Effects of chronic ethanol administration on plasma-membrane-bound glycosyltransferase activities

Physiological and membranous modifications induced by a 4-week ethanol administration in mouse liver plasma membrane were studied. Galactosyl- and glucosyltransferase activities were stimulated in the presence of dolichylphosphate alone or with phosphatidyl-choline. The galactosyltransferase activity was inhibited by chronic ethanol administration. These enzymes were modulated by different phospholipids. The phosphatidic acid was the most efficient activator. Ethanol provoked an inhibition of the galactosyltransferase activity whatever the phospholipid used, as well as an inhibition of the glucosyltransferase activity, chiefly in presence of phosphatidyl-inositol. The preincubation of control or treated mouse liver plasma membranes with liposomes loaded by dolichylphosphate and cholesterol greatly enhanced the enzymatic activities without removing the inhibition by ethanol treatment.