Crosslinking studies on the Ca2+, Mg2+-activated ATPase of Escherichia coli.

Crosslinking of membrane proteins of Escherichia coli with dithiobis (succinimidyl propionate) (DSP) resulted in loss of several enzyme activities including the Ca2+, Mg2+-activated ATPase. This enzyme was crosslinked by DSP to the membrane and was not released by dialysis at low ionic strength in the absence of dithiothreitol which could cleave the crosslinking group. DSP inactivated both phosphohydrolase and coupling activities of the solubilized ATPase. Loss of hydrolytic activity could be correlated with the extent of reaction of the alpha and/or beta subunits of the enzyme. The loss of coupling activity appeared to be associated with modification of the gamma and/or delta subunits.     

Purification and characteristics of hydrophobic membrane protein(s) required for DCCD sensitivity of ATPase in Mycobacterium phlei.

The energy-transducing N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-sensitive (DCCD-sensitive) ATPase complex consists of two parts, a soluble catalytic protein (F1), and an intrinsic membrane protein (F0). The bacterial coupling factor complex, BCF0-BCF1, has recently been purified from Mycobacterium phlei, and used to reconstitute oxidative phosphorylation in detergent-extracted membranes. The BCF0 moiety has been purified by being recovered from the purified BCF0-BCF1 complex by affinity chromatography. BCF0 is a lipoprotein or lipoprotein complex with an approximate molecular weight of 60,000. The preparation contained 0.15 mg of phospholipid per milligram protein. There appear to be three polypeptides, with approximate molecular weights of 24,000, 18,000, and 8,000 as determined by sodium dodecylsulfate acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Purified BCF0 conferred DCCD sensitivity on a purified BCF1 preparation. Reconstitution of oxidative phosphorylation was achieved after incubation of detergent-extracted membranes with purified BCF0 and purified BCF1.     

Partial purification of active delta and epsilon subunits of the membrane ATPase from escherichia coli.

We have partially purified active delta and epsilon subunits of the E. coli membrane-bound Mg2+-ATPase (ECF1). Treating purified ECF1 with 50% pyridine precipitates the major subunits (alpha, beta, and gamma) of the enzyme, but the two minor subunits (delta and epsilon), which are present in relatively small amounts, remain in solution. The delta and epsilon subunits were then resolved from one another by anion exchange chromatography. The partially purified epsilon strongly inhibits the hydrolytic activity of ECF1. The epsilon fraction inhibits both the highly purified five-subunit ATPase and the enzyme deficient in the delta subunit. The latter result indicates that the delta subunit is not required for inhibition by epsilon. By contrast, two-subunit enzyme, consisting chiefly of the alpha and beta subunits, was insensitive to the ATPase inhibitor, suggesting that the gamma subunit may be required for inhibition by epsilon. The partially purified delta subunit restored the capacity of ATPase deficient in delta to recombine with ATPase-depleted membranes and to reconstitute ATP-dependent transhydrogenase. Previously we reported (Biochem, Biophys. Res. Commun. 62:764 [1975]) that a fraction containing both the delta and epsilon subunits of ECF1 restored the capacity of ATPase missing delta to recombine with depleted membranes and to function as a coupling factor in oxidative phosphorylation and for the energized transhydrogenase. These reconstitution experiments using isolated subunits provide rather substantial evidence that the delta subunit is essential for attaching the ATPase to the membrane and that the epsilon subunit has a regulatory function as an inhibitor of the ATPase activity of ECF1.     

Biostimulation of Na,K-ATPase by low-energy laser irradiation (685 nm, 35 mW): comparative effects in membrane, solubilized and DPPC:DPPE-liposome reconstituted enzyme

