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Mercury inhibition of avian fatty acid synthetase complex

Journal Article · · Fed. Proc.; (United States)
Subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injections of HgCl/sub 2/ (8 mg/100 g BW) markedly depressed hepatic fatty acid synthetase (FAS) activity, but the hepatic activities of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and the mitochondrial system of fatty acid elongation were not affected. Highly purified FAS was inhibited by 50 ..mu..M HgCl/sub 2/ in the incubation medium and 100 ..mu..m abolished FAS activity. In the presence of 2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, 500 ..mu..M HgCl/sub 2/ was required to show inhibition of FAS. 2 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) completely protected purified FAS from inhibition by 100 ..mu..M HgCl/sub 2/. However, when DTT was added after the addition of FAS to the mercury-containing medium, protection of the enzyme was not complete. Dialysis of cytosol fractions from chicks injected with HgCl/sub 2/ against 500 vol. of 0.2 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 1 mM EDTA and 10 mM DTT for 4 h at 4/sup 0/C stimulated the FAS activity of the fractions. Dialysis of fractions from non-injected chicks was without effect on FAS activity. These data support the hypothesis that the inhibitory effect of HgCl/sub 2/ administered in vivo on hepatic FAS activity in chicks is not the result of inanition, but rather is mediated through the interaction of mercury with the sulfhydryl groups of the enzyme.
Research Organization:
North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh
OSTI ID:
5122311
Journal Information:
Fed. Proc.; (United States), Journal Name: Fed. Proc.; (United States) Vol. 34:3; ISSN FEPRA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English