Isolation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Fractions from Mammary Epithelial Tissue.

In the mammary glands of lactating animals, the mammary epithelial cells that surround the lumen of the acini produce and secrete copious amounts of milk. Functional differentiation of these mammary epithelial cells depends on the development of high-efficiency secretory pathways, notably for protein and lipid secretion. Protein secretion is a fundamental process common to all animal cells that involves a subset of cellular organelles, including the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. In contrast, en masse secretion of triglycerides and cholesterol esters in the form of milk fat globules is a unique feature of the mammary epithelial cell. Cytoplasmic lipid droplets, the intracellular precursors of milk fat globules, originate from the endoplasmic reticulum, as do most milk-specific proteins. This organelle is therefore pivotal in the biogenesis of milk components. Fractionation of the cell into its subcellular parts is an approach that has proven very powerful for understanding organelle function and for studying the specific role of an organelle in a given cell activity. Here we describe a method for the purification of both smooth and rough microsomes, the membrane-bound endoplasmic reticulum fragments that form from endoplasmic reticulum domains when cells are broken up, from mammary gland tissue at lactation.

Interrogating Circulating Microsomes and Exosomes Using Metal Nanoparticles.

A chip-based approach for electrochemical characterization and detection of microsomes and exosomes based on direct electro-oxidation of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) that specifically recognize surface markers of these vesicles is reported. It is found that exosomes and microsomes derived from prostate cancer cells can be identified by their surface proteins EpCAM and PSMA, suggesting the potential of exosomes and microsomes for use as diagnostic biomarkers.

Functional and pharmacological induced structural changes of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in the membrane solved using SAXS.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel is a membrane-integral protein that belongs to the ATP-binding cassette superfamily. Mutations in the CFTR gene cause cystic fibrosis in which salt, water, and protein transports are defective in various tissues. To investigate the conformation of the CFTR in the membrane, we applied the small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) technique on microsomal membranes extracted from NIH/3T3 cells permanentely transfected with wild-type (WT) CFTR and with CFTR carrying the ΔF508 mutation. The electronic density profile of the membranes was calculated from the SAXS data, assuming the lipid bilayer electronic density to be composed by a series of Gaussian shells. The data indicate that membranes in the microsome vesicles, that contain mostly endoplasmic reticulum membranes, are oriented in the outside-out conformation. Phosphorylation does not change significantly the electronic density profile, while dephosphorylation produces a significant modification in the inner side of the profile. Thus, we conclude that the CFTR and its associated protein complex in microsomes are mostly phosphorylated. The electronic density profile of the ΔF508-CFTR microsomes is completely different from WT, suggesting a different assemblage of the proteins in the membranes. Low-temperature treatment of cells rescues the ΔF508-CFTR protein, resulting in a conformation that resembles the WT. Differently, treatment with the corrector VX-809 modifies the electronic profile of ΔF508-CFTR membrane, but does not recover completely the WT conformation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a direct physical measurement of the structure of membranes containing CFTR in its native environment and in different functional and pharmacological conditions.

MAPK scaffolding by BIT1 in the Golgi complex modulates stress resistance.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an essential organelle whose major functions are to ensure proper secretory protein folding and trafficking. These mechanisms involve the activation of specific ER-resident molecular machines, which might be regulated by their membranous environments. Based on this observation, we aimed to characterize the proteome of ER-membrane microdomains to identify new components of the ER that have a role in secretory pathway-associated functions. Using this approach with dog pancreatic rough microsomes, we found that mitochondrial Bcl-2 inhibitor of transcription (BIT1) localized in the early secretory pathway and accumulated in the Golgi complex. Using both a chimeric protein of the luminal and transmembrane domains of ER-resident TRAPalpha and the cytosolic domain of BIT1, and silencing of BIT1 expression, we perturbed endogenous BIT1 oligomerization and localization to the Golgi. This led to enhanced ERK signaling from the Golgi complex, which resulted in improved stress resistance. This work provides the first evidence for the existence of ER microdomains that are involved in the regulation of BIT1 structure and trafficking, and identifies BIT1 as a negative regulator of the ERK-MAPK signaling pathway in the Golgi.

