Rat Liver Microsomal Membranes Research Articles

Isolation and partial characterization of a protein with HMG-CoA reductase phosphatase activity associated with rat liver microsomal membranes.

Several rat liver HMG-CoA-reductase (HMG-CoA-Rd) phosphatase activities have been shown to be associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. These activities were not due to glycogen contamination, as judged not only from different patterns of solubilization of the microsomal membranes and the glycogen pellet but also by differential centrifugation behavior under standard conditions and in a sucrose gradient. We present evidence that at least three forms of protein phosphatase are associated with microsomal membranes: a polycation-stimulated type 2A phosphatase, a type 2C phosphatase, and a non-2A, non-2B, non-2C phosphatase. This last HMG-CoA-Rd phosphatase activity corresponding to an 85 kDa protein was partially purified by several chromatographic procedures. The IC50 value for the inhibition of the HMG-CoA-Rd phosphatase by I-2 was 10-fold higher than for the inhibition of the purified type 1 catalytic subunit from rabbit skeletal muscle. The microsomal HMG-CoA-Rd phosphatase activity was slightly affected by the protein inhibitor that inhibits type 2A activity when HMG-CoA reductase is the substrate. The HMG-CoA-Rd phosphatase activity is spontaneously active and it is not reactivated in the presence of Mg2+ or polycations. The holoenzyme does not contain the inhibitor-2 and it is not reactivated by incubation with ATP and glycogen synthase kinase-3. Proteolytic treatment of the enzyme yielded a polypeptide fragment of low Mr (37 kDa) with reduced activity. A model of holoenzymatic HMG-CoA-Rd phosphatase and its relation to the microsomal membranes is presented.

Interaction of perfluorochemical emulsions with liver micrcosomal membranes

Interaction of rat liver microsomal membranes with various emulsified perfluorochemicals (PFCs) was studied by spectrophotometric method; the adsorption spectrum of PFC-microsomal cytochrome P-450 complex was registered at 390–420 nm. It was found that affinity of PFCs to the cytochrome could be risen substantially if the rats had been preliminary injected with phenobarbital. The ratio of the microsomal cytochrome P-450 being bound with PFC to its total amount in the system was correlated with the critical solution temperature (CST) of the PFCs in hexane by empirical equation: [binding level, %] = −4.0·CST + 185.9, r=−0.993, n=17 (1) The complex wasn't registered for PFCs with CST higher than 46 C, e.g. perfluorotributylamine. A high level of purity of PFCs used allowed to obtain a reasonable correlation (1) by contrast with the earlier study [1] in which the purity of PFCs was insufficient. Dependence of the rate of the complex formation on water solubility of PFCs, diameter and composition of the fluorocarbon particles, microsomal membranes' and emulsion particles' concentration was investigated.

Specific cleavages of arginyl peptide bonds at basic amino acid pairs by a serine proteinase from the microsomal membranes of rat liver

The specificity of action of a serine proteinase from the microsomal membranes of rat liver was investigated at pH 7.5 and 37°C using various peptides as substrates. HPLC analyses of the peptides produced followed by their amino acid analyses have revealed that the enzyme is a unique endopeptidase specifically cleaving arginyl peptide bonds at paired basic amino acid residues. Thus, the enzyme is suggested to be a kind of processing proteinase involved in the conversion of proproteins to their mature forms. Indeed, the enzyme cleaved specifically the NH 2-terminal 20-residue peptide of proalbumin at the Arg-Arg sequence.

Effects of age-dependent or liposome-induced alterations in the phospholipid composition on sphingomyelin biosynthesis in rat liver microsomal and plasma membranes

1. 1. The effects of age-dependent or liposome-induced alterations in the phospholipid composition of rat liver plasma and microsomal membranes on the phosphatidylethanolamine:ceramide-phosphoethanolamine (PE:Cer-PEt) and phosphatidylcholine:ceramide-phosphocholine (PC:Cer-PCh) transferase activities were studied. 2. 2. In all cases under study the PE:Cer-PEt transferase activity was found to be several times higher than that of PC: Cer-PCh transferase in both plasma and microsomal rat liver membranes. 3. 3. The presence of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) in plasma membranes was observed to enhance the PE:Cer-PEt transferase activity, while phosphatidylserine (PS) inhibited it.

