Isolation of peroxisomes from the dog kidney cortex.

The present study was undertaken to separate peroxisomes of the dog kidney cortex by the methods of discontinuous sucrose density gradient and zonal centrifugation. The separation of subcellular particles was evaluated by measuring the activities of reference enzymes, beta-glycerophosphatase for lysosomes, succinate dehydrogenase for mitochondria, glucose-6-phosphatase for microsomes, and catalase and D-amino acid oxidase for peroxisomes. The activities of D-amino acid oxidase and catalase were mainly observed in fractions 1 and 2 (1.6 and 1.7 M sucrose) obtained by discontinuous sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. Small amounts of acid phosphatase and succinate dehydrogenase contaminated these fractions. Considerably higher activity of catalase was determined in the supernatant, while D-amino acid oxidase showed a lower activity. By the method of zonal centrifugation, the highest specific activities of catalase and D-amino acid oxidase were found in fraction 50 (1.73 M sucrose) with no succinate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase or glucose-6-phosphatase activity. These results suggested that peroxisomes of dog kidney cortex were clearly separated in 1.73 M sucrose from mitochondria, lysosomes and microsomes by zonal centrifugation.     

Properties of the Iranian Isolate of Bermudagrass Etched-line Virus

The Iranian isolate of bermudagrass etched-line virus (BELV-I), purified by low-pH treatment of infected bermudagrass sap followed by several cycles of differential centrifugation and sucrose density-gradient centrifugation, formed two components in density-gradient columns. The top component consisted of empty protein shells. It had a major structural protein of c. 22 kDa and a minor of c. 25 kDa. The weight of the nucleic acid present only in bottom component particles, was calculated to be 1.82 × 10⁶ Da. Only Aconurella prolixa (Leth.) was able to transmit the virus under experimental conditions or contained the virus in natural populations. In ELISA tests the virus titer in the vector increased rapidly between days 14 and 29 after acquisition, results indicating a propagative relationship. BELV-1 was serologically closely related to the Moroccan isolate of BELV, and related to the American but not to the Costa Rican isolate of maize rayado fino virus (MRFV). Several graminaceous species were found to be experimental or natural hosts of the virus.     

Purification and Serology of the Iranian Maize Mosaic Rhabdovirus1)

Leaves of maize infected with the Iranian maize mosaic rhabdovirus (IMMRV) were homogenized in 0.1 M citrate-0.04 M Na₂SO₃ buffer, pH 5.4, containing 10 % sucrose and the extract was subjected to low speed and high speed centrifugation followed by resuspension in 0.05 M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.2, containing 10 % sucrose. Partially purified preparation was obtained by density-gradient centrifugation, removal of the virus zones and their concentration by high speed centrifugation. Two virus specific bands were observed in density-gradient columns. An antiserum with a titer of 128 was prepared by injecting partially purified virus into rabbits. In agar-gel-diffusion tests, the antiserum produced one or two precipitin lines against diseased maize extract but none against healthy maize extract. IMMRV was not related to barley yellow striate mosaic (BYSMV), cereal chlorotic mottle (CCMV), Cynodon chlorotic streak (CCSV), Festuca leaf streak, and maize mosaic (MMV) viruses as well as to two unidentified rhabdoviruses occurring in wheat and Bermuda grass in the vicinity of Shiraz, when these viruses were tested against IMMRV antiserum in agar-gel-diffusion and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Likewise, IMMRV did not react with antisera to BYSMV, CCMV, CCSV and MMV in agar-gel-diffusion tests. IMMRV appears to be different from most reported rhabdoviruses of cereals.     

The subcellular localization of transglutaminase in normal liver and in glucagon-treated and partial hepatectomized rats

Rat liver was homogenized in isotonic sucrose and subjected to analytical subcellular fractionation by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. Transglutaminase, when assayed with putrescine and dimethylcasein as substrates, showed three distinct localizations, cytosol (73%), plasma membrane (20%), and nuclei (7%). The distribution was unaffected by homogenization in the presence of potassium chloride, indicating that the particulate activity was not due to adsorbed cytosolic enzyme. The specific activity and subcellular distribution of transglutaminase in rats which had received intra-peritoneal glucagon, stimulating endocytosis, or which had been subjected to sub-total hepatectomy 2, 16, or 32 h previously, showed no significant difference from control animals.     

The postribosomal particle of rabbit liver contains protein-synthesis factors and serum albumin mRNA

As demonstrated by indirect immunoprecipitation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, an 85S particle separated by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation from the postribosomal pellet of rabbit liver, is able to synthesize serum albumin if supplemented with both ribosomal subunits and sources of energy. It is retained on heparin bound to Sepharose 4B, contains translatable mRNA and apparently all protein factors required for translation. This particle may represent a highly organized protein synthesizing machinery, the combination of which with ribosomes results in formation of new protein molecules.     

