GLYCEROLIPID SYNTHESIS BY MICROSOMAL FRACTIONS FROM OLEA-EUROPAEA FRUITS AND TISSUE-CULTURES

Glycerolipid synthesis in olive, Olea europaea, was investigated using both olive fruits and tissue cultures. Microsomal fractions were isol ated from fruits and tissue cultures and incubation conditions with [C -14]glycerol 3-phosphate were optimised. Characteristics of these incu bations, including the incorporation of radioactivity into intermediat es of the triacylglycerol synthetic pathway, were compared. The effect of temperature on triacylglycerol synthesis via the Kennedy pathway w as also examined. Increasing the temperature of the incubations from 2 0 to 30 degrees, but not from 30 to 40 degrees, increased the rates of triacyglycerol synthesis for microsomes from both fruits and tissue c ultures. In the case of olive callus cultures, microsomes prepared fro m callus tissue cultured at 35 degrees displayed greater levels of tri acylglycerol synthesis than microsomes prepared from 25 degrees mainta ined cultures. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. ( C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.