Figure 5.
Reduced VLP production by exogenous addition of unsaturated 14-carbon fatty acids. (A) COS-1 cells were transfected with pCMV5 Gag. On the following day, the medium was replaced with a fat-free medium supplemented with the indicated fatty acid. After overnight treatment, cells were radiolabeled with Tran35S-label. VLPs and whole-cell lysates were collected at 1-, 2-, and 4-h time points. Relative VLP production was quantitated from cells treated with 14:0 (closed squares), 14:1n-9 (closed diamonds), or 14:2n-6 (open squares). Error bars represent SD (n = 4). (B) Data from the 4-h time point in A represented as a bar graph, highlighting differences in VLP production (*, P < 0.005). (C and D) Other fatty acids do not affect VLP production significantly. Data are presented as described for B, showing results from experiments conducted with cells treated with 18:0, 18:1n-9, 20:4n-6, and 20:5n-3. 14:0 was used as a control in all experiments.