Arabidopsis MPK6 is involved in cell division plane control during early root development, and localizes to the pre-prophase band, phragmoplast, trans-Golgi network and plasma membrane.

The proper spatial and temporal expression and localization of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) is essential for developmental and cellular signalling in all eukaryotes. Here, we analysed expression, subcellular localization and function of MPK6 in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana using wild-type plants and three mpk6 knock-out mutant lines. The MPK6 promoter showed two expression maxima in the most apical part of the root meristem and in the root transition zone. This expression pattern was highly consistent with 'no root' and 'short root' phenotypes, as well as with ectopic cell divisions and aberrant cell division planes, resulting in disordered cell files in the roots of these mpk6 knock-out mutants. In dividing root cells, MPK6 was localized on the subcellular level to distinct fine spots in the pre-prophase band and phragmoplast, representing the two most important cytoskeletal structures controlling the cell division plane. By combining subcellular fractionation and microscopic in situ and in vivo co-localization methods, MPK6 was localized to the plasma membrane (PM) and the trans-Golgi network (TGN). In summary, these data suggest that MPK6 localizing to mitotic microtubules, secretory TGN vesicles and the PM is involved in cell division plane control and root development in Arabidopsis.

Antigen-loaded ER microsomes from APC induce potent immune responses against viral infection.

Although matured DC are capable of inducing effective primary and secondary immune responses in vivo, it is difficult to control the maturation and antigen loading in vitro. In this study, we show that ER-enriched microsomal membranes (microsomes) isolated from DC contain more peptide-receptive MHC I and II molecules than, and a similar level of costimulatory molecules to, their parental DC. After loading with defined antigenic peptides, the microsomes deliver antigenic peptide-MHC complexes (pMHC) to both CD4 and CD8 T cells effectively in vivo. The peptide-loaded microsomes accumulate in peripheral lymphoid organs and induce stronger immune responses than peptide-pulsed DC. The microsomal vaccines protect against acute viral infection. Our data demonstrate that peptide-MHC complexes armed microsomes from DC can be an important alternative to DC-based vaccines for protection from viral infection.

Enrichment of microsomes from Chinese hamster ovary cells by subcellular fractionation for its use in proteomic analysis.

Chinese hamster ovary cells have been the workhorse for the production of recombinant proteins in mammalian cells. Since biochemical, cellular and omics studies are usually affected by the lack of suitable fractionation procedures to isolate compartments from these cells, differential and isopycnic centrifugation based techniques were characterized and developed specially for them. Enriched fractions in intact nuclei, mitochondria, peroxisomes, cis-Golgi, trans-Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) were obtained in differential centrifugation steps and subsequently separated in discontinuous sucrose gradients. Nuclei, mitochondria, cis-Golgi, peroxisomes and smooth ER fractions were obtained as defined bands in 30-60% gradients. Despite the low percentage represented by the microsomes of the total cell homogenate (1.7%), their separation in a novel sucrose gradient (10-60%) showed enough resolution and efficiency to quantitatively separate their components into enriched fractions in trans-Golgi, cis-Golgi and ER. The identity of these organelles belonging to the classical secretion pathway that came from 10-60% gradients was confirmed by proteomics. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD019778. Components from ER and plasma membrane were the most frequent contaminants in almost all obtained fractions. The improved sucrose gradient for microsomal samples proved being successful in obtaining enriched fractions of low abundance organelles, such as Golgi apparatus and ER components, for biochemical and molecular studies, and suitable for proteomic research, which makes it a useful tool for future studies of this and other mammalian cell lines.

Tsc10p and FVT1: topologically distinct short-chain reductases required for long-chain base synthesis in yeast and mammals.

