Ethanolamine kinase activity and compositions of diacylglycerols, phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines in livers of choline-deficient rats.

These experiments were performed to find the reasons for the increased concentrations of docosahexaenoyl phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) in livers of choline-deficient rats. We measured the activity of ethanolamine kinase, which catalyzes the first step in PE formation. We also measured the compositions of PE and phosphatidylcholines (PC) and concentrations and fatty acid compositions of diacylglycerols (DG), which are precursors of PE. Young male rats were fed for one week a low-methionine, choline-deficient diet, or the same diet supplemented with choline. Ethanolamine kinase activity was measured in liver cytosol (100,000 g supernatant). Fatty acids were measured in total liver diacylglycerols and in microsomal PE and PC. Ethanolamine kinase activities were equal in choline-deficient and choline-supplemented rats. Concentrations of DG were elevated 6-fold by choline deficiency. The percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) in microsomal PE was nearly doubled by choline deficiency. Although the increased concentrations of PE in choline-deficient livers cannot be attributed to increased activity of ethanolamine kinase, the rate of PE formation probably was increased by increases in concentrations of its precursors, including DG. The disproportionate increase in 22:6n-3 PE probably was caused by a selective formation of PE from DG that contain 22:6n-3.