Biomaterial Database

Human lysosomes can be purified from diploid skin fibroblasts by free-flow electrophoresis. 1980

E Harms, and H Kern, and J A Schneider

Human diploid fibroblasts underwent lysis when resuspended in isotonic sucrose. After preparation of a granular fraction by differential centrifugation, lysosomes were almost completely purified by free-flow electrophoresis. Electron micrographs of the final fraction of fibroblast lysosomes (about 25-fold purified) showed mostly secondary lysosomes having an appearance identical to those in intact cells. There was no indication that the purification steps selectd for any lysosomal subpopulation. The lysomal nature of the isolated organelles was confirmed by cytochemical staining for acid beta-glycerophosphatase. As judged by a 92% structure-linked latency of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase in the final fraction, the structural integrity of the isolated lysosomes was unaffected by the purification procedure.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008247	Lysosomes	A class of morphologically heterogeneous cytoplasmic particles in animal and plant tissues characterized by their content of hydrolytic enzymes and the structure-linked latency of these enzymes. The intracellular functions of lysosomes depend on their lytic potential. The single unit membrane of the lysosome acts as a barrier between the enzymes enclosed in the lysosome and the external substrate. The activity of the enzymes contained in lysosomes is limited or nil unless the vesicle in which they are enclosed is ruptured or undergoes MEMBRANE FUSION. (From Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed).	Autolysosome,Autolysosomes,Lysosome
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D002458	Cell Fractionation	Techniques to partition various components of the cell into SUBCELLULAR FRACTIONS.	Cell Fractionations,Fractionation, Cell,Fractionations, Cell
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D004171	Diploidy	The chromosomal constitution of cells, in which each type of CHROMOSOME is represented twice. Symbol: 2N or 2X.	Diploid,Diploid Cell,Cell, Diploid,Cells, Diploid,Diploid Cells,Diploidies,Diploids
D004586	Electrophoresis	An electrochemical process in which macromolecules or colloidal particles with a net electric charge migrate in a solution under the influence of an electric current.	Electrophoreses
D005347	Fibroblasts	Connective tissue cells which secrete an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and other macromolecules.	Fibroblast
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.