Ribosomes of Physarum polycephalum. Subunits and protein composition.

Ribosomes from Physarum polycephalum were purified. Optimal conditions for preparation and stability of subunits were determined. KCl concentration above 200 mM induced protein dissociation from the subunits. It was observed that dissociated ribosomes were more stable in a low ionic strength buffer than in 200 mM KCl, where the 40 S was preferentially degraded by ribonucleases. Ribosomal proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The first dimension was carried out at pH 8.6 while the second was run at pH 4.6. The monosome contained sixty seven proteins, of which six were acidic. Two proteins were lost after subunit dissociation. Twenty six basic and two acidic proteins were observed in the 40 S subunit while the largest subunit gave thirty nine spots on the basic part of the gel and three additional spots on the acidic side. Five proteins were shared by 40 S and 60 S.     

SURFACE CHARGE OF CHOLINE ACETYLTRANSFERASE FROM DIFFERENT SPECIES

—The adsorption of partially purified choline acetyltransferase (ChAc) from cat, rat, guinea-pig and pigeon brains by the cation exchange resins, CM-Sephadex (C-50) and Amberlite CG-50 II, was studied at various pH values and ionic strengths. ChAc from cat and rat were more strongly adsorbed by cation exchangers and therefore have a stronger net positive surface charge than those from guinea pig and pigeon. Experiments showed that the difference in adsorption between these two groups of enzymes could not be explained by overloading of the resin, by competitive effect of other proteins present in the enzyme preparations or by the presence of any component suppressing the adsorption of ChAc in any of the enzyme preparations. The adsorption of ChAc by a cation exchanger is very similar to its binding to synaptosome membranes. The significance of the positive surface charge of ChAc in studies on the compartmentation of ChAc in synaptosomes is discussed.     

Purification and characterisation of alpha-L-fucosidase from human placenta. pH-dependent changes in molecular size.

alpha-L-Fucosidase has been purified 12 000 fold from human placenta. The enzyme is a glycoprotein containing, by weight: 0.9% galactose; 1.9% mannose, 1.9% N-acetylglucosamine and 1.9% N-acetylneuraminic acid. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate separated proteins with molecular weights ot 55 000, 51 400 and 25 000. Resolution of the two larger protein bands varied with the gel system and these proteins may differ only in carbohydrate content. Gel filtration of te purified enzyme failed to separate the three proteins. Treatments with the cross-linking reagent dimethyl suberimidate prior to electrophoresis, resulted in a diminution of the original protein bands and the formation of oligomers with molecular weights of 80 000, 100 000, 130 000, and 144 000. These results suggest that the heavy (55 000 and 51 400) and light (25 000) proteins are structurally associated. The molecular weight of the native enzyme, measured by gel filtration, was dependent on the pH of the eluting buffer. At pH 5.0 or 6.0 a catalytically active peak was observed, with a molecular weight of 305 000. At pH 7.5 this peak was completely absent and the enzyme eluted as an asymmetrical peak with an apparent molecular weight of about 60 000. The reduction in apparent molecular weight at pH 7.5 was reversible by dialysis of isolated fractions at pH 6.0. In agreement with these findings the sedimentation coefficient was 8.5 S at pH 5.0 but only 3.6 S at pH 7.5. The results can be accounted for by the existence of a pH-dependent equilibrium between aggregated and dissociated forms of the enzyme or by pH-depedent conformational changes.     

SEPARATION OF APPARENT MULTIPLE FORMS OF HUMAN BRAIN CHOLINE ACETYLTRANSFERASE BY ISOELECTRIC FOCUSING

Abstract— Choline acetyltransferase (acetyl-CoA: choline O -acetyl transferase; EC 2.3.1.6; ChAc) purified from human brain (basal ganglia) and sciatic nerve were separated into apparent multiple enzyme forms by the method of isoelectric focusing (pH gradient 3-10) on acrylamide gel. A preparative separation of enzyme forms of human brain was accomplished by the column method, by using a sucrose gradient. When each separated form was re-electrofocused, only a portion of the ChAc activity was observed in its original pH region while more than one-half of the recovered activity for each fraction appeared at pH 7.8-8. Gel filtration and kinetic studies of separated forms indicated that the more acidic forms might be aggregates, while more basic forms might be configurational isomers. Human ChAc of sciatic nerve did not exhibit acidic forms on electrofocusing, but otherwise yielded an electrofocusing profile similar to that of human brain. ChAc of rabbit brain and sciatic nerve each exhibited only a single form at pH 7.1 ± 0.2. Although ChAc differs among species, the enzyme of brain and sciatic nerve of the same species cannot be clearly distinguished by electrofocusing.     

