| Abstract: | Vesicular fragments of sarcoplasmic reticulum were isolated from pectoralis muscle of normal and dystrophic chicken. Purification of both preparations was equally satisfactory, as shown by a prominent ATPase band in electrophoresis gels. Measurements of ATPase phosphorylation, Ca2+ transport and Pi cleavage by rapid quench methods revealed a lower specific activity of the dystrophic vesicles with respect to all of these functions. On the other hand, Ca2+-independent ATPase activity was found to be increased in dystrophic vesicles. It is suggested that a fraction of ATPase units of dystrophic sarcoplasmic reticulum is not activated by Ca2+, owing to an altered protein assembly within the membrane bilayer. In fact, when the membrane structure is perturbed by detergents normal and dystropic preparations acquire an equally high Ca2+-dependent ATPase. |
