Heterogeneity of protein kinase C in cultured rat mesangial cells.

Two forms of protein kinase C (PKC) activity in cytosol of cultured rat mesangial cells have been characterized in vitro by using histone H1 or endogenous proteins as substrates. Histones H1-phosphorylation was significantly increased only when calcium, phosphatidylserine (PS) and 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) were present together in the incubation medium. EGTA, a calcium chelator, completely inhibited this activity. Upon hydroxyapatite chromatography (HPLC), the PKC activity was eluted as a main peak at 150 mM potassium phosphate with a shoulder at 180 mM. Both peaks corresponded to the type III PKC from rat brain and were identified as PKC alpha isoform by immunoblot analysis. In contrast with what was observed using histone H1, the increased phosphorylation of endogenous proteins in the presence of a mixture of Ca2+/PS, plus either DAG or PMA, was only partly reduced by EGTA. Moreover, the level of the PKC activity detected in the presence of EGTA was comparable to the level of kinase activity, measured in the presence of PS alone or associated with DAG or PMA. This suggests that mesangial cells contain PKC activity which does not absolutely require calcium. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that patterns of phosphorylated mesangial cell proteins are different depending on whether calcium was added or not. In the presence of calcium, PKC strongly phosphorylated the proteins of 53,000 molecular weight, a doublet of 37,000-39,000, the 24,000 and the triplet of 17,000-20,000-22,000 molecular weight. The addition of EGTA to the assays suppressed completely the labelling of most proteins; only the 20,000 molecular weight protein remained strongly labelled, while the 39,000 molecular weight band was only faintly visible. The same patterns of phosphorylations were obtained after omission of calcium in the assays containing only PS and DAG (or PMA). So, the main substrates of calcium-dependent PKC are proteins of 53,000, 39,000, 37,000, 22,000, 24,000 and 17,000 molecular weight while the protein of 20,000 molecular weight appears to be the main substrate of calcium-independent PKC. The existence in mesangial cells of at least two forms of PKC, which phosphorylate specific endogenous proteins, emphasizes the complexity of the phospholipid-dependent regulatory cascade and raises the possibility that actions of different regulators may be transduced through distinct PKC isozymes.     

Analysis of hepatocyte cell membrane antigens in regenerating rat liver]

Antigens of plasma membranes in hepatocytes from regenerating rat liver were studied. Immunochemical investigation with polyvalent rabbits antiserum against plasma membrane proteins in hepatocytes from regenerating and normal rat liver have shown that liver regeneration processes are accompanied by the increase of proteins number with molecular weight of--80 kDa, 62 kDa, 40 kDa and 27 kDa. It is not excluded that protein with molecular weight of 27 kDa is the tissue-specific peripheral protein. The influence of antibodies against proteins of hepatocytes plasmatic membranes on histostructure of pathologically changed liver tissue has been studied. The data obtained testify to a possibility of participation of the above mentioned proteins in the regulation of rat liver regeneration processes.     

The synthesis of proteolipid protein by isolated rat liver mitochondria

About 15% of the total (³H)leucine incorporated into protein by isolated rat liver mitochondria $\text{in}\text{vitro}$ could be extracted by chloroform:methanol. This incorporation was inhibited by chloramphenicol and carbomycin, both specific inhibitors of mitochondrial protein synthesis. SDS-gel electrophoresis of the mitochondrial membrane revealed 6–7 labeled bands. Label in the proteolipid fraction was present mainly in a band of 40,000 molecular weight. Several labeled bands observed in gels of the mitochondrial membrane were not removed or changed by extraction with chloroform:methanol suggesting that some, but not all, of the proteins synthesized by rat liver mitochondria are proteolipids.     

Protease-activated protein kinase in rat liver plasma membrane

Upon limited proteolysis with trypsin, a cAMP and Ca2+-independent protein kinase was produced from rat liver plasma membrane. This enzyme showed a multifunctional capacity and phosphorylated calf thymus histone and rat liver ribosomal proteins. The molecular weight was estimated to be 5.0 X 10(4). When plasma membrane was treated with a buffer containing Triton X-100, a proenzyme with a molecular weight of 8.4 X 10(4) was extracted. By tryptic digestion, the proenzyme was converted to an active protein kinase which was similar to the enzyme obtained by the direct digestion of membrane. However, this proenzyme phosphorylated H1 histone in the presence of Ca2+ and phospholipid without proteolytic digestion. These results indicate the existence of a protease-activated protein kinase in rat liver plasma membrane and the proenzyme seems to be same as protein kinase C.     

