Incorporation of radioactivity into amino acids and fatty acids after administration of ¹⁴C-geranylgeranylacetone to rats

Abstract

1. The radioactive components present in plasma proteins and adipose tissue after oral dosing of ¹⁴C-geranylgeranylacetone (GGA) to rats were characterized by gel filtration, paper electrophoresis, t.l.c. and reversed-phase column chromatography.

2. The radioactivity associated with the plasma proteins was identified as ¹⁴C-labelled amino acids (Glu, Asp, Ala, Pro, Gly and probably Ser); however, no ¹⁴C was detectable in the essential amino acids.

3. Radioactivity accumulated in adipose tissue as ¹⁴C-labelled fatty acids of triglycerides.

4. The incorporation of ¹⁴C into amino acids and fatty acids may be due to the formation of ¹⁴C-propionyl-CoA resulting from ω-oxidation and successive β-oxidations of ₁₄C-GGA. This view was supported by the finding that ¹⁴C-acetate was incorporated into amino acids and fatty acids in a similar manner to ¹⁴C-GGA.