title: Docosahexaenoic acid is a substrate for ACAT1 and inhibits cholesteryl ester formation from oleic acid in MCF-10A cells.
abstract: MCF-10A breast epithelial cells treated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or oleic acid (OA) accumulated cytoplasmic lipid droplets containing both triacylglycerol and cholesteryl esters (CE). Interestingly, total CE mass was reduced in cells treated with DHA compared to cells treated with OA, and the CEs were rich in n-3 fatty acids. Thus, we hypothesized that DHA may be, in addition to a substrate, an inhibitor of cholesterol esterification in MCF-10A cells. We determined that the primary isoform of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase expressed in MCF-10A cells is ACAT1. We investigated CE formation with DHA, OA, and the combination in intact cells and isolated microsomes. In both cells and microsomes, the rate of CE formation was faster and more CE was formed with OA compared to DHA. DHA substantially reduced CE formation when given in combination with OA. These data suggest for the first time that DHA can act as a substrate for ACAT1. In the manner of a poor substrate, DHA also inhibited the activity of ACAT1, a universally expressed enzyme involved in intracellular cholesterol homeostasis, in a cell type that does not secrete lipids or express ACAT2.
authors.affiliation: Cellular Biochemistry Laboratory, Methodist Research Institute, 1800 N. Capitol Avenue, Suite E504, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. cantalis@clarian.org
authors.forename: Caryl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Antalis
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Bonggi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kimberley K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Buhman
authors.forename: Rafat A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
mesh_terms: D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism; D055162:Biocatalysis; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008861:Microsomes / Q000378:metabolism; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014280:Triglycerides; C017585:oleoyl-coenzyme A; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D019301:Oleic Acid; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase; C493492:sterol O-acyltransferase 1