Choline cannot be replaced by propanolamine in mice.
Choline is an important nutrient for humans and animals. Animals obtain choline from the diet and from the catabolism of phosphatidylcholine made by phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT). The unique model of complete choline deprivation is Pemt(-/-) mice that are fed a choline-deficient diet. This model, therefore, can be used for the examination of choline substitutes in mammalian systems. Recently, propanolamine was found to be a replacement for choline in yeast. Thus, we tested to see whether or not choline can be replaced by propanolamine in mice. Mice were fed a choline-deficient diet and supplemented with either methionine, 2-amino-propanol, 2-amino-isopropanol and 3-amino-propanol. We were unable to detect the formation of any of the possible phosphatidylpropanolamines. Moreover, none of them prevented liver damage, reduction of hepatic phosphatidylcholine levels or fatty liver induced in choline-deficient-Pemt(-/-) mice. These results suggest that choline in mice cannot be replaced by any of the three propanolamine derivatives.
Li
Zhaoyu
Z
Department of Biochemistry and Canadian Institutes of Health Research Group on the Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, 328 Heritage Medical Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Vance
Dennis E
DE
D000818:Animals; D002794:Choline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D002796:Choline Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism; D050918:Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D011412:Propanolamines; D014280:Triglycerides; D008715:Methionine; D050918:Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase; D002794:Choline