Triacylglycerol synthesis in isolated fat cells. Studies on the microsomal diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity using ethanol-dispersed diacylglycerols.

The acyl-CoA:1,2-diacylglycerol acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.20) activity of isolated fat cells was predominantly (89%) localized to the microsomal subcellular fraction by assays based on the conversion of 1,2-[3H]diacyl-sn-glycerol to triacylglycerol using 1 to 4 mug of protein. A complementary assay based on the conversion of [3H]palmitoyl-CoA to triacylglycerol was developed. These methods, 100 to 1000 times more sensitive than those previously employed, were used to characterize the microsomal activity. The choice of dispersing agent for addition of diacylglycerol to the reaction mixture was crucial. Addition of diacylglycerol in ethanol resulted in the highest diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity of the methods tested. Tween 20, which has previously been employed as the dispersing agent, severely inhibited the activity. A broad pH optimum from 7.4 to 8.0 was noted and several salts stimulated the activity more than 2-fold. The activity was unstable at temperatures of 28 degrees and above. Dependences on acyl-CoAs containing 6 to 18 carbon atoms were investigated using bacterial diacylglycerol. Acetyl- and butyryl-CoA were not substrates. Highest diacylglycerol acyltransferase activities were observed with decanoyl-CoA and lower activities were noted with longer and shorter saturated chains. Maximal activity with oleoyl-CoA was only 34% of that seen with stearoyl-CoA. No simple relationship between the critical micellar concentrations of the acyl-CoAs employed and diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity was observed. The dependences on diacylglycerols containing fatty acids 6 to 18 carbon atoms in length were investigated with [3H]palmitoyl-CoA. While all the 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerols tested were substrates, diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity was highest with 1,2-dioleoylglycerol. Maximum activity with the bacterial diacylglycerol was 86% that with 1,2-dioleoylglycerol. The diacylglycerol concentrations required for half-maximal velocity were 20 to 40 muM for long chain diacylglycerols and 2 to 3 muM for short chain diacylglycerols; these were 75- to 750-fold lower than previously reported. Microsomal diacylglycerol acyltransferase specific activities from isolated cells around 50 nmol/min/mg, 10- to 50-fold higher than previously reported from adipose tissue, were typical using dioleoylglycerol and palmitoyl-CoA as substrates. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase specific activities were 17-fold higher in microsomes from isolated fat cells than any other tissue examined. The diacylglycerol acyltransferase appears to have specificity with respect to acyl-CoAs and diacylglycerols, but a definitive interpretation is limited by the lack of data on the physical properties of these substrates in solution under the conditions employed.