Activities of enzymes involved in the metabolism of ether-linked lipids in normal and neoplastic tissues of rat.

We have compared the activities of three enzymes (acyl-CoA reductase, fatty alcohol:NAD+ oxidoreductase, and alkyl synthase) involved in the metabolism of ether lipids in rat liver and two tumors that contained various levels of ether lipids. The activity of fatty alcohol:NAD+ oxidoreductasee was high and the activities of acyl-CoA reductase and alkyldihydroxyacetone-P synthase were low in liver, which has low amounts of ether glycerolipids. On the other hand in Fischer R-3259 sarcoma, where high concentrations of ether-linked lipids were present, the reverse pattern was observed. In Morris hepatomas 5123C, with an intermediate value of ether lipids, the activities of all three enzymes ranged between that found in liver and Fischer sarcomas.