Wax ester synthesis in the mouse preputial gland tumour

The microsomal fraction from the mouse preputial gland tumour contains an acyltransferase which catalyzes the synthesis of wax esters. The enzyme is inhibited by moderate concentrations of free fatty acids (40 muM or more) but the inhibition is relieved by the addition of bovine serum albumin. The specific activity of the enzyme increases markedly between the 20th and 30th days of tumor growth. A number of other lipid synthesizing enzymes show similar trends for specific activity as related to tumour age.