Enzymatic sulfation of glycochenodeoxycholic acid by tissue fractions from adult hamsters

Using a radiometric assay with glycochenodeoxycholic acid as substrate, bile acid:3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase activity was found in 105,000 g supernatant fractions of liver, proximal intestine, and adrenal gland homogenates from adult hamsters. Optimum conditions for measurement of the hepatic enzyme were determined. In both male and female animals sulfation only occurred at the 7 alpha-position. Saturation analysis with glycohenodeoxycholic acid revealed that the higher activity observed in fractions from female compared to male hamsters was due to a 4-fold lower apparent Km (79 muM vs. 317 muM) for this bile acid in the females. The sulfation of glycohenodeoxycholic acid was competitively inhibited by glycolithocholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, and ursodeoxycholic acid. The data are consistent with the concept that sulfation of many, if not all, bile acids can occur in vivo.     

Interaction of Triton X-100 with particulate cardiac guanylate cyclase: comparison between Mg2+- and Mn2+-supported enzyme activities in particulate. detergent-solubilized and detergent-insoluble fractions

Guanylate cyclase activity was determined in a 1000g particulate fraction derived from rabbit heart homogenates using Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ as sole cation in the presence and absence of Triton X-100. With Mg²⁺, very little guanylate cyclase activity could be detected in the original particulate fraction assayed with or without Triton, or in the particulate fraction treated with varying concentrations of Triton (detergent-treated mixture) prior to enzyme assay. However, the detergent-solubilized supernatants as well as the detergent-insoluble residues (pellets) derived from detergent-treated mixtures possessed appreciable Mg²⁺-supported enzyme activity. With Mn²⁺, significant enzyme activity was detectable in the original particulate fraction assayed without Triton. Much higher activity was seen in particulate fraction assayed with Triton and in detergent-treated mixtures; the supernatants but not the pellets derived from detergent-treated mixtures possessed even greater activity. The sum of enzyme activity in pellet and supernatant fractions greatly exceeded that of the mixture. When the pellets and supernatants derived from detergenttreated mixtures were recombined, measured enzyme activities were similar to those of the original mixture. With Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺, the specific activity of guanylate cyclase in pellet and supernatant fractions varied considerably depending on the concentration of Triton used for treatment of the particulate fraction; treatment with low concentrations of Triton (0.2–0.7 μmol/mg protein) gave supernatants showing high activity whereas treatment with relatively greater concentrations of the detergent (>0.7 μmol/mg protein) gave pellets showing high activity. The relative distribution of guanylate cyclase in pellet and supernatant fractions expressed as a function of Triton concentration during treatment (of the particulate fraction) showed that 50 to 80% of the recovered enzyme activity remained in supernatants at low detergent concentrations whereas 50 to 80% of the recovered activity resided in the pellets at higher detergent concentrations. Inclusion of excess Triton in the enzyme assay medium did not alter the specific activity profiles and the relative distribution patterns of the cyclase in pellet versus supernatant fractions. The results demonstrate the inherent potential of cardiac particulate guanylate cyclase to utilize Mg²⁺ in catalyzing the synthesis of cyclic GMP. However, it appears that some factor(s) endogenous to the cardiac particulate fraction severely impairs the expression of Mg²⁺-dependent activity; Mn²⁺-dependent activity is also affected by such factor(s) but apparently less severely. Further, the results suggest that previously reported activities of cardiac particulate guanylate cyclase, despite being assayed with Mn²⁺ and in the presence of Triton X-100, represent underestimation of what otherwise appears to be a highly active enzyme system capable of utilizing physiologically relevant divalent cation such as Mg²⁺.     

Sulfation in vitro of mucus glycoprotein by submandibular salivary gland: effects of prostaglandin and acetylsalicylic acid

