The migration of labeled phosphatidylcholine from the nuclear-associated endoplasmic reticulum to plasma membranes in L-929 cells.

The nuclear-associated endoplasmic reticulum of L-929 cells was found to contain the highest amount of labeled phosphatidylcholine after a 60 min incubation with 14C-choline. Radioactivity was otherwise distributed relatively evenly among other membrane-containing organelles (nuclei, mitochondria, plasma membranes and endoplasmic reticulum membranes). During a 120 min chase following removal of isotope and addition of cold choline chloride, there was a considerable reduction in labeled phosphatidylcholine in the NER and nuclei. The decrease in radioactivity in these fractions was matched by an almost identical increase in the fraction containing mitochondria and plasma membranes. Separation of mitochondria and plasma membranes by centrifugation on discontinuous gradients showed that 14C-choline labeled phosphatidylcholine appeared most rapidly in the plasma membranes. The results indicate that phospholipid molecules migrate within a short period of time from their site of synthesis in the NER to plasma membranes.