Altered secretion of kidney lysosomal enzymes in the mouse pigment mutants ruby-eye, ruby-eye-2-J, and maroon.

Melanosomes and lysosomes share structural and biosynthetic properties. Three mouse pigment mutants, ruby-eye, ruby-eye-2-J, and maroon, have abnormally high concentrations of kidney lysosomal enzymes. concentrations of kidney nonlysosomal enzymes and of liver and serum lysosomal enzymes are normal. By light microscopy the mutants have normal kidney lysosome morphology. It does not appear that the mutant genes cause an increased rate of production of lysosomes since the increased kidney beta-glucuronidase concentration is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in rate of synthesis. The common defect in all mutants is a decreased rate of secretion of lysosomal enzymes from kidney into urine. Eight mouse pigment mutants are not known which affect both melanosome and lysosome function. They should serve as useful models for the study of the biogenesis, structure, and processing of these and other subcellular organelles.