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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

In Vitro Assay to Measure Phosphatidylethanolamine Methyltransferase Activity
Published on: January 5, 2016
N-Acylation of ethanolamine phospholipids by acyl transfer does not involve hydrolysis
1Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin 55912.
Abstract:
N-Acylethanolamine phospholipids occur in infarcted but not in normal canine myocardium. Their synthesis is catalyzed by a membrane-bound, Ca2+-requiring N-acyltransferase (transacylase) which transfers acyl groups from the sn-1 position of various phospholipids including phosphatidylethanolamine to the amino group of ethanolamine phospholipids. When dog heart mitochondria are incubated in media containing Ca2+ and H2(18)O, the resulting N-acylethanolamine phospholipids do not accumulate 18O in either the amide or 1-O-acyl groups. The results indicate that acyl transfer occurs without hydrolysis, most likely through an acyl-enzyme complex which may be covalently linked.
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