OCCURRENCE OF AN ACYL-COA - 1-ACYLGLYCEROPHOSPHORYLCHOLINE ACYLTRANSFERASE IN PLANT-MITOCHONDRIA

In the presence of oleoyl-CoA, purified and intact mitochondria from p otato tuber formed phosphatidylcholine from labeled lysophosphatidylch oline. The labeled oleoyl moiety of the acyl-CoA was also incorporated in the absence of exogenous lysolipids, such incorporation being larg ely increased by the addition of exogenous lysophosphatidylcholine. In the presence of various other lysophospholipids, no synthesis of the corresponding phospholipids was observed, suggesting a high specificit y of the acyltransferase towards the acyl acceptor. This enzyme was ch iefly located in the outer membrane of mitochondria. These results ind icate that any acylglycerophosphorylcholine transferred from the endop lasmic reticulum to mitochondria may be acylated to phosphatidylcholin e.