Incorporation of acetate into fatty acids and complex lipids of soybean cotyledon slices under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

Abstract

Soybean slices incubated with [1-¹⁴C] acetate in the presence of air synthesized fatty acids to a greater extent than did slices in the absence of air. The proportion of radioactive fatty acids incorporated into the neutral lipid was ca. 35% in the presence or absence of air. However, both the proportion and the absolute amount of radioactive fatty acids in phospholipids were greater in the presence of air. This difference was particularly great in phosphatidic acid and in a minor uncharacterized phospholipid component. Significant incorporation of acetate into monoenoic acids was observed in these two lipids and in phosphatidyl choline. The latter also showed an accumulation of newly synthesized polyenoic acids when air was present. Stearic acid synthesis was greater under aerobic than under anaerobic conditions. The present results support the concept that a relationship exists between the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and their incorporation into phospholipids in plants.