Free radical recycling and intramembrane mobility in the antioxidant properties of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocotrienol

d-Alpha-tocopherol (2R, 4′R,8′R-Alpha-tocopherol) and d-alpha-tocotrienol are two main vitamin E constituents having the same aromatic chromanol “head” but differing in their hydrocarbon “tail”: tocopherol with a saturated and toctrienol with an unsaturated isoprenoid chain. d-Alpha-tocopherol has the highest vitamin E activity, while d-alpha-tocotrienol manifests only about 30% of this activity. Since vitamin E is considered to be physiologically the most important lipid-soluble chain-breaking antioxidant of membranes, we studied alpha-tocotrienol as compared to alpha-tocopherol under conditions which are important for their antioxidant function. d-Alpha-tocotrienol possesses 40–60 times higher antioxidant activity against (Fe 2+ + ascorbate)- and (Fe 2+ + NADPH)-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomal membranes and 6.5 times better protection of cytochrome P-450 against oxidative damage than d-alpha-tocopherol. To clarify the mechanisms responsible for the much higher antioxidant potency of d-alpha-tocotrienol compared to d-alpha-tocopherol, ESR studies were performed of recycling efficiency of the chromanols from their chromanoxyl radicals, 1H-NMR measurements of lipid molecular mobility in liposomes containing chromanols, and fluorescence measurements which reveal the uniformity of distribution (clusterizations) of chromanols in the lipid bilayer. From the results, we concluded that this higher antioxidant potency of d-alpha-tocotrienol is due to the combined effects of three properties exhibited by d-alpha-tocotrienol as compared to d-alpha-tocopherol: (i) its higher recycling efficiency from chromanoxyl radicals, (ii) its more uniform distribution in membraned bilayer, and (iii) its stronger disordering of membrane lipids which makes interaction of chromanols with lipid radicals more efficient. The data presented show that there is a considerable discrepancy between the relative in vitro antioxidant activity of d-alpha-tocotrienol with the conventional bioassays of their vitamin activity.

The contribution of specific cytochromes P-450 in the metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in rat and human liver microsomal membranes

The role of specific cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes in the regio-selective metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz[ a]anthracene (DMBA) has been studied in microsomal membranes from rat and human liver. An antibody inhibition study using membranes from phenobarbital-treated rats demonstrates that a member(s) of the CYP2C family accounts for up to 90% of the formation of the proximate carcinogen, DMBA-3,4-diol, and makes significant contributions to the formation of DMBA-5,6-diol and DMBA-8,9-diol. In these membranes the formation of DMBA-5,6-diol can be entirely accounted by the combined activity of members of the CYP2C and CYP2B families. The metabolism of DMBA has been investigated in human using microsomes from 10 individuals and the metabolites formed by these membranes were found to be mainly hydroxymethyl- and -diol products. The rates of formation of each metabolite show considerable interindividual variation and there was no correlation between these rates for any pairing of metabolites. The CYP content in these membranes of specific members of families 1, 2, 3 and 4 did correlate with the rates of formation of individual metabolites. Surprisingly there was no correlation between the content of CYP2C and formation of DMBA-3,4-diol but an antibody to rat CYP2C6 partially inhibited the formation of this metabolite. The results indicate that in human both inducible sub-families of CYPs, particularly of the PB-type, and constitutively expressed CYPs may be important in DMBA metabolism and that each metabolite may be produced by the combined activity of several CYP isoforms.

Selective affinity labeling of a 27-kDa integral membrane protein in rat liver and kidney with N-bromoacetyl derivatives of L-thyroxine and 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine.

