[In vitro metabolism of ubiquinone and ubichromenol in the livers of rats with avitaminosis E during individual and combined addition of alpha-tocopherol and phenylalanine].

A maximal incorporation of 2-14C-acetate into ubiquinone and ubichromenol was found within 3 hrs if liver tissue homogenate of E-avitaminous rats was incubated for 4 hrs. Phenylalanine, added to the mixture, stimulated the biosynthesis of ubiquinone and ubichromenol in the liver tissue preparations. alpha-Tocopherol caused an increase in biosynthesis of ubiquinone and a decrease in the rate of ubichromenol biosynthesis within 1 hr and 3 hrs of incubation in vitro. The combined addition of phenylalanine and alpha-tocopherol, almost without exceptions, increased the effect of alpha-tocopherol on biosynthesis of the substances studied. Interrelationship is discussed between vitamin E and ubiquinone and ubichromenol biosynthesis.