Enzymatic synthesis of cytidine diphosphate diglyceride.

Evidence is presented for the enzymatic formation of cytidine diphosphate diglyceride in microsomal preparations from guinea pig liver according to the reaction: CTP + phosphatidic acid right harpoon over left harpoon CDP-diglyceride + p-O-P. Conditions have been found in which the incorporation of labeled CTP into CDP-diglyceride is almost entirely dependent upon added phosphatidic acid. The incorporation of CMP into lipid is very slight. A substantial net synthesis of CDP-diglyceride takes place under these conditions. Some properties of the enzyme system are described.