Effect of detergents on the enzyme activities of the rat liver plasma membrane

The anionic detergents sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Alipal CO-433 and the non-ionic detergent Trition X-100 at concentrations of 0.02–0.10% cause a more rapid solubilization of phospholipid than proteins in isolated rat liver plasma membranes. All three detergents cause an increase in membrane turbidity at low detergent concentration (0.01–0.04%) but then decrease the turbidity at higher detergent concentration (0.04–0.10%). Each detergent gives a characteristic turbidity-detergent concentration profile which is pH dependent.The activities of the membrane-bound enzymes Mg²⁺ ATPase, 5′-nucleotidase and acid and aklaline phosphatase were influenced by each detergent to a different extent. Each enzyme gave a characteristic activity-detergent concentration profile. Mg²⁺ ATPase was inhibited by all detergents. 5′-Nucleotidase was stimulated by Triton and Alipal but inhibited by SDS. Alkaline phosphatase was stimulated by Alipal and SDS and not influenced by Triton. Acid phosphatase was stimulated by Triton and inhibited by Alipal and SDS. 56% of the total membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase and 23% of the total membrane-bound 5′-nucleotidase was solubilized in an active form by 0.06% and 0.05% SDS respectively.     

Distribution of liver plasma membrane 5' nucleotidase as indicated by its reaction with anti-plasma membrane serum

Antiserum against mouse liver plasma membranes was used to investigate the properties and distribution of the surface membrane enzyme 5′ nucleotidase.The antiserum inhibited 5′ nucleotidase but had no effect on alkaline phosphodiesterase, nucleotide pyrophosphatase, or insulin-binding activity.5′ Nucleotidase was purified from mouse liver plasma membranes and the purified enzyme was shown to be inhibited by the antiserum. The membrane-bound and the purified enzyme were both inhibited in a noncompetitive manner.The reaction of the antiserum with 5′ nucleotidase activity of mouse liver plasma membrane “light” and “heavy” subfractions, and of rat liver and pig lymphocyte surface-membrane fractions was investigated. In each case the enzyme was inhibited by the antiserum.Since a protein must be partially exposed on the membrane surface in order to react with its antibody, the results are discussed in terms of the disposition of 5′ nucleotidase within the membrane.     

Partial purification and characterization of phosphatidic acid-specific phospholipase A1 in porcine platelet membranes

We have shown previously that the phospholipase A (PLA) activity specific for phosphatidic acid (PA) in porcine platelet membranes is of the A₁ type (PA-PLA₁) [J. Biol. Chem. 259 (1984) 5083]. In the present study, the PA-PLA₁ was solubilized in Triton X-100 from membranes pre-treated with 1 M NaCl, and purified 280-fold from platelet homogenates by sequential chromatography on blue-Toyopearl, red-Toyopearl, DEAE-Toyopearl, green-agarose, brown-agarose, polylysine-agarose, palmitoyl-CoA-agarose and blue-5PW columns. In the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100 in the assay mixture, the partially purified enzyme hydrolyzed the acyl group from the sn-1 position of PA independently of Ca²⁺ and was highly specific for PA; phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylinositol (PI) were poor substrates. The enzyme exhibited lysophospholipase activity for l-acyl-lysoPA at 7% of the activity for PA hydrolysis but no lipase activity was observed for triacylglycerol (TG) and diacylglycerol (DG). At 0.025% Triton X-100, the enzyme exhibited the highest activity, and PA was the best substrate, but PE was also hydrolyzed substantially. The partially purified PA-PLA₁ in porcine platelet membranes was shown to be different from previously purified and cloned phospholipases and lipases by comparing the sensitivities to a reducing agent, a serine-esterase inhibitor, a PLA₂ inhibitor, a Ca²⁺-independent phospholipase A₂ inhibitor, and a DG lipase inhibitor.     

