Biosynthesis of medium-chain triacylglycerols and phospholipids by HepG- 2 cells

Ronit Pakula, Moshe Rubin, Asher Moshe Moser, Dov Lichtenberg, Alisa Tietz*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

In an attempt to understand the metabolism by the liver of fatty acids (FA) of different chain length, we have studied the incorporation of [1- 14C]-labeled C 2, C 8, C 10, C 12, and C 16 into cellular lipids by HepG-2 cells. Over 90% of the radiolabeled FA were detected in phospholipids (PL) and triacylglycerols (TAG). The incorporation of C 12 and C 16 was three to four times higher than that of C 8 and C 10 (and reached 35 nmoles per mg protein after 1.5 h). The radioactivity of C 2, C 8, and C 10 was recovered mainly in PL. C 12 and C 16 were incorporated at approximately equal amounts into PL and TAG. The radioactivity of both C 2 and C 8 was recovered exclusively in long-chain FA, suggesting oxidation of C 8 into C 2 units prior to FA synthesis. C 10 likewise yielded mainly long-chain FA. However 10% of unchanged C 10 was found in PL and up to 30% in TAG. 14C- C 12 was largely incorporated unchanged. Under these conditions, the presence of C 10 and C 12 in PL and TAG was shown also by gas liquid chromatography. In the presence of either C 2, C 8, or C 10, up to 30% of 14C-monounsaturated FA were detected in PL and TAG. With C 12 and C 16, the fraction of 14C-monounsaturated FA was much smaller suggesting that extensive desaturation occurred during de novo synthesis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)489-495
Number of pages7
JournalLipids
Volume32
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1997

Funding

FundersFunder number
Doctor Herman Schauder Memorial Endowment Fund
Minerva Center for Cholesterol, Gallstones and Lipid Metabolism
Tel Aviv University

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Biosynthesis of medium-chain triacylglycerols and phospholipids by HepG- 2 cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this