Isolation and characterization of phospholipase A2 from rat lung with affinity chromatography and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

A phospholipase A2 (PLA2, EC 3.1.1.4) from rat lung has been isolated and characterized. PLA2 was purified with ion-exchange and affinity chromatography and the purified enzyme was characterized with regard to pH optimum and calcium dependence. The isolated enzyme was also analyzed with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and identified by Western immunoblots. The enzyme activity was found to be highest at pH 9.5-10.0, with a requirement for calcium, and the molecular mass was estimated to be 12 kDa by means of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis revealed two isoforms of PLA2 with isoelectric points of 7.8 and 9.5. On DEAE-Sepharose, PLA2 eluted as two peaks, one in the flow-through fraction and the other with increased salt concentration. Both peaks contained the same two PLA2 isoforms, as judged by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. These results demonstrate the presence in rat lung of two isoforms of a calcium-dependent 12 kDa PLA2 with alkaline pH optimum. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, this enzyme can be identified also in rat bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.