Effects of exogenous retinol and retinoic acid on the biosynthesis of 14C-mannose labelled glycolipids and glycoproteins in rat liver.

Abstract

The in vivo and in vitro effects of retinol and retinoic acid on the synthesis of mannolipids and mannopeptides in rat liver were investigated. The incorporation of 14C-mannose into glycolipids and glycoproteins showed a decrease in vitamin A-depleted rats compared with vitamin A-fed rats. By DEAE-cellulose, silicic acid and TLC, the mannose-containing lipids were separated into mannosyl retinyl phosphate (MRP, Rf 0.2) and dolichyl mannosyl phosphate (DMP, Rf 0.4), respectively. A rapid increase in the synthesis of labeled MRP was observed, exhibiting a peak between 25-60 min after i.p. administration of retinol to vitamin A-depleted rats. Similarly, administration of retinoic acid brought about elevation of 14C-mannolipid (Rf 0.2) synthesis with a peak at 60 min after injection. The incorporation of 14C-mannose into DMP (Rf 0.4) remained unchanged by such treatment. In vitro addition of retinyl phosphate, but not retinoyl phosphate, markedly stimulated the synthesis of 14C-mannolipid (Rf 0.2), using crude membrane of rat liver and GDP-14C-mannose as the donor. Apparently, not only retinol but also retinoic acid plays an important biological role in mannosyl transfer reaction in rat liver. The molecular participation of a metabolite of retinoic acid in the formation of a mannolipid and the structure of such a metabolite remain to be established.