Analysis of the effects of fatty acids and related compounds on the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine in lymphocytes.

Phosphatidylcholine synthesis in cultured bovine lymphocytes is stimulated by cis-unsaturated fatty acids. This stimulation is correlated with an activation of the enzyme cytidyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.15) and its apparent translocation from the cytosol to the membrane/particulate of cells. In addition, these agents increase the levels of cytidine diphosphocholine - a product of the cytidyltransferase reaction and a precursor to phosphatidylcholine. Retinoic acid and 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid both activate cytidyltransferase activity and raise cytidine diphosphocholine levels, yet they are ineffective as stimulators of overall phosphatidylcholine synthesis. The effects of all of these lipids are reversed by the delayed addition of bovine serum albumin. The data point to the view that cytidyltransferase activation is required but is not sufficient for stimulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis: regulation at another step is suggested.