Labeling of phosphatidylcholines of retina subcellular fractions by [1-14C]eicosatetraenoate (20:4(n-6)), docosapentaenoate (22:5(n-3)) and docosahexaenoate (22:6(n-3)).

The labeling of molecular species of phosphatidylcholine (PC) has been studied in bovine retinas incubated for 2 h with (1-14C)-labeled (n-6) eicosatetraenoate (n-3) docosapentaenoate and (n-3) docosahexaenoate (20:4, 22:5 and 22:6, respectively) and in four subcellular fractions isolated after such incubations. Of the total radioactivity incorporated in PC, the following percentages of the above fatty acids, respectively, are found in its dipolyunsaturated species: 58, 56 and 53% in rod outer segments; 29, 41 and 49% in mitochondria; 24, 28 and 39% in microsomes; 12, 14 and 16% in postmicrosomal supernatants; 28, 36 and 58% in entire retinas. The remainder percentages are in tetra-, penta- and hexaenoic species of PC, respectively. The levels of pentaenoic species in the PCs of all fractions are similar, while tetraenes are lowest and hexaenes highest in photoreceptor membranes. Dipolyunsaturated species are highly concentrated in photoreceptor membranes, but are minor components of mitochondrial, microsomal and cytosolic PC. The specific radioactivities of tetraenoic, pentaenoic and hexaenoic PCs are decreasingly lower in the following order: postmicrosomal supernatants, microsomes, mitochondria, photoreceptor membranes. In contrast, the specific radioactivities of dipolyunsaturated PCs are higher in mitochondria and microsomes than in the other fractions, especially with 22:5 and 22:6. It is suggested that mitochondria as well as the endoplasmic reticulum could play a role in the synthesis and further modifications of dipolyunsaturated PCs before being supplied to photoreceptor membranes.