The phospholipid fatty acids of Porphyridium purpureum cultured in the presence of triton x-100 and sodium desoxycholate

The phospholipid fatty acid composition of Porphyridium purpureum grown on a solid medium was studied in the presence of Triton X-100 (TX) and sodium desoxycholate (SDC). The most common fatty acids in PC and PE were palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), linoleic (18:2ω6), arachidonic (20:4ω6) and eicosapentaenoic (20:5ω3) acids, 20:4ω6 being very abundant. In PG the most common acids were 16:0, trans-hexaenoic acid (tr16:1ω3), oleic acid (18:1) and 20:4ω6. Both detergents caused an increase in the saturation of PC and, to a lesser extent, of PE. The relative amounts of short chain fatty acids increased. Both detergents increased the amounts of 16:0 and, correspondingly, decreased the amounts of 20:4ω6. In PG the amounts of both 16:0 and tr 16:1ω3 increased and the amounts of 18:0, 18:2ω6 and 20:4ω6 decreased in the presence of detergents. The changes were always greatest at the concentrations of 5–10 ppm TX or SDC. At 20 ppm the fatty acid compositions, especially with SDC, were very similar to the controls, which suggests a change in the detergent effect between 10–20 ppm. The normal PC/PE ratio was 5.6 and the (PC+ PE)/PG ratio 39.0. Both detergents caused a marked decrease in these ratios. Because the detergent effects are not linear, it seems that even very low detergent concentrations have an important influence on algae in polluted waters.     

Phospholipid Composition and Metabolism of Micrococcus denitrificans

The phospholipid composition of Micrococcus denitrificans was unusual in that phosphatidyl choline (PC) was a major phospholipid (30.9%). Other phospholipids were phosphatidyl glycerol (PG, 52.4%), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE, 5.8%), an unknown phospholipid (5.3%), cardiolipin (CL, 3.2%), phosphatidyl dimethylethanolamine (PDME, 0.9%), phosphatidyl monomethylethanolamine (PMME, 0.6%), phosphatidyl serine (PS, 0.5%), and phosphatidic acid (0.4%). Kinetics of ³²P incorporation suggested that PC was formed by the successive methylations of PE. Pulse-chase experiments with pulses of ³²P or acetate-1-¹⁴C to exponentially growing cells showed loss of isotopes from PMME, PDME, PS, and CL with biphasic kinetics suggesting the same type of multiple pools of these lipids as proposed in other bacteria. The major phospholipids, PC, PG, and PE, were metabolically stable under these conditions. The fatty acids isolated from the complex lipids were also unusual in being a simple mixture of seven fatty acids with oleic acid representing 86% of the total. Few free fatty acids and no non-extractable fatty acids associated with the cell wall or membrane were found.     

Lipids and fatty acids of the southwestern corn borer,Diatraea grandiosella

The lipids of the adults and of several immature stages of the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella, were studied after they were fed natural corn stalks or artificial diets. Linoleic acid (18:2) was the major fatty acid of the neutral lipids in both the natural and the artificial diets, but aleic acid (18:1) was the principal neutral lipid in all insect stages. Also, linoleic acid and oleic acid were the principal acids in the insect phospholipids of all stages. The content of linoleic acid in the natural diet was also high, but that in the artificial diet appeared to be much too low for insect requirements. Phosphatidyl choline (PC) and phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) were the major phospholipids in all growth stages. Thus, in larvae diapausing in the field, the unsaturated fatty acid content of PC was 59·3 per cent, primarily 16:1 and 18:1, and PE was 87·4 per cent, primarily 18:1, 18:2, and 18:3, and the fatty acids in the number 1- and 2-positions of PC were 53·6 and 97·2 per cent unsaturated, respectively. The haemolymph of diapausing southwestern corn borer larvae contained primarily glycerides but also had some PC and PE. Fat body from diapausing larvae contained primarily 16:0, 16:1, and 18:1 in a ratio of 1 : 1 : 2. Thus lipids of the southwestern corn borer do not reflect dietary lipids as closely as do other insects studied.     