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of low-energy laser irradiation (685 nm, 35 mW) on the ATPase activity of the different forms of the Na,K-ATPase. METHODS: Membrane-bound and solubilized (alphabeta)(2) form of Na,K-ATPase was obtained from the dark red outer medulla of the kidney and proteoliposomes of DPPC:DPPE and Na,K-ATPase was prepared by the co-solubilization method. Irradiations were carried out at 685 nm using an InGaAIP diode laser. RESULTS: The ATPase activity of the membrane fraction was not altered with exposition to irradiation doses between 4 and 24 J/cm(2). However, with irradiation doses ranging from 32 to 40 J/cm(2), a 28% increase on the ATPase activity was observed while when using up to 50 J/cm(2) no additional enhancement was observed. When biostimulation was done using the solubilized and purified enzyme or the DPPC:DPPE-liposome reconstituted enzyme, an increase of about 36-40% on the ATPase activity was observed using only 4-8 J/cm(2). With irradiation above these values (24 J/cm(2)) no additional increase in the activity was observed. These studies revealed that the biostimulation of ATPase activity from different forms of the Na,K-ATPase is dose dependent in different ranges of irradiation exposure. The stimulation promoted by visible laser doses was modulated and the process was reverted after 2 h for the enzyme present in the membrane and after about 5 h for the solubilized or the reconstituted in DPPC:DPPE-liposomes.     

Solubilization and purification of galactosyltransferase from golgi membranes of rat ventral prostate

UDP-galactose ovomucoid galactosyltransferase, a membrane-bound enzyme involved in the biosynthetic pathways for formation of the nonreducing terminal oligosaccharide sequences on glycoproteins, has been solubilized and purified from rat ventral prostate Golgi membranes. Solubilization was effected by treatment of the particulate fraction with Triton X-100 (0.5% v/v) and MnCl₂ (25 mM). The solubilized enzyme was purified by affinity chromatography on hen ovomucoid-sepharose column. The purified galactosyltransferase showed three protein bands of approx. 74,000, 60,000, and 54,000 daltons on sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. On gel filtration, enzyme activity eluted at approx. 70,000 daltons with a broad shoulder between 60,000 and 50,000 daltons. Isoelectric focusing of the purified enzyme resolved at least five active bands with pHi of 9, 7.4, 6.75, 6.1, and 4.8.     

Studies of substructure and tightly bound nucleotide in bacterial membrane ATPase.

Highly purified preparations of Streptococcus faecalis ATPase contain a similar but inactive protein detected by prolonged polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The inactive protein appears to arise by proteolytic cleavage of the major subunits in the enzyme. By use of a new technique, subunit analysis in SDS gels was performed on the enzyme band and the inactive protein band excised from a polyacrylamide gel after electrophoresis. The results indicated that the ATPase has the composition alpha3beta3gamma in which alpha = 60,000, beta = 55,000, and gamma = 37,000 daltons. The inactive protein appears to have the composition (f)6 in which f = 49,000 daltons. There is also evidence that the enzyme band contains some slightly modified forms of the ATPase, such as alpha3beta2 (f)gamma. The inactive protein lacks the capacity for tight nucleotide binding. Our experiments show that the tight ATPase-nucleotide complex formed in S. faecalis cells (the endogenous complex) behaves differently from the tight complex formed in vitro (the exogenous complex). We prepared a doubly labeled complex containing endogenous 32P-labeled ADP and ATP and exogenous 3H-labeled ADP. We observed that the addition of free nucelotide to the doubly labeled ATPase displaced the exogenous bound ligand from the enzyme but not the endogenous bound nucleotide. We suggest that the displaceable and nondisplaceable forms of the tight ATPase-nucleotide complex correspond to two different conformational states of the enzyme.     

THE SUBUNIT STRUCTURE OF YEAST DNA PHOTOLYASE AND THE PURIFICATION OF A FLUORESCENT ACTIVATOR OF THE ENZYME

Abstract— Yeast DNA photolyase purified twice by affinity chromatography was analyzed by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gradient gels or by sedimentation velocity through 5–200/, sucrose gradients containing 0.4MKC1. Its molecular weight estimated by both these methods was 130 ,000 and 136 ,000, respectively. However, the enzyme dissociated into two bands having molecular weights of 60 ,000 and 85 ,000 when it was examined by electrophoresis on SDS polyacrylamide gradient gels. The subunit structure of the enzyme was confirmed when two absorption maxima corresponding to polypeptides of 54 ,000 and 82 ,500 daltons were observed in sucrose gradients run in 1.0 M KCI. Upon mixing these two fractions, a time-dependent increase in activity occurred, demonstrating that active enzyme could be reconstituted from these subunits.
The activity of photolyase purified by affinity chromatography is enhanced by a compound (activator III) obtained from yeast by acidification, neutralization, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Activator III emits at 350 and 440 nm when excited at 290 nm, and emits at 440 nm when excited at 358 nm. After acid hydrolysis, emission at 440 nm is produced only by excitation at 358 nm, indicating that it contains two separate chromophoric moieties. The chromophore excited by 358 nm light has a pK of 9–11, while the other has a pK of 4–5. Enhancement of photolyase activity by activator III at a concentration equimolar with that of the enzyme and the similarity of the fluorescent spectra of the activator and heat-denatured photolyase suggest that the activator may be the chromophore associated with the enzyme.     

