Characterization of argentosomes, a type of secondary lysosomes, and the sub-organellar distribution of a lysosomotropic basic compound.

Secondary lysosomes (argentosomes) were isolated by centrifugation in a discontinuous sucrose density gradient from livers of rats administered colloidal silver. Compared to the crude homogenate, the purities of the argentosome preparations were 17.4- and 18.5-fold in terms of acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activities, respectively. By lipid analysis, the argentosomes were shown to have intermediate properties between normal lysosomes and tritosomes with regard to the contents of triglyceride and cholesterol. The phospholipid content in the argentosomes was also different from that in these two organelles. The cross-point of argentosomes shifted more to the acidic side than that of normal lysosomes. The data on the binding of tritiated p- biphenylmethyl-(dl-tropyl-alpha-tropiniun)bromide [( 3H]BTTB) to argentosomes indicated that the degree of binding and/or incorporation of this basic compound to the organelles was much higher than that to normal lysosomes. These results suggested that the distribution of BTTB on or within argentosomes might be under the control of the surface charge of the argentosomal membranes.