In yeast, Tsc10p catalyzes reduction of 3-ketosphinganine to dihydrosphingosine. In mammals, it has been proposed that this reaction is catalyzed by FVT1, which despite limited homology and a different predicted topology, can replace Tsc10p in yeast. Silencing of FVT1 revealed a direct correlation between FVT1 levels and reductase activity, showing that FVT1 is the principal 3-ketosphinganine reductase in mammalian cells. Localization and topology studies identified an N-terminal membrane-spanning domain in FVT1 (absent in Tsc10p) oriented to place it in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen. In contrast, protease digestion studies showed that the N terminus of Tsc10p is cytoplasmic. Fusion of the N-terminal domain of FVT1 to green fluorescent protein directed the fusion protein to the ER, demonstrating that it is sufficient for targeting. Although both proteins have two predicted transmembrane domains C-terminal to a cytoplasmic catalytic domain, neither had an identifiable lumenal loop. Nevertheless, both Tsc10p and the residual fragment of FVT1 produced by removal of the N-terminal domain with factor Xa protease behave as integral membrane proteins. In addition to their topological differences, mutation of conserved catalytic residues had different effects on the activities of the two enzymes. Thus, while FVT1 can replace Tsc10p in yeast, there are substantial differences between the two enzymes that may be important for regulation of sphingolipid biosynthesis in higher eukaryotes.

Mammary gland involution is associated with rapid down regulation of major mammary Ca2+-ATPases.

Sixty percent of calcium in milk is transported across the mammary cells apical membrane by the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase 2 (PMCA2). The effect of abrupt cessation of milk production on the Ca(2+)-ATPases and mammary calcium transport is unknown. We found that 24 h after stopping milk production, PMCA2 and secretory pathway Ca(2+)-ATPases 1 and 2 (SPCA1 and 2) expression decreased 80-95%. PMCA4 and Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase 2 (SERCA2) expression increased with the loss of PMCA2, SPCA1, and SPCA2 but did not increase until 72-96 h of involution. The rapid loss of these Ca(2+)-ATPases occurs at a time of high mammary tissue calcium. These results suggest that the abrupt loss of Ca(2+)-ATPases, required by the mammary gland to regulate the large amount of calcium associated with milk production, could lead to accumulation of cell calcium, mitochondria Ca(2+) overload, calcium mediated cell death and thus play a part in early signaling of mammary involution.

The assembly of lipid droplets and its relation to cellular insulin sensitivity.

The assembly of lipid droplets is dependent on PtdIns(4,5)P(2) that activates PLD(1) (phospholipase D(1)), which is important for the assembly process. ERK2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 2) phosphorylates the motor protein dynein and sorts it to lipid droplets, allowing them to be transported on microtubules. Lipid droplets grow in size by fusion, which is dependent on dynein and the transfer on microtubules, and is catalysed by the SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein-attachment protein receptor) proteins SNAP-23 (23 kDa synaptosome-associated protein), syntaxin-5 and VAMP-4 (vesicle-associated protein 4). SNAP-23 is also involved in the insulin-dependent translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 to the plasma membrane. Fatty acids induce a missorting of SNAP-23, from the plasma membrane to the interior of the cell, resulting in cellular insulin resistance that can be overcome by increasing the levels of SNAP-23. The same missorting of SNAP-23 occurs in vivo in skeletal-muscle biopsies from patients with T2D (Type 2 diabetes). Moreover, there was a linear relation between the amount of SNAP-23 in the plasma membrane from human skeletal-muscles biopsies and the systemic insulin-sensitivity. Syntaxin-5 is low in T2D patients, which leads to a decrease in the insulin-dependent phosphorylation of Akt (also known as protein kinase B). Thus both SNAP-23 and syntaxin-5 are highly involved in the development of insulin resistance.

Rapid analytical and preparative isolation of functional endosomes by free flow electrophoresis.

