Maturation and secretion of lipoprotein lipase in cultured adipose cells. I. Intracellular activation of the enzyme.

The intracellular pathway and the activation of lipoprotein lipase have been examined in differentiated Ob17 cells. These adipose cells were previously shown to secrete lipoprotein lipase during exposure to heparin. Treatment of the cells with cycloheximide and heparin leads to enzyme depletion, as shown by activity measurement and immunofluorescence microscopy. The repletion phase has been studied in the presence of monensin or carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, ionophores known to affect the intracellular transport of membrane and secretory proteins. Monensin-treated cells synthesize fully active lipoprotein lipase. Under these conditions the antigen accumulates in the Golgi apparatus and the heparin-stimulated enzyme release is extensively reduced. Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone-treated cells do not contain any enzyme activity but show detectable antigen which accumulates in the endoplasmic reticulum. Competition for binding to immobilized anti-lipoprotein lipase antibodies of mature and endoplasmic reticulum-sequestered antigens is observed. Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone removal is rapidly followed by a transient burst of enzyme activity and a redistribution of the antigen in the different subcellular compartments. Therefore, the results show that the activation of lipoprotein lipase is an intracellular event taking place after the enzyme exits from the endoplasmic reticulum and before it reaches the trans-Golgi cisternae.