Subcellular fractionation of epithelial cells from toad urinary bladder. 2. Isopycnic centrifugation and effect of density perturbants

Cytoplasmic granules obtained from toad urinary bladder epithelial cells were brought to buoyancy in a linear sucrose gradient. The gradient was loaded either with untreated cytoplasmic granules, or with granules treated with Na pyrophosphate (PPi), with digitonin, or with PPi and digitonin in succession. The following enzymes were assayed in the gradient subfractions: oligomycin-insensitive Mg++-ATPase, alkaline phosphodiesterase I, alkaline phosphatase, acid N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, cytochrome oxidase, nucleoside diphosphatase (substrate, ADP), aminopeptidase (substrate, leucyl-beta-naphthylamide), and mannosyltransferase (acceptor, dolichylphosphate). Comparison of the density distributions of enzymes in untreated and treated preparations led to the characterization of 4 distinct subcellular entities. In agreement with the properties of mitochondria from other cell types, cytochrome oxidase buoys at 1.18 within a narrow density range and its behavior is not significantly altered by PPi or digitonin. Under all conditions, acid N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase is recovered over a broad density range in the lower part of the gradient and appears as a qualified lysosomal marker. Mg++-ATPase, alkaline phosphodiesterase I, and alkaline phosphatase belong to a group with the distinguishing features of a low equilibrium density in native cytoplasmic granules and a marked shift (+0.03 density units) after digitonin treatment. Such properties are typical of the plasma membranes. Part of the aminopeptidase activity probably also belongs to plasma membrane-derived elements. Minor differences between alkaline phosphatase and the other 2 members of that group make it possible that their distribution domains in the membrane do not overlap or coincide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)