INTRACELLULAR TRANSLOCATION OF ENDOTHELIAL NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE BY LYSOPHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE

The amphiphile lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) modulates the activity of membrane-associated enzymes such as phospholipase A(2), adenylate and guanylate cyclases and ATPase. LPC also relaxes vascular smooth muscl e through production of nitric oxide. On the basis of reports that bra dykinin translocates nitric oxide synthase (NOS) from the membrane to the cytosol, we investigated whether a similar translocation occurs wi th LPC. It was found that LPC translocated NOS from the membrane to th e cytosolic fraction. Total NOS activity remained at the control level .