Chromatographic behavior of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase and its subunits from Dictyostelium discoideum

An adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) dependent protein kinase has recently been shown to exist in Dictyostelium discoideum and to be developmentally regulated. In this report we have followed the chromatographic behavior of both the holoenzyme and its subunits. A cAMP-dependent holoenzyme could be obtained from the 100000 g soluble fraction after passage through DE-52 cellulose (pH 7.5) and Sephacryl S300. Under conditions of low pH the holoenzyme could be further purified by flat-bed electrofocusing (pI = 6.8). Application of the holoenzyme to electrofocusing at high pH resulted in dissociation of the holoenzyme into a cAMP binding component (pI = 6.1) and a cAMP-independent catalytic activity (pI = 7.4). Dissociation of the holoenzyme into subunits also occurred during histone affinity chromatography and gel filtration chromatography (S300) in the presence of a dissociating buffer. Although the subunit structure was clearly evident during chromatography, the holoenzyme could not be dissociated by simple addition of cAMP to the extract. The catalytic subunit could be purified further by CM-Sephadex, DE-52 cellulose (pH 8.5), histone affinity, and hydrophobic chromatography. The regulatory subunit was further purified by DE-52 cellulose (pH 8.5) and cAMP affinity chromatography. Proof that the cAMP binding activity and the cAMP-independent catalytic activity were in fact the regulatory and catalytic subunits was shown by reconstitution of the cAMP-dependent holoenzyme from the purified subunits. By using these separation procedures, one can obtain from extracts of Dictyostelium the subunits that are free of each other as well as free of any endogenous protein substrates.     

Structural and chemical characterization of a homogeneous peptide N-glycosidase from almond

A peptide N-glycosidase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of N-linked oligosaccharide chains from glycopeptides and glycoproteins has been purified to homogeneity from almond emulsin and from almond meal. Purification from almond emulsin using ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gave an enzyme which was purified more than 700-fold and with a yield of 63%. An alternative procedure, more suitable for efficient large scale purification, used ion-exchange, affinity, and gel filtration chromatography. When purification began with almond emulsin, the enzyme was purified 1200-fold with a 37% yield, while when purification began with almond powder, the enzyme was purified 9000-fold with a yield of 45%. The homogeneous enzyme is stable at 4 degrees C for several months in 10 mM sodium acetate, pH 5.0, buffer. The peptide N-glycosidase is itself shown to be a glycoprotein consisting of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 66 800 on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Circular dichroism spectra of the native molecule indicate the presence of a high (approximately 80%) alpha-helix content. The amino acid and carbohydrate contents of the enzyme are presented. When a convenient new assay with a turkey ovomucoid glycopeptide as a substrate is used, the enzyme preparation exhibits a broad pH optimum centered between pH 4 and pH 6. The enzyme is readily inactivated by SDS and guanidine hydrochloride, but it is stable in the presence of moderate concentrations of several other protein denaturants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects on properties of a thiol protease from Xenopus embryos of changes in substrate and assay conditions.

A protease was purified from Xenopus embryos. Proteolytic activity of the protease against BSA had an optimum pH of 3.8 in acetate buffer and was not detectable at neutral pH. However, when embryonic proteins were used as substrates and digested in phosphate buffer, proteolysis of embryonic proteins was enhanced and was detectable from pH 5.0 to pH 7.0. Digestion of three proteins were mainly detected in digestion of total embryonic proteins. The proteins digested had the same mobilities (on SDS polyacrylamide gel) as yolk proteins. The protease was present in the cytoplasm and around yolk granules. We propose that this protease mainly cleaves a certain yolk proteins in the cytoplasm of Xenopus embryos.     

