FORMATION OF PHOSPHOLIPID NITROGENOUS BASES IN EURYHALINE FISH AND CRUSTACEANS - II - PHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE METHYLATION IN LIVER AND HEPATOPANCREAS

In this report we demonstrate the presence of a phospholipid N-methyla tion in tissues of fish and crustaceans. In liver and hepatopancreas t his pathway participates very actively to the synthesis of different m olecular species of PC which are later exchanged with plasma and distr ibuted to the other tissues by the blood flow. In all tissues an enhan cing effect of salinity on the biosynthesis of PC through PE methylati on is observed in euryhaline fish and crustaceans. The effect of tempe rature upon this biosynthesis of PC appears specific for each organ. H igh acclimation temperatures diminish in fish the percentage of PC syn thesized through this pathway in all organs. In crustaceans, the effec t of temperature is more species dependent. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.