PROTOPORPHYRIN-SENSITIZED PHOTODYNAMIC MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS IN ISOLATED HUMAN RED BLOOD CELL MEMBRANES

Abstract— The photodynamic action of protoporphyrin on red cell ghosts is reflected by extensive cross-linking of membrane proteins to very high molecular weight protein aggregates. This process was studied with sepharose gel chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Most sensitive to this photodynamic effect are spectrin and band 2. 1, 2. 2, 2.3 and 4.1. polypeptides, which are cross-linked after very brief illumination periods, with a concomitant loss of spectrin-associated ATPase activity. Band 6 protein, representing the monomeric form of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, is also very sensitive to protoporphyrin-induced cross-linking. The enzymatic activity decreased even faster than the amount of band 6 polypeptides, suggesting that modification(s) of the enzyme other than cross-linking, possibly by rapid photooxidation of a thiol group, may be responsible for inactivation.
Extracted and purified spectrin was cross-linked with about the same velocity as membrane-bound spectrin, reinforcing our previously drawn conclusion that membrane lipids are not involved in the cross-linking reaction. Eluted band 6 polypeptides on the other hand exhibited a relatively fast photo-oxidative modification but a much slower cross-linking to dimers and tetramers. This suggests that the membrane structure, e.g. the spectrin matrix may play an essential role in the incorporation of membrane-bound band 6 polypeptides in the high molecular weight cross-linked complex.     

Phosphorprotein intermediate in the Ca2+-dependent ATPase reaction of macrophage plasma membrane.

ATPase activity and phosphorylation by [gamma-32P] ATP of isolated plasma membrane of alveolar macorphages are stimulated in a parallel fashion by physiologic concentrations of Ca2+, with half-maximal activating effect of this ion at (3--7) X 10(-7) M. For various membrane preparations, a direct proportionality exists between Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity and amount of 32P incorporated. Labeling of membrane attains the steady-state level by 10 sec at 0 degrees C, and is rapidly reversed by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), K+ decreases the amount of membrane-bound 32P, mainly by enhancing the rate of dephosphorylation of the 32P-intermediate. Hydroxylamine causes a release of about 90% of 32P bound to the membrane, thus indicating that the 32P-intermediate contains an acyl-phosphate bond. When the labeled plasma membrane is solubilized and electrophoresed on acrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate, the radioactivity appears to be largely associated with a single protein fraction of 132,000 +/- 2,000 aarent molecular weight. These features of the macrophage Ca2+-ATPase suggest that the enzyme activity might be part of a surface-localized Ca1+-extrusion system, participating in the regulation of Ca2+-dependent activities of the macrophage.     

The size of adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase from the rat renal medulla.

The size distribution of adenylate cyclase from the rat renal medulla solubilized with the nonionic detergents Triton X-100 and Lubrol PX was determined by gel filtration and by centrifugation in sucrose density gradients made up in H2O or D2O. The physical parameters of the predominant form in Triton X-100 are s20,w, 5.9S; Strokes radius, 62 A; partial specific volume (v), 0.74 ml/g; mass, 159,000 daltons; f/f0, 1.6; axial ratio (prolate ellipsoid), 11. For the minor form the values are: s20w, 3.0; Stokes radius, 28 A; mass, 38,000 daltons; f/f0, 1.2. The corresponding values determined in Lubrol PX are similar. The value for V for the enzyme indicates that it binds less than 0.2 mg detergent/mg protein. Since interactions with detergents probably substitute for interactions with lipids and hydrophobic amino acid side chains, these findings suggest that no more than 5% of the surface of adenylate cyclase is involved in hydrophobic interactions with other membrane components. Thus, most of the mass of the enzyme is not deeply embedded in the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane. Similar studies have been performed on the soluble guanylate cyclase of the rat renal medulla. In the absence of detergent, the molecular properties of this enzyme are: s20w, 6.3S; Stokes radius, 54 A, V, 0.75 ml/g; mass, 154,000 daltons f/f0, 1.4; Axial ratio, 7. The addition of 0.1% Lubrol PX to this soluble enzyme increases it activity two- to fourfold and changes the physical properties to: s20,w, 5.5S; Stokes radius, 62 A; V, 0.74 ml/g; mass, 148,000 daltons, f/f0, 1.6; axial ratio, 11. These results show that Lubrol PX activates the enzyme by causing a conformational change with unfolding on the polypeptide chain. Guanylate cyclase from the particulate cell fraction can be solubilized with Lubrol PX but has properties quite different from those of the enzyme in the soluble cell fraction. It is a heterogeneous aggregate with s20,w, 10S; Stokes radius, 65 A; mass about 300,000 daltons. The conditions which solubilize guanylate cyclase also solubilize adenylate cyclase and the two activities can be separated on the same sucrose gradient.     

LIGHT-INDUCIBLE ABSORBANCE CHANGES AND VANADATE-SENSITIVE ATPase ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESUMPTIVE PLASMA MEMBRANE FRACTION FROM CAULIFLOWER INFLORESCENCES

Sucrose density gradient centrifugation of a microsomal membrane fraction of cauliflower inflorescences showed a strong correlation between a blue light mediated cytochrome b reduction (LIAC) and an ion stimulated nitrate-insensitive but a vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity at 38-40% sucrose. LIAC activity and vanadate-sensitive ATPase might be assigned to the same type of membrane different from ER, Golgi, tonoplast and mitochondria. The Mg²⁺-dependent ATP-hydrolytic activity obtained after purification of the microsomal fraction on an aqueous polymer two phase system was partially characterized. Temperature optimum (40°C), pH optimum (pH 7.0), vanadate inhibition (I₅₀ at 20 μ M ), substrate kinetics ( K _m= 1.37 m M Mg.ATP) and inhibitor studies all point to the presence of the frequently described plasma membrane ATPase. Potassium and Na⁺ stimulated the enzyme activity (20-40%). In general our data arc strongly in favour of the hypothesis that LIAC activity is localized on the plant plasma membrane. The cytochrome b involved in the light reaction has a midpoint potential near +150 mV. This cytochrome which has been previously shown in a cauliflower microsomal fraction is a constituent of the plasma membrane.     

Purification and characterization of adenosine diphosphatase from human umbilical vessels.

Adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase) activity was solubilized with a non-ionic detergent, Tween 20, from human umbilical vessels and purified to homogeneity by diethylaminoethyl-Sepharose CL-6B, adenosine 5'-monophosphate-Sepharose 4B, and concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography. The apparent molecular mass was 75 kDa. The purified enzyme hydrolyzed pyrophosphate bonds of nucleoside di- and triphosphates in the presence of calcium ion. It was insensitive to the adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) inhibitors, oligomycin and ouabain, and sensitive to sodium azide. Therefore, we concluded that the ADPase activity in human umbilical vessels does not derive from ADPase degrading only ADP but from ATP diphosphohydrolase (EC 3.6.1.5). The broad substrate specificity and the sensitivity to various inhibitors and calcium ion are common to ATP diphosphohydrolase from bovine aorta. However, there might exist some structural difference around the active site, because the antiserum raised in rabbit against the bovine aorta enzyme scarcely inhibited the human umbilical enzyme.     

On the properties of alpha-glucosidase and the binding of glucose to the enzyme.

An alpha-glucosidase was purified from baker's yeast. The molecular weight was approximately 44 000 daltons. SDS-disc gel electrophoresis suggested that the enzyme consisted of four subunits. The isoelectric point was at pH 5.4. The Km values for p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside and maltose were 2.9 X 10(-4) and 2.5 X 10(-2) M, respectively. Binding of 2-(p-toluidino)naphthalene-6-sulfonate to the alpha-glucosidase was associated with a strong increase in fluorescence. The dissociation constant of the enzyme-TNS complex was 8 X 10(-5) M. The fluorescent probe did not interfere with the binding of glucose to the enzyme although the alpha-glucosidase was inhibited by high concentrations of TNS. The formation of an enzyme-glucose complex was indicated by an increase of fluorescence and by a shift in the wavelength for maximal emission which suggests that the binding process is associated with a change in conformation. The dissociation constant of the glucose--alpha-glucosidase complex KD = 0.57 X 10(-3) M, was calculated from the increase in fluorescence as a function of glucose concentration.     

