Evidence for a synaptic plasma membrane associated adenylate kinase in the rat brain

About 5% of the total adenylate kinase activity in the rat forebrain was found in a subcellular fraction enriched in synaptic plasma membrane (SPM). The enzyme remained membrane bound after washing by 1M potassium acetate. It was resistant to trypsin digestion under conditions which destroyed 90% of acetylcholinesterase activity. The SPM enzyme was solubilized by 0.25% Triton X-100 resulting in a 4-fold increase in activity. Similar effects were observed when SPM was treated with phospholipases, melittin and trifluoperazine. These results suggest the occurrence of an adenylate kinase closely associated with SPM the activity of which can only be fully expressed by disturbances to the hydrophobic lipid bilayer. The enzyme can be seen as strategically located to play a role in regenerating ATP required for the manifold activities of the synaptic membrane.