Lipogenesis from amino acids in perfused isolated dog skin

Lipogenesis from amino acids has been studied in isolated perfused dog skin. Uniformly labeled alanine-(14)C, glycine-(14)C, isoleucine-(14)C, leucine-(14)C, phenylalanine-(14)C, and valine-(14)C are all incorporated into the cutaneous lipids, with significant incorporation into most of the isolated lipid fractions. Efficiency of lipogenesis has been expressed relative to the extent of incorporation of acetate under the same experimental conditions. This efficiency was highest for the three branched-chain amino acids. The accuracy, uses, and limitations of the perfusion technique for the study of cutaneous lipogenesis have been evaluated.