Physical and enzymatic properties of nucleotide-depleted beef heart mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase.

Tightly bound adenine nucleotides are removed from multiple binding sites on beef heart mitochondrial ATPase (F1) by chromatography on columns of Sephadex equilibrated with 50% glycerol. Release of nucleotides from the enzyme is associated with large decreases in sedimentation velocity (from 11.9 S to 8.4 S) which may be observed in concentrated solutions of polyols. Polyol-induced conformational changes are reversed when the enzyme is returned to dilute buffers. The nucleotide-depleted enzyme restores oxidative phosphorylation in F1-deficient submitochondrial particles. Reconstitution of nucleotide-depleted F1 with the ATP analog (adenylyl-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP), almost 5 moles of AMP-PNP per mole of enzyme, results in preparations with substantially inhibited ATPase activity which nevertheless restores oxidative phosphorylation and the 32Pi-ATP exchange reaction in F1-deficient submitochondrial particles. Incubation of the analog-labeled enzyme with ATP and Mg++ results in partial displacement of the analog and a time-dependent recovery of ATPase activity.     

Purification and some properties of phospholipase C from Achromobacter xylosoxidans.

A non-haemolytic phospholipase C (EC 3.1.4.3) was purified from the culture medium of Achromobacter xylosoxidans with a 5% yield and a purification factor of 330. A combination of ultrafiltration, acetone precipitation and two subsequent affinity chromatographic steps was used. The affinity chromatography is a new application of 2-(4-aminophenylsulphonyl)ethyl-cellulose, a sorbent that has previously been used for the purification of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus. The purified enzyme gave four distinct bands on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and each band was catalytically active. Under our experimental conditions, the phospholipids examined were hydrolysed in the following order: phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin. Neither the synthetic substrate p-nitrophenylphosphorylcholine nor phosphatidylinositol was hydrolysed under different experimental conditions. For maximal hydrolytic activity toward phosphatidylcholine, the enzyme required Triton X-100 and Ca2+ ions. EDTA was inhibitory, but the enzyme activity was almost completely restored by Zn2+. The molecular mass of the phospholipase C, estimated by gel permeation, was 34,000 daltons.     

Characterization of an Isozyme of β-Glucosidase from Sweet Almond

A sweet almond β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) isozyme was purified from commercial crude product. The process of purification consisted of a Protein-Pak Q anion exchange chromatography following by a Superdex 75 HR gel filtration separation. The purified enzyme is a monomeric glycoprotein with molecular weight of 58 kDa and pI=4.55 which is distinguished from reported isozymes. The enzyme has apH optimum in the range of 5.2-5.6 when p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glycopyranosides are used as substrate and is stable up to 50 °C at that pH range. The purified protein also exhibits profound β-galactosidase and σ-L-arabinosidase activity. The study of substrate specificity revealed that lacking of hydroxymethyl group at C-5 of glycosides resulted in higher affinity for substrate binding to enzyme, whereas the chemical step of hydrolysis (k_cst) was prevented significantly. The pH activity profile displayed a bell-shaped curve for all measured p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glycopyranosides with apparent pK₁ and pK₂ values of 4.4-4.7 and 6.2-6.4, respectively. This isozyme was strongly inhibited by δ-gluconolactone (K_i = 160 μM) and 4-phenylimidazole (K_i = 17.8 μM) reversibly at pH 6.2. Among the tested glycoses, the binding affinity of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine to the enzyme (K_l = 52 mM) was 6 times stronger than that of glucose and its epimers.     

