J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 259, Issue 19, 11735-11738, 10, 1984
Role of supernatant protein factor and anionic phospholipid in squalene uptake and conversion by microsomes
J Chin and K Bloch
Supernatant protein factor (SPF), a cytosolic protein (Mr = 47,000)
stimulates microsomal squalene epoxidase activity 4- to 10-fold in the
presence of anionic phospholipid such as phosphatidylglycerol (PG) (Saat,
Y., and Bloch, K. (1976) J. Biol. Chem. 251, 5155-5160). This effect has
been ascribed to substrate translocation from inactive to active pools
within the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (Friedlander, E. J.,
Caras, I. W., Lin, L. F. H., and Bloch, K. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255,
8042-8045). Here we show that SPF and PG also stimulate squalene uptake per
se by microsomes as well as stimulate squalene epoxidase. Microsomes
preloaded with substrate in the presence of SPF and PG show full epoxidase
activity. They do not require further addition of these factors during
enzyme assay. Addition of SPF and PG to assay mixtures containing
microsomes preloaded with substrate in the presence of SPF and PG did not
further increase epoxidase activity. We also show that PG tightly binds to
microsomes. This binding of PG is essential for the response of microsomal
epoxidase to SPF. Solubilized microsomal enzymes have been reconstituted
and show high epoxidase activity. In this system, SPF and PG do not
stimulate the conversion of squalene into products.