Intestinal brush border peptidases.

A brush-border-specific antiserum was raised in rabbits, with Triton X-100-solubilized brush border proteins from pig intestine being used as antigens. The antiserum was used in immunoelectrophoretic studies of brush border proteins solubilized with Triton X-100. Five immunoprecipitates were obtained which corresponded to microsomal aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2), asparate aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.7), lactase (beta-galactosidase, EC 3.2.1.23), maltase (exo-1,4-alpha-glucosidase, EC 3.2.1.3) and sucrase-isomaltase (sucrose alpha-glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.48). A faint immunoprecipitate was also found for the glycylprolyl dipeptidyl peptidase (EC 3.4.14.-). The brush border proteins were solubilized on a large scale from a brush border membrane preparation by the use of Triton X-100; the peptidases obtained were homogeneous in size and had hydrophobic properties. By chromatography on columns of concanavalin A-Sepharose, hydroxyapatite, Ultrogel AcA 34, DEAE-cellulose and immunosorbent, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-glutamyl transferase, EC 2.3.2.2) and microsomal aminopeptidase were each isolated in separate fractions. Glycylprolyl dipeptidyl peptidase and asparate aminopeptidase were obtained in another fraction. Immunoelectrophoretic, inhibitor and chromatographic studies showed that the intestinal brush border peptidases are similar to the corresponding particulate peptidases obtained from other organs.