Lysosomes of the renal cortex: heterogeneity and role in protein handling.

Rate sedimentation of the kidney cortical mitochondrial/lysosomal (ML) fraction yields two distinct classes of lysosomes: the large lysosomes or protein droplets and a heterogeneous broad band of smaller lysosomes. The protein droplets which are recovered as a well defined zone of high purity also sediment as a homogeneous band after equilibrium banding at a density of 1.235 g/ml in sucrose. The small lysosomes co-sediment with other subcellular organelles as a broad band, indicated by the distribution of various acid hydrolases, which exhibit subtle heterogeneity among these small lysosomes. The distribution of renin containing granules indicates that in size they represent a distinct subpopulation of small lysosomes. Further fractionation of small lysosomes by equilibrium banding separates two distinct populations at densities 1.20 (small light) and 1.235 g/ml (small dense). Comparison of lysosomal populations fractionated in these studies with the distribution of lysosomal acid hydrolases along the different segments of the nephron suggests that large and small dense lysosomes probably originate from the proximal tubule while the small light lysosomes may contain lysosomes from the distal tubule. Very small, lysosome-like organelles subfractionated from the 'microsomes' may constitute a mixture of small light lysosomes, lysosomal fragments and endocytic vesicles from a variety of cell types. Time course studies with 3H labelled Cd-thionein, following intravenous administration, suggests that uptake in the kidney cortex is very rapid and that catabolism takes place in two distinct phases: rapid breakdown starting in the endosome compartment and slower breakdown in lysosomes. From the association of labelled lysozyme (125I) and Cd-thionein (109Cd) it appears that all the different lysosomal populations identified are at some stage involved with uptake and catabolism of these two proteins.