PURIFICATION OF RAT BRAIN CHOLINE ACETYLTRANSFERASE1

Abstract— The purification of choline acetyltransferase (ChAc) has been hampered by the increasing instability of the enzyme in the course of purification. By working with a high concentration of protein and by adding glycerol to the enzyme, the stability was increased. The purification was performed by centrifuging twice, at low and high salt concentrations, precipitation by ammonium sulphate and chromatography on carboxymethyl–Sephadex, hydroxylapatite and Sephadex G 100. The final steps were performed by using chromatography on an immunoabsorbent; this consists of agarose-coupled gammaglobulins of antisera devoid of any activity against ChAc itself and directed against other proteins still present in the purest ChAc preparation achieved by conventional biochemical techniques. The purest rat brain ChAc preparation had a specific activity of 20 μmol/min/mg of protein after a 30,000-fold purification. The enzyme was not homogeneous in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis performed either at pH 4.5 or with sodium dodecyl sulphate. Pure ChAc from rat brain would have a specific activity of approximately 100 μmol/min/mg of protein.     

Assembly of erythrocruorin from the earthworm Octolasium complanatum

The spontaneous assembly of the earthworm erythrocruorin molecule (60 S) from its 1/12 subunits (10 S) obtained by alkaline dissociation is a long debated problem, since the 60 S to 10 S dissociation step has been regarded as essentially irreversible or as only partially reversible when freshly dissociated solutions are used. Erythrocruorin from the earthworm Octolasium complanatum has been reassembled from its 10 S subunits. "Age" of the subunits, pH, and divalent cation concentration are the factors that influence the assembly reaction. Of primary importance is the age of the subunits, i.e. their exposure time to the alkaline dissociating pH. Parallel sedimentation velocity and sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis experiments on the dissociated and reassembled solutions indicate that two processes take place at alkaline pH values: disulfide exchange and limited proteolysis. These processes, whose relative importance differs in the various preparations, might be responsible for the loss of reassociating capacity of the 10 S subunits. With freshly dissociated subunits, reassembly up to 80% may be achieved at pH 6.2 to 6.5 in the absence of divalent cations; the presence of 25 to 50 mM-Ca2+ renders the reaction essentially pH-independent in the range 6.2 to 8. The effect of Ca2+ is discussed in the light of the presence of structure-stabilizing binding sites for divalent cations at the 10 S intersubunit's contact regions.     

Influence of buffer ions and divalent cations on coated vesicle disassembly and reassembly

Disruption of the coat of coated vesicles is accompanied by the release of clathrin and other proteins in soluble form. The ability of solubilized coated vesicle proteins to reassemble into empty coats is influenced by Mg²⁺, Tris ion concentration, pH, and ionic strength. The proteins solubilized by 2 M urea spontaneously reassemble into empty coats following dialysis into isolation buffer (0.1 M MES–1 mM EGTA–1 mM MgCl₂–0.02% NaN₃, pH 6.8). Such reassembled coats have sedimentation properties similar to untreated coated vesicles. Clathrin is the predominant protein of reassembled coats; most of the other proteins present in native coated vesicles are absent. We have found that Mg²⁺ is important in the coat assembly reaction. At pH 8 in 0.01 M or 0.1 M Tris, coats dissociate; however, 10 mM MgCl₂ prevents dissociation. If the coats are first dissociated at pH 8 and then the MgCl₂ raised to 10 mM, reassembly occurs. These results suggest that Mg²⁺ stabilizes the coat lattice and promotes reassembly. This hypothesis is supported by our observations that increasing Mg²⁺ (10 μM–10 mM) increases reassembly whereas chelation of Mg²⁺ by (EGTA) inhibits reassembly. Coats reassembled in low-Tris (0.01 M, pH 8) supernatants containing 10 mM MgCl₂ do not sediment, but upon dialysis into isolation buffer (pH 6.8), these coats become sedimentable. Nonsedimentable coats are noted also either when partially purified clathrin (peak I from Sepharose CL4B columns) is dialyzed into low-ionic-strength buffer or when peaks I and II are dialyzed into isolation buffer. Such nonsedimentable coats may represent intermediates in the assembly reaction which have normal morphology but lack some of the physical properties of native coats. We present a model suggesting that tightly intertwined antiparallel clathrin dimers form the edges of the coat lattice.     

Association-dissociation studies of bovine and rat liver glutamic dehydrogenase by high-performance liquid chromatography gel filtration

The concentration-dependent association-dissociation tendency of purified bovine liver and rat liver glutamic dehydrogenase (GDH) has been demonstrated by high-performance liquid chromatographic gel filtration. In the concentration range of 100 to 1.0 micrograms bovine GDH/ml molecular species ranged from dimer and unimer to subunimeric forms. The dissociation process of the unimeric hexapeptide, consisting of six polypeptide chains, to the subunimeric tripeptide, consisting of three polypeptide chains, was irreversible without added ionic support, but reversible with added ionic support. In dilute Tris-HCl bovine liver GDH was dispersed to subunimeric sizes. Increasing the ionic strength in 20 mM phosphate as the mobile phase increased dissociation to a subunimeric tripeptide while sustaining as much as 80% of its activity. Activity of a eluting subunimer was verified by the inclusion of reaction substrates (NAD and glutamute) in the mobile phase and quantification of reaction products (NADH) in chromatograms. Gel filtration of GDH in the presence of GTP with NADH rendered a subunimeric tripeptide, largely independent of ionic strength or GDH concentration. Rat liver GDH, differing from bovine liver GDH, was dissociated by gel filtration to an active tripeptide independent of ionic or buffer conditions.     

The dissociation of the extracellular hemoglobin of Tubifex tubifex at extremes of pH and its reassociation upon return to neutrality

The dissociation of the extracellular hemoglobin of Tubifex tubifex at alkaline and acid pH, and its reassociation upon return to neutral pH, was investigated using gel filtration, ultracentrifugation, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE). Tubifex hemoglobin dissociated at pH above 8 and below 6; both dissociations appeared to be equilibrium processes. The extent of dissociation increased as the pH moved away from neutrality; although dissociation was virtually complete at pH 11, its extent at acid pH did not exceed 50–60% at pH 4. Ca(II), Mg(II), and Sr(II) cations over the range 1–100 mm decreased the extent of the dissociation only at alkaline pH. The visible absorption spectrum of the oxyhemoglobin remained unaltered in the pH range 4–9. At more extreme pH, it changed with time, altering irreversibly to that of the aquo ferri form. Gel filtration of the hemoglobin at both extremes of pH showed that it dissociated into two heme-containing fragments; one consisting of subunit 1 (M_r ~ 17,000) and the other containing subunits 2, 3, and 4 of the hemoglobin (M_r ~ 60,000). Upon return to neutral pH, the dissociated fragment reassociated to the extent of 50 to 80% to whole hemoglobin molecules. The reassociation decreased with increase in alkaline pH, and with decrease in acid pH to which the hemoglobin had been exposed; it increased in the presence of Ca(II), Sr(II), and Mg(II) only subsequent to dissociation at alkaline pH. The SDS-PAGE patterns, gel-filtration elution volumes, and α-helical contents, determined from circular dichroism at 222 nm, of the reassociated whole molecules were identical to those of the native hemoglobin.     

ACTIVATION, INHIBITION AND AGGREGATION OF CHOLINE ACETYLTRANSFERASE (EC 2.3.1.6)

—Mercuric chloride, silver acetate and cupric sulphate (0·1 mm ) completely inhibited purified choline acetyltransferase from bovine caudate nuclei. At the same concentration cadmium chloride and zinc acetate gave a 50 per cent inhibition. Potassium and sodium salts more than doubled the enzymatic activity while creatinine hydrochloride more than tripled it. Guanidine hydrochloride was less effective than creatinine hydrochloride but more effective than KCl and NaCl. Sodium chloride and creatinine hydrochloride had a synergistic effect on the enzyme. When ammonium sulphate was used to fractionate the choline acetyltransferase that had been extracted from bovine caudate nuclei, the enzyme aggregated into different molecular sizes as determined by exclusion chromatography on Bio-gel A-1·5 m. The molecular weight of the largest aggregate was at least 10⁶ daltons. The initial tissue extract contained only one molecular species of ChAc as did a partially purified preparation in which ammonium sulphate was not used in the purification.     

