Radioiodinated diacylglycerol analogues and methods of use

Novel iodinated and radioiodinated 1,2-diacylglycerol analogues are biological reagents for studying the effect of diacylglycerols in the activation of protein kinase C. This calcium-requiring enzyme may be involved in tumor promotion by phorbol diesters and related compounds. Iodinated and radioiodinated 1,2-diacylglycerol analogues, in accordance with the invention, are useful as imaging agents, such as radiopaques and radiopharmaceuticals, and have the general formula: ##STR1## The triglycerol backbone structure is 1,2-disubstituted with one position being occupied by an iodine-containing substituent, preferably an amino-substituted-2,4,6-triiodophenyl aliphatic chain, such as iopanoic acid, or by a monoiodiphenyl aliphatic chain, such as (m-iodophenyl)propanoic acid. The other position may be substituted with saturated and unsaturated long and short aliphatic chains.