Lipids of Ectocarpus fasciculatus (Phaeophyceae). Incorporation of [l-14C]Oleate and the Role of TAG and MGDG in Lipid Metabolism

Lipids and fatty acids of Ectocarpus fasciculatus (Ectocarpales,Phaeophyceae) were analyzed. Major polar lipids are monogalactosyldiacylglycerol(MGDG), digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol(SQDG), diacylglycerylhydroxymethyl-N,N,N-trimethyl-rß-alanine(DGTA), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phospha-tidylethanolamine(PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylinositol (PI).Diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidyl-O-[N-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)glycine](PHEG) were also present in small amounts. Nonpolar lipids mainlyconsist of triacylglycerol (TAG) and diacylglycerol (DAG). Majorfatty acids are 16:0,18:1, 18:3, 18:4, 20:4 and 20:5. The positionaldistribution of fatty acids showed that molecular species ofeukaryotic structure account for 99% in MGDG, 98% in DGDG, 62%in PG and 23% in SQDG. On incubation with [1-¹⁴C]18:1 for 30min, 33% of the total label was detected in TAG, 16% in PG,14% in PE, 10% in PC and 8% in MGDG. During 7 days of chase,the label in TAG, PG, PE and PC decreased and simultaneouslyincreased in MGDG up to 41% of the total. In SQDG, labelledfatty acids were found in prokaryotic as well as in eukaryoticmolecular species. During the experiment, the label shiftedfrom 18:1 to 18:2, 18:3, 18:4 and, to a minor extent, to 20:4and 20:5 acids indicating 18:1 to be processed by elongationand/or desaturation. These results suggest TAG to act as a majorprimary acceptor of exogenous oleate and to be involved in thetransfer of fatty acids to MGDG and other polar lipids. (Received March 24, 1997; Accepted June 11, 1997)     

Fatty-acid composition of polar lipids in fruit and leaf chloroplasts of “16:3”- and “18:3”-plant species

The fatty-acid composition of polar lipids from fruit and leaf chloroplasts was compared in five Solanaceous and two cucurbit species. The acylated fatty acids in monogalactosyl diglycerides (MGDG) from leaf chloroplasts of all five Solanaceous species included substantial amounts of ^7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic acid (16:3). In contrast, the MGDG from fruit chloroplasts of the Solanaceae contained very little of this plastid-specific polyunsaturate, and instead included a proportionately greater percentage of linoleic acid (18:2). In MGDG from leaf chloroplasts of two cucurbits, -linolenic acid (18:3) constituted 94–95% of the acylated fatty acids. Fruit-chloroplast galactolipids of the cucurbits had a greater abundance of 18:2, and hence a higher 18:2/18:3 ratio, than found in the corresponding leaf lipids. Among the phosphoglycerides, the unusual fatty acid 3-trans-hexadecenoate (trans-16:1) constituted from 15 to 24% of the acylated fatty acids in phosphatidyl glycerol (PG) from leaf chloroplasts (all species). In sharp contrast, trans-16:1 was virtually absent in PG from fruit chloroplasts of both Solanaceous and cucurbit species, and was replaced by a proportionate increase in the content of palmitate (16:0). The observed differences in the polar lipid fatty-acid composition of fruit and leaf chloroplasts are discussed in terms of the relative activity of several intrachloroplastic enzymes involved in lipid synthesis and fatty-acyl desaturation.Abbreviations MGDG monogalactosyldiglyceride - DGDG digalactosyl diglyceride - PC phosphatidyl choline - PE phosphatidyl ethanolamine - PG phosphatidyl glycerol     

Fatty acid composition of individual polar lipid classes from marine macrophytes

Major glycolipids [monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG)) and phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG)] as well as betaine lipid 1,2-diacylglycero-O-4'-(N,N,N-tri-methyl)-homoserine (DGTS) were isolated from Anfeltia tobuchiensis (Rhodophyta), Laminaria japonica, Sargassum pallidum (Phaeophyta), Ulva fenestrata (Chlorophyta) and Zostera marina (Embriophyta), harvested in the Sea of Japan. GC analysis of their fatty acid (FA) composition revealed that the n-6 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) shared the most part of the sum of n-6 and n-3 PUFAs in PC and PE compared with glycolipids and PG. In algae, it was related to the prevalence of 20:4n-6 over 20:5n-3 in non-photosynthetic lipids. Percentage of n-6 PUFAs as well as the sum of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs decreased in the following sequence: PC-->PE-->PG. The saturation increased in the lines of MGDG-->DGDG-->SQDG and PC-->PE-->PG. PG was close to SQDG by the level of saturation. Distribution of C(18) and C(20) PUFAs in polar lipids depended on taxonomic position of macrophytes. Balance between C(18) and C(20) PUFAs was preferably shifted to the side of C(20) PUFAs in PC and PE that was observed in contrast to glycolipids and PG from L. japonica containing both series of FAs. The set of major FAs of polar lipid classes can essentially differ from each other and from total lipids of macrophytes. For example, MGDG was found to accumulate characteristic fatty acids 16:4n-3, 16:3n-3, 18:3n-6 and 18:4n-3, 20:3n-6 in U. fenestrata, Z. marina, L. japonica and S. pallidum, respectively.     

