Proteins of the kidney microvillus membrane. Identification of subunits after sodium dodecylsullphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis.

The proteins of microvilli prepared from pig kidney were analysed by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. The typical pattern stained for protein revealed five major bands, four of which also stained for carbohydrate, and about 15 minor bands. For descriptive purposes the bands were designated numerically by their apparent molecular weights (X10(-3). Well-characterized proteins were identified with four of the five major bands. Dipeptidyl peptidase IV, a serine proteinase that may be specifically labelled with di-isopropyl [32P]phosphorofluoridate, was assigned to band 130. Aminopeptidase M was assigned to band 160, though when released from the membrane by a proteinase, this protein comprises three polypeptides each of lower apparent molecular weight than the native enzyme. Neutral endopeptidase can be assigned to band 95 and actin to band 42. The fifth major band (180) is an extrinsic glycoprotein that has not been identified with any microvillus enzyme activity. These four proteins contribute 21% of the microvillus-membrane protein. Kidney microvillus actin was characterized by a variety of properties and was similar to muscle actin. A computer analysis of the gel pattern indicates that it comprises 9.0% of the microvillus protein. Myosin is not present in the microvillus, but another protein associated with band 95, with properties that distinguish it from neutral endopeptidase, was tentatively identified as alpha-actinin. Alkaline phosphatase was identified as a monomeric polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 80000; it is a minor protein of the microvillus and is not discernible as a discrete band in the gel pattern. These and other results permit a model of the organization of the microvillus protein to be suggested. The computer program used has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50070 (12 pages) at the British Library Lending Division, Boston Spa. Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms given in Biochem. J. (1976) 153,5.