Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase: A Control Enzme in Hepatic Lipogenesis

Abstract

1 Hepatocytes were isolated by perfusion of the liver with collagenase/salt solutions and incubated in culture after attachment to plastic culture dishes for periods up to 48 h. 2 The cells, when incubated in serum-free culture medium in the presence of insulin, showed enhanced stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity which was not observed when 50 uM cycloheximide was included. When insulin was omitted from the medium, the cells lost 80% of their original desaturase activity. 3 Cells isolated from animals fed 20% (w/w) sucrose for two weeks prior to sacrifice, showed high levels of fatty acid synthesis, stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity and triacylglycerol synthesis when compared with cells isolated from animals fed a corn oil supplemented diet. 4 The observations are discussed in terms of the influence of stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity on hepatic lipogenesis.