The glycolipid fatty acids of Porphyridium purpureum cultured in the presence of detergents

The glycolipid fatty acid composition of Porphyridium purpureum on a solid medium was studied in the presence of Triton X-100 (TX), sodium desocycholate (SDC), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). TLC and GC/MS were used in determining the relative fatty acid compositions of mono-and digalactosyl diglycerides (MGDG and DGDG) and in assessing the MGDG/DGDG ratio. The most common fatty acids were palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), linoleic (18:2 ω6), arachidonic (20:4 ω6) and eicosapentaenoic (20:5 ω3) acids, the long-chain polyunsaturated acids being more abundant in DGDG; α-linolenic acid (18:3 ω3) was absent. TX and SDC in particular caused an increase in the saturation grade of both MGDG and DGDG fatty acids at very low concentrations (5–15 ppm). With a detergent concentration of 20 ppm a reversion of this tendency was sometimes found, and the fatty acid composition approached the controls again. The effects of SDS and CTAB were not as prominent. All the detergents studied increased the normal MGDG/DGDG ratio (0.3) to a maximum of ～ 1. The effect of increasing detergent concentration is not linear. The results suggest that in some cases very low detergent concentrations can be more effective than higher ones, a fact which may be important in algae growing in polluted waters.     

Alterations of the fatty acid composition and lipid metabolome of breast muscle in chickens exposed to dietary mixed edible oils

The fatty acid composition of chicken’s meat is largely influenced by dietary lipids, which are often used as supplements to increase dietary caloric density. The underlying key metabolites and pathways influenced by dietary oils remain poorly known in chickens. The objective of this study was to explore the underlying metabolic mechanisms of how diets supplemented with mixed or a single oil with distinct fatty acid composition influence the fatty acid profile in breast muscle of Qingyuan chickens. Birds were fed a corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with either soybean oil (control, CON) or equal amounts of mixed edible oils (MEO; soybean oil : lard : fish oil : coconut oil = 1 : 1 : 0.5 : 0.5) from 1 to 120 days of age. Growth performance and fatty acid composition of muscle lipids were analysed. LC-MS was applied to investigate the effects of CON v. MEO diets on lipid-related metabolites in the muscle of chickens at day 120. Compared with the CON diet, chickens fed the MEO diet had a lower feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05), higher proportions of lauric acid (C12:0), myristic acid (C14:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7), oleic acid (C18:1n-9), EPA (C20:5n-3) and DHA (C22:6n-3), and a lower linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) content in breast muscle (P < 0.05). Muscle metabolome profiling showed that the most differentially abundant metabolites are phospholipids, including phosphatidylcholines (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), which enriched the glycerophospholipid metabolism (P < 0.05). These key differentially abundant metabolites – PC (14:0/20:4), PC (18:1/14:1), PC (18:0/14:1), PC (18:0/18:4), PC (20:0/18:4), PE (22:0/P-16:0), PE (24:0/20:5), PE (22:2/P-18:1), PE (24:0/18:4) – were closely associated with the contents of C12:0, C14:0, DHA and C18:2n-6 in muscle lipids (P < 0.05). The content of glutathione metabolite was higher with MEO than CON diet (P < 0.05). Based on these results, it can be concluded that the diet supplemented with MEO reduced the feed conversion ratio, enriched the content of n-3 fatty acids and modified the related metabolites (including PC, PE and glutathione) in breast muscle of chickens.     

Fatty Acid Distribution in Glycolipids and Phospholipids in Cotyledons of Germinating Soybeans

This investigation was conducted to observe changes in the fatty acid distributions of glycolipids (GL) and phospholipids (PL) in cotyledons of soybean seeds which were germinated either in the dark or the light at 28°C for 8 days. The GL isolated from the total lipids of cotyledons at different germinating stages were : acyl sterylglycoside (ASG), monogalactosyl diglyceride (MGD), digalactosyl diglyceride (DGD) and sulfolipid (SL). The PL isolated from the same total lipids as described above were : diphosphatidyl glycerol (DPG), phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE), phosphatidyl glycerol (PG), phosphatidyl choline (PC) and phosphatidyl inositol (PI).

During germination of soybean seeds, the content of linoleic and linolenic acids in MGD or DGD was markedly higher than that of the other GL. The positional distribution of fatty acids in PE, PC and PI was shown in all PL, in which saturated fatty acids, especially palmitic acid, were highly concentrated in position 1 and unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid, mainly occupied position 2. A remarkable difference in the changing patterns of fatty acid composition, which depended on the germinating conditions tested, was observed between GL and PL. The changes in fatty acid composition of GL were more marked in the light-grown seedlings than in the dark-grown, whereas those of PL were more remarkable in the latter than in the former. Therefore, the positional distribution of fatty acids in PL was more evident in the light-grown seedlings than in the dark-grown ones.

These results suggest the metabolic fate of GL and PL in cotyledons of soybean seeds, probably owing to the differences in the two germinating conditions tested.     

Lipid and Fatty Acid Composition of the Marine Brown Alga Dictyopteris membranacea

Glycerolipids and fatty acids of D. membranacea (Dic-tyotales)were analysed. The betaine lipid DGTA and the glycolipids MGOG,DGDG and SQDG were major components. The phospholipids PE, PG,PI and PHEG were present in minor amounts only. This lipid pattern,which is characterised by the presence of DGTA and the absenceof PC, has been found exclusively in brown algae belonging tothe orders Dictyotales, Durvillaeales and Fucales. Major fattyacids were 16:0, 18:1, 18:2, 18:3, 18:4 and 20:4 acids. MGDGwas the most unsaturated lipid with high levels of 18:4 acid.SQDG showed the highest degree of saturation containing a considerableproportion of 16:0 acid. DGTA contained 14 : 0,18:1,18:2 and20:4 as major fatty acids. Among phospholipids, PE and PHEGhad a very similar pattern which was enriched in 20:4 acid.Analysis of the positional distribution of fatty acids revealedthat DGTA and MGDG were almost exclusivly of the "euka-ryotic"type, whereas SQDG was predominantly of the "prokaryotic" type.For the first time, molecular species of selected lipids havebeen analysed in a brown alga. In DGTA, 14:0/18:1, 14:0/18:2and 14:0/20:4 were the main molecular species. In MGDG the highlyunsaturated erl8:3/18:4, 18:4/18:4 and 18:4/20:5 were predominant. (Received March 31, 1997; Accepted July 4, 1997)     

Analysis of molecular species of plant polar lipids by high-performance and gas liquid chromatography

Total lipid extracts from potato tubers and tobacco leaves are separated into lipid classes by two step HPLC using a silicic column. Elution is first performed for 20 min with a programmed linear gradient of two mixed solvents running from 100% of solution A (isopropanol-hexane, 4:3) to 100% of solution B (isopropanol-hexane-water, 8:6:1.5); the column is then eluted with pure solution B in an isocratic mode for 20 min more. The main polar lipids (MGDG, DGDG, PC, PE, PG) from both plant tissues can be collected and further separated into component molecular species on a simplified HPLC system with a C₁₈ column eluted in an isocratic mode with a polar solvent. Molecular species separations are achieved within 35 min; quantifications are made through GLC analysis of attached fatty acids. Three to five main molecular species are thus clearly identified in each lipid class. In potato tuber, phospholipids (PC, PE) 18:2/18:2 species are predominant. In tobacco leaf, six double bond species (18:3/18:3 and 16:3/18:3) are predominant in galactolipids, whereas PC contains a greater number of molecular species varying by their degree of unsaturation (from 18:3/18:3 to 16:0/18:2). Only certain molecular species of PG contain Δ³-trans-hexadecenoic acid.     

Fatty Acid Composition of Human Brain Phospholipids During Normal Development

Abstract: The fatty acid composition of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), ethanolamine plasmalogens (EPs), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and sphingomyelin was studied in 22 human forebrains, ranging in age from 26 prenatal weeks to 8 postnatal years. Phospholipids were separated by two-dimensional TLC, and the fatty acid methyl esters studied by capillary column GLC. Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) increased with age in PE and PC, whereas arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) remained quite constant. In EP, 22:6n-3 increased less markedly than 20:4n-6, adrenic (22:4n-6) and oleic (18:1n-9) acids being the predominant fatty acids during postnatal age. In PS, 18:1n-9 increased dramatically throughout development, and 20:4n-6 and 22:4n-6 increased only until ∼6 months of age. Although 22:6n-3 kept quite constant during development in PS, its percentage decreased due to the accretion of other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). As a characteristic myelin lipid, sphingomyelin was mainly constituted by very long chain saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Among them, nervonic acid (24:1n-9) was the major very long chain fatty acid in Sp, followed by 24:0, 26:1n-9, and 26:0, and its accretion after birth was dramatic. As myelination advanced, 18:1n-9 increased markedly in all four glycerophospholipids, predominating in EP, PS, and PC. In contrast, 22:6n-3 was the most important PUFA in PE in the mature forebrain.     

