Cell-free fatty acylation of microsomal integrated and detergent-solubilized glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus.

An enzymatic activity associated with intracellular membrane fractions of Merwin plasma cell tumor II, baby hamster kidney, and chicken embryo fibroblast cells and bovine kidney has been characterized which covalently links fatty acids onto the G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus. Exogenous G protein extracted from native vesicular stomatitis virus particles can be acylated in vitro only after it has been previously deacylated. The fatty acids transferred in vitro are sensitive to treatment with hydroxylamine, indicating an ester linkage. Cell-free acyl transfer was also observed with endogenous G protein present in membrane fractions prepared from vesicular stomatitis virus-infected cells. In this case, the fatty acids become linked to a G protein species (G1) which is not terminally glycosylated and therefore has not entered the trans-Golgi compartment. The same G protein species also becomes acylated in infected cells during short pulses with radioactive palmitic acid. Acylation of the G protein in vitro with free palmitic or myristic acid is energy-dependent, and the addition of ATP is specifically required. Other nucleoside triphosphates cannot substitute for ATP in the activation of free acyl chains. Alternatively, activated fatty acids linked in a high energy thioester bond to coenzyme A, e.g. [14C] palmitoyl-CoA, are suitable lipid donors in the in vitro acylation reactions. Palmitic acid transfer onto G protein shows the typical characteristics of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction.