Lipogenesis in isolated human sebaceous glands from [U-14C]glucose, [U-14C]leucine, [U-14C]isoleucine, and [U-14C]valine has been determined by thin-layer chromatography. Total lipogenesis from 2 mmol/l [U-14C]glucose was 114.8 +/- 22.3 pmol/gland per h (mean +/- SE), with 53.8% being incorporated into triglycerides, 20.2% into squalene, 12.8% into phospholipids, 2.1% into cholesterol and 7.1% into wax monoester and cholesterol ester and 5% into di- and monoglycerides and free fatty acids. Total lipogenesis from 2 mmol/l [U-14C]leucine, 2 mmol/l [U-14C]isoleucine, and 2 mmol/l [U-14C]valine in the presence of 2 mmol/l glucose was 26, 29 and 9%, respectively, of that seen with 2 mmol/l glucose alone. The pattern of 14C distribution in the various lipid classes from the three U-14C-labelled branched-chain amino acids was not significantly different from that seen with [U-14C]glucose.
