Ref ID : 3938
Barbara P. Schick and Robert L. Conner; In Vivo Incorporation of a Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid into the sn-C-1 and sn-C-2 Positions of Tetrahymena Glycerophospholipids. J.Protozool. 28(3):325-327, 1981
Reprint
In File
Notes
The glycerophospholipids of the protozoon Tetrahymena pyriformis W are unique in that the polyunsaturated fatty acid gamma-linolenate (18:3 delta6,9,12) is a major component of both the sn-C-1 and sn-C-2 positions. Tetrahymena were incubated with [1-14C]gamma-linolenate. The positional distribution of the radiolabeled fatty acid in the three major glycerophospholipids was determined. [1-14C]gamma-linolenate was found at both carbons of the three lipids, in general agreement with the mass distribution of gamma-linolenate, except for markedly greater labeling at the sn-C-2 position of phosphatidylcholine. We hypothesize that an acyltransferase exists in Tetrahymena that can esterify gamma-linolenate at both carbons during glycerophospholipid biosynthesis.