Metabolism of exogenous polyisoprenoids by animal cells cultured in vitro

The content and type of dolichols in chicken embryo fibroblasts was estimated and the presence of enzymic activities of various dolichyl phosphate sugar transferases was documented. Chicken embryo fibroblasts effectively take up various polyprenoids from the culture medium and catalyse both formation of polyprenyl fatty acid esters and their hydrolysis. With fully unsatured polyprenols the hydrogenation of the terminal alpha-isoprene residue was observed. In baby hamster kidney cells the formation of mannolipids was enhanced by exogenous polyprenols.