Immuno-electron-microscopic studies on the subcellular distribution of rat liver epoxide hydrolase and the effect of phenobarbitone and 2-acetamidofluorene treatment.

The distribution of rat liver epoxide hydrolase in various subcellular fractions was investigated by immuno-electron-microscopy. Ferritin-linked monospecific anti-(epoxide hydrolase) immunoglobulins bound specifically to the cytoplasmic surfaces of total microsomal preparations and smooth and rough microsomal fractions as well as the nuclear envelope. Specific binding was not observed when the ferritin conjugates were incubated with peroxisomes, lysosomes and mitochondria. The average specific ferritin load of the individual subcellular fractions correlated well with the measured epoxide hydrolase activities. This correlation was observed with fractions prepared from control, phenobarbitone-treated and 2-acetamidofluorene-treated rats.