Biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the developing brains. II. Metabolic transformations of intracranially administered (3-/sup 14/C) eicosatrienoic acid, evidence for lack of. delta. /sup 8/ desaturase

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Lipids; (United States)

OSTI ID:7230425

Dhopeshwarkar, G A; Subramanian, C

(3-/sup 14/C) Eicosatrienoic acid (..delta..11,14,17) chemically synthesized from (1-/sup 14/C) linolenic acid was injected intracranially into 14-day old rats and sacrificed 8 hr later. The analysis of brain fatty acids by radio-gas liquid chromatography before and after ozonolysis showed that the tetraene fraction consisted of a desaturated product, ..delta..5,11,17-20:4, and its elongated product, ..delta..7,13,16,19-22:4. Both of these products, with a combined total of 61% of the total radioactivity recovered in the tetraene fraction, contain a nonmethylene interrupted double bond system and, therefore, are unsuitable for further desaturation. The other two components, ..delta..6,9,12,15-18:4 and ..delta..8,11,14,17-20:4, must have been formed from ..delta..9,12,15-18:3, formed by retroconversion of the starting material 20:3, followed by desaturation and elongation. These results suggest a lack of ..delta../sup 8/ desaturase in the developing brain, leading to formation of ..delta..5,11,14,17-20:4 rather than ..delta..8,11,14,17-20:4. However, the nonmethylene interrupted double bond isomer does not restrict chain elongation.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 7230425
• Journal Information: Lipids; (United States), Journal Name: Lipids; (United States) Vol. 11:9; ISSN LPDSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551000* -- Physiological Systems
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOSYNTHESIS
BODY
BRAIN
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHEMISTRY
ENZYMES
MAMMALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RATS
RODENTS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES