title: Mitochondrial and peroxisomal beta oxidation of the branched chain fatty acid 2-methylpalmitate in rat liver.
abstract: A number of isoprenoids (e.g. pristanic acid and the side chains of fat soluble-vitamins) is degraded or shortened via beta oxidation. We synthesized 2-methyl-palmitate and 2-methyl[1-14C] palmitate as a model substrate for the study of the beta oxidation of branched (isoprenoid) fatty acids in rat liver. 2-Methylpalmitate was well oxidized by isolated hepatocytes and its oxidation was stimulated after treatment of the animals with a peroxisome proliferator. Subcellular fractionation of rat liver demonstrated that 2-methylpalmitate is activated to its CoA ester in endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and peroxisomes and that mitochondria and peroxisomes are capable of beta-oxidizing 2-methylpalmitate. At low unbound 2-methylpalmitate concentrations and in the presence of competing straight chain fatty acids, a condition encountered in vivo, peroxisomal 2-methyl-palmitate oxidation was 2- to 4-fold more active than mitochondrial oxidation. Treatment of rats with a peroxisome proliferator markedly stimulated mitochondrial but only slightly peroxisomal 2-methylpalmitate oxidation. The same treatment dramatically induced palmitoyl-CoA oxidase but did not change 2-methyl-palmitoyl-CoA oxidase activity. Our results indicate 1) that in untreated rats peroxisomes contribute for an important part to the oxidation of 2-methylpalmitate; 2) that treatment with a peroxisome proliferator stimulates mainly the mitochondrial component of 2-methylpalmitate oxidation; and 3) that palmitoyl-CoA and 2-methylpalmitoyl-CoA are oxidized by different peroxisomal oxidases.
authors.affiliation: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Afdeling Farmacologie, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vanhove
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Van Veldhoven
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vanhoutte
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parmentier
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Eyssen
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Mannaerts
mesh_terms: D042962:Acyl-CoA Oxidase; D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008830:Microbodies / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D000098859:Long-Chain-Fatty-Acid-CoA Ligase
chemical_list: D010169:Palmitic Acids; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C034839:2-methylhexadecanoic acid; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D042962:Acyl-CoA Oxidase; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases; C090799:FAA2 protein, S cerevisiae; D000098859:Long-Chain-Fatty-Acid-CoA Ligase