Glycerolipid metabolism in Ascaris lumbricoides.

Abstract

Homogenates of ovarian tissue from the pig roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides rapidly incorporate fatty 14C-acids, fatty 14C-acyl-CoA derivatives, glucose, and glycerol into lipid, the most highly labeled fraction after prolonged incubation periods being the triglycerides (except with glucose). Data from studies on the time course of incorporation of these precursors is consistent with the operation of the phosphatidic acid – diglyceride pathway for biosynthesis of these lipids. However, formation and acylation of monoglyceride may also contribute to their synthesis. Determination of the composition and labeling pattern of the triglyceride species indicated that some species turn over more rapidly than others, perhaps reflecting different metabolic roles. In these experiments, only small amounts of the precursors were incorporated into phospholipids other than phosphatidic acid.