Biochimica et biophysica acta
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Biochim. Biophys. Acta · Apr 1977
Odd-and even-numbered fatty acids. Their contrasting behavior in normal and fowlpox virus-infected epithelium.
Upon infection with fowlpox virus, the amount of odd-numbered fatty acids in chick scalp epithelium shows a significant decrease compared with control values. This effect begins quite early and progresses throughout the period of infection. Individual members of the odd-numbered family (C15--C27 inclusive) were quantitatively related to the group as a whole during most of the infection. ⋯ In assays for fatty acid synthetase activty, both [14C] acetyl-CoA and [14C]-propionyl-CoA were used as initial acceptors. The specific activities of preparations from infected scalp were similar to those of control preparations with both substrates. These results suggest that there is no decline in the ability to utilize propionate for fatty acid synthesis in infected epithelium.