Re-investigation of the presence of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in rat liver mitochondria.

Specific activities of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and glucose-6-phosphatase, a marker enzyme of endoplasmic reticulum, were measured in mitochondria and microsomes. In mitochondria the specific activity of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase represented only 7-11% of that found in microsomes, when measured in the presence of various aglycone substrates, including 4-nitrophenol, 4-methylumbelliferone, 1-naphthol, phenolphthalein, testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol. Similarly, the specific activity of glucose-6-phosphatase in mitochondrial preparations was about 80% of that found in microsomes. In conclusion, it seems that in rat liver the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity associated with mitochondrial fractions reflects the presence of membrane fragments derived from endoplasmic reticulum, rather than mitochondrial location of this enzyme.