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Studies on phospholipid biosynthesis in hepatocytes from alcoholic rats by using radiolabeled exogenous precursors

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Lipids

Abstract

We have studied the synthesis of phospholipids in hepatocytes isolated from chronically ethanol-treated rats by using isotopically labelled serine, ethanolamine, and choline as exogenous precursors. Our results demonstrate that ethanol induces specific effects on the biosynthesis of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine and phosphatidylcholinevia CDP-derivatives and also on the synthesis of phosphatidylserinevia the Ca++-dependent base-exchange reaction. Thus, the synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine from [3-H]ethanolamine and the incorporation of [3H]serine into phosphatidylserine were clearly higher in hepatocytes from ethanol-treated rats compared to controls. The synthesis of phosphatidylcholine from [methyl-14C] choline, on the other hand, decreased markedly, suggesting a specific inhibition of cholinephosphotransferase activity. We have also demonstrated that the phosphatidylcholine levels are markedly decreased in hepatocytes isolated from chronically ethanol-treated rats as a consequence of the lower phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. The decrease in the incorporation of radioactivity from choline to betaine, which we also found, is interpreted as being the result of a higher use of betaine as methyl donor instead of methionine to maintain the hepaticS-adenosylmethionine levels in chronic alcoholism.

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Abbreviations

BSA:

bovine serum albumin

TLC:

thin-layer chromatography

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18001, Granada, Spain

    M. P. Carrasco, J. L. Segovia & C. Marco

  2. Department of Clinical and Basic Psychobiology, University of Almería, Almería, Spain

    M. C. Sanchez-Amate

Authors
  1. M. P. Carrasco
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  2. M. C. Sanchez-Amate
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  3. J. L. Segovia
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  4. C. Marco
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Carrasco, M.P., Sanchez-Amate, M.C., Segovia, J.L. et al. Studies on phospholipid biosynthesis in hepatocytes from alcoholic rats by using radiolabeled exogenous precursors. Lipids 31, 393–397 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02522925

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02522925

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