Localization of fumarylacetoacetate fumarylhydrolase in rat liver

The intracellular location of fumarylacetoacetate fumarylhydrolase (EC 3.7.1.2) has been demonstrated in rat liver tissue. Two fractionation procedures involving homogenization and differential centrifugation were adopted. The first fractionation procedure isolated the nuclear fraction while the second gave the mitochondrial, microsomal, and soluble phase fractions. The hydrolase is localized in the soluble phase of the rat liver tissue. The enzyme also showed a high relative specific activity in the soluble phase fraction. Fractionation efficiency was checked by microscopic studies and by determining the distribution of a number of marker enzymes.