Comparison of Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Means of Dissociating Adherent Monolayers of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The dissociation of adherent mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) monolayers with trypsin and enzyme-free dissociation buffer was compared. A significantly lower proportion of viable cells were obtained with enzyme-free dissociation buffers compared to trypsin. Subsequently, the dissociated cells were re-seeded on new cell culture dishes and were subjected to the MTT assay 24 h later. The proportion of viable cells that reattached was significantly lower for cells obtained by dissociation with enzyme-free dissociation buffer compared to trypsin. Frozen–thawed MSC displayed a similar trend, yielding consistently higher cell viability and reattachment rates when dissociated with trypsin compared to enzyme-free dissociation buffer. It was also demonstrated that exposure of trypsin-dissociated MSC to enzyme-free dissociation buffer for 1 h had no significant detrimental effect on cell viability.     

Purification and chemical studies on rat urinary kallikrein.

A highly purified kallikrein was obtained from rat urine by chromatography on DE-32 cellulose, affinity chromatography on Bio-gel P-200-Aprotinin and gel filtration over Sephadex G-100 coarse and superfine. A molecular weight of 32,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis was estimated. The aminoacid composition and the esterase activity of the purified material were determined. Biological characterization of the purified kallikrein was tested by liberation of a kinin from rat plasma kininogen, by direct action on the isolated rat uterus and by the lowering of rat arterial pressure after intravenous injection of the enzyme. The preparation of insoluble derivative of Aprotinin is described herein. The polymer used as insoluble support (Bio-gel P-200) was before changed to its corresponding azide, which reacts with Aprotinin; the product maintained the binding property of the Aprotinin with urinary kallikrein.     

Purification and some properties of membrane-bound phospholipase B from Torulaspora delbrueckii

Membrane-bound phospholipase B was purified to a homogeneous state from Torulaspora delbrueckii cell homogenate. Cell homogenate was extracted with Triton X-100, and the enzyme was precipitated with acetone. The acetone powder was washed repeatedly with Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.0) until no phospholipae B activity was detected in the soluble fraction. The enzyme was extracted with Triton X-100 from the final residue and purified about 1,390-fold by sequential chromatofocusing, Sepharose 6B, and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography. The final preparation showed a single broad protein band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis when stained with silver stain reagent and PAS-reagent. The molecular weight of phospholipase B was about 390,000 and 140,000-190,000 as estimated by gel filtration on Sepharose 6B and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively, suggesting that phospholipase B is an oligomeric protein. The isoelectric point was at pH 4.5. Phospholipase B has two pH optima, one acidic (pH 2.5-3.0) and the other alkaline (pH 7.2-8.0). At acidic pH the phospholipase B activity was greatly increased in the presence of divalent metal ions, although metal ions are not a factor for enzyme activity. On the other hand, at alkaline pH the enzyme required Ca2+ or Mn2+ for activity. The pH- and thermal-stabilities at both pHs were similar. The phospholipase B hydrolyzed all diacylphospholipids tested at acidic pH, but hydrolyzed only phosphatidylcholine at alkaline pH. The hydrolysis rates of lysophospholipids were much higher (about 10-fold) than those of diacylphospholipids at both pHs.     

Activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by epinephrine in proliferating lymphoid cells

