Ethanol potentiates the uptake of [14C]serine into phosphatidylserine by base-exchange reaction in NG 108-15 cells.

Phospholipid base-exchange enzymes catalyze the incorporation of nitrogenous bases into phosphoglycerides by a calcium-dependent mechanism. In this study, we describe the effect of ethanol on the incorporation of radioactive serine, choline and ethanolamine into their respective phospholipids in a neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell line (NG 108-15). Long term ethanol exposure induced a potentiation of the incorporation of [14C]serine into phosphatidylserine. Moreover, the phosphorus content of PS was found to be increased after long-term ethanol exposure. No concomitant changes in the phosphorus content of other phospholipids were observed. The results indicate that in NG 108-15 cells, the incorporation of radiolabelled serine into PS is potentiated during chronic ethanol exposure.