Polypeptide and phospholipid composition of the membrane of rat liver peroxisomes: Comparison with endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial membranes

Yukio Fujiki, Stanley Fowler, Helen Shio, L. Hubbard, Paul B. Lazarow

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

279 Scopus citations

Abstract

Membranes were isolated from highly purified peroxisomes, mitochondria, and rough and smooth microsomes of rat liver by the one-step Na2CO3 procedure described in the accompanying paper (1982, J. Cell Biol. 93: 97-102). The polypeptide compositions of these membranes were determined by SDS PAGE and found to be greatly dissimilar. The peroxisomal membrane contains 12% of the peroxisomal protein and consists of three major polypeptides (21,700, 67,700 and 69,700 daltons) as well as some minor polypeptides. The major peroxisomal membrane proteins as well as most of the minor ones are absent from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Conversely, most ER proteins are absent from peroxisomes. By electron microscopy, purified peroxisomal membranes are ~6.8 nm thick and have a typical trilaminar appearance. The phospholipid/protein ratio of peroxisomal membranes is ~200 nmol/mg; the principal phospholipids are phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine, as in ER and mitochondrial membranes. In contrast to the mitochondria, peroxisomal membranes contain no cardiolipin. All the membranes investigated contain a polypeptide band with a molecular mass of ~15,000 daltons. Whether this represents an exceptional common membrane protein or a coincidence is unknown. The implications of these results for the biogenesis of peroxisomes are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)103-110
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Cell Biology
Volume93
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 1982

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

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