Association of Enzymatic Activity with Submicroscopic Particles

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Considerable study of the mitochondrial fraction of tissues has shown that these particulates possess the major portion of the activity of a number of tissue enzyme systems. Previous studies have not indicated,however, exclusive localization of an enzymatic activity in these particles. Investigations on the hydrolysis of triacetic acid lactone by rat kidney homogenates revealed that almost all of the lactonase activity could be sedimented and fractionated, indicating that about 70% of this activity was associated with the submicroscopic particles, whereas the mitochondrial fraction possessed approx. 7% of the total activity. Since the slight activity of the mitochondrial fractions can probably be attributed to contamination by submicroscopic particles, it is suggested that the lactonase activity is an exclusive function of microsomes.
Keywords