[Expression of ceruloplasmin gene in various organs of the rat]

The contribution of different rat organs to the synthesis of ceruloplasmin (Cp) was studied. Dot hybridization with the use of the Cp cDNA probe revealed Cp mRNA sequences in RNA preparations from liver, heart, kidney as well as from different divisions of brain, the concentration of Cp mRNA sequences being maximal in the liver. Polyribosomes isolated from these organs effectively synthesized Cp in a cell-free system derived from rabbit reticulocytes. After in vivo pulse labeling, the newly formed radioactive Cp was detected in the membrane fractions from all these organs. The newly formed Cp was concentrated within the membranes of the Golgi complex of various organs where it was revealed by different immunochemical techniques. Experiments with isolation of the liver from the systemic circulation showed that the liver is the only organ secreting Cp into the blood stream. It was suggested that mammalian tissues contain at least two molecular forms of Cp, i. e., circulatory and intracellular ones.