Adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase: multiple molecular forms.

By starch-gel electrophoresis and a specific staining technique, seven different molecular forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase have been demonstrated in supernatants from homogenates of rat and rabbit tissues. No tissue contains more than four components, but there are distinct differences in component patterns among the various tissues. Tentative molecular weights of the three most prevalent components of rat tissues have been estimated at 135,000, 150,000, and 167,000 by sucrose density gradient centrifugation.