Endosomes are prelysosomal organelles that serve as an intracellular site for the sorting, distribution, and processing of receptors, ligands, fluid phase components, and membrane proteins internalized by endocytosis. Whereas the overall functions of endosomes are increasingly understood, little is known about endosome structure, composition, or biogenesis. In this paper, we describe a rapid procedure that permits analytical and preparative isolation of endosomes from a variety of tissue culture cells. The procedure relies on a combination of density gradient centrifugation and free flow electrophoresis. It yields a fraction of highly purified, functionally intact organelles. As markers for endosomes in Chinese hamster ovary cells, we used endocytosed horseradish peroxidase, FITC-conjugated dextran, and [35S]methionine-labeled Semliki Forest virus. Total postnuclear supernatants, crude microsomal pellets, or partially purified Golgi fractions were subjected to free flow electrophoresis. Endosomes and lysosomes migrated together as a single anodally deflected peak separated from most other organelles (plasma membrane, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi). The endosomes and lysosomes were then resolved by centrifugation in Percoll density gradients. Endosomes prepared in this way were enriched up to 70-fold relative to the initial homogenate and were still capable of ATP-dependent acidification. By electron microscopy, the isolated organelles were found to consist of electron lucent vacuoles and tubules, many of which could be shown to contain an endocytic tracer (e.g., horseradish peroxidase). SDS PAGE analysis of integral and peripheral membrane proteins (separated from each other by condensation in Triton X-114) revealed a unique and restricted subset of proteins when compared with lysosomes, the unshifted free flow electrophoresis peak, and total cell protein. Altogether, the purification procedure takes 5-6 h and yields amounts of endosomes (150-200 micrograms protein) sufficient for biochemical, immunological, and functional analysis.

Microsomal T system: a stereological analysis of purified microsomes derived from normal and dystrophic skeletal muscle.

Heterogeneous populations of microsomes obtained from normal and dystrophic chicken pectoralis muscle were separated into two subfractions by an iterative loading technique. The buoyant density of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) microsomes was increased after loading them with calcium oxalate. Several incubations in the transport medium were necessary to load all of the SR. The fraction that did not form a pellet contained microsomes which displayed freeze-fracture faces that had a low density of particles. A stereological analysis was used on membrane fracture faces of intact muscle to generate reference particle density distributions, which were compared with the distributions measured on the microsomal fracture faces. The concave microsomal fracture faces of purified microsomes which did not load calcium oxalate had particle distributions nearly identical to the distributions of intact P-face T tubules. The morphological data suggest that this subfraction is microsomal T system. Biochemical measurements show negligible amounts of specific Na+, K+-ATPase activity, suggesting that there was little contamination from the surface membrane in this subfraction. Furthermore, an active Ca2+-ATPase is demonstrated in both normal and dystrophic T-tubular membranes.

Characterization of cytoplasmically oriented Golgi proteins with a monoclonal antibody.

BALB/c mice were repeatedly immunized with a galactosyl transferase-rich microsomal fraction of rat myeloma cells. Spleen cells were subsequently fused with Sp2/0 mouse myeloma cells, the resulting hybridomas were cloned, and their secreted Ig was screened for reactivity with antigens belonging to the Golgi complex. One such monoclonal antibody, 6F4C5, gave especially intense immunofluorescent staining of the Golgi area of myeloma cells and fibroblasts. It recognized two proteins bands on immunoblots of gel-fractionated cell lysates: a major one with an estimated Mr of 54,000 and a minor one at 86,000. Both proteins were concentrated in microsomal fractions isolated at low ionic strength. They were hydrophilic judging from partitioning of a Triton X-114 cell lysate. Both were cytoplasmically oriented as demonstrated by protease and high KCl treatments of postmitochondrial supernatants and microsomal fractions. Neither was retained by columns of insolubilized wheat germ agglutinin or concanavalin A, which suggests that they are not glycoproteins. Their more detailed location in the Golgi complex was studied by immunoelectron microscopy, using a saponin permeabilization procedure and peroxidase-conjugated reagents. The observed staining was restricted to two or three cisternae in the medial part of the stack. Nevertheless, differential centrifugation experiments indicated that the two antigens may be recovered in distinct subcellular fractions: this may be related to the unexpected observation that rather low salt concentrations strip the antigens from microsomal fraction.

Antibodies to rat pancreas Golgi subfractions: identification of a 58-kD cis-Golgi protein.