Enzymatic sulfation of mucus glycoprotein by rat submandibular salivary gland and the effect of prostaglandin and acetylsalicylic acid on this process were investigated in vitro. The sulfotransferase enzyme which catalyzes the transfer of sulfate ester group from 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate to submandibular gland mucus glycoprotein has been located in the detergent extracts of Golgi-rich membrane fraction of the gland. Optimum enzyme activity was obtained at pH 6.8 with 0.5% Triton X-100, 25 mM NaF and 4 mM MgCl2, using the desulfated glycoprotein. The enzyme was also capable of sulfation of the intact mucus glycoprotein, but the acceptor capacity of such glycoprotein was 68% lower. The apparent Km of the submandibular gland sulfotransferase for salivary mucus glycoprotein was 11.1 microM. The 35S-labeled glycoprotein product of the enzyme reaction gave in CsCl density gradient a 35S-labeled peak which coincided with that of the glycoprotein. This glycoprotein upon reductive beta-elimination yielded several acidic 35S-labeled oligosaccharide alditols which accounted for 75% of the 35S-labeled glycoprotein label. Based on the analytical data, the two most abundant oligosaccharides were identified as sulfated tri- and pentasaccharides. The submandibular gland sulfotransferase activity was stimulated by 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 and inhibited by acetylsalicylic acid. The rate of enhancement of the glycoprotein sulfation was proportional to the concentration of prostaglandin up to 2.10(-5) M, at which point a 31% increase in sulfation was attained. The inhibition of the glycoprotein sulfation by acetylsalicylic acid was proportional to the drug concentration up to 2.5.10(-4) M at which concentration a 48% reduction in the sulfotransferase activity occurred. The apparent Ki value for sulfation of salivary mucus glycoprotein in presence of acetylsalicylic acid was 58.9 microM. The results suggest that prostaglandins may play a role in salivary mucin sulfation and that this process is sensitive to such nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents as acetylsalicylic acid.     

Guanylate cyclase: assay and properties of the particulate and supernatant enzymes in mouse parotid.

A new, very sensitive, rapid and reliable assay for guanylate cyclase has been established based on conversion of [32P]GTP to [32P]guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate and its separation on Dowex 50 and aluminium oxide columns. The optimum conditions for the assay of mouse parotid guanylate cyclase have been established and using this procedure the properties of the enzyme have been investigated. The enzyme was found in both the particulate and supernatant fractions. The particulate enzyme was activated 12-fold by Triton X-100 and the supernatant enzyme activity increased 2-fold. In the presence of detergent guanylate cyclase activity was distributed 85% in the particulate and 15% in the supernatant fractions, respectively. The particulate activity was localised in a plasma membrane fraction. Guanylate cyclase activity was also assayed in a wide variety of other tissues. In all cases enzymatic activity was found in both the particulate and supernatant fractions. The distribution varied with the tissue but only the intestinal mucosa had a greater proportion of total guanylate cyclase activity in the particulate fraction than the parotid. The two enzymes showed some similar properties. Their pH optima were pH 7.4, both enzymes were inhibited by ATP, dATP, dGTP and ITP, required Mn2+ for activity and plots of activity versus Mn2+ concentration were sigmoidal. However, in many properties the enzymes were dissimilar. The ratios of Mn2+ to GTP for optimum activity were 4 and 1.5 for the supernatant and plasma-bound enzymes, respectively. The slope of Hill plots for the supernatant enzyme with varying Mn2+ was 2. The particulate enzyme plots also had a slope of 2 at low Mn2+ concentration but at higher concentrations (above 0.7 mM) the Hill coefficient shifted abruptly to 4. Calcium ions reduced sigmoidicity of the kinetics lowering the Hill coefficient, activated the enzyme at all Mn2+ concentrations but had no effect on the Mn2+:GTP ratio with the supernatant enzyme while with the plasma membrane enzyme Ca2+ had no effect on the sigmoid form of the kinetics at low Mn2+ but prevented the shift to a greater Hill coefficient at higher Mn2+, inhibited the activity at low Mn2+ and shifted the Mn2+:GTP optimum ratio to 4. For the particulate enzyme plots of activity versus GTP concentration were sigmoid (n = 1.3), while the supernatant enzyme exhibited hyperbolic kinetics.     

Association of prolyl hydroxylase activity with membranes

Addition of ionic and nonionic detergents to whole homogenates of liver, kidney and lung prepared by a mild homogenization technique resulted in a two- to three-fold increase of prolyl hydroxylase activity. After subcellular fractionation of whole homogenates of liver, particulate and supernatant fractions were incubated in the presence and absence of triton X-100 and assayed for prolyl hydroxylase activity. All particulate fractions tested were able to release significant amounts of prolyl hydroxylase activity in the presence of triton. The release of enzyme activity by triton was observed with the 1000 × g and 17,000 × g supernatants but not with the 105,000 × g supernatant; thus indicating that detergent does not activate soluble enzyme nor make the substrate more accessible to hydroxylation by the enzyme during incubation. Rigorous homogenization of the 17,000 × g particulate fraction with the Polytron ST system resulted in a substantial loss of the amount of prolyl hydroxylase activity released by treatment with triton. These data suggest that a significant amount of prolyl hydroxylase activity is associated with membranes under physiological conditions.     

