Transfer of Carbon Atoms from Mevalonate to n-Fatty Acids

The distribution of 14C in the unsaponifiable (neutral) and saponifiable (acidic) components of tissue lipids was examined 4, 24, and 72 hours after the subcutaneous injection of [2-14C]mevalonate into 9-day-old rats. Of the total radioactivity contained in the unsaponifiable plus saponifiable mater...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of biological chemistry 1974-01, Vol.249 (1), p.66-71
Main Authors: Edmond, John, Popják, G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetoacetates - metabolism
Anaerobiosis
Animals
Brain - metabolism
Carbon Radioisotopes
Chromatography, Gas
Chromatography, Thin Layer
Fatty Acids - biosynthesis
Female
Glutarates - metabolism
Liver - metabolism
Lung - metabolism
Mevalonic Acid - metabolism
Oleic Acids - biosynthesis
Organ Specificity
Palmitic Acids - biosynthesis
Pregnancy
Rats
Skin - metabolism
Spinal Cord - metabolism
Stearic Acids - biosynthesis
Time Factors
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Summary:The distribution of 14C in the unsaponifiable (neutral) and saponifiable (acidic) components of tissue lipids was examined 4, 24, and 72 hours after the subcutaneous injection of [2-14C]mevalonate into 9-day-old rats. Of the total radioactivity contained in the unsaponifiable plus saponifiable material, 7 to 33% was in the acidic fraction obtained from the brain, spinal cord, and the skin, most of it (90% in the brain and spinal cord) being associated with palmitate and stearate in the ratio of 8:2 or 7:3, 4 hours after the injections. Seventy-two hours after the injections the stearate became slightly more heavily labeled than palmitate in these three organs. The palmitate and stearate from the kidney and lung lipids became labeled also, but not as extensively as in the three organs of ectodermal origin. In contrast the n-fatty acids from liver did not contain detectable isotopic label. The incorporation of label into the two fatty acids in the brain and skin increased linearly with increasing doses of mevalonate. It is postulated that label from [2-14C]mevalonate is diverted through a shunt to 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA and free acetoacetate which is utilized preferentially for fatty acid synthesis in the brain, spinal cord, and the skin. Mechanisms which could account for the recycling of carbon atoms from intermediates of sterol biosynthesis are presented.
ISSN:0021-9258
1083-351X
DOI:10.1016/S0021-9258(19)43091-3