A 58-kD cis-Golgi protein has been identified by generating polyclonal antibodies against heavy (cis) Golgi subfractions. Total microsomes isolated from rat pancreatic homogenates were subfractionated to yield a rough microsomal fraction (B1) and three smooth membrane subfractions (B2-B4) enriched in cis-, middle, and trans-Golgi elements, respectively. The heavy (cis) subfraction, B2 (d = 1.17 g/ml), was fractionated by Triton X-114 phase separation, and the proteins recovered in the detergent phase were used to immunize rabbits. One of the anti-B2 antibodies obtained gave a "Golgi"-staining pattern when screened by immunofluorescence on normal rat kidney cells and mouse RPC 5.4 myeloma cells. In rat pancreatic exocrine cells the antibody reacted with the plasmalemma as well as elements in the Golgi region. By immunoelectron microscopy, the antigen recognized by anti-B2 IgG was found to be restricted to cis-Golgi elements in myeloma cells where it was concentrated in the fenestrated cis-most cisterna and in some of the tubules and vesicles located along the cis face of the Golgi complex. By immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting, the anti-B2 IgG exclusively recognized a 58-kD protein in myeloma cells. The anti-B2 IgG reacted with several proteins in solubilized pancreatic B2 membranes, including a 58-kD protein, but affinity-purified anti-58-kD IgG reacted exclusively with the 58-kD protein. These results suggest that the 58-kD protein is a specific component of cis-Golgi membranes.

Electron microscopic examination of subcellular fractions. I. The preparation of representative samples from suspensions of particles.

A method is described for preparing, by filtration on Millipore filters, very thin (about 10 micro) pellicles of packed particles. These pellicles can be embedded in Epon for electron microscopic examination. They are also suitable for cytochemical assays. The method was used with various particulate fractions from rat liver. Its main advantages over the usual centrifugal packing techniques are that it produces heterogeneity solely in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the pellicle and that sections covering the whole depth of the pellicle can be photographed in a single field. It thus answers the essential criterion of random sampling and can be used for accurate quantitative evaluations.

Coated vesicle isolation by immunoadsorption on Staphylococcus aureus cells.

Porcine brain coated vesicles were isolated from crude fractions of tissue homogenates by affinity separation using anticlathrin-coated STaphylococcus aureus (Staph A) cells as a solid-phase immunoadsorbent. The specificity of the immunoadsorption was monitored by SDS PAGE analysis and by competitive ELISA assays. SDS PAGE of the material immunoadsorbed from a fraction of porcine bran smooth microsomes showed a selective enrichment in a 180,000 mol wt protein. In an ELISA assay, this protein competed effectively--in binding anticlathrin--with clathrin extracted from a coated vesicle preparation. When the immunoadsorbed fraction was examined by electron microscopy, coated vesicles and vesicle-free cages were found forming a quasicontinuous monolayer on the surface of the Staph A cells. Other particles were not adsorbed, and the controls were free of either clathrin cages or coated vesicles. Upon extensive dialysis (against MES buffer, pH 6.5), similar cages appeared on the surface of anticlathrin-coated Staph A cells reacted with extracted clathrin. This study demonstrates that anticlathrin-coated Staph A cells can be used for the isolation and purification of a homogeneous population of coated vesicles. In addition, the ability of extracted clathrin to bind and to polymerize onto the Staph A cells raises the possibility of using this technique to further explore the conditions required for cage and/or vesicle reconstitution.

Isolation and properties of the plasma membrane of KB cells.

Plasma membranes from KB cells were isolated by the method of latex bead ingestion and were compared with those obtained by the ZnCl(2) method. Optimal conditions for bead uptake and the isolation procedure employing discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation are described. All steps of preparative procedure were monitored by electron microscopy and specific enzyme activities. The plasma membrane fraction obtained by both methods is characterized by the presence of the Na(+) + K(+)-activated ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase, and contains NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome b(5). The latter two enzymes are also present in lower concentrations in the microsomal fraction. Unlike microsomes which are devoid of the Na(+) + K(+)-activated ATPase and which contain only traces of 5'-nucleotidase activity, the plasma membrane fraction contains only trace amounts of the rotenone-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase but no cytochrome P-450, both of which are mainly microsomal components. Morphologically the plasma membrane fraction isolated by the latex bead method is composed of vesicles of 0.1-0.3 microm in diameter. On the basis of the biochemical and morphological criteria presented, it is concluded that the plasma membrane fraction isolated by the above methods are of high degree of purity.

Glycosyltransferase activities in Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum fractions isolated from African trypanosomes.

