Distribution of pyruvate carboxylase along the rat nephron: an immunological and enzymatic study.

Abstract

Antibodies against purified rat-kidney-cortex pyruvate carboxylase were raised in rabbits. These polyspecific antibodies recognize pyruvate carboxylase enzymes alone without cross reactivity with other carboxylases as detected by immunoblotting. The abundance of pyruvate carboxylase in the various renal fractions was measured by ELISA and its activity by the fixation of [14C]CO3H-. The results were corroborated by a combination of immunocytochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. A good correlation was found between the enzymatic activity and the quantity of enzyme contained in each fraction. The kidney-cortex pyruvate carboxylase was primarily located in proximal tubules, in accord with its important role in gluconeogenesis.