The Influence of Detergents on the Activityof 5 -Nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) in Rat Liver Homogenates

Abstract

The activation of 5'-nucleotidase in the homogenate as well as in the subcellular fractions, is due to the action of sodium deoxycholate and Triton X-100. Beyond this, both detergents cause a partial solubilization of the enzyme. The solubilized part of the enzyme is not activated during incubation with the detergents. The unsolubilized part of the enzyme is mainly, if not exclusively, activated. The existence of two forms of 5'-nucleotidase has been proposed on the basis of the above statements. These forms probably differ in their stability of binding to the membrane structure.