linoleic-acid and alpha-glycerophosphoric-acid

Liver mitochondrial cardiolipin (CL) is distinguished from other phospholipids by the presence of linoleoyl in almost all molecular species, and the biosynthesis of these species is not yet understood. The present study was carried out in order to test the hypothesis that the linoleoyl proportion of CL may be specifically enriched by a deacylation-reacylation cycle. Incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate into the metabolites of the CL pathway was accompanied by formation of 14C-labelled monolyso- and dilyso-CL. Labelling of dilyso-CL was increased or decreased by stimulation or inhibition respectively of mitochondrial phospholipase A2. These data suggest a rapid deacylation of newly formed [14C]CL by phospholipase A2, whereas endogenous mitochondrial CL was very resistant to hydrolytic degradation. Unlike dilyso-CL, monolyso-CL could be reacylated by [14C]linoleoyl residues. [14C]Linoleoyl incorporation into CL was also observed when exogenous CL was added instead of monolyso-CL, thus indicating the concerted action of de- and re-acylation. Although 1-palmitoyl-2-[14C]linoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine was a suitable acyl donor under experimental conditions, the reaction was not a transacylation but required splitting of [14C]linoleic acid from phosphatidylcholine and formation of [14C]linoleoyl-CoA as an intermediate. The [14C]linoleoyl was mainly bound to the sn-2(2") position of CL, and a small portion (about 20%) to the sn-1(1") position. It is concluded that a cycle, comprising CL deacylation and monolyso-CL reacylation by linoleoyl-CoA, provides a potential mechanism for the remodelling of molecular species of newly formed CL.

Topics: Acylation; Animals; Cardiolipins; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Glycerophosphates; Kinetics; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Mitochondria, Liver; Phospholipases A; Phospholipases A2; Rats

Microsomal membrane preparations from the maturing cotyledons of common borage (Borago officinalis) exhibit delta 12- and delta 6-desaturase activities, which resulted in the synthesis of linoleate and gamma-linolenate respectively. The desaturase enzymes utilized the complex lipid substrate phosphatidylcholine. The activity of these enzymes was sufficiently high to allow the monitoring of the mass changes in the endogenous oleate, linoleate and gamma-linolenate in the microsomal phosphatidylcholine in the presence of NADH (i.e. under desaturating conditions). The results illustrate that the delta 12-desaturase uses the oleate substrate at both the sn-1 and -2 positions of sn-phosphatidylcholine, whereas the delta 6-desaturase is almost totally restricted to the linoleate at position 2 of the complex lipid. Estimate of the acyl-substrate pool size at position 2 of sn-phosphatidylcholine for both desaturases indicated that some 50% of the oleate and linoleate was available to the enzymes. The microsomes (microsomal fractions) had a somewhat impaired Kennedy [(1961) Fed. Proc. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. 20, 934-940] pathway for the formation of triacylglycerols when compared with other oil-rich plant species that have been studied [Stymne & Stobart (1987) The Biochemistry of Plants: a Comprehensive Treatise (Stumpf, P.K., ed.), vol. 10, chapter 8, pp. 175-214, Academic Press, New York]. In the presence of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and acyl-CoA, large quantities of phosphatidic acid accumulated in the membranes. Acyl-selectivity studies on the glycerol-acylating enzymes showed that gamma-linolenate could be acylated to both the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. However, stereochemical analysis of the acyl components of the sn-triacylglycerol obtained from mature seeds indicated that, whereas no gamma-linolenate was present at the sn-1 position, it accounted for over 50% of the fatty acids at position sn-3. The results indicate that the diacylglycerol acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.20) may show a strong selectivity for gamma-linolenoyl-CoA and hence result in the efficient removal of this fatty acid from the acyl-CoA pool in vivo, leaving negligible substrate for utilization by the sn-glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.15).

Topics: Acyl Coenzyme A; Fatty Acid Desaturases; Fatty Acids; Glycerol; Glycerophosphates; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase; Lipids; Microsomes; Oleic Acid; Oleic Acids; Phosphatidic Acids; Phosphatidylcholines; Phosphatidylethanolamines; Plants

The synthesis of triacylglycerols was investigated in microsomes (microsomal fractions) prepared from the developing cotyledons of sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Particular emphasis was placed on the mechanisms involved in controlling the C18- unsaturated-fatty-acid content of the oils. We have demonstrated that the microsomes were capable of: the transfer of oleate from acyl-CoA to position 2 of sn-phosphatidylcholine for its subsequent desaturation and the return of the polyunsaturated products to the acyl-CoA pool by further acyl exchange; the acylation of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate with acyl-CoA to yield phosphatidic acid, which was further utilized in diacyl- and tri-acylglycerol synthesis; and (3) the equilibrium of a diacylglycerol pool with phosphatidylcholine. The acyl exchange between acyl-CoA and position 2 of sn-phosphatidylcholine coupled to the equilibration of diacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine brings about the continuous enrichment of the glycerol backbone with C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids for triacylglycerol production. Similar reactions were found to operate in another oilseed plant, safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). On the other hand, the microsomes of avocado (Persea americana) mesocarp, which synthesize triacylglycerol via the Kennedy [(1961) Fed. Proc. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. 20, 934-940] pathway, were deficient in acyl exchange and the diacylglycerol in equilibrium phosphatidylcholine interconversion. The results provide a working model that helps to explain the relationship between C18- unsaturated-fatty-acid synthesis and triacylglycerol production in oilseeds.

Topics: Acyl Coenzyme A; Glycerophosphates; Helianthus; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Microsomes; Oleic Acid; Oleic Acids; Phosphatidylcholines; Seeds; Triglycerides