Modification of the fatty acid composition of L1210 leukemia subcellular organelles.

We have examined the extent to which it is possible to modify the fatty acid composition of subcellular organelles of L1210 leukemia cells. A polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid, or a monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, were added to the culture media. After 48 hr, the cells were ruptured and the subcellular fractions isolated. Fatty acid analysis revealed that nuclei, mitochondria, plasma membranes and microsomes of the cells grown in media supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid contained increased amounts of polyenoic fatty acids compared with cells grown in oleic acid. We conclude that it is possible to experimentally modify the lipids of multiple intracellular structures of L1210 cells by the addition of fatty acids to the growth media.