Products of rat liver mitochondrial protein synthesis: electrophoretic analysis of the number and size of these proteins and their solubility in chloroform: methanol

Rat liver mitochondria were incubated in vitro with radioactive leucine, and submitochondrial particles prepared by several methods. Analysis of the labeled mitochondrial membrane fractions by sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis revealed three labeled bands of molecular weights corresponding to 40,000; 27,000; and 20,000 daltons. Electrophoresis for longer times at higher concentrations of acrylamide revealed eight labeled bands, ranging in molecular weights from 48,000 to 12,000.Mitochondria were incubated for 5 min with [³H]leucine followed by a chase of unlabeled leucine. Gel electrophoresis of the membranes obtained after labeling for 5 min indicated significant synthesis of polypeptides in the 40,000 M_r, range and very little labeling of low molecular-weight polypeptides. After addition of the chase, increased synthesis of the high molecular-weight polypeptides was observed; however, no significant increase or decrease of radioactivity in the bands of low molecular-weight was observed, suggesting that rat liver mitochondria have the ability to synthesize complete proteins in the M_r 27,000–40,000 range.Approximately 16% of the total leucine incorporated into protein by isolated rat liver mitochondria in vitro could be extracted by chloroform: methanol. Gel electrophoresis of the chloroform: methanol extract revealed several bands containing radioactivity with the majority of counts in a band of 40,000 molecular weight. Gel electrophoresis of the chloroform: methanol extract of lyophilized submitochondrial particles indicated label in two broad bands in the low molecular-weight region of 14,000-10,000 with insignificant counts in the higher molecular-weight regions of the gel.Yeast cells were pulse labeled in vivo with [³H]leucine in the presence of cycloheximide and the submitochondrial particles extracted with chloroform:methanol. The extract separated after gel electrophoresis into four labeled bands ranging in molecular weight from 52,000 to 10,000. Preincubation of the yeast cells with chloramphenicol prior to the pulse labeling caused a 6-fold stimulation of labeling into the band of lowest molecular weight of the chloroform: methanol extract. These results suggest that the accumulation of mitochondrial proteins synthesized in the cytoplasm, when chloramphenicol is present in the medium, may stimulate the synthesis of certain specific mitochondrial proteins which are soluble in chloroform: methanol.     

L(+)-Lactate binding to preparations of rat hepatocyte plasma membranes

Incubation of rat hepatocyte plasma membranes with L-[14C]lactate resulted in the labeling of protein(s) of apparent molecular weight 40,000 when examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The binding was saturable, irreversible, and inhibited by pyruvate, 2-oxoglutarate, and alpha-cyano-3-hydroxycinnamate, but not by D-lactate. It was markedly enhanced by L-alanine, but not D-alanine or beta-alanine. The binding protein(s) could be solubilized in cholic acid giving a single peak on gel filtration corresponding to a molecular weight of 26,000 and an isoelectric point of 5.1. This peak, when subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, ran in a position corresponding to an apparent molecular weight of 40,000. When membranes were treated with Triton X-100, lactate binding was retained by the Triton-insoluble fraction. The binding of L-[14C]lactate increased with incubation time, due apparently to the appearance of new binding sites and not to sequestration into vesicles. As many of the characteristics of lactate binding to rat hepatocyte plasma membranes were found to be similar to those of lactate entry into isolated hepatocytes, we speculate that the lactate-binding protein could represent part or whole of a plasma-membrane lactate transporter. Lactate-binding proteins of the same molecular weight were identified in the plasma membranes from rat erythrocytes, cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, lung, and brain.     

Characterization of a Mr 25,000 basic fibroblast growth factor form in adult, regenerating, and fetal rat liver

A heparin-binding Mr 25,000 immunoreactive bFGF-like protein (ir-bFGF) is recognized in adult rat liver extract by affinity-purified polyclonal anti-human placental bFGF antibodies. Hepatic levels of this protein increase 4-fold in regenerating rat liver during the first 48 h after partial hepatectomy. Also, they appear to be higher in embryonic than in newborn or in adult rat liver. Mr 25,000 ir-bFGF from regenerating rat liver, partially purified by heparin-affinity chromatography, induces plasminogen activator activity and cell proliferation in transformed fetal bovine aortic endothelial GM 7373 cells and competes with Mr 18,000 [125I]bFGF for the binding to high affinity bFGF receptors. The data indicate the presence in rat liver of a high molecular weight form of bFGF whose expression is modulated during embryonic development and liver regeneration.     

