Characteristics of phospholipid transacylase of Escherichia coli

We have previously demonstrated the activity(ies) of phospholipid transacylase in Escherichia coli extract (Homma & Nojima (1982) J. Biochem. 91, 1093-1101), which catalyzed a new type of reaction of acyl transfer from diacylphospholipids to lysophospholipids. In this communication we report the specificities and characteristics of this enzyme activity. The activity catalyzed a reversible transfer of an acyl group between diacylphospholipids and lysophospholipids. The acyl group in the 1-position of the glycerol backbone was selectively transferred, and palmitic acid was the only fatty acid species transferred. Presumably, neutral lipids do not serve as substrates. The transacylase was firmly associated with the envelope fraction of E. coli. Neither potassium chloride nor urea was effective in solubilization of the activity and only about half of the activity was solubilized with Triton X-100. This observation was consistent with the equal distribution of the activity between the outer membrane and the inner membrane of E. coli. Functional aspects of this phospholipid transacylase are also discussed.