Proteins and enzymes of the brush-border membrane of mouse intestine: influence of organ culture on gel electrophoretic patterns

Abstract

Purifications of mouse intestinal brush-border membranes from control explants and scrapings of intestinal mucosa have been compared. Based on the specific activity of sucrase used as a specific marker of these membranes, higher purification factors were obtained with control explants (24.7 ± 0.9) as compared with scrapings of intestinal mucosa (14.8 ± 0.9). However, similar patterns of proteins and enzymes were obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after membrane solubilization by 2% SDS at room temperature. After 24 h of culture, higher molecular weight species of maltase–glucoamylase–isomaltase (band 4), alkaline phosphatase (bands 9–10), and trehalase (band 17) have been observed. Enzyme species appearing in the particulate fraction of culture media were, however, identical with those found at the brush-border membrane level in control explants, except for trehalase. These results are interpreted by considering the possible adsorption of serum components to brush-border membrane proteins. It thus appears that the membrane proteins and enzymes released in the media during organ culture are identical with those synthesized in the tissue in vitro or in vivo.