title: Isolation of rod outer segments on Percoll gradients: effect of specific protease inhibition.
abstract: Rat rod outer segments (ROSs) were isolated by vortexing retinas and separating the detached components on performed Percoll gradients. A lighter band of 20 x 10(6) unsealed ROSs per ten retinas, and a heavier band of 60 x 10(6) sealed ROSs per ten retinas were obtained from each 12 ml gradient. The yield of sealed ROSs (but not unsealed ROSs) was increased up to twofold in the presence of the specific cysteine protease inhibitor, Ep-475. Aprotinin, pepstatin, PMSF, TPCK and EGTA plus EDTA had no effect. These results indicate that during isolation, ROSs are vulnerable to damage by cysteine protease activity either from damaged retinal cells or from within.
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Shuster
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Moldrawski
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Blest
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Farber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D007930:Leucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells; D011205:Povidone; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D051381:Rats; D012374:Rod Cell Outer Segment; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C016039:Percoll; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C032425:N-(N-(3-carboxyoxirane-2-carbonyl)leucyl)isoamylamine; D011205:Povidone; D007930:Leucine