Synthesis of chromogranin A, dopamine beta-hydroxylase, and chromaffin vesicles.

Primary cultures of bovine adrenal medullary cells synthesize chromogranin A (CgA) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and incorporate them into chromaffin vesicles. The incorporation of L-[35S]methionine into CgA, DBH, and total protein was approximately linear for 8 h at methionine concentrations of 12.5, 25, and 50 microM. Newly synthesized CgA and DBH were initially incorporated into vesicles of low buoyant density that matured over 24 h into vesicles having the greater buoyant density of chromaffin vesicles. Approximately 10% of the newly synthesized CgA is released constitutively within 4 h of formation, approximately 30-40% appears to be degraded, and the remainder is incorporated into chromaffin vesicles, which can secrete CgA in response to nicotinic stimulation. Newly synthesized DBH follows a similar course. Once incorporated into chromaffin vesicles, the newly synthesized CgA and DBH appear to be stable for 2-3 days and then decline with a half-time of 3-4 days. Primary cultures of bovine adrenal medullary cells are a good model system for studying factors regulating CgA and DBH synthesis and the formation of chromaffin vesicles.