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Metabolism and Enzymology

Intracellular Localization of Enzymes of Fatty Acid--Oxidation in the Alga Cyanidium caldarium¹

Biology Department, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California

The intracellular distribution of enzymes, participating in the -oxidation of fatty acids in the eucaryotic alga Cyanidium has been studied. After separating the organelles from a crude homogenate on a linear flotation gradient, the enzymes enoyl-CoA hydratase, hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and thiolase were present in the mitochondrial fraction (density: 1.19 gram per cubic centimeter). Activity of an acyl-CoA synthetase was found in the mitochondrial fraction as well as in a band where mitochondrial membrane apparently had accumulated (density: 1.17 gram per cubic centimeter). None of these enzymes were present in the peroxisomes (density: 1.23 gram per cubic centimeter). Results from cell fractionation as well as properties of -oxidation enzymes indicate a mitochondrial location of fatty acid degradation also in the algae Galdieria sulphuraria and Cyanidioschyzon merolae.

¹ Supported by National Science Foundation (Grant PCM 84-03542) and a postdoctoral fellowship (Feodor-Lynen program) from the Alexander-von-Humboldt foundation (West Germany).