title: The action of lung lysosomal phospholipases on dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and its significance for the synthesis of pulmonary surfactant.
abstract: Subcellular fractions were prepared from rabbit lung and characterized by marker enzyme assays. Phospholipases A of lysosomal type (activity at pH 4.0 in the absence of Ca2+) show a peak of specific activity in fraction P3 (13000 x g; 20 min; pellet). About 70% of the phospholipase A activity of P3 can be obtained in a soluble extract. The rates of hydrolysis of dipalmitoyl (saturated) and unsaturated phosphatidylcholine molecules, presented to enzyme preparations in liposomes of varying composition, are shown in Tables 3 to 5. Although the rate of unsaturated molecules is unaffected by liposome composition, saturated molecules are hydrolyzed significantly faster in 5 mol % dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes than in 95 mol %. With enzyme preparation I (60% A1: 40% A2) the increase was 6-fold (P less than 0.01). Preparations I and II hydrolyzed both kinds of molecules at similar rates in 50 mol % dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes, but preparation III, with a higher proportion of A2 (80%), gave a notably lower rate of hydrolysis of saturated molecules. Phosphatidylglycerol (10 mol %) also decreased the rate of hydrolysis of saturated molecules. These results are discussed in relation to fluidity of the liposomes and to the functions of the lysosomal-type phospholipases A of the lamellar inclusion bodies of the lung.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology*; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000201:enzymology; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism*; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000378:metabolism*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D010740:Phospholipases; D010741:Phospholipases A