Effect of unsaturated fatty acids and Ca2+ on phosphatidylinositol synthesis and breakdown.

CDP-diglyceride : inositol transferase was inhibited by unsaturated fatty acids. The inhibitory activity decreased in the following order: arachidonic acid greater than linolenic acid greater than linoleic acid greater than oleic acid greater than or equal to palmitoleic acid. Saturated fatty acids such as myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid had no effect. Calcium ion also inhibited the activity of CDP-diglyceride : inositol transferase. In rat hepatocytes, arachidonic acid inhibited 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid without any significant effect on 32P incorporation into phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. Ca2+ ionophore A23187 also inhibited 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol. However, 32P incorporation into phosphatidic acid was stimulated with Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C was activated by unsaturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid and linolenic acid had a stronger effect than di- and monounsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids had no effect on the phospholipase C activity. The phospholipase C required Ca2+ for activity. Arachidonic acid and Ca2+ had synergistic effects. These results suggest the reciprocal regulation of phosphatidylinositol synthesis and breakdown by unsaturated fatty acids and Ca2+.