Fatty acids covalently bound to erythrocyte proteins undergo a differential turnover in vivo

Journal Article · Sun Sep 25 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Biol. Chem.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6703023

Staufenbiel, M

Recently, covalently bound fatty acids have been identified on a variety of proteins. Many of these acyl proteins are physiologically important, and the lipid modification often appears to be essential for their function. In this investigation mature erythrocytes have been used to study in detail the metabolic behavior of protein-bound fatty acids. Although deficient in protein synthesis, these cells are still able to covalently attach (/sup 3/H)palmitic acid to proteins located at the plasma membrane and its associated cytoskeleton. Linkage analyses demonstrated that the labeled polypeptides contained ester- or thioester-bound fatty acids. The covalent binding of fatty acid was rapidly reversible. Half-lives of the protein-bound fatty acid molecules ranged from less than 30 min to more than 3 h. The deacylation reaction was not due to a chemically labile linkage of protein and fatty acid but appeared to be physiologically induced. Differences in the fatty acid turnover rates between the acyl proteins suggested an independent regulation of their lipid turnover. A number of proteins underwent dynamic fatty acid acylation, indicating that palmitylated proteins undergoing fatty acid turnover are not a rare exception.

• Research Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Zellbiologie, Ladenburg/Heidelberg (Germany, F.R.)
• OSTI ID: 6703023
• Journal Information: J. Biol. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Biol. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 263:27; ISSN JBCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501* -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACYLATION
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL HALF-LIFE
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL MEMBRANES
CHEMICAL BONDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COVALENCE
ERYTHROCYTES
ESTERS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIPIDS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
MEMBRANES
METABOLISM
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHOLIPIDS
PROTEINS
RABBITS
SPHINGOMYELINS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES