Biosynthesis of Trimethylammonium Compounds in Aquatic Animals: III. Choline Metabolism in Marine Crustacea

Abstract

The incorporation in vivo of radioactivity into phospholipid-bound choline has been studied in lobster (Homarus americanus) following intramuscular administration of Na-formate-C¹⁴, glycine-2-C¹⁴, DL-serine-3-C¹⁴, L-methionine-methyl-C¹⁴and choline-methyl-C¹⁴. Choline and methionine were utilized for formation of phospholipid choline at both metabolic periods of 24 and 72 hours, whereas the other compounds gave only a very limited labelling.When choline-methyl-C¹⁴was administered to crab (Cancer magister), after 24 hours 1.9% of the administered radioactivity was found in phospholipid choline and 0.1% in trimethylamine oxide.