Elevated sterol synthesis in lymphocytic leukemia cells from two inbred strains of mice.

Cell suspensions of normal and leukemic mouse lympho cytes from spleens, thymuses, and mesenteric lymph nodes actively incorporate acetate into cellular lipids. The de novo synthesis of digitonin-precipitable sterols in leukemic cells is tenfold greater than that of normal cells and is associated with a correspondingly increased activity of the rate-limiting enyzme, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reducÃ-ase. In contrast, synthesis of fatty acids is only slightly enhanced and production of CO2 is not affected because of leukemogenesis.