Phospholipid alterations in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum induced by xanthine oxidase: contamination of commercial preparations of xanthine oxidase by phospholipase A/sub 2/

Incubation of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum with xanthine oxidase alone at pH 7.0 resulted in a loss of lipid phosphorus that was potentiated by the addition of xanthine. Using autoclaved E.coli with 1-/sup 14/C-oleate in the 2-acyl position of membrane phospholipids, the authors demonstrate that many, but not all, commercial preparations of xanthine oxidase contain significant phospholipase A/sub 2/ (PLA/sub 2/) activity (64.3-545.6 nmols/min/mg). The PLA/sub 2/ was maximally active in the neutral-alkaline pH range, was Ca/sup 2 +/-dependent, and was unaffected by the addition of xanthine. PLA/sub 2/ activity was totally inhibited by 1mM EDTA whereas radical production by optimal concentrations of xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) was unaffected by EDTA. Chromatographically purified xanthine oxidase (Sigma Grade III) contained high levels of PLA/sub 2/ activity (64.3 nmols/min/mg) compared to endogenous levels of neutral-active, Ca/sup 2 +/-dependent PLA/sub 2/ measured in various tissue homogenates (less than or equal to 0.5 nmols/ min/mg). Because X/XO mixtures are used extensively to study oxygen free radical-induced cell injury and membrane phospholipid alterations, the presence of a potent extracellular PLA/sub 2/ may have influenced previously published reports, and such studies should be interpreted cautiously.