Demonstration of methionine synthetase in intestinal mucosal cells of the rat

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Methionine synthethase was measured in the mucosal cells of the rat duodenum, jejunum and ileum. No activity was found in these cells. When a dual buffer system for the isolation of villous and crypt cell population was substituted, methionine synthetase was active in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, both in the villous and crypt cell populations. The activity was significantly higher in the crypt cells than in the villous cells throughout the intestine, and higher levels were found in the ileum than in the duodenum or jejunum. Nitrous oxide in vivo reduced the enzyme activity in the villous and crypt cell populations, suggesting a role in vivo for the enzyme. Methionine synthetase is present and active in the small intestinal mucosal cells of the rat.