DISTRIBUTION OF POLYSOMES IN MOUSE BRAIN TISSUE

Abstract— Polysomes were isolated from several different fractions of mouse brain tissue. After homogenization, the extract was centrifuged to yield a post-mitochondrial supernatant fraction and a pellet fraction. Sucrose gradient analysis of the material in the post-mitochondrial supernatant fraction indicated that 80 per cent of the ribosomes were present in polysomes and that little, if any, of the pellet fraction was present. Sucrose gradient analysis of the solution obtained after washing the pellet showed that very little polysomal material was present. The remaining pellet fraction was resuspended in a detergent mixture of deoxycholate-Tween 40. Sucrose gradient analysis of the resulting detergent-soluble solution indicated that large amounts of ribosomal material, in which 60–70 per cent of the ribosomes were associated in polysomes, were present.
In brain tissue from young animals, 20 per cent of the polysomes were found in the post-mitochondrial supernatant fraction whereas 80 per cent of the polysomes were released from the pellet fraction by detergent treatment. In contrast, in brain tissue from adult animals, 40 per cent of the polysomes were found in the post-mitochondrial supernatant fraction, whereas 60 per cent of the polysomes were released from the pellet fraction by detergent treatment.     

Protein and glycoprotein electrophoretic patterns of enriched fractions of primary and secondary granules from guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The postnuclear supernatant fraction of sucrose homogenates of guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was subjected to differential centrifugation to obtain a total particulate fraction, a particle-free supernatant fraction, highly enriched fractions of primary and secondary granules, and a membrane-rich fraction. The various fractions were solubilized in buffer containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and analyzed for protein and glycoproteincomponents by SDS -polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The major glycoprotein components of the postnuclear supernatant fraction were found mainly associated with the enriched fraction of secondary granules and, to a lesser extent, with the membrane-rich fraction. No major glycoprotein components were visible in the polypeptide electrophoretic patterns of the primary granule fraction or of the particle-free supernate. Attempts at separation of guinea pig granules by zonal sucrose density gradient centrifugation were only partially successful. Data supporting a species difference in this regard between rabbit and guinea pig PMNL granules are presented.     

Identification of gastric mucosal mucus glycoprotein sulfotransferase.

Sulfation of mucus glycoproteins, reaction catalyzed by Golgi resident sulfotransferase, is an important event in posttranslational processing of gastric mucins. Here we report the purification of mucus glycoprotein sulfotransferase enzyme from the microsomal fraction of rat gastric mucosa. The enzyme was released from the membrane with 0.5% Triton X-100 and precipitated from the 100,000xg supernatant with 90% ice-cold acetone. The enzyme activity (44.7 pmol/mg/45 min) in the precipitate was enriched nearly 10-fold compared to Triton X-100 extract of microsomal membrane (4.2 pmol/mg/45 min). On SDS-PAGE, the enzyme gave a single 43 kDa protein band, which was active towards mucin, but did not catalyze the sulfation of galactosylceramide. The study is the first to report the characteristics of a sulfotransferase enzyme specific for gastric mucin.     

Lecithin Biosynthetic Enzymes of Onion Stem and the Distribution of Phosphorylcholine-Cytidyl Transferase among Cell Fractions

Enzymatic activities of the cytidine 5′-diphosphate choline pathway for lecithin biosynthesis were demonstrated in homogenates of onion stem (Allium cepa). Choline kinase activity was present in the postmicrosomal supernatant, with less than 3% sedimenting with the particulate fractions. Phosphorylcholine-cytidyl transferase was distributed among all fractions, and phosphorylcholine-glyceride transferase was predominantly found in the particulate fraction.     

