Relationship between desaturation and chain elongation of palmityl‐CoA in rat liver microsomes

Abstract
The relationship between desaturation and chain elongation of palmityl‐CoA was studied in rat liver microsomes. Enzyme activities for desaturation and chain elongation were stimulated by re‐feeding starved rats. The activities of desaturation and chain elongation in re‐fed rats were four‐ and twofold greater than those in normal rats, respectively. When a sonicated dispersion of lecithin was added to the incubation medium containing both reactions, chain elongation activity, especially formation of stearic acid, was stimulated and desaturation activity was apparently depressed.