ENDOPLASMIC-RETICULUM LUMENAL PROTEINS OF RAT MAMMARY-GLAND - POTENTIAL INVOLVEMENT IN LIPID DROPLET ASSEMBLY DURING LACTATION

Intracellular distribution of selected reticuloplasmins, soluble proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum lumen, in rat mammary gland was investigated during pregnancy, lactation, and involution. During lactation the levels of the calcium binding protein calreticulin, and of protein disulfide isomerase, were elevated. Endoplasmic reticulum was as efficient as Golgi apparatus in sequestration and accumulation of Ca2+ from surrounding medium, as suggested from in vitro experiments with isolated cell fractions. Both protein disulfide isomerase and calreticulin were present in cytosol from homogenates of mammary gland prepared under mild conditions. Protein disulfide isomerase was abundant in intracellular lipid droplet precursors of milk lipid globules. Calreticulin and immunoglobulin binding protein (BiP, GRP 78) were associated with lipid droplets. Glucose-regulated protein (GRP 94) was not detected in association with intracellular lipid droplets. Milk lipid globule membrane lacked more than barely detectable quantities of protein disulfide isomerase, calreticulin, and immunoglobulin binding protein, suggesting that these proteins are lost from intracellular lipid droplets before or during their secretion as milk lipid globules. Immunocytochemical localization confirmed the presence of protein disulfide isomerase or calreticulin on intracellular lipid droplets and in non-endoplasmic reticulum regions of cells.