Biogenesis of plasmalemmal glycoproteins. Intracellular site of synthesis of mouse liver plasmalemmal 5'-nucleotidase as determined by the sub-cellular location of messenger RNA coding for 5'-nucleotidase.

1. Free and membrane-bound mouse liver polyribosomes were separated by prolonged density-gradient centrifugation of the post-mitochondrial supernatant. RNA was extracted from free and membrane-bound polyribosomes and mRNA purified by oligo(dT)-cellulose column chromatography. 2. Antisera against purified mouse liver plasma membrane 5'-nucleotidase and moust albumin were prepared and characterized. 3. Microinjection of equivalent amounts of mRNA from free and membrane-bound liver polyribosomes into Xenopus laevis oocytes indicated by immuno precipitation and sodium dodecylsulphate gel electrophoresis a higher proportion of mRNA coding for 5'-nucleotidase and serum albumin in membrane-bound polyribosomes than free polyribosomes. 4. Although small, significant amounts of serum albumin and 5'-nucleotidase were also coded for by mRNA purified from free polyribosomes. The results suggest that in vivo, mRNA in mouse liver membrane-bound polyribosomes codes for the synthesis of 17 times more 5'-nucleotidase than does the mRNA in free polyribosomes.