Subcellular localization and properties of adenosine triphosphatase in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes

Substrate specificity of alkaline phosphatase from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The ability of alkaline phosphatase in purified preparations from human neutrophils and liver to utilize ATP or inorganic pyrophosphate as substrate depended upon the Mg2+ concentration. With pyrophosphate present (1.0 mmol/l), activity peaked at Mg2+ concentrations of 0.25 to 0.50 mmol/l and fell sharply above this. By contrast, p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity was activated with Mg2+ concentration up to 0.75 mmol/l but above this was constant to 5.0 mmol/l. Hydrolysis was abolished by L-levamisole, a specific inhibitor of alkaline phosphatase. Testing butanol extracts of neutrophils from 50 healthy subjects showed good correlation of enzyme activity with p-nitrophenylphosphate and ADP (r = 0.90), and between p-nitrophenylphosphate and pyridoxal phosphate (r = 0.96) as substrate, consistent with hydrolysis of all three phosphoesters by one enzyme. Inhibition studies yielded no evidence of a specific pyridoxal phosphatase. Alkaline phosphatase from human neutrophils has the same broad substrate specificity as other molecular forms of the human enzyme and, like other forms, has little or no activity towards phosphoesters complexed with Mg2+.

Canine neutrophil plasma membrane markers

The purpose of this investigation was to determine which enzyme activities are true canine neutrophil plasma membrane markers. Three enzymes thought to be present on plasma membranes were chosen for study: 5'-nucleotidase, magnesium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Mg2+-ATPase), and leucine aminopeptidase. Both 5'-nucleotidase and Mg2+-ATPase were found to be ectoenzymes in the canine neutrophil but additional Mg2+-ATPase activity was located intracellularly. An endogenous inhibitor of 5'-nucleotidase was found in the cytosol of canine neutrophils. The specific 5'-nucleotidase inhibitor, adenosine 5'-[alpha, beta-methylene] diphosphate also inhibited the canine enzyme in intact cells. Leucine aminopeptidase was located solely in the myeloperoxidase-containing granules of the canine neutrophil. Plasma membrane, as identified by the presence of Mg2+-ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase activities, was separated from other cell organelles by Percoll-density gradient centrifugation of a 10 000 X g supernatant of nitrogen cavitated neutrophils.

Purification and properties of alkaline phosphatase from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

A procedure for the purification of alkaline phosphatase from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes is described, involving enzyme solubilisation with Triton X-100 and chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL 6B and Cibacron Red F = B-Sepharose 4B. The final enzyme preparation was 244-fold purified and was shown to be capable of hydrolysis of a wide range of phosphorylated substates.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate: a possible physiological substrate for alkaline phosphatase in human neutrophils

The intracellular localization of pyridoxal phosphatase activity was demonstrated in human neutrophils by electron microscope cytochemistry. Under alkaline conditions, an enzyme active against pyridoxal phosphate was localized to a cytoplasmic granule population, the phosphasome. These granules have previously been shown by electron microscope cytochemical techniques and by subcellular fractionation to be rich in alkaline phosphatase. Under acidic conditions, a phosphatase activity against pyridoxal phosphate was localized to intracellular multilamellar bodies resembling secondary lysosomes. These were quite distinct from the primary, secondary and phosphasome granules and this unique localization corresponds to that previously demonstrated (tertiary granules) by subcellular fractionation studies of these cells. The similarity in the enzyme reaction requirements of alkaline pyridoxal phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase, and their localization to the same subcellular organelle, suggests that pyridoxal phosphate may be a physiological substrate for human neutrophil alkaline phosphatase.

Subcellular localization and properties of alkaline inorganic pyrophosphatase in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes

A new rapid assay for inorganic pyrophosphatase has been developed and the procedure optimised for measurement of the enzyme in human neutrophils. Kinetic studies showed that the activity was optimal at pH 8.0 and was activated by Mg2+. No neutral or acid pyrophosphatase was detected. Neutrophils were homogenised in isotonic sucrose and, after low speed centrifugation the intracellular localization of pyrophosphatase was determined by analytical subcellular fractionation with sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Pyrophosphatase was shown to have a dual localization to mitochondria and cytosol. No activity could be attributed to either the endoplasmic reticulum or alkaline phosphatase-containing granules (phosphasomes). Inhibitor studies clearly show that the cytosolic and mitochondrial pyrophosphatases are due to distinct enzymes. Neutrophils were isolated from control subjects, patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia and subjects in the third trimester of pregnancy. The specific activity (mU/mg protein) of pyrophosphatase, in contrast to that of alkaline phosphatase was similar in the three groups. Levamisole, a potent inhibitor of alkaline phosphatase had no effect on pyrophosphatase activity, confirming that this activity is not attributable to neutrophil alkaline phosphatase.