Purification and Properties of UDP-GlcNAc:Dolichyl-Pyrophosphoryl-GlcNAc GlcNAc Transferase from Mung Bean Seedling

The N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) transferase that catalyzes the formation of dolichyl-pyrophosphoryl-GlcNAc-GlcNAc from UDP-GlcNAc and dolichyl-pyrophosphoryl-GlcNAc was solubilized from the microsomal enzyme fraction of mung beans with 1.5% Triton X-100, and was purified 140-fold on columns of DE-52 and hydroxylapatite. The partially purified enzyme preparation was quite stable when stored in 20% glycerol and 0.5 millimolar dithiothreitol, and was free of GlcNAc-1-P transferase and mannosyl transferases. The GlcNAc transferase had a sharp pH optimum of 7.4 to 7.6 and the K_m for dolichyl-pyrophosphoryl-GlcNAc was 2.2 micromolar and that for UDP-GlcNAc, 0.25 micromolar. The enzyme showed a strong requirement for the detergent Triton X-100 and was stimulated somewhat by the divalent cation Mg²⁺. Uridine nucleotides, especially UDP and UDP-glucose inhibited the enzyme as did the antibiotic, diumycin. However, a variety of other antibiotics including tunicamycin were without effect. The product of the reaction was characterized as dolichyl-pyrophosphoryl-GlcNAc-GlcNAc.     

Isolation of a detergent-solubilized maltase/glucoamylase from rat intestine and its comparison with a maltase/glucoamylase solubilized by papain

Maltase/glucoamylase from the rat intestinal brush-border membrane was solubilized by homogenization of the intestinal mucosa in buffer containing 0.5% Triton X-100. After removal of the detergent with butan-1-ol, the enzyme was purified by chromatography on Sepharose 4B and DEAE-cellulose. The final specific activity was 70.3 units/mg of protein in six preparations, comparing favourably with the specific activity of 65.0 units/mg of protein of a pure papain-solubilized maltase/glucoamylase previously isolated and characterized by us [Flanagan & Forstner (1978) Biochem. J. 173, 553–563]. The two enzymes were compared. Both migrated as single bands with the same mobility on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, were eluted at the same volume from Sepharose 4B, and had the same sedimentation pattern in mannitol gradients. The amino acid composition was similar; content of total apolar residues differed by 1.0mol%. Antibodies prepared against either enzyme gave identical precipitin lines with each. Neither enzyme bound tritiated Triton X-100. The only difference noted was the tendency of the detergent-solubilized enzyme to aggregate on storage, whereas the papain-solubilized enzyme remained unchanged. Both enzymes had two N-termini, glycine and arginine. When the two enzymes were dissociated by boiling in sodium dodecyl sulphate, each exhibited the same five species on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Single N-termini were found in the two smaller species, 1 (glycine) and 2 (arginine), whereas larger species (3–5) had both N-terminal amino acids. Both the Triton- and papain-solubilized enzymes appear to be oligomers of species 1 and 2, indicating that the native enzyme contains two subunit types. Aggregation in aqueous solutions does not depend on a proteolytically susceptible peptide fragment at the N-terminus of either subunit.     

Presence of a thiol protease in regenerating rat-liver nuclei. Partial purification and some properties

1. Nuclei of regenerating rat liver washed with Triton X-100 were found to contain a new protease. Since the enzymatic activity for degrading ribosomal proteins was inhibited in vivo by administration of E-64, a thiol protease inhibitor, the enzyme may participate in the degradation of newly synthesized ribosomal proteins and histones in regenerating rat liver nuclei as reported previously by us [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 75, 525-531 (1077)]. The optimum pH was 5.5. 2. The enzyme was extracted from washed nuclei and partially purified by gel filtration through Sepharose 6B. Its molecular weight was about 40 000. A maximal activity of partially purified enzyme was observed in the presence of 1 mM EDTA and 2 mM dithiothreitol at pH 5.5 It was inhibited by thio reagents, E-64, leupeptin and hevy metal ions. The enzyme degraded ribosomal proteins endoproteolytically and degraded most proteins tested as substrates, although liver cell sap proteins and serum albumin were less degraded than ribosomal proteins and histones, alpha-N-Benzoylarginine-beta-naphthylamide and benzoylarginine amide were not hydrolyzed.     

Topographical localization and characterization of microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase binding sites accessible to 4,4'-diazidostilbene 2,2'-disulfonic acid

The effect of the photoactivated reagent 4,4'-diazidostilbene 2,2'-disulfonic acid (DASS) on rat liver microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase has been investigated in order to analyze the accessibility and the chemical nature of functional sites of the integral enzyme protein. The following results were obtained. (i) When native rat liver microsomes are irradiated with the photoactive reagent, the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase is progressively inhibited. However, complete reactivation is obtained by modification of the DASS-labeled microsomes with Triton X-114. (ii) Inhibition of glucose-6-phosphatase is also reversed when the DASS-labeled microsomes are treated with p-mercuribenzoate or dithiothreitol. (iii) When native microsomes are labeled with DASS an intensely fluorescent adduct is formed whose emission and excitation maximum corresponds with those obtained when cysteine or 3-mercaptopropionic acid are irradiated in the presence of the photolabile reagent. (iv) The data from fluorescence measurements show that p-mercuribenzoate and dithiothreitol reduce fluorescence labeling of the microsomes whereas Triton modification of the DASS-labeled membranes does not affect the DASS-induced fluorescence. (v) Glucose 6-phosphate hydrolysis of the partially purified glucose-6-phosphatase is also inhibited as observed with native microsomes. The DASS-induced inhibition is reversed and prevented by p-mercuribenzoate; however, the partially purified enzyme cannot be reactivated by Triton X-114. (vi) When glucose-6-phosphatase is partially purified from the DASS-labeled microsomes this enzyme preparation is fluorescence labeled and inhibited. From these results we conclude that DASS directly reacts with the integral phosphohydrolase mainly by chemical modification of essential sulfhydryl groups of the enzyme protein accessible from the cytoplasmic surface of the native microsomal membrane. The Triton-induced reactivation of the glucose-6-phosphatase of DASS-labeled microsomes is explained in terms of conformational changes of the integral protein elicited during modification of the surrounding membrane by detergent.     

Partial purification and characterization of lathosterol 5-desaturase from rat liver microsomes

The terminal oxidase of the NADH-dependent lathosterol 5-desaturation system was solubilized from rat liver microsomes with 2% Triton X-100, and partially purified approximately 18-fold with 19% yield after DEAE-cellulose and 6-aminohexyl-Sepharose column chromatography. The final enzyme preparation was free from other electron transfer components and phospholipids in microsomes, and the desaturation reaction was reconstituted with the following components: NADH, molecular oxygen, phospholipids and three proteins, i.e., NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, cytochrome b5 and the terminal oxidase. Omission of one of these components led to an almost complete loss of the desaturase activity. Under the reconstitution conditions, the desaturase activity was significantly inhibited by potassium cyanide but was not affected by -SH reagents such as N-ethylmaleimide and dithiothreitol.     

Localization of adenylate cyclase in Dictyostelium discoideum. I. Preparation and biochemical characterizations of cell fractions and isolated plasma membrane vesicles.

A difference in the organization of adenylate cyclase and 3′5′-cyclic phosphodiesterase in isolated plasma membranes was observed. Observation of this difference was made possible by the development of a new technique for the lysis of Dictyostelium discoideum using the polyene antibiotic amphotericin B. A particulate fraction prepared from the cell lysate contains adenylate cyclase, 3′5′-cyclic phosphodiesterase and 5′-nucleotidase. The yield of adenylate cyclase is 40% higher than in paniculate fractions prepared from cells lysed by sonication or with Triton X-100. Purification of the particulate fraction on discontinuous sucrose gradient completely separates membranes from mitochondria and other cellular material as shown by electron microscopic analysis of different fractions. Biochemical characterization of the purified membrane fraction shows it contains adenylate cyclase, 3′5′-cyclic phosphodiesterase and 5′-nucleotidase activities while electron microscopic analysis shows a vesicular morphology. Additional studies on the purified membranes used Triton X-100, trypsin and phospholipase C to probe the relationship between membrane structural elements and enzymatic activities. The results of these studies show distinct differences in the organization of each enzyme molecule within the membrane.     

Enhancement and inhibition of enzymes of heme metabolism by diethyl maleate in the rat kidney

The acylation of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate with palmityl-CoA was compared in mitochondria and microsomes isolated from rat liver. Polymyxin B, an antibiotic known to alter bacterial membrane structure, stimulated the mitochondrial glycerophosphate acyltransferase but inhibited the microsomal enzyme. When mitochondrial and microsomal fractions were incubated at 4–6 °C for up to 4 h, the mitochondrial enzyme remained virtually unchanged while the microsomal enzyme lost about one-half of its activity. Incubations at higher temperatures also revealed that the mitochondrial enzyme was comparatively more stable under the conditions employed. The mitochondrial acyltransferase showed no sensitivity to bromelain, papain, Pronase, and trypsin, all of which strongly inhibited the microsomal enzyme. The differential sensitivity to trypsin was observed in mitochondria and microsomes isolated from other rat organs. However, the liver mitochondrial glycerophosphate acyltransferase was inhibited by trypsin in the presence of either 0.05% deoxycholate or 0.1% Triton X-100. The trypsin sensitivity of the mitochondrial glycerophosphate acyltransferase in the presence of detergent was not due to the presence, in the mitochondrial fraction, of a trypsin inhibitor which became inactivated by Triton X-100 or deoxycholate. The results suggest that the catalytic site of mitochondrial glycerophosphate acyltransferase is not exposed to the cytosolic side and it is located in the inner aspect of the outer membrane.     

Role of a partially purified glutathione S-transferase from rat liver nuclei in the inhibition of nuclear lipid peroxidation

Glutathione protects isolated rat liver nuclei against lipid peroxidation by inducing a lag period prior to the onset of peroxidation. This GSH-dependent protection was abolished by exposing isolated nuclei to the glutathione S-transferase inhibitor S-octylglutathione. In incubations containing 0.2 mM S-octylglutathione, the GSH-induced lag period was reduced from 30 to 5 min. S-Octylglutathione (0.2 mM) also completely inhibited nuclear glutathione S-transferase activity and reduced glutathione peroxidase activity by 85%. About 70% of the glutathione S-transferase activity associated with isolated nuclei was solubilized with 0.3% Triton X-100. This solubilized glutathione S-transferase activity was partially purified by utilizing a S-hexylglutathione affinity column. The partially purified nuclear glutathione S-transferase exhibited glutathione peroxidase activity towards lipid hydroperoxides in solution. The data from the present study indicate that a glutathione S-transferase associated with the nucleus may contribute to glutathione-dependent protection of isolated nuclei against lipid peroxidation. Evidence was obtained which indicates that this enzyme is distinct from the microsomal glutathione S-transferase.     

CTP:phosphorylcholine cytidylyltransferase from rat liver. Isolation and characterization of the catalytic subunit

We reported previously the purification of CTP:phosphorylcholine cytidylyltransferase from rat liver (Weinhold, P. A., Rounsifer, M. E., and Feldman, D. A. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 5104-5110). The purified enzyme appeared to contain equal amounts of two nonidentical proteins, with Mr of about 38,000 and 45,000. We have now separated and purified these proteins. Polyacrylamide electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate indicated that each protein was homogeneous. The 45,000 protein contained the catalytic activity. Analysis by gel filtration chromatography and glycerol gradient centrifugation indicated that the 38,000 and 45,000 proteins in the purified cytidylyltransferase were independently associated with Triton X-100 micelles. The apparent Mr of the complexes suggested that a tetramer of each protein was bound to one Triton X-100 micelle. The isolated 45,000 catalytic protein had the same lipid requirement and kinetic properties as the purified cytidylyltransferase containing both proteins. Enzyme activity was stimulated to maximal values by phosphatidylcholine vesicles containing 9 mol % of either oleic acid, phosphatidylinositol, or phosphatidylglycerol. The amino acid compositions of the isolated 38,000 and 45,000 proteins were distinctly different. Overall, the results suggested that a tetramer of the 45,000 protein possessed nearly optimal catalytic activity. A functional role of the 38,000 protein as part of a cytidylyltransferase enzyme complex could not be documented. However, the need for stabilizing concentrations of Triton X-100 in the purified enzyme preparation may have prevented the association of the two proteins.     

Extraction and detergent/lipid activation of dolichol kinase

The CTP-dependent dolichol kinase from bovine liver microsomes was optimally extracted using either 0.5% sodium deoxycholate or 0.5% Triton X-100 containing 0.5 M NH4Cl. All activity was found in the supernatant fraction following high-speed centrifugation. This fraction was depleted of phospholipid (phospholipid remaining, less than 5% of total) by gel chromatography of the 0.5% deoxycholate extract. This partially purified enzyme was maximally activated 9- or 53-fold over controls in the presence of 0.1% deoxycholate or 0.1% Triton X-100, respectively. Stimulation of the kinase was also observed with mixtures of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate. The level of stimulation by these mixtures was up to 20-fold higher than that observed in controls having deoxycholate alone. Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine alone was not stimulatory. A 1:1 molar ratio of Triton X-100 or deoxycholate to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine was optimal for enzyme activation. The half-maximum velocity of the dephospholipidated enzyme at 1:1 molar ratio of detergent to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine was obtained at 150 or 550 microM CTP in the presence of deoxycholate or Triton X-100, respectively. It has been observed, therefore, that dolichol kinase may be extracted from liver microsomes, depleted of endogenous phospholipids and activated by specific molar ratios of detergent to phospholipid.     

