Enzymic solubilization of the human intestinal brush border membrane enzymes

The releases of proteins, maltase, lactase, sucrase, trehalase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and leucylnaphthylamide-hydrolyzing activity from human intestinal brush bborder membrane vesicles by various enzymes (especially pancreatic proteases) have been studied. The brush border membrane enzymes are not solubilized by digestion with trypsin and chymotrypsin but are largely released after treatment with papain or elastase. Most of the enzymes are fully active after the proteolytic treatment. All proteins released by papain and elastase have been identified by electrophoresis to already known intestinal hydrolases. Electron microscopy of brush border membrane vesicles demonstrates "knob-like" structures (particles) attached to the external side of the membrane. During papain treatment, enzyme removal runs parallel with the disappearance of the particles. During elastase treatment it is not possible to correlate the release of the enzymic activities with the removal of the particles. The results indicate that most of the intestinal hydrolases are surface components attached to the external side of the membrane. They are in accord with the concept that the brush border membrane enzymes are organized within the membrane in a mosaic-like pattern.