Incorporation and subcellular distribution of an unnatural phospholipid base-analog, N-isopropyl-ethanolamine, in rat liver.

An unnatural phospholipid, phosphatidyl-N-isopropylethanolamine, was isolated from rat liver after intraperitoneal injections of N-isopropylethanol-amine; it was identified on the basis of enzymic, chemical, and chromatographic analyses. Although this phospholipid was formed at the expense of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, its fatty acid composition did not resemble either of these lipids. Microsomes, mitochondria, and plasma membranes contained significant amounts (up to 9%) of this unusual phospholipid. Radioisotope incorporation experiments suggest that the N-isopropylethanol-amine containing phospholipid is rapidly equilibrated between microsomes and mitochondria and more slowly with surface membranes.