Subcellular localization and properties of pyridoxal phosphate phosphatases of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and their relationship to acid and alkaline phosphatase

Using a novel fluorimetric assay for pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase, human polymorphonuclear leucocytes were found to exhibit both acid an alkaline activities. The neutrophils were homogenised in isotonic sucrose and subjected to analytical subcellular fractionation by sucrose density gradient centrigfugation. The alkaline pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase showed a very similar distribution to alkaline phosphatase an was located solely to the phosphasome granules. Fractionation experiments on neutrophils treated with isotonic sucrose containing digitonin and inhibitor studies with diazotised sulphanilic acid and levamisole further confirmed that both enzyme activities had similar locations and properties. Acid pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase activity was located primarily to the tertiary granule with a partial azurophil distribution. Fractionation studies on neutrophils homogenised in isotonic sucrose containing digitonin and specific inhibitor studies showed that acid pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase and acid phosphatase were not the result of a single enzyme activity, Neutrophils were isolated from control subjects, patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia and patients in the third trimester of pregnancy. The specific activities (munits/mg protein) of alkaline pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase an alkaline phosphatase varied widely in the three groups and the alterations occurred in a parallel manner. The specific activities of acid pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase and of acid phosphatase were similar in the three groups. These results, together with the fractionation experiments and inhibition studies strongly suggest that pyridoxal phosphate is a physiological substrate for neutrophil alkaline phosphatase.

Electron microscopic cytochemical localization of nucleoside phosphatases in normal and chronic granulocytic leukaemic human neutrophils

Using electron microscope cytochemistry and cells separated on Ficoll-Hypaque, Mg2+-dependent ATPase, ADPase and 5'-nucleotidase were predominantly localized as ectoenzymes on normal human granulocytes. Large deposits of ATPase final reaction product and more finely granular deposits of 5'-nucleotidase final reaction product were firmly attached to the outer surface of cell plasma membranes. The final reaction product from ecto-ADPase was, however, only loosely associated with the plasma membrane. In addition, finer deposits of ADPase final reaction product were seen in specific granules and in background cytoplasm. No nucleotidase phosphatase activity was localized to the alkaline phosphatase-containing granules (phosphasomes) recently described by Rustin et al. In granulocytes from patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia, ecto-ATPase had a patchy distribution on the plasma membranes. There was considerable heterogeneity between cells with regard to ADPase and 5'-nucleotidase localization. In some cells, ADPase was seen only at both site, while in some cells no activity was detected. 5'-Nucleotidase localization was normal in some cells but lacking from many. No correlation was found between enzyme heterogeneity and the degree of morphological cell maturity.

The ultrastructural localization of human neutrophil alkaline phosphatase in normal individuals during pregnancy and in patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia

The intracellular localization of alkaline phosphatase was determined in human neutrophils by electron microscope cytochemistry. In normal individuals, the largest and most intense deposits of reaction product was seen in a unique cytoplasmic granule population termed 'phosphasomes'. Lighter deposits were seen on nuclear membranes, some intracytoplasmic membranes lining vacuoles and granules and occasionally in focal patches on the internal surface of the plasma membrane. In cells isolated from women in the third trimester of pregnancy, activity was found in the same intracellular sites but there were, on average, more alkaline phosphatase-containing granules per cell than in the cells from non-pregnant individuals. Neutrophils from pregnant women were also characterized by the presence of large deposits of reaction product on the external surface of the plasma membrane (extramembranous). This activity had properties characteristic of the placental isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase, found in serum during pregnancy. Neutrophils from patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia, showing normal mature morphology, contained significant amounts of granule reaction product but there were fewer phosphasomes per cell than in normal individuals. In morphologically immature cells, reaction product was present in nuclear membranes, endoplasmic reticulum and large granules. These results were in agreement with previous biochemical data confirming a quantitative lack of alkaline phosphatase in chronic granulocytic leukaemia.