Effect of centrifugation on separation by aqueous two-phase partition of an early and late endosome model using inside-out plasma membrane vesicles from plants

Abstract

Inside-out vesicles of plasma membranes prepared from a plant source were used as models to investigate effects of centrifugal forces on separations of early and late endosome populations by aqueous two-phase partition. Endosome subpopulations were resolved readily by preparative free-flow electrophoresis where acidification of the interiors of late endosomes occurred upon addition of ATP to activate a proton translocating ATPase. The resultant increased diffusion potential provided for a surface difference between late and early endosomes to permit electrophoretic separation. With the plant membranes, unincubated inside-out plasma membrane vesicles modeled early endosomes, whereas inside-out vesicles incubated with 1 m M ATP modeled late endosomes. A latent, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)-(auxin)-stimulated NADH:protein disulfide reductase measured spectrophotometrically was used as an enzymatic marker for both populations of inside-out vesicles. Phase partition behavior of each population was quantitated using total protein as the parameter.