Localization of acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase in villus and crypt cells of chick intestine.

Endogenous cholesterol esterification by acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.26) was studied in isolated enterocytes obtained from chick duodenal, jejunal, and ileal villi and crypts, using [14C]oleoyl-CoA as substrate. The maximal specific activity in each cell fraction was found in chick jejunum, followed by duodenum and ileum. Jejunal upper and mid villi showed higher specific activities than lower villi and crypts. Epithelial cells isolated from chick intestine also incorporated oleoyl-CoA into different lipids using the endogenous substrates. Upper and mid villus cells showed the maximal incorporation of oleoyl-CoA into triglycerides in duodenum and jejunum. Levels of oleoyl-CoA incorporation into phospholipids were higher than those found in the synthesis of triglycerides or cholesterol esters, whatever may be the cell fraction considered. Upper villus cells also showed the highest specific activity in the incorporation of oleoyl-CoA into phospholipids. The acyl-CoA hydrolase specific activity was practically similar in all the cell fractions obtained from chick duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.