Phosphatidylcholine metabolism during renal growth and regeneration.

Phosphatidylcholine, the most abundant phospholipid in renal cellular membranes, is synthesized predominantly via the Kennedy pathway in normal and growing kidney tissue. Augmented biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine is one of the earliest responses to growth signals in renal cells. During potassium depletion, regeneration after acute tubular necrosis, and compensatory growth after uninephrectomy increased membrane phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis precedes the appearance of new organelles and surface structures and the onset of cell division. The increment in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in the growing kidneys of potassium-depleted rats appears to be mediated by enhanced cellular uptake of the precursor choline and activation of the enzyme cytidine diphosphocholine:1,2-diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase. Specific amino acids, cations, and polyamines can modify the activity of this microsomal enzyme in normal and growing renal cells. Phospholipase A also plays a regulatory role in phosphatidylcholine metabolism because inhibition of this catabolic enzyme favors phospholipid accretion and kidney growth during potassium depletion, whereas stimulation of the enzyme leads to brisk phospholipid breakdown and a decrease in tissue mass during potassium repletion.