Activation of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in intact lymphosarcoma cells can be promoted by epinephrine. The lymphosarcoma protein kinase is approximately 90% Isozyme I. Using the synthetic peptide PK-1 (LeuArgArgAlaSerLeuGly) as substrate for the kinase, the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was 95% of the total protein phosphotransferase activity in the cell extract. In control cells the optimum extraction buffer for preventing enzyme subunit dissociation or reassociation contained buffer (2(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid), EDTA, 2-mercaptoethanol, and charcoal. The absence of charcoal or the presence of 0.14 m KCl in the buffer promoted enzyme dissociation in the extract. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine had no effect. In extracts from epinephrine-treated cells or extracts to which purified catalytic subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was added, recovery of the total protein kinase activity was 25% of that predicted in experiments with control cells. Recovery of enzyme activity increased to 80–95% of the predicted value when 0.14 m KCl was included in the extraction buffer. Methods involving a two-buffer extraction procedure are presented as the optimum protocol for determining in vivo activation of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, Isozyme I. Using these methods, epinephrine (1 μm) dissociated the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase essentially 100% in intact lymphosarcoma cells. The dissociation was apparently maintained for up to 60 min. Approximately 10–15% of the dissociated enzyme may be specifically associated with particulate cell fractions. Collectively the data emphasize the experimental difficulty inherent in determination of the extent of in vivo dissociation of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Structural and immunoelectrophoretic comparison of soluble and particulate ribulose bisphosphate carboxylases from the cyanobacterium Chlorogloeopsis fritschii

The soluble and particulate (carboxysomal) forms of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase from the cyanobacterium Chlorogloeopsis fritschii have been purified separately. A molecular weight of 520,000 was found in each case. Large (L, 53,000) and small (S, 13,000) subunits were obtained after dissociation, indicating a L₈S₈ quaternary structure for the enzyme from both sources. The L and S subunits are identical in molecular weight to the major polypeptides present in isolated dissociated C. fritschii polyhedral bodies (carboxysomes). Occasionally an additional polypeptide (mol. wt. 45,000) was found after dissociation of the soluble enzyme only, although the possibility that this may be due to proteolysis is not discounted. Immunochemical identity between the purified soluble and carboxysomal RuBP carboxylases was indicated by tandem-crossed and rocket immunoelectrophoresis.Abbreviations PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - SDS sodium dodecyl-sulphate - RuBP D-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate - TCA trichloroacetic acid - LTIB low Tris isolation buffer - HTIB high Tris isolation buffer - CIE crossed immunoelectrophoresis - TCIE tandem-crossed immunoelectrophoresis - RIE rocket immunoelectrophoresis     

Degradative acetolactate synthase of Bacillus subtilis: purification and properties.

A degradative acetolactate synthase (acetolactate pyruvate-lyase [carboxylating], EC 4.1.3.18) from Bacillus subtilis has been partially purified and characterized. The synthesis of the enzyme was induced by growth of cells in minimal medium plus isobutyrate or acetate. The enzyme was partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration, and hydroxyapatite chromatography. The pH optimum of the purified enzyme was 7.0 in phosphate buffer. When assayed in phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), activity was stimulated by acetate and inhibited by sulfate. When assayed in acetate buffer (pH 5.8), activity was inhibited both by sulfate and phosphate. Michaelis-Menten kinetics was observed when the enzyme was assayed in phosphate buffer (pH 6.0 or 7.0), and inhibition by sulfate was competitive and activation by acetate was noncompetitive. When assayed in acetate buffer (pH 5.8), nonlinear Lineweaver-Burk plots were obtained; inhibition by phosphate appeared to be competitive and that by sulfate was of the mixed type. The approximate molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 250,000 as determined by gel filtration.     

Purification and characterization of fatty-acid-binding proteins from rat heart and liver

Fatty-acid-binding proteins were purified from delipidated cytosols of rat heart and liver by gel filtration and anion-exchange chromatography at pH 8.0 and by repeated gel filtration, respectively. Homogeneity of both proteins was demonstrated by a single band on polyacrylamide gels; each had a molecular weight of about 14 000. Liver fatty-acid-binding protein is more basic (pI, 8.1) than that of heart (pI, 7.0) and contains more basic amino acids. Examination of fatty acid binding by the binding proteins from heart and liver revealed the presence of a single class of fatty-acid-binding sites in both cases with an apparent dissociation constant for palmitate of about 1 microM. Liver fatty- acid-binding protein shows similar binding characteristics for palmitate, oleate and arachidonate. Palmitate bound to heart fatty- acid-binding protein was a good substrate for oxidation by rat heart mitochondria. The results show that the fatty-acid-binding proteins from rat heart and liver are closely related, but that they are distinct proteins.