Lipogenesis in biotin deficiency

Abstract

The effect of biotin deficiency on the lipid composition of rat liver, epididymal fat pad, and carcass was investigated. The incorporation of acetate-1-14C into liver lipids, the concentration of liver acetyl-CoA, and the in vitro activities of mitochondrial and supernatant pathways were also studied in biotin-deficient and pair-weighed controls.Biotin-deficient rats had higher levels of carcass cholesterol, though there was no significant difference in liver cholesterol levels between deficient and control rats. These results indicate that the malonyl-CoA pathway proposed for cholesterol synthesis may not be the major route for cholesterogenesis.The reduction in esterified fatty acids of adipose tissue and carcass of biotin-deficient rats was greater than that of liver suggesting that biotin deficiency might have a more marked effect on the metabolism of the adipose tissue than of liver.