Characterization of rat and human steroid sulfatases

Rat and human steroid sulfatases were purified from liver and placenta, respectively, by the same procedure. The rat and human enzymes were solubilized with Triton X-100, and purified by immunoaffinity chromatography with a monoclonal antibody showing high binding activities to both the enzymes. They were further purified by high-pressure anion-exchange chromatography to compare their structural and catalytic properties. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that both enzymes had a molecular weight of 62,000. The enzymes had similar amino acid compositions and amino-terminal amino acid sequences. Significant differences of the optimum pH, Michaelis constant and maximum velocity were observed between these enzymes. The optimum pH of each enzyme varied from 6.0 to 8.0, depending on substrates and with or without Triton X-100. In detergent-free media, steroid sulfates competitively inhibited the ability of these enzymes to hydrolyze 4-nitrophenyl sulfate. In media containing Triton X-100, on the other hand, the inhibition types of the steroid sulfates on the hydrolyzing activities of the rat and human enzymes were noncompetitive- and mixed-types, respectively.     

Properties of a Partially Purified Nucleoside Triphosphatase (NTPase) from the Chloroplast Envelope of Pea

The Mg-nucleoside triphosphatase activity associated with the inner envelope membrane of the pea chloroplast is comprised of at least two components, a major activity that is sensitive to vanadate and sodium fluoride and a minor insensitive activity. The vanadate/fluoride sensitive activity has been partially purified (about 35-fold) from Triton X-100 solubilized membranes by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The partially purified enzyme resembles the membrane-bound activity in requiring either Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺, having a broad specificity for nucleoside triphosphates, having a K_m for ATP of 0.18 millimolar, and being inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, but insensitive to sodium azide and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The partially purified enzyme obtained after sucrose gradient centrifugation has a markedly increased sensitivity to inhibition by inorganic pyrophosphate compared with the less pure enzyme. Pyrophosphate is not a substrate of either the membrane-bound or partially purified enzyme.     

Partial purification and characterization of phosphatidic acid-specific phospholipase A(1) in porcine platelet membranes

We have shown previously that the phospholipase A (PLA) activity specific for phosphatidic acid (PA) in porcine platelet membranes is of the A(1) type (PA-PLA(1)) [J. Biol. Chem. 259 (1984) 5083]. In the present study, the PA-PLA(1) was solubilized in Triton X-100 from membranes pre-treated with 1 M NaCl, and purified 280-fold from platelet homogenates by sequential chromatography on blue-Toyopearl, red-Toyopearl, DEAE-Toyopearl, green-agarose, brown-agarose, polylysine-agarose, palmitoyl-CoA-agarose and blue-5PW columns. In the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100 in the assay mixture, the partially purified enzyme hydrolyzed the acyl group from the sn-1 position of PA independently of Ca(2+) and was highly specific for PA; phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylinositol (PI) were poor substrates. The enzyme exhibited lysophospholipase activity for l-acyl-lysoPA at 7% of the activity for PA hydrolysis but no lipase activity was observed for triacylglycerol (TG) and diacylglycerol (DG). At 0.025% Triton X-100, the enzyme exhibited the highest activity, and PA was the best substrate, but PE was also hydrolyzed substantially. The partially purified PA-PLA(1) in porcine platelet membranes was shown to be different from previously purified and cloned phospholipases and lipases by comparing the sensitivities to a reducing agent, a serine-esterase inhibitor, a PLA(2) inhibitor, a Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, and a DG lipase inhibitor.     

