Abstract
1. The conditions that promoted the solubilization of particulate lactose synthetase were effective for solubilizing the thiamine pyrophosphatase of the Golgi apparatus but differed from those effective for beta-glucuronidase or acid phosphatase of lysosomes. 2. Lactose synthetase-containing particles did not bind Mg(2+) or Cs(+) ions, suggesting that they are not related to endoplasmic reticulum membranes. 3. Intact lactose synthetase and thiamine pyrophosphatase particles banded isopycnically at a density of 1.143 in a sucrose gradient. The dissociated ;A' sub-unit of lactose synthetase, UDP-galactose hydrolase, p-nitrophenyl phosphate acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase I were associated with particles of a broad density range from 1.12 to 1.20. Lysosomal enzymes beta-glucuronidase, arylsulphatase and beta-glycerophosphate acid phosphatase were associated with particles of density 1.20, 1.175 and 1.15 respectively. 4. Rate-zonal sedimentation studies indicated that lactose synthetase particles have S(20,w) values exceeding 24000s, corresponding to spherical particles of diameter exceeding 5.4x10(-5)cm. 5. Electron micrographs of lactose synthetase particles purified over 20-fold revealed small spherical bodies (0.1-0.5mu) resembling lysosomes, the smaller of which were attached to membranes, and larger heterogeneous spherical or oval bodies (0.7-1.8mu) resembling lipofuscin secretory granules. 6. The relationship between lactose synthetase particles and the Golgi origin of secretion granules is discussed.