Activation and peroxisomal β-oxidation of fatty acids and bile acid intermediates in liver from Bombina orientalis and from the rat

Abstract 1. 1. Bombina orientalis excretes mainly C 27 bile acids: trihydroxycoprostanic and varanic acids. More than 90% of the trihydroxycoprostanic acid (THCA) present in the bile, was conjugated with taurine; varanic acid was present in the unconjugated form. 2. 2. Trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA (THC-CoA) synthetase activity, required for the formation of the taurine conjugate, was present in the liver of Bombina orientalis . 3. 3. Peroxisomal β-oxidation, which catalyzes the oxidation of fatty acids as well as the conversion of C 27 , bile acids into C 24 bile acids in rat and human liver, could be detected in liver of Bombina orientalis when palmitoyl-CoA was used as substrate, but not when trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA (THC-CoA) was used.