Acyl group transfer from the sn-1 position of phospholipids in the biosynthesis of n-dodecyl palmitate.
The wax ester n-dodecyl palmitate is shown to be synthesized by retinal pigment epithelial membranes. The biosynthesis of this ester is phospholipid dependent and occurs via the transfer of a palmitoyl group from the sn-1 position of lecithin to n-dodecanol. When retinal pigment epithelial membranes are used as the source of enzyme, the apparent Michaelis constant for n-dodecanol in this process is 65.8 microM, and the maximal velocity for n-dodecyl palmitate synthesis is 16.2 nmol/(h.mg of protein). The enzymatic activity is membrane associated and shows a maximum velocity between pH8 and pH9. This transesterification process appears to be similar to the lecithin retinol acyl transferase reaction and is a further example of acyl group transfer reactions from the sn-1 position of phospholipids.
Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
S
S
Furuyoshi
Y Q
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Shi
R R
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Rando
D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A / Q000494:pharmacology; D000215:Acylation; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D010168:Palmitates / Q000378:metabolism*; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000201:enzymology*
D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A; D010168:Palmitates; D010169:Palmitic Acids; D010743:Phospholipids; C026563:arachidonyl-coenzyme A; D019308:Palmitic Acid; C081432:dodecyl palmitate