INTRACELLULAR DISTRIBUTION OF PHOSPHOMONOESTERASES IN RAT LIVER HOMOGENATE

Acid phosphatase or phosphomonoesterase II activity of rat and mouse liver homogenates, prepared in 0.25 M sucrose, was found mainly in the cytoplasmic granules. Since the small percentage of activity of the nuclear fraction activity could be explained by the presence of mitochondria (which were actually counted in this fraction) it is concluded that rat and mouse liver nuclei do not contain acid phosphatase activity.A rather broad range of acid phosphatase activity was observed in rat and mouse livers depending on the time elapsed between the preparation of homogenate and the activity determinations. However, a preincubation of the tissues or isolated fractions at 37° C. for 60 min. was sufficient to increase the activity to an optimal value, and thus eliminate variations due to the latency of this enzyme.Alkaline phosphatase or phosphomonoesterase I activity was also found to be latent in rat liver homogenates. The phenomenon was less apparent than for acid phosphatase and seemed to depend mostly on the nature of the buffer employed in the assay system.Some evidence for the presence of two forms of alkaline phosphatase in rat liver cells is presented. One form of the enzyme was found to have an absolute requirement of magnesium for activity and was present in the soluble fraction, whereas the other which was not activated by magnesium seemed firmly linked to the nuclei and microsomes and was absent in the soluble fraction. The activity in the mitochondrial fraction was small and seemed of doubtful significance.