Human catecholamine storage vesicle proteins.
Catecholamines in the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nerve are stored in vesicles, along with numerous proteins and peptides; both catecholamines and proteins are released by and are markers of exocytosis during sympathoadrenal neurosecretion. The proteins include the enzyme dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and the chromogranins, a group of molecules of largely undetermined function. We have isolated catecholamine storage vesicles (chromaffin granules) from bovine adrenal medulla and human pheochromocytoma. The numerous soluble proteins in the granules: (a) have a spectrum of sizes; (b) have a spectrum of charges; and (c) display considerable interspecies qualitative homology. Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) was isolated from human and bovine vesicles by Concanaval in A affinity chromotography. DBH is a tetrameric glycoprotein consisting of 2 non-covalently joined dimeric subunits, each of which is 2 disulfide linked monomers; interspecies molecular weight differences were noted. Ongoing studies concern chromogranin A, the quantitatively major vesicle protein, in bovine and human vesicles.
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D002837:Chromaffin Granules / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002838:Chromaffin System / Q000032:analysis*; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure
D002395:Catecholamines; D006023:Glycoproteins; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase