Localization of the menaquinone-0 alkylating enzyme in the smooth reticulum of chicken liver microsomes.

The alkylation of menaquinone-0 to menaquinones occurs in the microsomal fraction of chick and rat liver. Subfractionation of chick microsomes into smooth and rough reticulum was achieved by density gradient centrifugation. The alkylation enzyme was localized in the smooth reticulum with an activity of 155 pmol/mg per h, about 50-fold greater than that in the rough reticulum. The membrane-bound alkylating enzyme system requires reduced menaquinone-0 and is phospholipid-dependent.