Analytical subcellular fractionation of guinea-pig myocardium

1. Homogenates of guinea-pig left ventricle were fractionated by differential pelleting and by centrifugation on continuous sucrose density gradients. 2. The principal subcellular organelles of myocardium, characterized by their marker enzyme content, were resolved by density gradient centrifugation in a small-volume zonal rotor. The equilibrium densities (p) of the principal organelles are (with marker enzymes in parentheses): sarcolemma, 1-12 (5'-nucleotidase); lysosomes, 1-16 (N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase); mitochondria, 1-17 (cytochrome oxidase); peroxisomes, 1-18 (catalase); cytosol (lactate dehydrogenase). 3. The subcellular distribution of various adenosine triphosphatase activities and previously unassigned enzymes was determined. Leucyl-beta-naphthylamidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase showed both cytosol and sarcolemma components. Ca2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase showed dual localization to the mitochondria and to the sarcolemma.