Plasmalogenase activity in normal and dystrophic chicken erythrocytes.

The enzyme kinetics for plasmalogenase have been analyzed on a developmental basis and correlated with the presence of ethanolamine plasmalogen (1-alkyl,1'-enyl,2-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoryl-ethanolamine) in dystrophic chicken erythrocyte membranes. At day 15 ex ovo, both dystrophic (Line 413) and normal (Line 412) chicken erythrocyte enriched microsomal preparations manifest high Km forms of plasmalogenase. However, with time, the Km of this enzyme from normal erythrocyte preparations drops significantly whereas the Km of the enzyme from dystrophic preparations remains high. This observation may account for elevated concentrations of plasmalogen observed in dystrophic chicken tissues.