Lysosomal enzymes and mucopolysaccharides in the gastrointestinal tract of the rat and pig

Abstract

Six lysosomal enzymes were found in the tissue homogenates of the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum and colon of the rat and five of the enzymes were active in the same tissues of the pig. The concentrations of acid mucopolysaccharides in the tissue homogenates were measured. In the rat, they paralleled closely the specific activities for aryl sulfatase (aryl-sulfate sulfohydrolase, EC 3.1.6.1), β-glucuronidase (β-d-glucuronide glucuronohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.31) and β-galactosidase (β-d-galactoside galactohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.23), and in the pig that for aryl sulfatase. Compared to other segments of the tract, rat colon had the highest concentration of mucopolysaccharides and the highest specific activities for aryl sulfatase, β-glucuronidase and β-galactosidase. These three particulate enzymes from rat colon were released by osmotic shock and the solubilized enzymes had acid pH optima.