Activation of the metabolism of the fatty acyl group in granulocyte phospholipids by phorbol myristate acetate.

Phorbol myristate acetate is known to reproduce the stimulated oxidative activities characteristic of phagocytosis and its initial action is on the cell membrane. In the present study the effect of phorbol myristate acetate on the metabolism of the fatty acyl groups of granulocyte phospholipids was examined and compared with that of phagocytic stimuli. Phorbol myristate acetate stimulated the labeling of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol by [1-14C]palmitic acid but not by [U-14C]glycerol, whereas starch granules selectively increased the labeling of phosphatidylinositol by both radioactive tracers. Labeled palmitic acid was found at both sn-1- and sn-2-positions of phospholipids and more radioactivity was recovered from the 2-position. The radioactivity at both positions was enhanced in stimulated cells. These data suggest that phorbol myristate acetate increased palmitic acid incorporation into glycerophospholipids by increasing the acylation of the lyso derivatives and that starch granules enhanced the formation of phosphatidylinositol via de novo synthesis and acylation of the lyso derivative as well. Both phorbol myristate acetate and starch granules selectively augmented the incorporation of [1-14C]arachidonic acid into phosphatidylinositol which exhibited the highest specific radioactivity among the phospholipids in control and in stimulated cells. The possible significance of the increased incorporation of arachidonic acid into phosphatidylinositol is discussed.