In vivo studies of the biosynthesis of alpha-eleostearic acid in the seed of Momordica charantia L.

In vivo radiotracer experiments using C-14-labeled acetate, oleate, linoleate, and linolenate were conducted to investigate the biosynthesis of alpha-eleostearic acid in the seeds of Momordica charantia. With the exception of [C-14]linolenate, all of these precursors radioactively labeled alpha-eleostearate. Kinetics of the time course of metabolism of the radioactive precursors indicate that linoleate is the acyl precursor of alpha-eleostearate and that its conversion to alpha-eleostearate occurs while the acyl moiety is esterified to PC. Pulse-chase experiments with C-14-labeled acetate or linoleate provided additional corroborative evidence that linoleoyl PC is the precursor of alpha-eleostearoyl PC.