Lipid substrate specificity of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase of Tetrahymena

Conference · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7246801

Smith, J D

The ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila forms about 60% of its phosphatidylcholine by methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine with S-adenosylmethionine using the enzyme phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase. Analogues of ethanolamine or of ethanolamine phosphate are incorporated into the phospholipids of Tetrahymena when cells are cultured in their presence. These compounds, 3-amino-1-propanol, 2-aminoethylphosphonate, 3-aminopropylphosphonate and N,N-dimethylaminoethylphosphonate replace from 50 to 75% of the ethanolamine phosphate in phosphatidylethanolamine. However, analysis of the phospholipids of lipid-altered Tetrahymena showed that none of the phosphatidylethanolamine analogues had been converted to the corresponding phosphatidylcholine analogue. No incorration of (/sup 14/C-CH/sub 3/)methionine into the phosphatidylcholine analogues could be demonstrated in vivo, nor was label from (/sup 3/H-CH/sub 3/)S-adenosylmethionine incorporated in virto. Thus, only phosphatidylethanolamine and its monomethyl and dimethyl derivatives have been found to be substrates for the phosphatidylethanoiamine N-methyltransferase. The enzyme therefore requires a phospholipid substrate containing an ester linkage between the alkylamine and phosphorus, with the amino group required to be ..beta.. to the alcohol.

• Research Organization: Southeastern Massachusetts Univ., North Dartmouth
• OSTI ID: 7246801
• Report Number(s): CONF-8606151-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Journal Volume: 45:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CULTURES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CILIATA
DRUGS
ENZYMES
ESTERS
INVERTEBRATES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIPIDS
LIPOTROPIC FACTORS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
METHIONINE
METHYLATION
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHOLIPIDS
PROTEINS
PROTOZOA
RECEPTORS
SUBSTRATES
TETRAHYMENA
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANSFERASES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS