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Incorporation and distribution of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids into nuclear lipids of hepatic cells

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Lipids

Abstract

Liver nuclear incorporation of stearic (18∶0), linoleic (18∶2n−6), and arachidonic (20∶4n−6) acids was studied by incubation in vitro of the [1-14C] fatty acids with nuclei, with or without the cytosol fraction at different times. The [1-14C] fatty acids were incorporated into the nuclei as free fatty acids in the following order: 18∶0>20∶4n−6≫18∶2n−6, and esterified into nuclear lipids by an acyl-CoA pathway. All [1-14C] fatty acids were esterified mainly to phospholipids and triacylglycerols and in a minor proportion to diacylglycerols. Only [1-14C] 18∶2n−6-CoA was incorporated into cholesterol esters. The incorporation was not modified by cytosol addition. The incorporation of 20∶4n−6 into nuclear phosphatidylcholine (PC) pools was also studied by incubation of liver nuclei in vitro with [1-14C]20∶4n−6-CoA, and nuclear labeled PC molecular species were determined. From the 15 PC nuclear molecular species determined, five were labeled with [1-14C]20∶4n−6-CoA: 18∶0–20∶4, 16∶0–20∶4, 18∶1–20∶4, 18∶2–20∶4, and 20∶4–20∶4. The highest specific radioactivity was found in 20∶4–20∶4 PC, which is a minor species. In conclusion, liver cell nuclei possess the necessary enzymes to incorporate exogenous saturated and unsaturated fatty acids into lipids by an acyl-CoA pathway, showing specificity for each fatty acid. Liver cell nuclei also utilize exogenous 20∶4n−6-CoA to synthesize the major molecular species of PC with 20∶4n−6 at the sn-2 position. However, the most actively synthesized is 20∶4–20∶4 PC, which is a quantitatively minor component. The labeling pattern of 20∶4–20∶4 PC would indicate that this molecular species is synthesized mainly by the de novo pathway.

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Abbreviations

CE:

cholesterol ester

DG:

diacylglycerol

ELSD:

evaporative light scattering detector

FABP:

fatty acid binding protein

FFA:

free fatty acid

GC:

gas chromatography

GLC:

gas-liquid chromatography

HPLC:

high-performance liquid chromatography

IM:

incubation mixture

N:

nuclear pellet

PC:

phosphatidylcholine

PL:

phospholipid

PPAR:

peroxisome proliferator activated receptor

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acid

RHPLC:

reversed-phase HPLC

TG:

triacylglycerol

TLC:

thin-layer chromatography

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, UNLP-CONICET, calles 60 y 120, 1900, La Plata, Argentina

    Ana Ves-Losada, Sabina M. Maté & Rodolfo R. Brenner

  2. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, UNLP, calles 60 y 120, 1900, La Plata, Argentina

    Ana Ves-Losada

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  1. Ana Ves-Losada
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  2. Sabina M. Maté
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  3. Rodolfo R. Brenner
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Correspondence to Ana Ves-Losada.

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Ves-Losada, A., Maté, S.M. & Brenner, R.R. Incorporation and distribution of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids into nuclear lipids of hepatic cells. Lipids 36, 273–282 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-001-0718-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-001-0718-4

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