Characterisation of gut hormone storage granules from normal human jejunum using metrizamide density gradients

Analytical subcellular fractionation techniques using metrizamide density gradients have been used to investigate the properties of the gut hormone storage granules and the principal organelles from homogenates of normal human jejunal mucosa obtained by peroral mucosal biopsy. The individual hormones, detected by radioimmunoassay, each showed single discrete peaks in the density gradient experiments indicating localisation to single granules each with characteristic modal densities. Thus motilin showed a modal density of 1.15, gastrin 1.16, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) 1.17, enteroglucagon 1.18 and somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) 1.10 g/ml. The following organelles, characterised by their marker enzymes were located in the density gradients; plasma membrane (5'-nucleotidase) brush border (alpha-glucosidase, pH 6.0) mitochondria (particulate malate dehydrogenase), peroxisomes (catalase), lysosomes (N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase), endoplasmic reticulum (alpha-glucosidase, pH 8.0), cytosol (lactate dehydrogenase). These studies provide biochemical evidence of the distinct nature of the individual gut hormone storage granules and provide a basis for studying dynamic changes in the granules in response to physiological stimuli and pathological processes.