THE SUBCELLULAR DISTRIBUTION OF CARBONIC ANHYDRASE IN HOMOGENATES OF PERFUSED RAT BRAIN

Abstract— The distribution of carbonic anhydrase was examined in subcellular fractions of perfused rat brain and compared with those of markers for cytosol (lactic dehydrogenase), mitochondrial matrix (glutamic dehydrogenase), and mitochondrial membranes (succinic dehydrogenase). About half of the total carbonic anhydrase was found in particulate fractions, with the greatest part of this in the crude mitochondrial fraction. This fraction was separated into its components on a discontinuous sucrose gradient either as such or after isotonic mechanical disruption with a French pressure cell, and the resultant fractions were characterized by electron microscopy and by assay of marker enzymes.
Carbonic anhydrase was solubilized by mechanical disruption, but not to the same extent as lactic dehydrogenase. The highest specific activity for carbonic anhydrase was found in the myelin fraction of the gradient. A mitochondrial locus for carbonic anhydrase is unlikely, but the presence of the enzyme in synaptosomes remains in question.
Addition of soluble carbonic anhydrase did not significantly increase the activity of particulate fractions. Treatment of particulate fractions with detergent was necessary to reveal latent activity; this procedure resulted in a more than ten-fold increase in the measurable carbonic anhydrase activity of myelin fragments.     

Intracellular Localization of GDP-Fucose: Polysaccharide Fucosyl Transferase in Corn Roots (Zea mays L.)

The intracellular site of synthesis of the fucose-rich polysaccharide slime secreted by corn roots was localized by monitoring the distribution of GDP-fucose:polysaccharide fucosyl transferase activity in subcellular fractions of corn roots. Root tip sections were chopped in the presence of 0.56 molar sucrose and 100 millimolar Tris (pH 7.0). After a brief centrifugation, the homogenate was applied to a Sepharose 4B column (1.5 × 30 cm). The turbid, particulate portion of the supernatant fraction eluted at the void volume. Ninety per cent of the enzyme activity was found in the pooled particulate fractions. The particulate fraction was purified on linear sucrose gradients. Gradient fractions were characterized by buoyant density, 280 nanometer absorbance, electron microscope observation, and distributions of NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase and fucosyl transferase activities.     

Characterization of tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase from rat liver and other tissues

The sulfoconjugation of tyrosyl residues is a widespread post-translational modification of biologically active peptides and proteins. In this paper we describe the characterization of a rat liver tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase that is capable of catalyzing the transfer of a sulfate moiety from 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to the synthetic polymer, poly-(Glu6,Ala3,Tyr1) (EAY; Mr 47,000) using a simple filter paper assay. Following sucrose density gradient centrifugation and comparison with known subcellular marker enzyme activities, rat liver tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase activity was shown to have a distribution similar to the Golgi enzyme, galactosyltransferase. Using the enriched Golgi preparation, rat liver tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase displayed a pH optimum of 6.7 and required the presence of 20 mM Mn2+ for maximal activity. Co2+ (20 mM) was able to produce 26% of the maximal stimulation observed with Mn2+, whereas other metal ions, such as Mg2+, Ca2+, and Co2+, were not effective in stimulating tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase activity. Whereas tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase activity was observed in the native membrane-bound state, EAY sulfation was maximally enhanced 3-fold when assayed in the presence of Lubrol Px. Under the optimal conditions for assaying the sulfation of EAY by a rat liver enriched Golgi fraction, significant degradation of the sulfate donor, PAPS, was observed. The addition of both NaF and 5'-AMP to the incubation mixture was found to effectively prevent PAPS degradation and increase the amount of product formed in the assay by 10-fold. Using the optimized conditions for the sulfation of EAY by rat liver tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase, membrane-bound sulfotransferase activity was also observed in the crude microsomal pellets of a variety of rat tissues, including lung, pituitary, and cerebellum, as well as in livers from different species.     

