Biosynthesis of arabinogalactan-protein in Lolium multiflorum (Italian ryegrass) endosperm cells. Subcellular distribution of galactosyltransferases

Intracellular membranes from protoplasts of Italian-ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) endosperm cells have been fractionated on sucrose density gradients and identified on the basis of putative-marker-enzyme assays. Galactosyltransferases capable of incorporating galactose from UDP galactose into 66% ethanol-soluble products are associated with all membrane fractions. Affinity chromatography of the ethanol-insoluble products on (murine myeloma protein J539)-Sepharose reveals that the enzymes responsible for the synthesis of polymers containing (1→6)-beta-D-galactose residues are associated exclusively with subcellular fractions enriched in Golgi-derived membranes. This suggests that the Golgi apparatus plays an important part in the synthesis of the carbohydrate component of the ryegrass arabinogalactan-protein.