Labeling of a glucose binding protein in the rabbit intestinal brush border membrane

Using a double labeling method based on the method of Thomas (Thomas, L. 1973. Isolation of N-ethylmaleimide-labeled phloridzin-sensitive D-glucose binding protein of brash border membrane from rat kidney cortex. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 291, 454–464.), with radioactive N-ethylmaleimide ([3H]NEM and [14C]NEM) in the presence and absence of D-glucose, a protein band which is periodic acid – Schiff staining insensitive and which has a relative mobility (Rm) of 0.55 (corresponding to a molecular weight of 51 000 daltons) as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) electrophoresis was labeled preferentially.When radioactive p-hydroxymercuriphenylsulfonate ([203Hg]PCMBS) is used in the presence and absence of D-glucose, as described by Smith et al. (SMITH, M. W., FERGUSON, D. R., and BURTON, K. A. 1975. Glucose- and phloridzin-protected thiol groups in pig intestinal brush border membranes. Biochern. J. 147, 617–619.), a protein band which has a relative mobility of 0.62 and a corresponding molecular weight of 42 000 daltons was labeled.Control experiments have shown that increasing concentrations of nonradioactive NEM (0.1–5.0 mM) do not substantially modify the electrophoretic pattern of SDS-solubilized brush border membrane. Nonradioactive PCMBS (0.1–10 mM), on the other hand, modifies the electrophoretic pattern and especially causes a change in relative mobility of the 0.55 protein band which migrates after 1 mM PCMBS treatment with a Rm of 0.62.The effect of 1 mM PCMBS can be reversed by adding L-cysteine or dithiotreitol.Actin extracted from rabbit muscle migrates with the same Rm as the 0.55 protein band in our electrophoretic conditions.