BIOCHEMICAL-CHARACTERIZATION OF THE GOLGI-COMPLEX PROTEINS OF TRITRICHOMONAS-FETUS

Using cell-fractionation techniques (differential and discontinuous gr adient centrifugation), we obtained a highly enriched fraction contain ing the Golgi complex of Tritrichomonas foetus. This fraction was furt her subfractionated by sodium carbonate (150 mM) treatment at pH 11.5, leading to the isolation of the Golgi content and membrane subfractio ns. Both fractions were characterized by electron microscopy. The prot ein content of membrane and luminal subfractions was about 40% and 60% of the total Golgi protein, respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed an enrichment of 15 pro tein bands in the Golgi fraction, with molecular masses varying betwee n 15 and 116 kDa. Alkaline treatment released some proteins into the m edium, but most of them were associated with the Golgi membrane.