Dissimilar effects of 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate on fatty acid synthesis in isolated rat-liver cells

Exogenous 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) is known to mimic the action of tumour-promoting phorbol esters in various cell types. However, in isolated rat hepatocytes OAG depressed the rate of de novo fatty acid synthesis and the activity of the key enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.2), in contrast to the pronounced stimulation of both parameters by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). The inhibition by OAG appeared to be dose- and time-dependent. On the other hand, medium-chain 1,2-diacylglycerols like 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol did mimic the stimulatory action of PMA. The anomalous effect of OAG may well be explained by its metabolic breakdown leading to liberation of oleate and subsequent inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity by endogenously formed oleoyl-CoA. The stimulatory effects of both PMA and medium-chain diacylglycerols are likely to be mediated by protein kinase C.