Highly enriched Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum fractions were isolated from total microsomes obtained from Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma congolense, and Trypanosoma vivax, and tested for glycosyltransferase activity. Purity of the fractions was assessed by electron microscopy as well as by biochemical analysis. The relative distribution of all the glycosyltransferases was remarkably similar for the three species of African trypanosomes studied. The Golgi complex fraction contained most of the galactosyltransferase activity followed by the smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum fractions. The dolichol-dependent mannosyltransferase activities were highest for the rough endoplasmic reticulum, lower for the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and lowest for the Golgi complex. Although the dolichol-independent form of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase was essentially similar in all the fractions, the dolichol-dependent form of this enzyme was much higher in the endoplasmic reticulum fractions than in the Golgi complex fraction. Inhibition of this latter activity in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum fraction by tunicamycin A1 suggests that core glycosylation of the variable surface glycoprotein may occur in this organelle and not in the rough endoplasmic reticulum as previously assumed.

Annexins in cell membrane dynamics. Ca(2+)-regulated association of lipid microdomains.

The sarcolemma of smooth muscle cells is composed of alternating stiff actin-binding, and flexible caveolar domains. In addition to these stable macrodomains, the plasma membrane contains dynamic glycosphingolipid- and cholesterol-enriched microdomains, which act as sorting posts for specific proteins and are involved in membrane trafficking and signal transduction. We demonstrate that these lipid rafts are neither periodically organized nor exclusively confined to the actin attachment sites or caveolar regions. Changes in the Ca(2+) concentration that are affected during smooth muscle contraction lead to important structural rearrangements within the sarcolemma, which can be attributed to members of the annexin protein family. We show that the associations of annexins II, V, and VI with smooth muscle microsomal membranes exhibit a high degree of Ca(2+) sensitivity, and that the extraction of annexins II and VI by detergent is prevented by elevated Ca(2+) concentrations. Annexin VI participates in the formation of a reversible, membrane-cytoskeleton complex (Babiychuk, E.B., R.J. Palstra, J. Schaller, U. Kämpfer, and A. Draeger. 1999. J. Biol. Chem. 274:35191-35195). Annexin II promotes the Ca(2+)-dependent association of lipid raft microdomains, whereas annexin V interacts with glycerophospholipid microcompartments. These interactions bring about a new configuration of membrane-bound constituents, with potentially important consequences for signaling events and Ca(2+) flux.

Comparison of prohormone-processing activities in islet microsomes and secretory granules: evidence for distinct converting enzymes for separate islet prosomatostatins.

In previous work we have examined the nature of converting enzymes for proinsulin, proglucagon, and prosomatostatin-I (PSS-I) in secretory granules isolated from anglerfish islets. The purpose of the present study was to extend the examination of precursor conversion to islet microsomes and to compare prohormone processing, including that of PSS-I and prosomatostatin-II (PSS-II), in islet secretory granules and microsomes. Microsomes (rough endoplasmic reticulum [RER] and Golgi complex) and secretory granules were prepared from anglerfish islets by differential and discontinuous density-gradient centrifugation. Microsomes were further fractionated into Golgi- and RER-enriched subfractions. Lysed secretory granule or microsome preparations were incubated in the presence of a mixture of radioactively labeled islet prohormones. Extracts of products generated were subjected to analysis by gel filtration and high-pressure liquid chromatography. Accuracy of product cleavage was monitored by comparing high-pressure liquid chromatography retention times from the radiolabeled in vitro conversion products with the retention times of labeled products from tissue extracts. All converting activity in microsomes was found to be similar to that in granules in that it had a pH optimum near pH 5 and was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate. No significant differences in the converting activity of Golgi complex- and RER-enriched subfractions of microsomes was observed. The proinsulin, proglucagon, and PSS-II converting-enzymes, which were found in islet secretory granules, were also present and membrane-associated in islet microsomes. However, converting activity for PSS-I was displayed only in secretory granules. This suggests that two or more separate enzymes are involved in processing PSS-I and PSS-II, and that these enzymes have either differential distribution or differential activity in RER/Golgi complex and secretory granules. The demonstration of converting enzyme activity in islet microsomes supports the proposal that these enzymes may be synthesized at the RER and are internalized along with the prohormones.