Effect of pentadecan-2-one on lipid metabolism in HeLa cells.

HeLa cells exposed to trace amounts of pentadecan-2-one showed changes in metabolism of 1(-14)C-palmitate. These changes consisted of an increased incorporation of radioactivity into the triglycerides and free fatty acids and a decreased 14C incorporation into the ether moiety of alk-1-enyl acyl phosphoglycerides. Chemical analysis of the several lipid fractions showed a threefold increase in triglyceride content but no change in the amount of alk-1-enyl acyl or diacyl phosphoglycerides in the treated cells. Pentadecan-2-one added to the culture medium apparently gains entrance to the cell since both pentadecan-2-one and pentadecan-2-ol were detected in the ketone-treated cells and their culture medium.