Cell membrane isolation from plasmodium ofPhysarum polycephalum

Plasmodia were fractionated to isolate a cell membrane rich fraction by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. The fractions were identified by electron microscopic observation, PTA-chromic acid staining and assays of marker enzymes, applying the methods for cell membranes of higher plants. The cell membranes were recovered on the density of 1.13 g·cm⁻³.     

大鼠海马细胞质膜的分离及其蛋白质组学分析

运用差速离心和连续蔗糖密度梯度离心的方法分离纯化成年大鼠海马组织细胞质膜并用Western blotting对质膜样品进行检测.结果表明,在蔗糖密度梯度离心介质中,膜片主要集中于蔗糖浓度为32%~42%的区段(密度约1.13~1.18),其次是20%~25% (密度约1.08~1.10)的区段.39%(密度约1.17)层面上质膜浓度和纯度最高.一维SDS-PAGE分离和CapLC-MS/MS分析后,通过数据库搜寻从大鼠海马组织细胞质膜样品中共鉴定出135种蛋白质, 其中质膜蛋白和与膜相关的蛋白质共70种(占51.9%), 主要包括Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase、Glutamate/aspartate transporter、Lipophilin、GLAST 1a等. 为研究海马组织细胞的功能和大鼠海马组织细胞质膜蛋白质数据库的建立积累了有价值的资料.     

Intracellular Localization of 2'',3''-Cyclic Nucleotide 3''-Phosphodiesterase in a Neuronal Cell Line as Examined by Immunofluorescence and Cell Fractionation

The enzyme 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase, EC 3.1.4.37) occurs not only in myelin fractions and glial cells, but can also be shown to be present in a CNS cell line of neuronal origin (B104). Direct immunofluorescence microscopy of B104 cells with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated rabbit anti-CNPase antibodies shows a discrete and specific intracytoplasmic location of CNPase. Fractionation of the cells was performed by differential centrifugation of a cell homogenate and continuous sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. As monitored by marker enzyme activities, CNPase seems to be associated with endoplasmic reticulum membranes.     

The distribution of protein-bound N-acetylneuraminic acid in subcellular fractions of rat brain

Protein-bound N-acetylneuraminic acid and hexosamine, including the sialomucopolysaccharides, occur mainly in the least dense particles sedimented in the microsomal fraction from rat whole brain. Particles rich in protein-bound N-acetylneuraminic acid and hexosamine are also found in the subcellular fraction separated as a layer between 0.8m- and 1.2m-sucrose after centrifuging the crude mitochondrial preparation in a density gradient. This distribution is similar to that of the gangliosides and suggests an association of all of these substances in the same subcellular structures. It is postulated that the sialomucopolysaccharides, as well as the gangliosides, are components of cell membranes. Evidence is presented that indicates that there are quantitative differences between distribution of the gangliosides on the one hand, and protein-bound N-acetylneuraminic acid and hexosamine on the other. The ratio of protein-bound N-acetylneuraminic acid (and hexosamine) to gangliosidic N-acetylneuraminic acid (and hexosamine) present in individual subcellular fractions obtained by density-gradient centrifugation tends to increase with increasing particle density. Exposure of the crude mitochondrial fraction to osmotic ;shock' before density-gradient centrifugation causes a shift of the protein-bound N-acetylneuraminic acid and gangliosides to the less dense fractions. In some experiments, a selective shift of the protein-bound N-acetylneuraminic acid was observed.     

Cholesteryl ester hydrolytic acitivity of rat liver plasma membrane.

Cholesteryl ester hydrolyzing activity of rat liver plasma membranes was studied using acetone-dispersed [4-14-C] cholesteryl oleate as substrate. In contrast to whole liver homogenates which displayed ample activity at both acid (4.5) and neutral (6.2-7.4) pH, purified plasma membrane fractions contained little activity at neutral pH as compared to acid pH. Moreover, rate-zonal sucrose density-gradient centrifugation patterns of plasma membrane rich fractions suggested a specific association with plasma membrane only in the case of the acid activity. These findings suggest that in vivo hepatic cell surface membranes contain little or no cholesteryl ester hydrolytic activity at extracellular pH. They support the possibility that plasma lipoprotein cholesteryl esters enter hepatic parenchymal cells prior to hydrolysis.     

