Studies of dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase in rat small intestine. Subcellular localization and effect of partially hydrogenated fish oil and clofibrate.

The subcellular localization of dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase (DHAPAT) activity in rat small intestine was investigated by Nycodenz-gradient centrifugation. We found that DHAPAT had a predominant peroxisomal distribution, with a separate enzyme activity located in the microsomal fraction, the same distribution as found in rat liver. The effect of feeding rats on a diet with 20% (w/w) partially hydrogenated fish oil (PHFO) or 0.3% clofibrate on the activity of DHAPAT in rat small intestine and liver was studied. Both 20% PHFO and 0.3% clofibrate gave a 1.8-fold stimulation of the specific activities of DHAPAT in peroxisomes of the small intestine, whereas in the liver 20% PHFO gave a 1.4-fold stimulation and 0.3% clofibrate a 1.6-fold stimulation of the total DHAPAT activities in the postnuclear supernatant. The specific activities of DHAPAT in liver were not affected.