The validity of phase partition to obtain a substantial proportion of vesicles of plasmalemma origin from the microsomal fraction of pea epicotyl has been demonstrated. In the fractions enriched with plasma membranes, N-naphthyl phtalamic acid binding and β-glucan synthetase II activity, showed a yield of about 60% and an enrichment of 2.3 and 2.2, respectively, in comparison with the microsomal fraction. When such plasmalemmic vesicles are permabilized by Triton X-100, an intense Mg2+-ATPase activity is obtained in presence of K+ at acid as well as alkaline pH. Inhibition of Mg2+-ATPase by vanadate in presence of K+ and its variations in relation to pH were shown. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and diethylstilbestrol inhibit 40–55% of this enzymatic activity, both at acid and neutral pH. The data show a slight contamination of the plasmalemmic fraction by endomembranes and suggest an asymmetry of the two sides of the plasmalemma.
Xyloglucan Galactosyl- and Fucosyltransferase Activities from Pea Epicotyl Microsomes
