LIPID METABOLISM IN HELMINTH PARASITES .8. TRIGLYCERIDE SYNTHESIS IN HYMENOLEPIS DIMINUTA (CESTODA)

Hymenolepis diminuta rapidly converted absorbed glycerol-2-3H, glycerol-1-14C and oleic acid-1-14C to triglycerides. Exposure to glycerol-1-14C for only a few seconds resulted in extensive labeling of diglycerides, and particularly that of phosphatidic acid. Specific activities of other phospholipids and of monoglycerides were relatively slight. The distribution of fatty acids in H. diminuta triglycerides was highly stereospecific, particularly at glycerol carbon 2, in which 96% of the esterified acids were unsaturated. The results suggest that following absorption of fatty acids, or absorption and hydrolysis of monoglycerides, triglycerides are synthesized by the α-glycerophosphate-phosphatidic acid-diglyceride pathway. Lysolecithin, which is believed to be a major source of dietary fatty acid for H. diminuta, was freely absorbed from micellar solution and almost completely converted to other phospholipids and to triglycerides. © 1969.