Visualization of the turkey erythrocyte beta-adrenergic receptor

We have recently described the affinity chromatography purification of the turkey erythrocyte beta-adrenergic receptor. The minute amounts obtained initially precluded extensive biochemical characterization. To improve the yield of the receptor, the erythrocyte membranes have been prepared by a new method. This procedure resulted in a 10-fold higher receptor density in comparison with the membrane preparation used previously. The new membranes also contained a catecholamine-sensitive guanine triphosphatase and an adenylate cyclase sensitive to Gpp(NH)p and l-epinephrine. Solubilization by a double digitonin extraction resulted in a preparation containing 4-6 pmoles of 3H-dihydroalprenolol binding sites per mg of membrane protein. A single step of affinity chromatography on alprenolol-sepharose of the soluble digitonin extract resulted in an additional 1,000-fold purification of the receptor. The overall purification factor was 20,000 relative to the binding activity of the crude membrane preparations. Electrophoresis is SDS-polyacrylamide of iodinated purified beta-receptors revealed, after autoradiography, the presence of four major components. Three of these, corresponding to molecular weights of 170,000, 33,000, and 30,000, respectively, were not affected by reduction with beta-mercaptoethanol and were not observed when the digitonin extracts were loaded on the affinity gel in the presence of an excess of l-propranolol. A fourth 52,000-dalton component (60,000 daltons after reduction with beta-mercaptoethanol) remained apparent even when affinity purification was prevented by addition of l-propranolol. Our results suggest that the beta-adrenergic receptor is composed of at least three subunits that interact by noncovalent bonds.     

淀粉酶产色链霉菌TUST2中ε-聚赖氨酸降解酶的纯化和性质

分离得到产抗菌聚氨基酸--ε-聚赖氨酸菌株淀粉酶产色链霉菌TUST2,从中纯化了ε-聚赖氨酸降解酶,并对其性质进行了研究.结果表明,该酶为膜结合蛋白.为提取该降解酶,先收集菌体细胞并用超声波破碎,细胞膜部分用1.0 moL/L NaSCN溶液溶解.将粗酶液进行Sephadex G100凝胶柱层析分离.用100mmol/L磷酸缓冲液洗脱,收集活性部分.纯化后的样品用SDS-PAGE检测,酶亚基分子量约为54700.酶活力在pH=6.0～9.0间稳定,最适宜pH=7.0.酶的最适温度为30℃,在10～50℃水浴30 min酶活力未见明显下降.研究了不同金属离子对酶活力的影响,结果表明,Zn~(2+),Cu~(2+)和Fe_(3+)可分别提高酶活力29.72%,15.85%和15.08%;但Ag~(+),Hg~(2+),Co~(2+)和Mn~(2+)对酶活力有强烈的抑制作用.Ca2~(2+),K~+和Ba~(2+)对酶活力没有影响.添加4%Tween-80能提高酶活力10%,但EDTA能强烈抑制酶活力.研究结果表明,此降解酶的性质与白色链霉菌产生的ε-聚赖氨酸降解酶的性质相似.     

The HLB dependency for detergent solubilization of hormonally sensitive adenylate cyclase.

The HLB dependency for the solubilization of membrane proteins and adenylate cyclase activity from a plasma membrane-enriched fraction from rat liver has been determined. The HLB (hydrophilic/lipophilic/balance) number of a detergent is an empirical measure of its relative hydrophobicity. Detergent HLB numbers vary systematically with the length of the ethylene oxide chain for a homologous series of detergents such as the Triton X series. These detergents have a constant hydrophobic moiety, octylphenyl, and a variable polar portion, polyethoxyethanol. Basal-NaF-epinephrine-, and glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities were solubilized in the HLB range of 16.8-17.4. Solubilization was most effective in 0.01 M Tris buffers at pH 7.5 containing 1-5 mM mercaptoethanol, 1 mM MgCl2, and 0.1% Triton X-305. The detergent to membrane protein ratio used in these studies was 3:1. Criteria for solubilization included lack of sedimentation at 100,000 X g, the absence of particulate material in the supernatant when examined by electron microscopy, and inclusion of hormonally sensitive adenylate cyclase activity in Sephadex G-200 gels. The apparent molecular weight of the solubilized enzyme was approximately 200,000 in the presence of Triton X-305. The solubilized enzyme was stimulated 5-fold by NaF, 7-fold by glucagon, and 20-fold by epinephrine compared to the particulate enzyme used in this study which was stimulated 10-fold, 3.4-fold, and 4-fold by NaF, epinephrine, and glucagon, respectively. The solubilized enzyme is stable for several weeks when stored at -60 degrees C.