Intracellular transport of the major glycoprotein of zymogen granule membranes in the rat pancreas. Demonstration of high turnover at the plasma membrane.

The intracellular transport and destination of the major glycoprotein associated with zymogen granule membranes in the pancreas (GP-2) was established. In suspensions of isolated acinar cells from rat pancreas, pulse-chase experiments were performed. The incorporation of the first newly synthesized GP-2 molecules into zymogen granule membranes occurred at about 60 min after beginning of the pulse. We demonstrated by using two different methods that newly made GP-2 reaches the cell surface within the same time span. After 6-8 h chase considerable more newly synthesized GP-2 has reached the cell surface than would be expected on account of secreted newly synthesized zymogens. These observations strongly suggest that at least part of the GP-2 molecules bypass the mature zymogen granule compartment on their way to the plasma membrane. GP-2 is the only protein that appears in discernable quantity in the plasma membrane during 1-4 h after a pulse label. Nevertheless GP-2 comprises only a small percentage of externally 125I-iodinated plasma membrane proteins. We conclude that GP-2 has a high turnover rate at the plasma membrane level. Treatment of the acinar cells with the N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin does not block the intracellular transport of GP-2.