125I-Labeled N-bromoacetyl derivatives of L-thyroxine and L-triiodothyronine were used as alkylating affinity labels to identify rat liver and kidney microsomal membrane proteins which specifically bind thyroid hormones. Affinity label incorporation was analyzed by ethanol precipitation and individual affinity labeled proteins were identified by autoradiography after separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. Six to eight membrane proteins ranging in size from 17 to 84 kDa were affinity labeled by both bromoacetyl-L-thyroxine (BrAcT4) and bromoacetyl-L-triiodothyronine (BrAcT3). Affinity labeling was time- and temperature-dependent, and both reduced dithiols and detergents increased affinity labeling, predominantly in a 27-kDa protein(s). Up to 80% of the affinity label was associated with a 27-kDa protein (p27) under optimal conditions. Affinity labeling of p27 by 0.4 nM BrAc[125I]L-T4 was blocked by 0.1 microM of the alkylating ligands BrAcT4, BrAcT3, or 100 microM iodoacetate, by 10 microM concentrations of the non-alkylating, reversible ligands N-acetyl-L-thyroxine, 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine, 3,5-diiodosalicylate, and EMD 21388, a T4-antagonistic flavonoid. Neither 10 microM L-T4, nor 10 microM N-acetyltriiodothyronine or 10 microM L-triiodothyronine blocked affinity labeling of p27 or other affinity labeled bands. Affinity labeling of a 17-kDa band was partially inhibited by excess of the alkylating ligands BrAcT4, BrAcT3, and iodoacetate, but labeling of other minor bands was not blocked by excess of the competitors. BrAc[125I]T4 yielded higher affinity label incorporation than BrAc[125I]T3, although similar banding patterns were observed, except that BrAcT3 affinity labeled more intensely a 58,000-Da band in liver and a 53,000-55,000-Da band in kidney. The pattern of other affinity labeled proteins with p27 as the predominant band was similar in liver and kidney. Peptide mapping of affinity labeled p27 and p55 bands by chemical cleavage and protease fragmentation revealed no common bands excluding that p27 is a degradation product of p55. These data indicate that N-bromoacetyl derivatives of T4 and T3 affinity label a limited but similar constellation of membrane proteins with BrAcT4 incorporation greater than that of BrAcT3. One membrane protein (p27) of low abundance (2-5 pmol/mg microsomal protein) with a reactive sulfhydryl group is selectively labeled under conditions identical to those used to measure thyroid hormone 5'-deiodination. Only p27 showed differential affinity labeling in the presence of noncovalently bound inhibitors or substrates on 5'-deiodinase suggesting that p27 is likely to be a component of type I 5'-deiodinase in rat liver and kidney.

NADH- and NADPH-linked aquacobalamin reductases occur in both mitochondrial and microsomal membranes of rat liver

To elucidate the mechanism for the synthesis of the coenzyme forms of cobalamin in mammals, rat liver aquacobalamin reductase was partially characterized. Rat liver contained both NADH- and NADPH-linked aquacobalamin reductases. The NADH-linked enzyme was distributed in the mitochondria (approx. 40%) and microsomes (60%), identical to the distribution of the NADPH-linked enzyme. The two mitochondrial NADH- and NADPH-linked enzymes were located inside of the outer membrane.

Fatty acid desaturase activities are modulated by phytosterol incorporation in microsomes

The effect of phytosterol-rich diets (3% β-sitosterol + 2% campasterol) on rat liver microsomal fatty acid desaturases, membrane dynamics and lipid composition was investigated. After a 21 day period, phytosterol was incorporated into microsomes and the membrane fluidity decreased. There were no changes in either the phospholipid composition or in the total sterol content. However, the phytosterol/cholesterol ratio increased. In the animals fed phytosterols, the Δ 5-, Δ 6-andΔ 9-fatty acid desaturases were significantly more active than in control animals. The changes in the lipid fatty acid composition were consistent with those of the desaturase activities. Hence, it is suggested that: (1) dietary phytosterol modulates desaturase activities; (2) phytosterols make the membrane more rigid but do not induce changes in the relative phospholipid composition; (3) Δ 9-, Δ 5- and Δ 6-desaturase activities increase when the membrane becomes more rigid without changes in the phospholipid composition.

Tocopheroxyl Radical Persistence and Tocopherol Consumption in Liposomes and in Vitamin E-enriched Rat Liver Mitochondria and Microsomes

Substantial loading of rat liver mitochondrial and microsomal membranes with D-alpha-tocopherol was achieved by dietary supplementation with no adverse effects of this loading being apparent, e.g. on treadmill exercise endurance. The tocopheroxyl radical was readily detected by ESR in the enriched microsomes and mitochondria. Continuous enzymatic oxidation with horseradish peroxidase and a hydrophilic phenol, to favor selective oxidation of tocopherol without the involvement of lipid peroxidation, allowed the tocopheroxyl radical to be observed for up to 1 h in liposomes of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine and for about 15 min in the subcellular membranes. Total alpha-tocopherol decreased throughout this period, but a significant residual fraction remained after all the ESR signal of tocopheroxyl had disappeared. Decay kinetics of the tocopheroxyl radical ESR signal produced by a burst of intense UV irradiation consisted of a rapid initial phase and a slower exponential decay. A more narrow and more persistent ESR signal, not yet chemically identified, was observed after the tocopheroxyl radical had disappeared under prolonged oxidation. Ascorbic acid prevented formation of the tocopheroxyl radical until the ascorbyl radical ESR signal had decayed, whereas uric acid, up to saturating concentration in phosphate buffer, had no effect.

Production of insulin-like growth factor-II by human fetal pancreas in culture.

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) is a polypeptide hormone thought to be involved in fetal development because of its wide distribution in fetal tissues and its presence in the fetal circulation. We have developed a highly sensitive radioreceptor assay for IGF-II using rat liver microsomal membranes and have used this assay to test for the presence of IGF-II in the human fetal pancreas and the release of IGF-II by the human fetal pancreas in organ culture. IGF-II was present in extracts of pancreatic tissue (0.056 +/- 0.012 pmol/mg tissue, n = 5) and was released in culture at the rate of 0.027-0.134 pmol/mg tissue per day with release being maintained for at least 3 weeks in culture. The rate of release was not affected by the gestational age of the fetus over 14 to 20 weeks but was significantly related to the rate of insulin release (r = 0.712, P less than 0.001, n = 34). Chronic exposure to 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), which inhibits insulin release in the human fetal pancreas, caused an 85% drop in IGF-II production, which was reversed when TPA was removed. These studies demonstrate that IGF-II is produced by the human fetal pancreas in a pattern similar to that of insulin. We suggest that control of IGF-II release, like that of insulin, may involve protein-kinase C and that IGF-II may have a paracrine or autocrine role in the development of fetal pancreatic function.

Topography of Rat Hepatic Microsomal Enzymatic Components of the Fatty Acid Chain Elongation System

The orientation of the condensing enzyme, the beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase, and the trans-2-enoyl CoA reductase within the rat liver microsomal membrane was investigated by the use of impermeant inhibitors of enzyme activity: trypsin, chymotrypsin, subtilisin, mercury-dextran, and anti-beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase IgG. The activity of the condensing enzyme was inhibited more than 70% by various proteases and was completely inhibited by 80 microM mercury-dextran. Similar results were obtained for the trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase activity. On the other hand, in the absence of detergent, proteases inhibited beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase activity by 25-40%, while in the presence of detergent the inhibition increased to 65-90%. Furthermore, anti-beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase IgG, which in the absence of detergent produced no inhibition, in the presence of detergent inhibited beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase activity by more than 80%; under identical conditions, preimmune IgG caused a 13% inhibition. Microsomes used throughout this study displayed greater than 90% latency with respect to mannose-6-phosphatase activity, indicating that the microsomes were intact. Latency was not affected by the proteases, by mercury-dextran, or by the presence of the enzyme assay components. These results suggest that both the condensing enzyme and the reductase are present on the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane, whereas the beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase is embedded in the microsomal membrane.

A monoclonal antibody to lactogenic receptors from female rat liver.

