Microassay of 5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase activity in microdissected nephron segments

The present study describes a new method for microassay of the activity of 5'-nucleotidase (5'-ND) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the microdissected nephron segments. The nephron segments including glomeruli, proximal convoluted and straight tubules (PCT and PST), cortical and medullary thick ascending limbs, and cortical and medullary collecting ducts were microdissected. 5'-ND and ADA in the nondenatured lysate of 20-mm microdissected tubules and 20 glomeruli were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis and by isoelectric focusing, respectively. The gels were incubated with specific substrates and staining dyes to exhibit the dephosphorylation by 5'-ND or deamination by ADA. The enzyme activity was estimated by measuring the intensity of the reaction bands on the gels. The 5'-ND activity was detected in all microdissected tubular segments and glomeruli. Among these nephron segments, PCT and PST exhibited the greatest enzyme activity, averaging 1142 and 939 mU/mg tissue protein, respectively. The activity of ADA was also detected in all tubular segments and glomeruli. However, the greatest activity of this enzyme was found in the glomeruli (649.8 mU/mg protein). Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique, we verified the presence of mRNA of 5'-ND and ADA in all microdissected tubular segments and glomeruli. Based on these results, we conclude that 5'-ND and ADA are present in all nephron segments studied, but the activity of these enzymes is nonuniformly expressed along the nephron. This microassay is a highly specific, sensitive, and reliable method for the segmental analysis of adenosine metabolism in the kidney.