Isoelectric analysis of 3H-pargyline-labelled monoamine oxidase in rat and carp

1. After selective binding of [3H]pargyline to either monoamine oxidase (MAO) A or MAO B in the rat liver, MAO B alone in the rat brain and MAO in carp brain and liver, molecular weight and isoelectric points (pI) of these MAO were determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing and results obtained were compared. 2. For all tissues tested, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of [3H]pargyline-bound samples revealed a labelled protein band of an apparent mol. wt of 60,000 da. 3. Estimation of radioactivity of [3H]pargyline bound after isoelectric focusing revealed a single protein band with acidic pI values of about 5.5 for rat brain and liver MAO B. 4. Moreover, the pI values of about 7.5 were obtained for carp brain and liver MAO. This basic value was also found for MAO A in the rat liver MAO A.     

Isolation and characterization of a 66-kDa protein from rat liver plasma membrane with RhoA-stimulated phospholipase D activity.

A 66-kDa molecular weight protein with phospholipase D activity was solubilized and partially purified from rat liver plasma membrane. The activity and regulation of this phospholipase D have been characterized. Immunoblot analyses indicated that the enzyme was distinct from hPLD1 and PLD2, but was recognized by an antibody to the 12 terminal amino acids of PLD1. PLD activity was stimulated by 1-100 microM Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) and displayed a pH optimum of 7.5. Activity was inhibited by both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. This PLD was activated in an ATP-independent manner by the PKC isozymes alpha and betaII but not activated by other PKC isozymes. It was also stimulated by the small G-proteins RhoA and ARF. RhoA stimulated the greatest activation, followed by ARF and PKC(alpha). This enzyme was further activated in a synergistic manner when combinations of PKC(alpha) and RhoA or ARF were used. This enzyme displayed a greater response activation by RhoA than to activation by ARF. While a potential breakdown product of PLD1, activation by RhoA indicates that the PLD characterized here is distinct from the other PLDs cloned or isolated to date.     

Isolation and characterization of a membrane-bound proteinase from rat liver.

The proteinase previously found in chromatin prepared from a total rat liver homogenate was purified from the rat liver mitochondrial fraction. The membrane-bound enzyme is solubilized in either 0.6% digitonin or 0.5 m phosphate buffer. After a 1330-fold purification, the enzyme appears homogeneous by acrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation indicated a molecular weight of 22,500, a molecular weight of 23,500 ± 10% has been estimated by acrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme showed a high substrate specificity. Among several proteins tested, only glucagon, nonhistone chromosomal proteins, and histones are good substrates. A limited proteolysis was found for the very-lysine-rich histone H1, which was split into a high molecular weight fragment (M_r 13,000). The highly phosphorylated histone H1 isolated from regenerating rat liver 24 h after partial hepatectomy exhibited the same susceptibility to the proteinase as H1 from normal liver. Large polypeptides of a nonhistone chromosomal protein fraction were degraded more rapidly than the small ones. N-Acetyl-l-tyrosine ethyl ester was used with alcohol dehydrogenase and NAD in a coupled enzyme assay for the proteinase. The apparent Michaelis constant for the hydrolysis of N-acetyl-l-tyrosine ethyl ester is 5.0 × 10^?3m. The proteinase has catalytic properties simlar to trypsin and chymotrypsin. The pH optimum was around 8, soybean trypsin inhibitor depressed the enzymatic activity, and the serine modifying reagents diisopropyl phosphofluoridate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride inactivated the enzyme. The affinity reagent for chymotrypsin-like active sites, l-1-tosylamido-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone, inactivated the proteinase.     

Retinoic acid-binding protein in rat tissue. Partial purification and comparison to rat tissue retinol-binding protein.

When the 100,000 X g supernatant fractions of several rat organs are incubated with all-trans-[3H]retinoic acid, a binding component for retinoic acid with a sedimentation coefficient of 2 S can be detected by sucrose gradient centrifugation. This tissue binding protein for retinoic acid is distinct from the tissue binding protein for retinol which has been previously described. The tissue retinoic acid-binding protein has been partially purified from rat testis and this partially purified protein would appear to have a molecular weight of 14,500 as determined by gel filtration and high binding specificity for all-trans-retinoic acid. Binding of [3H]retinoic acid is not diminished by a 200-fold molar excess of retinal, retinol, or oleic acid but is reduced by a 200-fold excess of unlabeled retinoic acid. Tissue retinoic acid-binding protein can be detected in extracts of brain, eye, ovary, testis, and uterus but is apparently absent in heart muscle, small intestine, kidney, liver, lung, gastrocnemious muscle, serum, and spleen. This distribution is different than that observed for the tissue retinol-binding protein. Tissue retinol-binding protein was also purified extensively from rat testis. The partially purified protein has an apparent molecular weight of 14,000 and high binding specificity for all-trans-[3H]retinol as only unlabeled all-trans-retinol but not retinal, retinoic acid, retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate, or oleic acid could diminish binding of the 3H ligand under the conditions employed. The partially purified protein has a fluorescence excitation spectrum with lambda max at 350 nm. In contrast, the retinol-binding protein isolated from rat serum and described by others has a fluorescence excitation spectrum with lambda max at 334 nm and an apparent molecular weight of 19,000. When partially purified tissue retinol-binding protein is extracted with heptane, the heptane extract has a fluorescence excitation spectrum similar to that of all-trans-retinol.     

Identification, purification, and immunochemical characterization of a tocopherol-binding protein in rat liver cytosol.

Tocopherol binding activity accompanying a rat liver cytosolic protein with molecular weight of 30-36 kDa has been demonstrated previously, although the isolation of the protein has not been reported. We now report the purification of an alpha-tocopherol-binding protein (TBP) from rat liver cytosol utilizing three chromatographic procedures: gel filtration, Affi-Gel Blue affinity chromatography, and chromatofocusing. Three peaks of specific alpha-tocopherol-binding activity were resolved on Affi-Gel Blue, referred to as AFB-1A, 1B, and 2. A 32-kDa homogeneous form was obtained after chromatofocusing of AFB-1B. D-alpha-[3H]tocopherol was displaced from homogeneous TBP in the presence of 500-fold excess of nonlabeled alpha-tocopherol, indicating the specificity of the binding. Anti-TBP rabbit antisera identified only one protein in rat hepatic cytosol on Western blotting. TBP immunoreactivity was found in the cytosol of rat liver and the lysate of fractionated hepatocytes, but not in the cytosol of other organs (including the heart, spleen, testes, and lung) nor in the lysate of fractioned Ito cells, endothelial cells, or Kupffer cells isolated from rat liver. Semi-quantitative ELISA demonstrated that rat liver cytosol contained approximately 2 mg TBP/g of cytosol protein. This immunoreactivity was associated with only the 30-36 kDa gel filtration fractions of rat liver cytosol and with both AFB-1A and -1B but not with AFB-2.     

Ca2+-dependent protein kinase C isoforms induce cholestasis in rat liver

Bile secretion is regulated by different signaling transduction pathways including protein kinase C (PKC). However, the role of different PKC isoforms for bile formation is still controversial. This study investigates the effects of PKC isoform selective activators and inhibitors on PKC translocation, bile secretion, bile acid uptake, and subcellular transporter localization in rat liver, isolated rat hepatocytes and in HepG2 cells. In rat liver activation of Ca(2+)-dependent cPKCalpha and Ca(2+)-independent PKCepsilon by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 10nmol/liter) is associated with their translocation to the plasma membrane. PMA also induced translocation of the cloned rat PKCepsilon fused to a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), which was transfected into HepG2 cells. In the perfused liver, PMA induced marked cholestasis. The PKC inhibitors G?6850 (1 micromol/liter) and G?6976 (0.2 micromol/liter), a selective inhibitor of Ca(2+)-dependent PKC isoforms, diminished the PMA effect by 50 and 60%, respectively. Thymeleatoxin (Ttx,) a selective activator of Ca(2+)-dependent cPKCs, did not translocate rat PKCepsilon-YFP transfected in HepG2 cells. However, Ttx (0.5-10 nmol/liter) induced cholestasis similar to PMA and led to a retrieval of Bsep from the canalicular membrane in rat liver while taurocholate-uptake in isolated hepatocytes was not affected. G?6976 completely blocked the cholestatic effect of Ttx but had no effect on tauroursodeoxycholate-induced choleresis. The data identify Ca(2+)-dependent PKC isoforms as inducers of cholestasis. This is mainly due to inhibition of taurocholate excretion involving transporter retrieval from the canalicular membrane.     

Selective changes in protein kinase C isoenzymes in rat liver nuclei during liver regeneration.

Using isoenzyme-specific antisera, protein kinase C (PKC) alpha and PKC delta were detected in total liver homogenate and in isolated nuclei. PKC beta I, beta II, epsilon, epsilon', and zeta were not detected. During liver regeneration, nuclear PKC alpha levels decreased while PKC delta levels increased. These studies demonstrate, for the first time, the presence of a calcium-independent PKC isoenzyme in liver nuclei and suggest that PKC alpha and PKC delta may have different roles in liver regeneration and cell proliferation.     

Partial purification and characterization of masking protein for beta-type transforming growth factor from rat platelets

beta-Transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) is stored in platelets and secreted as a high molecular weight latent form associated with a carrier protein of about 440 KD. This carrier protein could be separated from TGF-beta in 1 N acetic acid and could again mask the activity of TGF-beta under neutral conditions. Therefore, it was named the masking protein of TGF-beta. The masking protein was separated from TGF-beta by gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-300 column or by anion-exchanger FPLC on a Mono Q column in the presence of 6 M urea. Partially purified masking protein from rat platelets neutralized the activity of TGF-beta dose-dependently and was effective at 0.3 microgram/ml. This masking protein could also mask the activity of human TGF-beta, suggesting that it was not species specific. The masking protein was a heat- and acid-stable protein, but was inactivated by treatment with dithiothreitol. The Physiological role of the masking protein in the mechanisms of wound healing and liver regeneration is discussed.     

Isolation and characterization of fatty acid-binding protein from rat brain

A fatty acid-binding protein has been identified and isolated from the cytosol fraction of rat brain. The fatty acid-binding protein was purified to homogeneity by gel filtration and preparative isoelectric focusing. The binding protein was different from Z protein from rat liver in its isoelectric point and immunological reactivity, in spite of its similar molecular weight of 12,000. Rabbit antibodies against rat liver Z protein were used to demonstrate that the fatty acid-binding proteins from rat liver and brain are immunologically unrelated, and that no Z protein is present in rat brain cytosol.     

Unique cathepsin D-type proteases in rat thoracic duct lymphocytes and in rat lymphoid tissues.

Two unique cathepsin D-type proteases apparently present only in rat thoracic duct lymphocytes and in rat lymphoid tissues are described. One, termed H enzyme, has an apparent molecular weight of similar to95,000; the other, termed L enzyme, has an apparent molecular weight of similar to45,000, in common with that of most cathepsins D from other tissues and species. Both enzymes differ from cathepsin D, however, by a considerably greater sensitivity to inhibition by pepstatin and by a smaller degree of inhibition by an antiserum which inhibits rat liver cathepsin D. H enzyme is converted to L enzyme by treatment with beta-mercaptoethanol; the relationship between the two enzymes remains unknown. H and L enzyme have been detected in rat lymphoid tissues and in mouse spleen, but they are not present in other rat tissues (liver, kidney, adrenals), rabbit tissues, calf thymus, bovine spleen, or human tonsils. As measured on acid-denatured bovine hemoglobin as substrate, both enzymes have pH activity curves identical with that of rat liver cathepsin D, with optimal activity at pH 3.6. Activity on human serum albumin is much less and also shows an optimum at pH 3.6; hence, neither enzyme has the properties of cathepsin E. Thiol-reactive inhibitiors have no effect on the activity of H and L enzyme; thus they do not belong to the B group of cathepsins. Additional information, discussed in this paper, leads us to conclude that partially purified H and L enzymes are cathepsin D-type proteases.     

Isolation and some properties of a new binding protein for asialoorosomucoid from rat liver

Binding proteins for asialoorosomucoid were prepared from rat liver previously labeled in vivo with [3H]leucine by affinity chromatography on asialoorosomucoid-Sepharose 4B. They were subjected again to the same affinity chromatography and eluted into two fractions successively with 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.8, containing 1.25 M NaCl, 1% Triton X-100 and 50 mM lactose and 20 mM ammonium acetate buffer, pH 6.0, containing 1.25 M NaCl and 1% Triton X-100, and designated as ABP-I and ABP-II (asialoorosomucoid binding proteins), respectively. ABP-I corresponds to the receptor protein specific for asialoglycoproteins which has been extensively investigated by Ashwell and collaborators (J. Biol. Chem. 254, 1038-1043, 1979). ABP-II is different from ABP-I in several properties such as molecular weight, antigenicity and solubility. The molecular weight of ABP-II was estimated to be 29,000 by SDS-PAGE. On gel filtration it behaved as a pentamer with an apparent molecular weight of 150,000. Unlike ABP-I, ABP-II showed no detectable binding activity when assayed according to the procedures of Hudgin et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 249, 5536-5543, 1974). The calcium ion was, however, essential for the binding of ABP-II to asialoorosomucoid-Sepharose 4B similar to ABP-I. ABP-II can be extracted from the total microsomes of rat liver in 1.0 M NaCl by sonication after freezing and thawing. This suggests that ABP-II is either a soluble protein or a peripheral membrane protein loosely attached to the intracisternal cavities of the microsomal membranes.     

A major polypeptide component of rat liver mitochondria: carbamyl phosphate synthetase.

One of the major components of rat liver mitochondria detected by gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate is a 165,000 molecular weight polypeptide that makes up 15 to 20% of the total mitochondrial protein. This component appears to be a single molecular species. Evidence is presented here for the identification of this protein with the polypeptide chain of a urea cycle enzyme, carbamoylphosphate synthetase I (EC 2.7.2.5). The 165,000 molecular weight polypeptide was solubilized from mitochondria with Triton X-100 and purified to 90% homogeneity by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. This component co-migrated with carbamyl phosphate synthetase activity when mitochondrial proteins were separated by gel filtration or sucrose gradient centifugation. The identification of the 165,000 molecular weight polypeptide with this activity was also supported by the presence or absence of this protein in a variety of rat tissue mitochondria, in liver and kidney mitochondria from various ureotelic and nonureotelic species, and in fetal rat liver mitochondria.     

The purification and characterization of rat liver lysosomal alpha-L-fucosidase.

The alpha-L-fucosidase from rat liver lysosomes was purified approximately 27,000-fold (from cytoplasmic extract) by a rapid procedure requiring only 7 h anf providing enzyme in a 20 per cent yield. The procedure is based upon affinity chromatography with agarose-epsilon-aminocaproyl-fucosamine. The isolated enzyme was found to be pure by a number of different analytical gel techniques and is essentially free of other lysosomal gylcosidases. The purified enzyme exhibits a positive periodic acid-Schiff stain, suggesting that it is a glycoprotein. The purified enzyme has a pH optimum of 5.7 to 5.9, a Vmax of 27 mumol/min/mg of protein, and a Km of 0.19 mM with p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-fucopyranoside as substrate. L-Fucose was the only possibly physiological effector of the enzyme which was identified; it exhibited a Ki of 1.6 mM, with p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-fucopyranoside as substrate. The enzyme has a subunit molecular weight of approximately 55,000 by Na dodecyl-SO4 electrophoresis in a variety of gel systems. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was indicated to be approximately 160,000 by sucrose density centrifugation, 300,000 by molecular sieve chromatography on Sephadex G-200, and 217,000 by sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation. The weight of evidence suggests that the enzyme is a tetramer. Incubation on the absence of sulfhydryl reagents under appropriate conditions generates a second alpha-L-fucosidase activity band on gels corresponding to a molecular weight of approximately 40,000 to 50,000. This result suggests that the subunit is relatively stable and may reassociate to form active enzyme. Alpha-L-Fucosidase requires a high concentration of protein and the presence of a sulfhydryl reagent for stabilization. It is rapidly inactivated by p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid, this inactivation being rapidly reversible by the addition of 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol. The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of 1 leads to 2, 1 leads to 3, and 1 leads to 4 fucosyl linkages and was found to be active on glycopeptides but not on native glycoproteins. The amino acid and carbohydrate composition of the enzyme was determined. The native enzyme contains the following sugars (residues per tetramer): fucose (3.5), mannose (32), galactose (8), glucose (9), glucosamine (32), and sialic acid (8). Rat liver lysosomal alpha-glucosidase, also produced in the rapid isolation procedure described herein, contained less than 0.1 residue of sialic acid per subunit.