Search

1. In a previous paper (Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1974) 369, 50-63) the purification of two proteins with lysophospholipase activity (EC 3.1.1.5), provisionally denoted lysophospholipase I and lysophospholipase II, has been described. The subcellular localization of both enzymes was investigated by cell fractionation studies. 2. For each subcellular fraction the total lysophospholipase activity, after solubilization by n-butanol treatment, was separated into a lysophospholipase I and II contribution by DEAE-Sephadex ion exchange chromatography. 3. Lysophospholipase I was found to be a soluble enzyme with a bimodal distribution. Highest relative specific activities were measured in the mitochondrial and the cytoplasmic fraction. Evidence is presented indicating that this enzyme is present in the mitochondrial matrix fraction. 4. Lysophospholipase II appeared to be a membrane-bound enzyme with highest relative specific activity in the microsomal fraction.

1. Two distinct lysophospholipases have previously been obtained in homogeneous form from beef liver. In this paper, we demonstrate that ageing of a beef liver homogenate does not result in a change in the ratio of the two enzymatic activities, indicating that no interconversion of the lysophospholipases took place. 2. Possible partial structural relationships between the two enzymes were explored by immunochemical techniques. Rabbit antisera raised against each individual lysophospholipase showed no cross-reactivity with the other enzyme. This was concluded from immuno double-diffusion experiments and from the results of immunoprecipitation of enzymatic activities in solution. 3. Lysophospholipase and esterase activity in the purified preparation of lysophospholipase II from beef liver were concomitantly precipitated by anti-serum against lysophospholipase II. This is further proof that both enzymatic activities reside in a single polypeptide chain, in agreement with previous results of isoelectric focusing experiments.

Monoclonal antibodies against rat liver mitochondrial phospholipase A2 were used to develop a rapid immunoaffinity chromatography for enzyme purification. The purified enzyme showed a single band upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The sequence of the N-terminal 24 amino acids was determined. This part of the sequence showed only 25% homology with that of rat pancreatic phospholipase A2 but was 96% identical to that of rat platelet and rat spleen membrane-associated phospholipase A2. These enzymes are distinguished from pancreatic phospholipases A2 by the absence of Cys-11. In rat liver phospholipase A2 activity has been reported in various subcellular fractions. All of these require Ca2+ and have a pH optimum in the alkaline region, but little is known about the structural relationship and quantitative distribution of these enzymes. We have investigated these points after solubilization of the phospholipase A2 activity from total homogenates and crude subcellular fractions by extraction with 1 M potassium chloride. Essentially all of the homogenate activity could be solubilized by this procedure indicating that the enzymes occurred in soluble or peripherally membrane-associated form. Gel filtration and immunological cross-reactivity studies indicated that phospholipases A2 solubilized from membrane fractions shared a common epitope with the mitochondrial enzyme. The quantitative distribution of the immunopurified enzyme activity among subcellular fractions followed closely that of the mitochondrial marker cytochrome c oxidase. Rat liver cytosol contained additional Ca2+-dependent and -independent phospholipase activities.