Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 9, 254-261, March 1968
Copyright © 1968 by Lipid Research, Inc.

De novo synthesis and elongation of fatty acids by subcellular fractions of monkey aorta

Charles F. Howard Jr.

Department of Primate Nutrition, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon 97005, and Department of Biochemistry, University of Oregon Medical School, Portland, Oregon 97201

Subcellular fractions of aorta of squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) were examined for their ability to synthesize and elongate fatty acids. High-speed supernate (HSS) incorporated substantial quantities of malonyl CoA into fatty acids while acetyl CoA was much less effectively utilized. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity exceeded the amount of acetyl CoA incorporated into fatty acids and thus does not account for the low incorporation of this substrate. Microsomes used malonyl CoA and acetyl CoA equally well; mitochondria incorporated either acetyl CoA or acetate. The amounts of substrate incorporated into fatty acids (mµmoles/mg of protein per hr) were 2.3 for HSS, 1.2 for microsomes, and 0.9 for mitochondria.

The synthesized fatty acids were separated by gas-liquid chromatography, radioassayed, extracted from the scintillation fluid, and decarboxylated. HSS completely synthesized palmitic and stearic acids from malonyl CoA. Microsomes and mitochondria utilized acetyl CoA to elongate endogenous fatty acids and gave mainly palmitic, stearic, and C₁₈ and C₂₀ monoenoic acids, with lesser amounts of other saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. A significant quantity of malonyl CoA was utilized by microsomes to yield a fatty acid tentatively identified as docosapentaenoic. Radioactive fatty acids are incorporated into various lipid classes by the particulate preparations.

These studies demonstrate that aortic tissue in a nonhuman primate is able to carry out several processes of fatty acid metabolism and that the aortic synthesis and elongation of fatty acids may play an important role in providing fatty acids for incorporation into aortic lipids.

Supplementary key words aorta • subcellular fractions • fatty acids • de novo synthesis • elongation • squirrel monkey • fatty acid extraction from scintillation fluid

Submitted on May 8, 1967
Accepted on November 29, 1967

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