In vitro translation of rat intestinal RNA prepared from isolated villus and crypt cells and from the epithelium-denuded intestine. Synthesis of intestinal basement membrane.

RNA purified from rat intestinal epithelial cells, obtained as isolated cell fractions of a villus-to-crypt gradient, were shown to be capable of directing peptide synthesis in a cell-free system. Analysis of products have demonstrated differences between villus and crypt and between jejunum and ileum. RNA purified from epithelium-denuded intestine was also shown to be capable of directing cell-free protein synthesis. Precipitation of products by antisera to rat IBM showed differences between epithelial and nonepithelial cells. Anti-laminin derived from mouse EHS sarcoma laminin precipitated products synthesized, in vitro, only by nonepithelial intestinal cells. Further studies on the control of the synthesis of rat IBM should provide valuable information on the relative contributions of epithelial and nonepithelial cells to the synthesis of basement membrane components of this organized tissue system.