Low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins associated with zymogen granule membranes from rat pancreas.

We report here that at least seven low Mr GTP-binding proteins (range 21.5 to 29 kDa) are associated with the membranes of zymogen granules from rat pancreas. GTP binding proteins of similar Mr but in different relative proportions were found in the cytosolic fraction. Treatment of intact granules with either trypsin or proteinase K caused the complete digestion of all the GTP-binding proteins, indicating that the proteins are located on the cytoplasmic face of the granule membrane. All the GTP-binding proteins were relatively resistant to extraction by 1.0M NaCl, 6.0M urea and 0.2M Na2CO3 (pH 11.0) but partitioned into the detergent phase of Triton X 114 extracts indicating that the proteins are tightly associated with the granule membrane. By analogy with the function of other small Mr GTP-binding proteins in regulation of membrane fusion events in eukaryotic cells, we suggest that these low Mr GTP-binding proteins in the pancreatic acinar cell may be involved in regulated secretion.