Evidence for xylosyl lipids as intermediates in xylosyl transfers in hen oviduct membranes

Abstract

Hen oviduct membranes catalyze the transfer of xylose-[ 14C] from UDP-xylose-[ 14C] into a xylosyl lipid; a product tentatively identified as an oligosaccharide lipid; and glycoprotein(s). The synthesis of the xylosyl lipid is stimulated by exogenous dolichol phosphate. This finding, along with studies on the chemical properties of the xylosyl lipid, suggests that it has the structure xylosyl phosphoryl polyisoprenol. When exogenous, partially purified [ 14C]-xylosyl lipid is incubated with the membrane preparation, label is found in the oligosaccharide lipid and in glycoprotein(s).