The intracellular distribution of dolichol in pig liver

Abstract

The dolichol content of several subcellular fractions from pig liver has been studied by preparing the unsaponifiable lipids, chromatography on alumina, acetylation of the dolichol fraction and purification on alumina of the acetate. Saponification of the acetate followed by chromatography on columns of alumina and thin layers of silica gel (Stahl, 1959) gave pure dolichol fractions. Total protein and ubiquinone were also estimated. Pig liver contains 110 mg. of dolichol/kg. of wet tissue. Dolichol is fairly evenly distributed between the different cellular fractions at approximately 1 mg./g. of protein. Ubiquinone distribution in pig liver is very similar to that found in rat liver, since it is mainly concentrated in the mitochondria.