Specific release of plasma membrane enzymes by a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C

The release of plasma membrane ecto-enzymes by a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. There was no effect on l-leucyl-β-naphthylamidase, alkaline phosphodiesterase I and Ca²⁺- or Mg²⁺-ATPase, but substantial proportions of the alkaline phosphatase and 5′-nucleotidase were released. There was no simultaneous release of phospholipid and the solubilized enzymes were not excluded from Sepharose 6-B. It was therefore concluded that release was not a secondary consequence of membrane vesiculation but occurred as a result of the disruption of specific interactions involving the phosphatidylinositol molecule.