The vectorial translocation of nascent proteins through the membrane of the rough endoplasmic reticulum has been shown to require a specific membrane-bound protein whose cytoplasmic domain can be proteolytically cleaved and isolated as an active peptide of mol wt 60,000 (Meyer and Dobberstein, 1980, J. Cell Biol. 87:503-508). Rabbit antibodies raised against this peptide were used to further characterize the membrane-bound molecule. Immunoprecipitation of solubilized, radiolabeled rough microsomal proteins yielded a single polypeptide of mol wt 72,000, representing the membrane-bound protein from which the 60,000-mol wt peptide was proteolytically derived . The antibody could also be used to remove exclusively the 60,000-mol wt peptide, and thus the translocation activity, from elastase digests tested in a reconstituted system. Moreover,immunoprecipitation of elastase extracts alkylated with [t4C] N-ethylmaleimide selected a single species of mol wt 60,000. Immunoprecipitation of in vivo radiolabeled proteins from the appropriate cell type yielded the 72,000-mol wt membrane protein irrespective of the duration of labeling, or if followed by a chase. Subsequent treatment with protease generated the 60,000-mol wt fragment. In addition, the antibody could be used to visualize reticular structures in intact cells which correspond to endoplasmic reticulum at the ultrastructural level . It is thus clear that one membrane component required in the vectorial translocation of nascent secretory (and membrane) proteins is a peptide of mol wt 72,000.
Previous reports have shown that rough microsomes treated with high salt (Warren and Dobberstein, 1978, Nature, 273:569-571) or proteases (Walter et al ., 1979, Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 76:1,795) are unable to vectorially translocate nascent proteins. Readdition of the high salt or protease extracts restored activity to such inactive rough microsomes. A detailed study was carried out to determine how this factor interacts with the rough microsomal membrane. Proteolytic cleavage was found to be necessary but not sufficient to remove this factor from the membrane. A subsequent treatment with high salt had to be carried out . Endogenous (pancreatic) protease could effect the required cleavage, but low levels of trypsin, clostripain, or elastase were far more efficient. Several proteases were not effective. The minimum level of salt (after proteolysis) required to solubilize the active factor was -200 mM KCI. Salt extracts prepared by treatment with one of the effective proteases were capable of restoring activity to inactive microsomes produced by treatment with one of the others .
When rough microsomes are subjected to limited proteolysis and high salt, a soluble fraction can be separated from the membrane . Neither fraction alone is capable of vectorially translocating nascent peptides . When the soluble extract is recombined with the residual membrane fraction, translocating activity is restored . Standard biochemical techniques were used to identify and characterize the active component derived by treating rough microsomes with elastase and high salt. The active factor is a peptide fragment with an apparent molecular weight of 60,000. It represents the cytoplasmic domain of a larger membrane protein. The fragment is basic and has at least one accessible sulfhydryl group. These characteristics facilitated its purification and identification as a membrane component required for translocation of nascent peptides across microsomal membranes.