Affinity-purified lactogenic receptors from female rat liver microsomal membranes were used to raise antibodies in female Balb/c mice. Mouse spleen and myeloma cells were fused and hybridoma-derived monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were produced by in-vitro cell culture. Mab from a selected clone was sequentially purified by chromatography on a thiophilic gel and on agarose-bound protein A. The Mab was found to be of IgG1 subclass and of kappa type. The Mab recognized membrane-bound and solubilized (by the detergent heptaoxyethylene lauryl ether; G3707) receptors as well as receptors purified by affinity chromatography and subsequent sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) electrophoresis from female rat liver. The Mab bound to receptors from several other female rat tissues, such as ovary, kidney and adrenal, whereas there was no binding to liver receptors from cow and rabbit. Displacement experiments showed that the Mab was specific for a lactogenic type of receptor, in agreement with the finding that the Mab did not recognize receptors from male rat liver. The Mab also bound to cytoplasmic receptors (present in the supernatant after centrifugation at 100,000 g) from female rat liver, suggesting a structural similarity between the cytoplasmic and the microsomal receptors. Analysis of purified receptors by SDS electrophoresis and subsequent Western blot with 125I-labelled Mab as a probe showed one band corresponding to an Mr of 45,500 +/- 2500 (n = 5). The same band was obtained with 125I-labelled human GH, showing that the Mab binds to the unit which accommodates the hormone-binding site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Preparation and characterization of dog pancreas microsomal membranes specifically depleted of protein disulphide-isomerase

1. The selective release of protein disulphide-isomerase from dog pancreas and rat liver microsomal membranes was studied to throw light on the mechanisms of retention of this enzyme within the endoplasmic reticulum, and in order to prepare microsomal membranes specifically depleted of the enzyme. 2. Protein disulphide-isomerase was quantitatively released from dog pancreas microsomal membranes by washing at pH 9 and above, as demonstrated both by enzyme assay and by immunoblotting analysis. 3. Integral membrane proteins implicated in the process of translocation and segregation of secretory proteins were retained in pH 9-washed dog pancreas microsomal membranes. 4. After pH 9 washing, dog pancreas microsomal membranes were fully active in the translocation, segregation and processing of nascent secretory proteins; these membranes therefore provide a useful experimental system for testing the action of protein disulphide-isomerase on nascent secretory proteins. 5. Protein disulphide-isomerase was not released from rat liver microsomal membranes by pH 9 washing, and was much less readily released from these membranes by sonication, washing etc. than from dog pancreas microsomal membranes. 6. The mechanism of retention of protein disulphide-isomerase, and of other resident proteins of the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, is discussed in the light of these findings.

Mitochondria and microsomal membranes have a free radical reductase activity that prevents chromanoxyl radical accumulation

Enzyme-dependent mechanisms which prevent accumulation of chromanoxyl radicals derived from the vitamin E analogue, 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxycromane (PMC), were characterized in rat liver microsomal and mitochondrial membranes. The free radical oxidation product of PMC (chromanoxyl radical) was generated in membranes using either photochemical (uv light) or enzymatic (lipoxygenase and arachidonic acid) methods and detected by ESR. Substrates (NADH or NADPH) prevented accumulation of chromanoxyl radicals until the substrate was fully consumed. In microsomes, reduced glutathione increased the efficacy of NADPH in preventing the accumulation of the chromanoxyl radical, but was without effect in the absence of NADPH. Ascorbate also prevented accumulation of the chromanoxyl radical. It is concluded that rat liver microsomes and mitochondria have both enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms for reducing chromanoxyl radicals.

Occurrence of glucocorticoid binding sites in solubilized microsomes from rat liver.

Recent studies suggested the presence of specific glucocorticoid binding sites on rat liver microsomal membranes. We report here a new solubilization procedure which allows the physicochemical characterization of the microsomal glucocorticoid binding sites. Solubilization was achieved with 2 mM CHAPS in the presence of 5 mM benzamidine. Binding of [3H]cortisol showed a high affinity (Kd = 5.1 x 10(-9) M) and a limited capacity (0.72 pmol/mg of protein). The binding activity was abolished by elevated temperature and pronase. Competition experiments revealed that natural glucocorticoids and progesterone were highly potent competitors whereas dexamethasone and triamcinolone acetonide did not compete. Chromatography on DEAE Trisacryl and heparin Ultrogel confirmed that the solubilized protein is different from corticosteroid binding globulin and the cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor. Treatment of microsomal fractions with phosphatidyl inositol phospholipase C promoted the release of specific binding activity suggesting a putative glycosylphosphatidyl anchor for this protein. This finding may have interesting implications concerning the mechanism of glucocorticoid hormone action.

