| Abstract: | The subcellular distribution of four enzymes (glucose-6-phosphatase, phosphodiesterase I, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, and p-nitroanisole O-demethylase) in the midgut of “wandering” fifth-instar larvae of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (L), was determined and the composition of mitochondrial and microsomal pellets was examined by electron microscopy. Most of the glucose-6-phosphatase activity and one-third of the phosphodiesterase I activity were found in the high-speed supernatant. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity was marginal and O-demethylase activity was undetectable in the supernatant. The highest specific activities for phosphodiesterase I, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, and p-nitroanisole O-demethylase were measured in microsomes, but the relative specific activity of phosphodiesterase I was only half that obtained with the latter two enzymes. In all subcellular preparations the relative specific activities of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and p-nitroanisole O-demethylase were closely correlated. It is concluded that glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphodiesterase I are not microsomal marker enzymes in the midgut, but the activities of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and p-nitroanisole O-demethylase are quantitative measures of microsomal content. |
