Sub-mitochondrial and sub-microsomal distribution of creatine kinase in guinea pig myocardium

Mitochondrial and microsomal fractions were isolated from guinea pig myocardium by differential pelleting. The mitochondrial fraction was subjected to analytical subfractionation by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and the gradient fractions assayed for marker enzymes for the various mitochondrial compartments, viz outer membrane (monoamine oxidase), intermembranous space (adenylate kinase), inner membrane (Mg2+-dependent ATPase and cytochrome c oxidase) and mitochondrial matrix (malate dehydrogenase), and for creatine kinase. Both creatine kinase and adenylate kinase were released by suspending the mitochondria in 50 mmol . litre-1 sodium phosphate buffer. Sonication or disruption with the detergent, digitonin released the adenylate kinase but the creatine kinase remained associated with the inner membranes. Subsequent salt treatment desorbed the creatine kinase from these membranes. It is concluded that creatine kinase is located to the outer aspect of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Analytical subfractionation of the microsomal fraction clearly resolved markers for the sarcolemma (5'-nucleotidase), outer mitochondrial membrane (monoamine oxidase) and endoplasmic reticulum (neutral alpha-glucosidase and RNA). Creatine kinase was localised in the endoplasmic reticulum particularly the smooth membranes.