Evidence for the association of L-asparaginase with cytomembrane components in the guinea pig liver soluble fraction.

Homogenization of guinea pig liver in isotonic sucrose solution followed by the separation of the subcellular fractions by differential centrifugation releases the liver L-asparaginase (L-asparagine amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.1) activity into the supernatant fraction. Electron micrographs of the liver L-asparaginase-antibody complexes, precipitated from the clear supernatant phase by addition of L-asparaginase-specific antiserum, show membrane-liek structures and some amorphous material. The attachment of L-asparaginase to the membrane-like structures is indicated by the ferritin-labeled antibody technique. The immunoprecipitates possess low activities of 5'-nucleotidase, alkaline phosphodiesterase I, NADPH cytochrome c reductase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and acid phosphatase. This observation suggests that L-asparaginase found in the liver supernatant fraction is associated with cytomembrane components. Analysis of guinae pig serum L-asparaginase-antibody complexes is polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate gives three distinct protein bands. These bands correspond to heavy and light chains of rabbit immunoglobulins and the L-asparaginase subunits. Analysis of the liver L-asparaginase-antibody complexes by the above procedure shows similar but more diffuse protein bands.