Long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase of rat adrenal microsomes. Effect of ACTH and epinephrine.

Acyl-CoA synthetase activity with various long-chain fatty acid substrates and its kinetic properties were measured in rat adrenal microsomes. The apparent Michaelis constants (Km) for substrate fatty acids increased in the order eicosa-8,11,14-trienoic acid less than alpha-linolenic acid less than linoleic acid less than palmitic acid. The maximum velocities with these fatty acids decreased in the order linolenic greater than eicosa-8,11,14-trienoic acid greater than palmitic acid. The synthesis of radioactivity palmitoyl-CoA, linoleyl-CoA, alpha-linolenyl-CoA and eicosa-8,11,14-trienoyl-CoA from the respective radioactive substrates decreased in the presence of all the other fatty acids mentioned above. These effects were inversely correlated with their apparent Km values. These results support the idea of a single long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase in the adrenal microsomal fraction for the acid tested. After testing the influence of different hormones, it was shown that the administration of epinephrine, ACTH and dexamethasone caused a significant decrease in the activity of the long-chain fatty acid-CoA synthetase. This inhibition is independent of the one produced by the same hormones on the desaturation of linoleic to gamma-linolenic acid.