Identification of an intracellular pathway of thyroxine synthesis by dispersed thyroid cells

This study deals with the identification of the biochemical events involved in the metabolic sequence leading from the synthesis to the release of thyroxine in the dispersed thyroid cell system. (1) Using an experimental model allowing the differentiation between intracellular and extracellular sites of iodination, it is shown that thyroxine is synthesized inside the cells by an iodinating system sensitive to thyrotropin stimulation. (2) The secretion of thyroxine synthesized inside the cells is not mediated by an exocytotic-endocytotic phenomenon. Colchicine, vinblastine, fluoride, propanolol and chlorpromazine, at concentrations equal to or 10--100-times higher than those required to inhibit hormone release in follicular-organized thyroid tissue have no effect on thyrotropin-stimulated thyroxine secretion. (3) The secretion involves the intracellular proteolysis of hormone-containing iodoprotein(s) which, in addition to free thyroxine, generates free mono- and diiodotyrosines. Free thyroxine is released into the incubation medium and iodotyrosines are deiodinated under normal conditions and accumulate in the presence of an inhibitor of iodotyrosine deiodinase: 3,5-dinitrotyrosine. This proteolysis is inhibited by 5 mM chlorpromazine. These data indicate that the complete metabolic sequence leading from the uptake of iodide to the release of free thyroxine into the incubation medium can be described as an 'intracellular metabolic sequence for thyroxine synthesis'.