The calcium-stimulated incorporation of ethanolamine and serine into the phospholipids of the housefly Musca domestica

1. The calcium-stimulated incorporation of 2-¹⁴C]ethanolamine and l-3-¹⁴C]-serine into the phospholipids of homogenates of the fat bodies from larval houseflies (Musca domestica) was studied. 2. Ethanolamine and serine acted as competitive inhibitors with one another. N-Methylethanolamine was not distinguished from ethanolamine by the system. Tris buffer was also a competitor with these compounds, and a number of other amino alcohols were inhibitory, probably competitively. 3. The incorporation of ³²P]phosphorylethanolamine into phospholipids was observed in suspensions of whole fat bodies. This incorporation was stimulated by magnesium. 4. During the incubation of the homogenates, a calcium-stimulated breakdown of phospholipids by a phospholipase A occurred. 5. These results are compared with results published for similar mammalian systems, and their possible physiological significance is discussed.