pure C in the calculations. Turnover numbers for C were found to be identical for this subunit obtained in the pure form from rabbit skeletal muscle, rabbit liver, and beef heart. The methods used for measuring C were evaluated by kinetic studies and through the use of the specific heatstable protein inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase(s). R and C were found to exist in a 1:1 molar ratio in all of the tissue fractions that were studied. the absolute concentrations of R and C ranged from 0.23 mumol/kg wet weight for liver to 0.78 mumol/kg wet weight for brain. For brain this value was based on the amount of each subunit in the particulate as well as the soluble fraction. For other tissues the values were based solely on the subunit content of the latter fraction. It was noted that the molar concentrations of R are close to those of cyclic AMP under basal conditions in the various tissues.     

Putative ornithine decarboxylase activity in Arabidopsis thaliana: inhibition and intracellular localisation

In this work we studied putative ornithine decarboxylase activity (ODC, EC 4.1.1.17) in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana L. (ecotype Columbia) plants at non-flowering stage (about 21 d of culture). Putative ODC activity was higher in the particulate than in the soluble fraction and activity was pH-dependent, increasing linearly with the pH. Inclusion of 10 mM arginine in the assay showed that the incidence of ornithine transcarbamoylase activity (EC 2.1.3.3) accounted for about 35% in the particulate fraction, but that its contribution was negligible in the soluble fraction. Increasing concentrations of the irreversible inhibitor α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) progressively inhibited putative ODC activity with a 40% inhibition at 20 mM DFMO. Taking into consideration the incidence of ornithine transcarbamoylase activity, the total inhibition of putative ODC activity was of about 75%. Fractionation experiments permitted measurement of putative ODC activity in the nuclei- and chloroplast-enriched fractions. The assays performed on membranes and stromal fractions isolated from gradient purified chloroplasts showed that the enzyme activity was associated almost totally with the plastid membranes.     

Enzymes of deoxythymidine triphosphate biosynthesis in Neurospora crassa mitochondria.

Intact mitochondria of Neurospora crassa incorporate deoxythymidine 5'-monophosphate (dTMP) into deoxyribonucleic acid but not the label from (methyl-3H) deoxythymidine. Mitochondrial homogenates contain deoxythymidylate kinase (EC 2.7.4.9), deoxycytidylate aminohydrolase (dCMP deaminase) (EC 3.5.4.12), and thymidylate synthetase (EC 2.1.1b), but not thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.21) activity. dTMP kinase is loosely bound to the mitochondrial membrane and is solubilized by 0.4 M KCl in mitochondrial homogenates, the dCMP aminohydrolase deaminase) is bound to the inner membrane and is not solubilized by 0.4 M KCl. dTMP synthetase activity is found in the 2,000 times g particulate fractions by homogenization of mitochondria in 0.4 M KCl. The dCMP deaminase activity found in the particulate fraction of the inner membrane is efficiently regulated by the products of the pathway: deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate activates whereas deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate inhibits, as found for the soluble enzyme from other sources. These data indicate that mitochondria of N. crassa contain specific enzymes for the biosynthesis of deoxythymidine triphosphate.     

Malate-aspartate shuttle enzymes in rat brain regions, liver and heart during alloxan diabetes and insulin replacement

Regionally selective and time-dependent variations were observed in the activity of brain aspartate aminotransferase at early phases of diabetes. Malate dehydrogenase activity showed an opposite pattern of changes in soluble and particulate fractions of cerebral hemispheres and brain stem, with cerebellum showing consistent increase in the activity. The activity of both the enzymes increased significantly in liver, in contrast to heart where malate dehydrogenase activity decreased in particulate fraction. Insulin treatment to diabetic animals restored the enzymes to near control levels at early stages of diabetes, except in liver. The results indicate that malate-aspartate shuttle is probably stimulated under diabetic conditions to enable glycolysis to continue and ATP levels to be restored partially, particularly in cerebellum and liver.     

Cytosolic r{beta}-Cyanoalanine Synthase Activity Attributed to Cysteine Synthases in Cocklebur Seeds. Purification and Characterization of Cytosolic Cysteine Synthases

The activity of rß-cyanoalanine synthase (CAS, EC4.4.1.9 [EC] ) in cotyledons of cocklebur seeds (Xanthium penn-sylvanicumWallr.) was detected both in the soluble and particulate fractions.The CAS activity of the soluble fraction (cytosolic CAS activity)was 10 times higher than that of the particulate fraction. TheCAS activity of the particulate fraction was confirmed to belocalized in the mitochondria. Both enzymatic activities wereclearly separated by non-denaturing PAGE. The enzyme with cytosolicCAS activity has been extensively purified and separated intothree different forms designated as cyt-1, cyt-2, and cyt-3.According to the SDS-PAGE analysis, the three enzymes are estimatedto be a homodimer composed of 35-kDa sub-units. The purifiedenzymes showed CS activity. Partial amino acid sequences ofcyt-1 were determined and had a high homology with cysteinesynthases (CS, EC 4.2.99.8 [EC] ) from other plant sources. The catalyticaction of the purified CSs in converting cyanide and cysteineinto H₂S and rß-cyanoalanine was confirmed by thedetection of significant ¹⁴CN incorporation into rß-cyanoalanine.These results indicated that cytosolic CAS activity is due tocytosolic CS and suggested that the CAS activity of CS is likelyto be involved in cyanide metabolism in plant tissues. (Received January 7, 1998; Accepted March 16, 1998)     

A simple procedure for the purification of calmodulin bound to membranes; calmodulin bound to the particulate fraction of AH-66 hepatoma ascites cells

We have demonstrated the identity of calmodulin tightly bound to the particulate fractions of AH-66 hepatoma cells and normal liver with authentic soluble calmodulin and have compared the particulate calmodulin content of AH-66 cells with that of normal liver. Calmodulin bound to the particulate fractions of the hepatoma and normal liver cells was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by a simple procedure which involves solubilization of the particulate fractions with LIS, extraction of the solubilized solution with 37.5% phenol, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography on Fluphenazine-Sepharose. There were no detectable differences between the particulate calmodulin thus purified and authentic soluble calmodulin of rat brain. The particulate calmodulin in the hepatoma and normal liver cells was assayed based on its ability to activate calmodulin-deficient phosphodiesterase after partial purification of calmodulin from the particulate fractions by solubilization with LIS and extraction with phenol as described above. In addition, the particulate calmodulin content in the hepatoma and normal liver cells was also measured after solubilization of the particulate fractions with Lubrol PX. The results obtained by these two different procedures indicate that calmodulin content in the particulate fraction as well as in the soluble fraction of the hepatoma is significantly higher than that in the corresponding fractions of normal liver.     

Some properties of acetylcholinesterase from rat retina.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) of rat retina was studied with respect to its kinetic and other properties, and a comparison was made with the enzyme from brain. The subcellular distribution of the retinal AChE showed that the enzyme was concentrated in the synaptosomal-mitochondrial fraction although in the brain the AChE was distributed more evenly between the fractions studied. The enzyme from both retina and brain was easily solubilised and exhibited a Km of the order of 10(-4) M. The pH optimum was 8.3-8.6 for the AChE from both tissues for both the soluble and particulate enzyme.