Possible association of chaperonin 60 with secretory proteins in pancreatic acinar cells.

Assembly and folding of newly synthesized polypeptides, acquisition of their biological active form, and their translocation in different cellular compartments are processes assisted by molecular chaperones. Because particular chaperones have been found to be present along the RER-Golgi-granule secretory pathway in pancreatic acinar cells, we presume that they should play important roles in secretion. In the present study, applying double immunogold labeling at the electron microscopic level on rat exocrine pancreas, we have revealed the existence of a topographical association between Hsp60 and particular pancreatic enzymes along the secretory pathway. The highest association was found for amylase, lipase, and chymotrypsinogen, whereas trypsinogen and carboxypeptidase B showed much lower association values. Immunoprecipitation of isolated zymogen granule content with an anti-Hsp60 antibody appears to confirm the morphological data, since amylase and lipase were found to co-precipitate with Hsp60. These findings support the hypothesis that Hsp60 is associated with certain pancreatic proteins along the secretory pathway. Hsp60 would assist the proper folding and assembly of pancreatic secretory proteins and could also prevent their autoactivation before secretion.