Biosynthesis of chondroitin sulfate. Organization of sulfation

The potential relationship of an intact membrane organization for the synthesis of chondroitin and chondroitin 4-sulfate was examined after modification of a mouse mast cell microsomal system with the nonionic detergent, Triton X-100. The results indicated that Triton X-100 had no effect on the rate of polymerization but had a slight effect on the size of glycosaminoglycan chains. An "all or nothing" pattern of sulfation of newly formed chondroitin was obtained in both the presence and the absence of Triton X-100, and this pattern did not change whether sulfation was initiated concurrent with or subsequent to polymerization. Sulfation of exogenous [14C]chondroitin and exogenous proteo[3H]chondroitin by the microsomal system required Triton X-100 but still produced an all or nothing pattern rather than a random sulfation pattern. When a 100,000 x g supernatant fraction was utilized for sulfation of [14C]chondroitin or proteo[3H]chondroitin, Triton X-100 was not needed, and a partial sulfation pattern was obtained. However, it was similar to the all or nothing pattern in that it still produced two populations, with some chains nonsulfated and others approximately 50% sulfated. When chondroitin hexasaccharide was used with 3'-phosphoadenylylphospho[35S]sulfate, multiple GalNAc residues of the individual hexasaccharides were found to be sulfated. This was relatively independent of Triton X-100 or the concentration of the hexasaccharide acceptors. With soluble enzyme, sulfation of multiple GalNAc residues on the individual hexasaccharide molecules was even greater, so that trisulfated products were found. These results suggest that efficient sulfation of chondroitin is related to enzyme-substrate interaction more than to membrane organization.     

Protein Kinase C in Primary Astrocyte Cultures: Cytoplasmic Localization and Translocation by a Phorbol Ester

The distribution of calcium-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) in supernatant and particulate fractions of primary cultures of rat astrocytes and its translocation by a phorbol ester were studied. We observed that 91% of protein kinase C activity in astrocytes was in the supernatant fraction, as measured by lysine-rich histone phosphorylation assay. Attempts to uncover latent activity in the particulate fraction were unsuccessful. Approximately 75% of the supernatant protein kinase C activity could be translocated to the particulate fraction by prior treatment (30-60 min) of the cultures with 100 nM 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), but not with 4 alpha-phorbol, an inactive phorbol ester. Investigation of endogenous substrates for protein kinase C showed that TPA treatment brought about an increase in phosphorylation in membrane proteins and a decrease in phosphorylation of supernatant proteins. These findings indicate that the distribution of protein kinase C in astrocytes differs substantially from that in whole brain tissue, where approximately two-thirds of the protein kinase C activity is associated with the particulate fraction. Because protein kinase C is concentrated in the cytosol of astrocytes and most of this activity can be translocated to membranes, astrocytes may be particularly well-suited to respond to signals that activate phosphoinositide-linked receptors in brain.     

Protein kinase activity in rat testis interstitial tissue. Effect of luteinizing hormone and other factors.

Protein kinase activity was determined in subcellular fractions of rat testis interstitial tissue after incubation of the intact tissue with LH (luteinizing hormone) in vitro. Various factors that might have changed the activity of this enzyme during preparation of the fractions before assay were also investigated. The following results were obtained. 1. LH and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor) added together during incubation of the interstitial tissue caused a twofold increase in the protein kinase activity in the total tissue homogenate and subcellular fractions (12000g X 5 min pellet and 105000g X 60 min supernatant and pellet). 2. A decrease of approx. 40% in the total amount of protein kinase recovered in the soluble fraction (105000g supernatant) occurred in tissue incubated with LH and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine when compared with the controls. No change in total activity was found in the other fractions. 3. LH and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine caused an increase in cyclic AMP concentration in the soluble fraction (from 30 +/- 6 to 450 +/- 40 pmol/mg of protein, means +/- S.E.M., n = 4), but there was little or no increase in the particulate fractions [from 9 +/- 1 to 13 +/- 3 pmol/mg of protein (n = 3) and from 6 +/- 2 to 23 +/- 11 pmol/mg of protein (n = 3) in the 12000g and 105000g pellets respectively]. 4 Addition of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine alone had little effect on protein kinase activity or cyclic AMP concentrations. 5. Little or no protein kinase activity could be demonstrated in subcellular particulate fractions unless Triton X-100 was added; the effect of this detergent was shown to be at least partly due to the inhibition of adenosine triphosphatase activity. 6. In the presence of Triton X-100 approx. 57% of the total protein kinase activity in the homogenate was found in the 105000g supernatant compared with 11% in the 105000g pellet and 32% in the 12000g pellet. 7. In contrast with adipose-tissue protein kinase [Corbin et al. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 1813-1821] the relative amounts of cyclic AMP-dependent and -dependent enzyme were not affected by dilution of the interstitial-tissue fractions. NaCl (0.5 M) decreased the estimated total amount of protein kinase activity.     

