Formation of Schiff base adduct between acetaldehyde and rat liver microsomal phosphatidylethanolamine

Recent studies have established the formation of acetaldehyde adducts of proteins even at low concentrations of acetaldehyde expected to occur in vivo under conditions of ethanol metabolism. Although formation of acetaldehyde adducts with phospholipids has been obtained at high pH values and at high concentrations of acetaldehyde, the occurrence of such adducts under more physiological conditions had yet to be demonstrated. Rat liver microsomes were incubated with 0.2 mM [14C]acetaldehyde at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. After treatment with sodium borohydride to reduce any Schiff bases formed, the phospholipids were isolated. The major radioactive component within the phospholipid fraction had chromatographic properties identical to N-ethylphosphatidylethanolamine. In addition, the nitrogenous base derived therefrom by acid hydrolysis was identical to N-ethylethanolamine. These results indicate that a Schiff base adduct between acetaldehyde and microsomal phosphatidylethanolamine had been formed during incubation of low concentrations of acetaldehyde with rat liver microsomes.