An enzymic analysis of a nuclear envelope fraction.

A rat liver nuclear envelope fraction isolated essentially by the technique of Monneron et al. (J. Cell Biol. 55, 104-125 (1972) is characterized by high levels of glucose-6-phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase. A broadly specific nucleoside triphosphatase activity is present. Cytochromes b5 and P-450 as well as NADPH- and NADH-cytochrome c reductase activities are present but at lower levels than found in microsomes. Cytochrome c oxidase activity is low. RNA polymerase activity is absent from the nuclear envelope fraction. Cytochemistry shows that glucose-6-phosphatase activity is strong and restricted to the nuclear envelope of nuclei. 5'-Nucleotidase shows weak reaction deposit in whole nuclei but in contrast gives clear reaction deposit in isolated nuclear envelopes. Cytochemical reaction deposit due to nucleoside triphosphatase activity is not restricted to the nuclear envelope but is found to a larger extent within the nucleus.