Age-related changes in the translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the cytosol to microsomal membranes in rat liver

The effects of oleate, spermine and chlorpromazine were assayed in the presence or absence of 0.15 M KCI on the translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity from cytosol to endoplasmic reticulum membranes in liver homogenates obtained from rats aged 1, 30, 60, 180 and 360 days. Marked age-associ-ated decreases in phosphatidate phosphohydrolase distribution onto the membranes were demonstrated under nearly all conditions. In liver homogenates taken from 1-day-old rats and incubated with 0.15 M KCI, most of the enzyme was active (associated with the membranes). Physiological salt concentration (0.15 M KCI) produced a 2-fold increase of oleate-induced translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity in liver homogenates from 1-day-old rats; it had no effect on those from 60-day-old rats, and produced a notable decline in liver homogenates obtained from 180- and 360-day-old rats. The promoting effect of spermine on oleate-induced translocation of this enzyme activity was higher in younger rats when incubated in the absence of 0.15 M KCI. Chlorpromazine did not show its usual antagonizing effect on oleate-induced translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase when added to homogenates taken from 1-day-old rats. The antagonizing effect was slightly apparent in liver homogenates from 30-day-old rats and was more pronounced in those from 60-day-old rats in which the values diminished to one-half and to one-third either in the presence or absence of 0.15 M KCI.

Superoxide dismutase depletion and lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomal membranes: correlation with liver carcinogenesis

The depletion of superoxide dismutase in the liver of rats held on a copper-deficient diet for 8 weeks induces two profound modifications in microsomal membrane characteristics. These membranes show: (1) a low degree of peroxidation induced in vitro by both endogenous (NADPH and tert-butylhydroperoxide) and exogenous sources (xanthine/xanthine oxidase) of oxygen radicals as revealed by malondialdehyde and diene-conjugate production; (2) a strong decrease of polyunsaturated and an increase of monounsaturated fatty acid content. These alterations are similar to those found in microsomal membranes from fast-growing hepatomas which exhibit a pronounced saturation of fatty acid pattern and lack superoxide dismutase. These observations support the hypothesis that during hepatocarcinogenesis the loss of superoxide dismutase causes an oxidative stress that increases cellular membrane lipid peroxidation, as a consequence of which the cell responds by synthesizing more saturated fatty acids that permanently modify cell membrane structure and properties.

Fluorescence emitted from microsomal membranes by lipid peroxidation

The fluorescence emitted from rat liver microsomal membranes which had undergone enzymatic and nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation was detected directly. This fluorescence produced in peroxidized membranes increased progressively with peroxidation reaction time, and the fluorescent substances produced were retained in the membranes without being released into the aqueous phase. Extracts of the peroxidized membranes with organic solvents (chloroform/methanol) emitted fluorescence which was also dependent on the peroxidation reaction time. The generation profiles of fluorescence emitted from both the peroxidized membranes and their extracted membrane lipids differed essentially from that of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances which reached a plateau at a relatively early stage of peroxidation reaction. These results indicate that lipid peroxidation induces stepwise chemical and physical changes in membranes and that the fluorescence from peroxidized membranes will be useful in studying such changes occurring in biological membranes.

13- cis-Retinoic acid stimulates in vitro mannose 6-phosphate hydrolysis and inhibits retinol esterification and benzo[ a]pyrene hydroxylation by rat-liver microsomes

13-cis-Retinoic acid, a drug used at high doses in the treatment of recalcitrant acne, increased the permeability of rat-liver microsomal membranes to mannose 6-phosphate in vitro, as indicated by an increase in mannose-6-phosphatase activity. At the same concentrations, four other amphiphiles, including all-trans-rerinoic acid, were much less effective. 13- cis-Retinoic acid also inhibited retinol esterification and benzo[ a]pyrene hydroxylation in microsome preparations in vitro. Although the molecular mechanism and the reversibility of these effects have not yet been studied, the interaction of 13-cis-retinoic acid with cell membranes may well be involved in both its therapeutic and toxic manifestations.