Lung surface-active fraction as a model system for macromolecular ultrastructural studies with Crotalus atrox venom.

The dog lung surface-active fraction and phosphatidylcholine constituents were subjected to hydrolysis by Crotalus atrox phospholipase A(2). Relative rates of hydrolysis were: dipalmitoyl glycerophosphorylcholine > phosphatidylcholine isolated from the surface-active fraction > phosphatidylcholine as an integral component of the intact surface-active macromolecular structure. Cholesterol markedly inhibited, whereas tripalmitin increased, the rate of hydrolysis with both pure phosphatidylcholine substrates.

Intra- and extracellular compartmentalization of the surface-active fraction in dog lung.

Adult mongrel dogs were killed at various times after injection of (3)H-labeled palmitate. The lungs were removed and subjected to an extensive saline lavage. The surface-active fraction was isolated from the lavage and from homogenized residual lung by a procedure based upon differential centrifugation in sucrose solutions.

Acyl transferase activities in dog lung microsomes.

Mammalian lung has a high concentration of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and other phospholipids in which both fatty acid ester chains are saturated, as opposed to the usual asymmetric phospholipid (one saturated fatty acid and one unsaturated fatty acid). The acyl transferase system in dog lung microsomes was studied by determining the reactivities of various acyl CoA derivatives with 1-lyso-2-acyl- and 1-acyl-2-lyso-phosphatidylcholine. The 16:0 derivative had equal reactivity for both the 1- and 2-lyso positions.

Isolation, characterization, and surface chemistry of a surface-active fraction from dog lung.

A procedure is described for the isolation of a surface-active fraction from dog lung. This material meets the established criteria for pulmonary surfactant. The fraction was shown to contain lipid, protein, and carbohydrate.