Immunoelectron microscopic localization of the isozymes of L-alpha-hydroxyacid oxidase in renal peroxisomes of beef and sheep: evidence of distinct intraorganellar subcompartmentation.

L-alpha-hydroxyacid oxidase (HAOX), a peroxisomal marker enzyme in mammals, exists in two isozymic forms, HAOX A (EC 1.1.3.1) and HAOX B (EC 1.3.4.2), which differ in their substrate specificity. In rat tissues HAOX A is found exclusively in hepatocyte peroxisomes and HAOX B in renal peroxisomes. Recently we found enzymatic evidence that highly purified peroxisome preparations from beef and sheep kidney cortex contain both isozymes. In situ, the peroxisomes in the proximal tubule cells of both species exhibit peculiar angular outlines apparently due to the presence of multiple marginal plates. Marginal plates are plate-like crystalline matrix inclusions which are apposed to the inner aspect of the peroxisomal membrane. In this study monospecific antibodies against HAOX A and B proteins purified from rat liver and kidney, respectively, were raised in rabbits and used to study the intraorganellar localization of each isozyme in beef and sheep kidney cortex peroxisomes. Incubation of ultra-thin sections of LR White-embedded tissue with anti-HAOX A or B followed by protein A-gold revealed that in both species HAOX A is present diffusely in the peroxisomal matrix, whereas HAOX B is localized almost exclusively in the membrane associated marginal plates. This is the first report on the in situ immunocytochemical characterization of marginal plates, which are the most common inclusions in the matrix of renal peroxisomes.