Studies on the biogenesis of smooth endoplasmic reticulum membranes in hepatocytes of phenobarbital-treated rats. II. The site of phospholipid synthesis in the initial phase of membrane proliferation.

The specific activity of the acyltransferases of smooth microsomes of rat liver rose threefold by 12 h after injection of phenobarbital, while the activity of the acyltransferases of the rough microsomes rose slightly to peak at 3-4 h, and subsequently fell. The latter rise was abolished by treatment of the animal with actinomycin D or puromycin, while that of the smooth microsomes was unaffected. Incorporation of [(14)C]glycerol into phospholipid of smooth microsomes was elevated 100% by phenobarbital, while that of the rough microsomes was elevated 15%, and this could be accounted for by exchange between the microsomal phospholipids. The phospholipid/protein ratio of the smooth microsomes rose 1.5 times 3-4 h after injection of phenobarbital, while that of the rough microsomes fell slightly. The specific activity of NADPH cytochrome c reductase and NADPH diaphorase rose first in the rough microsomes, and subsequently in the smooth microsomes at a time coinciding with the return of the phospholipid/protein ratio to the control level. The rise in phospholipid/protein ratio was unaffected by actinomycin D or puromycin. These results indicate that the proliferating smooth membranes are the site of phospholipid synthesis, and that the phospholipid/protein ratio of these membranes may change independently.