5′-Nucleotidases of retinal rod membranes

5′-Nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) was solubilized from rod membranes with Ammonyx LO and purified by chromatographic methods. A highly sensitive radioassay was developed. The purified enzyme behaved as a homogeneous protein of 75,000 daltons in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and as a protein of 79,000 in gel filtration. Thus, the enzyme does not contain subunits. The K_m values obtained were 1.3 μm for 5′-AMP and 2.3 μm for 5′-GMP. The enzyme was inhibited by concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin, and Ricinus communis agglutinin. Rabbit muscle G-actin formed a complex with the enzyme and inhibited its activity. The catalytic site of the enzyme was localized on the internal surface of the disk which, in terms of membrane sidedness, corresponds to the cell surface. A soluble 5′-nucleotidase was extracted from rod membranes with Tris buffer (pH 8.0) containing EGTA in the dark; less enzyme was extracted if the membranes had been exposed to light or incubated with Ca²⁺. The extracted enzyme was partially purified. The enzyme was unstable and lost 50% of its activity in 3 days at 3 °C. The K_m values were 1.3 μm for 5′-AMP and 2.3 μm for 5′-GMP. The enzyme was inhibited by G-actin. A role for the soluble enzyme in the regulation of 5′-GMP in the rod outer segment was suggested.     

Guanosine triphosphate and colchicine affect the activity and the polymeric state of acetyl-CoA carboxylase

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase was purified 300-fold from rat liver, in the absence of added citrate, by precipitation from an 18,000g supernatant in the presence of Triton X-100 at 105,000g and 20 °C, followed by chromatography on phosphocellulose. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity in this preparation was activated by preincubation with GTP (0.1–2.0 mm) and with citrate (20 mm). Colchicine (10^?6–10^?3m) inhibited enzyme activity and counteracted the effects of GTP and citrate. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation demonstrated that GTP and citrate preincubation promoted the formation of the polymeric, active enzyme, while colchicine engendered disassembly. Preincubation of the purified acetyl-CoA carboxylase at 4 °C caused inactivation and disassembly, which was countered by preincubation at 37 °C in the presence of GTP or citrate. These results suggest that GTP, like citrate, activates acetyl-CoA carboxylase by enhancing the conversion of the protomeric form of the enzyme to its more active, polymeric state.     

Purification and partial characterization of squalene epoxidase from rat liver microsomes

Squalene epoxidase (EC 1.14.99.7, squalene 2,3-monooxygenase (epoxidizing) was purified to an apparent homogeneity from rat liver microsomes. The purification was carried out by solubilization of microsomes by Triton X-100, fractionation with ion exchangers, hydroxyapatite, Cibacron Blue Sepharose 4B, and chromatofocusing column chromatography. A total purification of 143-fold over the first DEAE-cellulose fraction was achieved. The purified enzyme gave a single major band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the Mr was estimated to be 51 000 as a single polypeptide chain. The enzyme showed no distinct absorption spectrum in the visible regions. The squalene epoxidase activity was reconstituted with the purified enzyme, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase (EC 1.6.2.4), FAD, NADPH and molecular oxygen in the presence of Triton X-100. The apparent Michaelis constants for squalene and FAD were 13 microM and 5 microM, respectively. The Vmax was about 186 nmol per mg protein per 30 min for 2,3-oxidosqualene. The enzyme activity was not inhibited by potent inhibitors of cytochrome P-450. It is suggested that squalene epoxidase is distinct from cytochrome P-450 isozymes.     

A neutral proteinase of monkey liver microsomes. Solubilization, partial purification, and properties.

Conditions for the solubilization of membrane-bound neutral proteinase associated with monkey liver microsomes were investigated. Among the reagents tested, deoxycholate, cholate, and some nonionic detergents, including Triton X-100, with hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values of around 13, were effective. The solubilization profile indicated that the enzyme is bound to the microsomal membranes by strong hydrophobic interaction. The enzyme was partially purified from monkey liver microsomal fraction, previously washed with 1 M KCl and 0.05% sodium dodecyl sulfate, by Triton X-100 extraction, followed by chromatography on columns of hydroxylapatite and Sepharose CL-6B. The apparent molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be about 88,000 from the elution position on Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography in the presence of 0.5% sodium cholate. It was optimally active at pH 8.0 with heat-denatured casein as a substrate. It was strongly inhibited by diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, indicating that the enzyme is a serine proteinase. EDTA, EGTA, and chymostatin also inhibited the enzyme strongly. Among urea-denatured protein substrates tested, calf thymus histone was hydrolyzed most rapidly, followed by casein, hemoglobin, and bovine serum albumin, whereas practically no hydrolysis occurred with denatured ovalbumin, fibrinogen, and gamma-globulin as substrates.