Subcellular distribution of aminoacyl-transfer RNA synthetases in Chinese hamster ovary cell culture

Chinese hamster ovary cells grown in cell culture were broken and fractionated by differential centrifugation. Four principal fractions: nuclear and membrane, microsomal, postribosomal, and supernatant were obtained. The distribution of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in these four fractions was determined for all twenty amino acids.It was shown that there is a differential distribution of synthetases. Activities specific for eight amino acids: Ala, Ser, Gly, Cys, His, Arg, Thr and Pro were found mainly in the supernatant fraction. Activities specific for eleven amino acids: Asp, Asn, Glu, Gln, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Tyr and Val were found mainly in the postribosomal fraction. Four activities were found at significant levels in the microsomal fraction: Asp, Phe, Lys and Pro. The nuclear and membrane fraction contained activity for Lys, His, Asp and Thr.Changes in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activities in various fractions from preparations made by breaking cells with a membrane-dissociating detergent showed that some of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activities may be membrane bound.     

Adenylate Cyclase in Silkworm: Regulation by Calcium and a Calcium-binding Protein

Homogenates of silkworm pupal fat body were separated into particulate and supernatant fractions by centrifugation. The particulate fraction was further washed with EGTA. Adenylate cyclase activity of the washed particulate fraction was stimulated 2-fold by the addition of supernatant fraction in the presence of low concentrations of Ca²⁺. The activating factor in supernatant was heat-stable, non-dialyzable and trypsin-sensitive, and shown to be a Ca²⁺-dependent regulator protein. For the activation of adenylate cyclase by the regulator protein, the optimum concentrations of free Ca²⁺ were in a range of 2 µm, and higher concentrations of Ca²⁺ were inhibitory.     

Subcellular distribution and properties of guanylate cyclase in rat cerebellum.

In rat cerebellum the major portion of guanylate cyclase was found to be particulate-bound. The properties of particulate and supernatant guanylate cyclases from the cerebellum were comparatively examined. Both enzymes required the same optimal concentration of Mn2+ and were stimulated by Ca2+ in the presence of a low concentration of Mn2+. But dispersion of the particulate enzyme with Triton X-100 altered the Mn2+ concentration producing maximum activity and the inhibitory effect of Ca2+. The subcellular distributions of guanylate and adenylate cyclases were also studied in rat cerebellum. The major portions of the two cyclases were found in the mitochondrial fraction. The submitochondrial fractions separated by sucrose gradient showed that the major activities of both cyclases were concentrated in the fraction containing mainly nerve ending particles.     

Phosphoprotein phosphatase activity in the thyroid.

Phosphoprotein phosphatase activity in the calf thyroid was found in various subcellular fractions. The relative amount in each fraction varied according to the substrate used: The 500g fraction had the highest specific activity when protamine was used, while the 5000g fraction was highest when histone was used. Triton X-100 tended to increase activity in all the particulate fractions, the greatest change being found in the 105,000g pellet. DEAE chromatography of the 105,000 g supernatant resolved at least three peaks of phosphoprotein phosphatase activity.     

A cytochemical study on the pancreas of the guinea pig. I. Isolation and enzymatic activities of cell fractions

Pancreatic tissue, (guinea pig) homogenized in 0.88 M sucrose, was fractionated by differential centrifugation into a nuclear, zymogen, mitochondrial, microsomal, and final supernatant fraction. The components of the particulate fractions were identified with well known intracellular structures by electron microscopy. The fractions were analyzed for protein-N and RNA, and were assayed for RNase and trypsin-activatable proteolytic (TAPase) activity. The zymogen fraction accounted for 30 to 40 per cent of the total TAPase and RNase activities, and its specific enzymatic activities were 4 to 10 times higher than those of any other cell fraction. The zymogen fraction was cytologically heterogeneous; zymogen granules and mitochondria represented its main components. More homogeneous zymogen fractions, obtained by successive washing or by separation in a discontinuous density-gradient, had specific activities 2 to 4 times greater than the crude zymogen fractions. Chymotrypsinogen was isolated by column chromatography from pancreas homogenates and derived cell fractions. The largest amount was recovered in the zymogen fraction. The final supernatant had properties similar to those of the trypsin inhibitor described by Kunitz and Northrop.