Studies on intracellular transport in the rat exocrine pancreas

Abstract

In vitro incubation of rat pancreatic lobules in the presence of 10 mM concentrations of 2 natural (phenylalanine, tryptophane) and 2 modified aromatic amino acids (p-fluorophenylalanine, p-chlorophenylalanine) induces paracrystal formation in the cisternal space of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and in the acinar lumen. Aggregation of secretory material in transitional elements of the rough endoplasmic reticulum suggests tubular connection to the Golgi complex. Paracrystal formation is correlated with a disturbance of the three major phases in the secretory process of the exocrine cell. Incorporation of radioactive amino acids into proteins is inhibited by 10 mM concentrations of phenylalanine and tryptophane by 20 and 50% respectively and by p-chlorophenylalanine at 1 and 10 mM concentrations by 50 and 75%. The inhibition of protein synthesis is not due to a reduced intracellular concentration of radioactive precursor amino acids.