The accumulation of citrate cycle intermediates in rat liver cells oxidizing palmitate

Abstract

1. 1. Rat liver cells oxidizing [1- 14C]palmitate or [1- 14C]palmitoyl-carnitine show linear rates of 14CO 2 output after an initial 10-min lag period. 2. 2. During this interval, there was considerable accumulation of 14C in water soluble organic acids, acetyl-CoA, and acetyl-carnitine, but much less radioactivity accumulated in palmitoyl-CoA, phospholipid or neutral lipid fractions. 3. 3. It was concluded that the lag period in 14CO 2 output was not the result of rate limiting reactions involving palmitate uptake, transport or activation to the CoA or carnitine ester, but resulted from an initial accumulation of 14C in acetyl-CoA, acetyl-carnitine, and water-soluble organic acids which subsequently were oxidized to 14CO 2.