Giardia lamblia: localization of hydrolase activities in lysosome-like organelles of trophozoites

Homogenates of Giardia lamblia trophozoites exhibited the following hydrolase activities: acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2), proteinase (EC 3.1.4) with urea-denatured hemoglobin and N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-2-naphthylamide as substrates, deoxyribonuclease (EC 3.1.4.5), and ribonuclease (EC 2.7.7.16). beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30), beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23), beta-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31), alpha-D-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20), beta-D-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21), and beta-D-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) activities were below the level of detection. Differential and isopycnic centrifugation of homogenates demonstrated that giardial hydrolases were localized in a single-particle population sedimenting at 7200g for 30 min. The particles had a buoyant density in sucrose of 1.15 and exhibited latency. Latency was completely destroyed by Triton X-100 or 15 cycles of freezing and thawing. After centrifugation of Triton- or freeze-thaw-treated particle fractions, the hydrolase activities, though no longer latent, were still sedimentable suggesting tight binding to the organelle membrane. Latency was destroyed simultaneously for all hydrolases, in direct proportion to the amount of Triton added to a particle preparation or to the number of times a particle preparation was subjected to freezing and thawing. These results support the suggestion that the hydrolases of G. lamblia trophozoites are localized in a single-particle population of lysosome-like organelles.     

Release of Envelope Glycoprotein from Rabies Virions by a Nonionic Detergent

Treatment of rabies virus with the nonionic detergent Nonidet P-40 resulted in solubilization of viral lipids and in a preferential release of the envelope glycoprotein. The other viral proteins and the viral ribonucleic acid remained associated in "core" particles sedimenting at a rate similar to that of intact virions. After fractionation of treated virus by velocity centrifugation in a sucrose density gradient, the amount of residual glycoprotein recovered in the "core" particle fraction and the extent of contamination of the glycoprotein fraction by other viral components were dependent on the ratio of detergent to viral protein used.     

FLUID SPACES OF SYNAPTOSOME BEDS

—The fluid spaces of synaptosome beds were estimated by vol. measurement and also by a combination of chemical and enzymic analyses. The extra-synaptosomal space of the beds was concluded to be about 80 per cent of their total vol. Beds prepared by conventional techniques after sucrose density-gradient centrifugation were found to contain 0-08 M-sucrose within the synaptosomes.     

Strong ionic interactions between mucins and two basic proteins, mucus proteinase inhibitor and lysozyme, in human bronchial secretions.

1. Mucins were isolated from sputum from a patient with chronic bronchitis and subjected to two different preparation procedures. 2. In the first procedure, CsBr density-gradient centrifugation gave rise to two well-separated fractions. Mucins recovered in the high-density fraction still contained mucus proteinase inhibitor (MPI) and lysozyme (LSZ). 3. Mucins were purified after a second step of CsBr density-gradient centrifugation or after gel-filtration chromatography with a buffer of high ionic strength, containing 0.5 M NaCl. 4. In the second procedure, trichloroacetic acid treatment of whole sputum followed by cation-exchange chromatography allowed the obtention of a non-retained fraction composed of mucins. 5. Gel-filtration in buffer containing 0.5 M NaCl, allowed the release of MPI and LSZ from mucins, thus confirming that interactions still occurred between those components. 6. The chemical compositions of the mucins isolated by the two above procedures were quite similar. 7. These data support the hypothesis of the existence of ionic interactions between basic amino acid residues of MPI and LSZ and acid residues of the carbohydrate chains of mucins in the secretions of the large airways. 8. These interactions could play a role in the protection of mucins against proteolysis and consequently in the maintenance of rheological properties of the mucus gel in disease.     

Only trace amounts of fatty acids are found in pure mucus glycoproteins

The presence of noncovalently associated lipids and covalently bound fatty acids was investigated in preparations of mucus glycoproteins obtained by using density-gradient centrifugation in CsCl/guanidinium chloride. No phospholipids, glycolipids, cholesterol, or triglycerides could be detected. However, small amounts of extractable fatty acids were consistently found, the sum of which ranged from 0.3 to 0.9 micrograms/mg of glycoprotein. The amount of fatty acid released after subsequent treatment with KOH ranged from 0 to 27 ng/mg of glycoprotein. We conclude that density-gradient centrifugation in CsCl/guanidinium chloride is very efficient in removing noncovalently associated lipids from mucus glycoproteins and that covalently bound fatty acids are probably not present in the macromolecules.     

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF LYSOSOME-RICH FRACTIONS FROM RAT THYMUS ISOLATED BY DENSITY-GRADIENT CENTRIFUGATION BEFORE AND AFTER WHOLE-BODY X-IRRADIATION

Fractions from rat thymuses were isolated by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation, before and after 1000 r whole-body x-irradiation, and examined by electron microscopy. Cytochrome oxidase and acid phosphatase activities of these fractions were tested as well. Electron-opaque bodies with diameters ranging from 0.10 to 0.35 µ, with a mean of 0.25 µ, were found in fractions having high acid phosphatase activity, while the fractions rich in cytochrome oxidase consisted mostly of mitochondria. After irradiation, there was an increased ratio of dense bodies to mitochondria. These particles are considered to be lysosomes similar to those identified in other rat tissues. Their relationship to the mitochondria is discussed.     

Base composition of deoxyribonucleic acid of the temperature-sensitive kanamycin-resistant R factor, Rts1

The buoyant density of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from the temperature-sensitive R factor, Rts1, was determined by CsCl density-gradient centrifugation. Rts1 was found to consist of a single species of DNA of density 1.705 g/cm(3), which corresponds to a base composition of 45% guanine plus cytosine. This value is distinct from the densities previously reported for other R factors, suggesting that Rts1 represents a new molecular class of R factors.     

Laminin binding protein, 34/67 laminin receptor, carries stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 epitope defined by monoclonal antibody Raft.2

We previously produced monoclonal antibodies against the detergent-insoluble microdomain, i.e., the raft microdomain, of the human renal cancer cell line ACHN. Raft.2, one of these monoclonal antibodies, recognizes sialosyl globopentaosylceramide, which has the stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-4 epitope. Although the mouse embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell line F9 does not express SSEA-4, some F9 cells stained with Raft.2. Western analysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry identified the Raft.2 binding molecule as laminin binding protein (LBP), i.e., 34/67 laminin receptor. Weak acid treatment or digestion with Clostridium perfringens sialidase reduced Raft.2 binding to LBP on nitrocellulose sheets and [(14)C]galactose was incorporated into LBP, indicating LBP to have a sialylated carbohydrate moiety. Subcellular localization analysis by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation and examination by confocal microscopy revealed LBP to be localized on the outer surface of the plasma membrane. An SSEA-4-positive human EC cell line, NCR-G3 cells, also expressed Raft.2-binding LBP.     

The isolation of endoplasmic reticulum from barley aleurone layers

Techniques for the isolation and purification of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) from aleurone layers of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were assessed. Neither differential centrifugation nor density gradient centrifugation of a homogenate separate the ER or other organelles of this tissue from the lipidcontaining spherosomes. Isopycnic sucrose gradient centrifugation of organelles first purified by molecular sieve chromatography on Sepharose 4B, however, results in separation of the organelles based on their differing buoyant densities. Manipulation of the magnesium concentration of the isolation media and density-gradient solutions affords isolation of ER at a density of 1.13–1.14 g cc^-1 and 1.17–1.18 g cc^-1. Electron microscopy shows that the membranes sedimenting at 1.13–1.14 g cc^-1 are devoid of ribosomes and are characteristic of smooth ER, while those sedimenting at 1.17–1.18 g cc^-1 are studded with ribosomes and have the features of rough ER. Endoplasmic reticulum isolated by isopycnic density gradient centrifugation can be further purified by rate-zonal centrifugation.Abbreviations EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - ER endoplasmic reticulum - GA gibberellin - GA₃ gibberellic acid - Trizma tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane     

Lipids of plasma membrane and outer acrosomal membrane from bovine spermatozoa

Plasma membrane (PM), primarily from the anterior sperm head, and outer acrosomal membrane (OAM), were isolated from ejaculated bovine spermatozoa, and the major lipid classes were characterized. Whole sperm (WS) lipids were analyzed for comparison. PM was removed by nitrogen cavitation and purified by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. The OAM was removed by centrifugation through hyperosmotic sucrose and recovered by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. The PM contained primarily spherical vesicles from the region overlying the OAM and was enriched 9- and 13-fold in 5'-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase activity, respectively, compared to the original cavitate. The OAM was recovered as caplike structures with associated ground substance. Protein, phospholipid, and cholesterol (PR, PL, and CH as micrograms/5 x 10(9) sperm) were 300, 467, and 93 for PM and 276, 111, and 25 for OAM, respectively. Corresponding values for WS (mg/5 x 10(9) sperm) were 31.4, 6.63, and 0.72. The PR/PL (w/w) and CH/PL (mol/mol) ratios were 0.66 and 0.38 for PM; 2.48 and 0.26 for OAM; and 4.39 and 0.22 for WS. Cholesterol was the only free sterol detected by gas/liquid chromatography in WS, PM, and OAM, with traces of CH sulfate present in all three preparations. Glycolipid tentatively identified as sulfogalactolipid was detected by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in PM but not OAM. Phospholipid composition of WS and membranes was determined by TLC. Cardiolipin (3% of total PL) was present in WS only. Choline, ethanolamine, and inositol phosphoglycerides (CP, EP, PI, PIP, PIPP); sphingomyelin (SP); phosphatidylserine (PS); and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) were present in WS, PM, and OAM. Approximately 50% of total PL was CP in all preparations; SP was 13% of PL in PM and 17% in OAM (p less than 0.05); EP was 7% of PL in PM and 10% in OAM (p less than 0.05). The differences in composition between PM and OAM is discussed with respect to capacitation and ability of sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction.