Characterization of a glucosyltransferase activity in liver plasma membrane: modulation by cations and lipidic...

1. Glucosyltransferase activity incorporating [14C]glucose from UDP-[14C]glucose onto endogenous lipidic acceptors was localized primarily in the plasma membrane of liver. 2. Incubation of plasma membrane by phosphatidyl-choline liposomes loaded with dolichyl-phosphate stimulated the enzymatic activity. 3. This enzyme required Mg2+ for maximal catalitic activity. Ca2+ could substitute Mg2+. 4. Mn2+ acted as a partial non-competitive inhibitor of the Mg2+-activated glucosyltransferase. 5. This enzyme can be modulated by neutral and acidic phospholipids; the most efficient were phosphatidyl-serine and phosphatidyl-inositol. 6. The enzymatic activity was not significantly changed by cholesterol alone but it is greatly enhanced by liposomes loaded with dolichyl-phosphate and cholesterol.