IN-VIVO STUDIES OF THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF ALPHA-ELEOSTEARIC ACID IN THE SEED OF MOMORDICA-CHARANTIA L

In vivo radiotracer experiments using C-14-labeled acetate, oleate, li noleate, and linolenate were conducted to investigate the biosynthesis of alpha-eleostearic acid in the seeds of Momordica charantia. With t he exception of [C-14]linolenate, all of these precursors radioactivel y labeled alpha-eleostearate. Kinetics of the time course of metabolis m of the radioactive precursors indicate that linoleate is the acyl pr ecursor of alpha-eleostearate and that its conversion to alpha-eleoste arate occurs while the acyl moiety is esterified to PC. Pulse-chase ex periments with C-14-labeled acetate or linoleate provided additional c orroborative evidence that linoleoyl PC is the precursor of alpha-eleo stearoyl PC.