Topography of glycoproteins in the chick synaptosomal plasma membrane

Chick brain synaptosomes or synaptic subfractions were treated with neuraminidase (EC 3.2.1.18) and/or galactose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.9) preparations in which proteolytic activity was inhibited with phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride followed, after washing, by reductive incorporation of sodium boro[3H]hydride to identify galactose residues exposed on the synaptosomal external surface. Control experiments to demonstrate restriction of labeling to the external surface involved comparing the radioactivity in synaptoplasmic, soluble polypeptides isolated after labeled, isolated synaptoplasm and examining incorporation into fractions incubated without enzymes. Intactness of the synaptic plasma membrane after labeling was shown by trypsin digestion studies. Polypeptides were separated on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels and were detected by a liquid scintillation counting procedure. Eleven major radioactive peaks were found after galactose oxidase treatment and reduction of isolated synaptic membranes. When intact synaptosomes were labeled, the same components were detected. When isolated synaptic membranes or intact synaptosomes were treated with neuraminidase before galactose oxidase treatment, three additional components were labeled. These results suggest that (a) chick synaptic membranes have a complex mixture of glycoproteins, (b) all major chick synaptic membrane glycoproteins labeled by galactose oxidase have most or all carbohydrate groups exposed at the exterior surface of the synaptosome, (c) all major, externally-disposed polypeptides of these synaptic membranes are glycoproteins.