Study of the effects of fatty acids of varying chain length on carnitine palmitoyltransferase i and ii activity in human tumour cell lines.

• Grant number: 95/06996-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 1995
• End date: May 31, 1997
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Alison Colquhoun
• Grantee: Alison Colquhoun
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) I and II are the enzymes which control the rate of entry of fatty acyl CoA into the mitochondrion, thereby controlling the rate of subsequent beta-oxidation. These enzymes are able to utilize several fatty acids and in both liver and heart their activity is dependent upon the type of substrate available. The project will study the effects of fatty acids of varying chain length on the activity of CPT I and II in human tumour cells. In addition, the effects of antioxidant and prostaglandins will be studied in order to determine the possible involvement of either lipid peroxides or eicosanoids in the regulation of CPT activity and consequently the fatty acid oxidative capacity of human tumour cells. (AU)