Biosynthesis of lipids in Trypanosoma cruzi
Aeberhard, E.E.; Moretti, E.R.; Basso, B.; Lema, M.G.; Bronia, D.I.
Medicina 40(Suppl): 165-170
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7680 PMID: 7005598 Document Number: 160170
The incorporation of 14C-acetate into total cellular lipids and lipid fractions by epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi was studied. After 8, 24 and 48 hours of incubation the radioactivity in the total lipids was 0.64, 1.94 and 3.73%, respectively, of the total radioactivity added to the medium. Following saponification of the lipid extracts, between 71 and 77% of their radioactivity was recovered in the fatty acid fraction. The synthesized fatty acids were almost completely incorporated into complex lipids, especially phospholipids (64 to 73.1% of total lipid radioactivity). The inositol plus serine phosphoglycerides (9.7 to 11.9%), free sterols (17.3 to 19.3%) and sterol esters (6.1 to 10.1%) fractions were also labelled.