Tumor lipids: Carbon number distribution of triglycerides and glyceryl ether diesters

Abstract
Triglycerides and glyceryl ether diesters were isolated from a number of transplantable rat and mouse tumors and analyzed intact by gas liquid chromatography (GLC). The carbon number distributions of the triglycerides were distinctly different from those of the glyceryl ether diesters. Both glyceride classes contained abnormally high molecular weight species. The data support earlier evidence that indicated diglycerides used for the biosynthesis of phosphatides are also precursors of triglycerides in neoplasms. Glycerides isolated from three centrifuged fractions of Ehrlich ascites cells exhibited similar carbon number distributions. The results indicate a random distribution of triglyceride and glyceryl ether diester molecular species among cellular organeiles. Triglycerides, glyceryl ether diesters and neutral plasmalogens of the same carbon number were partially resolved by GLC.