ON THE SITE OF SULFATION IN COLONIC GOBLET CELLS

The location of bound S(35) in the goblet cell of the rat colon at time points from 2 to 60 minutes after administration of S(35) as sodium sulfate has been observed in vivo and in vitro by radioautographic techniques. Grains were first observed by electron microscopy over the stacked lamellae of the paranuclear part of the Golgi apparatus. The label was subsequently found associated with the supranuclear Golgi lamellae and was then seen associated with the smooth membranes limiting the mucin granules in the goblet. Finally, between ½ and 1 hour, the secreted mucus product in the crypts became radioactive. Neither mitochondria nor the endoplasmic reticulum was labeled. It is concluded that the Golgi apparatus is the organelle in which sulfation occurs.