Acetate is the preferred substrate for long-chain fatty acid synthesis in isolated spinach chloroplasts.
1. Commercially available [2-14C]pyruvate and [2-14C]malonate were found to contain 3-6% (w/w) of [14C]acetate. 2. The contaminating [14C]acetate was efficiently utilized for fatty acid synthesis by isolated chloroplasts, whereas the parent materials were poorer substrates. 3. Maximum incorporation rates of the different substrates examined were (ng-atoms of C/h per mg of chlorophyll): [1-14C]acetate, 2676; [2-14C]pyruvate, 810; H14CO3-, 355; [2-14C]malonate, 19. 4. Products of CO2 fixation were probably not a significant carbon source for fatty acid synthesis in the presence of exogenous acetate.
D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism*; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000378:metabolism; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007700:Kinetics; D008314:Malonates / Q000378:metabolism; D010945:Plants, Edible; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium
D000085:Acetates; D001639:Bicarbonates; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004075:Diglycerides; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008314:Malonates; D011773:Pyruvates; D014316:Tritium