A rapid uptake and esterification of [14C]arachidonic acid during the first 4 hr of cultivation of ascites cells in serum-deprived medium was observed followed by a fast turnover of the fatty acid. 2. Labeling and turnover of esterified arachidonate in individual phospholipid classes was in the order: phosphatidylcholine (PC) greater than phosphatidylinositol (PI) much greater than phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PIP) and -4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) greater than phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) greater than PE-plasmalogens. 3. In cells stimulated with 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol a transient course of arachidonic acid incorporation into PC, PI, PIP and PIP2 was determined peaking 30 min after stimulation, indicating both esterification and release under these conditions. 4. The release of arachidonate was blocked by quinacrine which is a specific inhibitor of phospholipase A2.