Biosynthesis of Phosphatidic Acid in Mitochondria and Microsomes Via the Acylation of sn-Glycero-3-phosphate

Abstract

Nuclei-free homogenate, prepared from guinea pig livers, was fractionated into subcellular particles which were then examined for the activities of two microsomal marker enzymes, glucose-6-phosphatase and NADPH: cytochrome c reductase. In an incubation system containing sn-glycero-3-phosphate, fatty acid, and various cofactors the intracellular distribution of acyl-CoA: sn-glycero-3-phosphate acyltransferase(s) was studied and compared with the distribution of the two microsomal marker enzymes.Results obtained showed that the highest specific activity for the acylation of sn-glycero-3-phosphate was associated with the microsomal fraction and the activity in each subcellular fraction paralleled activities of the two microsomal marker enzymes. Furthermore, the amount of acyl-CoA: sn-glycero-3-phosphate acyltransferase activity observed in the mitochondrial and submitochondrial fractions could be accounted for by the content of endoplasmic reticulum as determined by the marker enzymes. This observation was also true for brain, heart, and kidney, as well as for rat liver.These results are interpreted as evidence that isolated mitochondria are unable to synthesize phosphatidic acid by direct acylation of sn-glycero-3-phosphate.