A map of membrane populations isolated from rat exorbital gland.

We combined separation procedures based on three independent physical properties, sedimentation coefficient, density, and partitioning in an aqueous polymer two-phase system, to generate a three-dimensional subcellular fractionation of rat exorbital lacrimal gland. The distributions of protein and five enzymatic markers define a total of 13 physically and biochemically distinct membrane populations. These include epithelial cell apical membranes, purified 330-fold with respect to the initial homogenate; basal-lateral membranes, purified 80-fold; mitochondria, purified 19-fold; and a major endoplasmic reticulum population, purified 22-fold. Also apparent is a major Golgi population, which is extensively overlapped by other membrane populations; two populations that can be visualized as forming transitions between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi membranes; and several populations with unknown subcellular origins. Most of the markers have complex distributions among the isolated membrane populations; this complexity is consistent with current concepts of the synthesis and recycling of membrane constituents and the regulation of cytosolic electrolyte activities.