Subcellular distribution and storage form of rat renal renin

Evidence for extracellular, but not intracellular, generation of angiotensin II in the rat adrenal zona glomerulosa

Based on the observation that high levels of renin and angiotensin II (Ang II) are found in the adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG), it has been postulated that Ang II is formed intracellularly by the renin-converting enzyme cascade in this tissue. To test this hypothesis, we examined renin-angiotensin system components in subcellular fractions of the rat adrenal ZG. Renin activity and immunoreactive-Ang II (IR-Ang II) were observed in vesicular fractions but were not colocalized. In addition, angiotensinogen, angiotensin I, and converting enzyme were not observed in the renin or IR-Ang II-containing vesicular fractions. These data do not support the hypothesis that Ang II is formed intracellularly within the renin-containing vesicles of the ZG. Rather, since modulatable renin release from adrenal ZG slices was observed and renin activity was found in dense vesicular fractions (33-39% sucrose), it is likely that Ang II formation in the ZG is extracellular and initiated by the release of vesicular renin. Receptor-mediated endocytosis and subsequent degradation of Ang II in ZG lysosomes have been shown by others. The presence of IR-Ang II in light vesicular fractions (15% sucrose) and the finding of a high correlation between ZG IR-Ang II and Ang II receptor levels suggest that the primary occurrence of this peptide in the ZG is by receptor-mediated endocytosis. In ZG lysosomal fractions 125I-labeled Ang II was degraded to 125I-labeled des-[Phe8]Ang II. Since Ang II antibodies do not recognize des-[Phe8]Ang II, these findings explain why IR-Ang II in the ZG is due predominantly to Ang II and not to its C-terminal immunoreactive fragments.

Lysosomes of the renal cortex: heterogeneity and role in protein handling

Rate sedimentation of the kidney cortical mitochondrial/lysosomal (ML) fraction yields two distinct classes of lysosomes: the large lysosomes or protein droplets and a heterogeneous broad band of smaller lysosomes. The protein droplets which are recovered as a well defined zone of high purity also sediment as a homogeneous band after equilibrium banding at a density of 1.235 g/ml in sucrose. The small lysosomes co-sediment with other subcellular organelles as a broad band, indicated by the distribution of various acid hydrolases, which exhibit subtle heterogeneity among these small lysosomes. The distribution of renin containing granules indicates that in size they represent a distinct subpopulation of small lysosomes. Further fractionation of small lysosomes by equilibrium banding separates two distinct populations at densities 1.20 (small light) and 1.235 g/ml (small dense). Comparison of lysosomal populations fractionated in these studies with the distribution of lysosomal acid hydrolases along the different segments of the nephron suggests that large and small dense lysosomes probably originate from the proximal tubule while the small light lysosomes may contain lysosomes from the distal tubule. Very small, lysosome-like organelles subfractionated from the 'microsomes' may constitute a mixture of small light lysosomes, lysosomal fragments and endocytic vesicles from a variety of cell types. Time course studies with 3H labelled Cd-thionein, following intravenous administration, suggests that uptake in the kidney cortex is very rapid and that catabolism takes place in two distinct phases: rapid breakdown starting in the endosome compartment and slower breakdown in lysosomes. From the association of labelled lysozyme (125I) and Cd-thionein (109Cd) it appears that all the different lysosomal populations identified are at some stage involved with uptake and catabolism of these two proteins.

Evidence from peptide mapping for a human renin zymogen

Data obtained from peptide mapping of the active and inactive forms of human renin show that there are extensive regions of common sequence in the two forms of the enzyme, and are consistent with the hypothesis that inactive renin is a renin zymogen.

Intrarenal localization of renin binding substance in rats

Renin binding substance is a protein that reacts with renin (Mw:40,000) to form a high-molecular-weight renin (Mw:60,000). There is evidence that this substance is present in the renal cortex. However, the exact localization has not been determined. We now report that when glomeruli and tubular segments were isolated from the rat kidney cortex and were frozen and thawed to extract proteins, the high-molecular-weight renin was detected by high performance liquid chromatography, when renin was mixed with an extract of tubular segments, but was not detected with an extract of the glomeruli. Thus, the renin binding substance was demonstrated in the cortical tubular cells but not in the glomeruli. Thus, the renin binding substance was demonstrated in the cortical tubular cells but not in the glomeruli, and the renin binding substance probably does not contribute to the process of biosynthesis of renin in juxtaglomerular cells. Rather, this substance may play a role in tubular functions in the kidney.

The storage form of human renal renin

We isolated renin granules from cadaver kidneys using discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and investigated the storage form of the renin from these granules. Approximately 23% of the total renin activity in the original homogenate was obtained from the surface phase between 1.6 and 1.7 M sucrose (Fraction 6). Granule renin extracted from the granules in Fraction 6 was separated into active and inactive renin using pepstatin affinity chromatography. Only the active renin had an affinity for pepstatin. The inactive renin, albeit activated by trypsin, was little activated by acidification. The proportion of inactive renin was about 25% of the total granule renin (active renin + inactive renin). Trypsin concentrations over 10 micrograms/ml resulted in a decrease in the renin activity of the trypsin-activated renin, but the enzymatic activity of active renin was decreased by trypsin. With gel filtration, the inactive renin revealed a single peak, and the molecular weight (MW) was 48,000. The active renin had a MW of 44,000. The inactive renin could be activated by trypsin without an apparent change in molecular weight.

Biochemical properties of the renin binding substance of rat kidney

Renin extracted from isolated renin granules of the rat is a low molecular weight form (40,000 daltons). The renin binding substance which is capable of binding with the low molecular weight renin to form a high molecular weight renin (60,000 daltons) under sulfhydryl oxidation was found to be contained in the crude extract of rat renal cortex. This substance is presumably a protein with molecular weight of over 47,000 daltons by gel filtration. The most striking event was that rat renin binding substance was bound with dog renin and vice versa.