Lack of dietary adaptation of intestinal 2‐monoglyceride acyl transferase

Acylation of 2‐monopalmitin with (1‐ 14 C) palmityl‐coenzyme A was studied with microsomal fractions isolated from the intestinal mucosa of both hamsters and rats. Microsomes from hamster intestinal mucosa yielded equal molar amounts of 1,2‐diglycerides and triglycerides, while those from rats synthesized more 1,2‐diglycerides (70%) than triglycerides (30%). Although the enzyme system from the hamster was almost twice as active (55 nmoles monoglyceride acylated/min/mg protein) as that from the rat (31 nmoles monoglyceride/acylated/min/mg protein), there was essentially no difference in the rates of acylation when animals were (A) fasted for 3 days, (B) fed a high fat diet (15% safflower oil), or (C) fed a high carbohydrate diet for 5 days.