Mitochondrial lipids in Bufo arenarum full-grown oocytes

Both the content and composition of polar and neutral lipids from the mitochondrial fraction of ovarian full-grown Bufo arenarum oocytes were analysed in the present study. Triacylglycerols (TAG) represent 33% of the total lipids, followed by phosphatidylcholine (PC), free fatty acids (FFA) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) or cardiolipin, a specific component of the inner mitochondrial membrane, represents about 4% of the total lipid content. Palmitic (16:0) and arachidonic (20:4n6) acids are the most abundant fatty acids in PC and PE, respectively. DPG is enriched in fatty acids with carbon chain lengths of 18, the principal component being linoleic acid. In phosphatidylinositol (PI), 20:4n6 and stearic acid (18:0) represent about 72 mol% of the total acyl group level. The main fatty acids in TAG are linoleic (18:2), oleic (18:1), and palmitic acids. The fatty acid composition of FFA and diacylglycerols (DAG) is similar, 16:0 being the most abundant acyl group. PE is the most unsaturated lipid and sphingomyelin (SM) has the lowest unsaturation index.     

Rhodopseudomonas acidophila strain 10050 contains photosynthetic LH2 antenna complexes that are not enriched with phosphatidylglycerol,and the phospholipids have a fatty acyl composition that is unusual for purple non-sulfur bacteria

The phospholipid composition of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila strain 10050 grown aerobically or anaerobically in the light was determined. The major phospholipids present in the aerobic cells were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE; 54%), phosphatidylglycerol (PG; 24%) and cardiolipin (diphosphatidylglycerol, DPG) (14%), together with phosphatidylcholine (PC; 5%). On moving the cells to anaerobic photosynthetic growth in the light PE remained the major phospholipid (37-49%), but there was a major change in the proportion of PC, which increased to 31-33%, and corresponding reductions in the contents of PG to 11-16% and DPG to 4-5%. The fatty acid composition of the phospholipids was unusual, compared with other purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacteria, in that it contained 16:0 (29%), 17:1 (20%) and 19:1 (9%) plus several mainly unsaturated 2-OH fatty acids (9% total) as major components, when grown aerobically in the dark. In contrast when grown photosynthetically under anaerobic conditions there was <2% 17:1 or 19:1 present, while the amounts of 16:1 and 18:1 increased, and 16:0 decreased. The phospholipid composition of the purified light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2) complex was PE (43%), PC (42%) and DPG (15%). Unexpectedly, there was no PG associated with the purified LH2. These findings contrast with previous studies on several other photosynthetic bacteria, which had shown an increase in PG upon photosynthetic growth [Biochem. J. 181 (1979) 339]. The prior hypothesis that phosphatidylglycerol has some specific role to play in the function of light-harvesting complexes cannot be true for Rps. acidophila. It is suggested that specific integral membrane proteins may strongly influence the phospholipid content of the host membranes into which they are inserted.     

Changes of Phosphatidylcholine and Fatty Acids in Germ Cells during Testicular Maturation in Three Developmental Male Morphotypes of Macrobrachium rosenbergii Revealed by Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Testis maturation, germ cell development and function of sperm, are related to lipid composition. Phosphatidylcholines (PCs) play a key role in the structure and function of testes. As well, increases of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), especially arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential for male fertility. This study is the first report to show the composition and distribution of PCs and total fatty acids (FAs) in three groups of seminiferous tubules (STs) classified by cellular associations [i.e., A (STs with mostly early germ cells), B (STs with mostly spermatids), and C (STs with spermatozoa)], in three morphotypes of Macrobrachium rosenbergii, [i.e., small male (SM), orange claw male (OC), and blue claw male (BC)]. Thin layer chromatography exhibited levels of PCs reaching maxima in STs of group B. Imaging mass spectrometry showed remarkably high signals corresponding to PC (16:0/18:1), PC (18:0/18:2), PC (18:2/20:5), and PC (16:0/22:6) in STs of groups A and B. Moreover, most signals were detected in the early developing cells and the intertubular area, but not at the area containing spermatozoa. Finally, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated that the major FAs present in the testes were composed of 14:0, 16:0, 17:0, 18:0, 16:1, 18:1, 18:2, 20:1, 20:2, 20:4, 20:5, and 22:6. The testes of OC contained the greatest amounts of these FAs while the testes of BC contained the least amounts of these FAs, and there was more EPA (20:5) in the testes of SM and OC than those in the BC. The increasing amounts of FAs in the SM and OC indicate that they are important for spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis. This knowledge will be useful in formulating diets containing PUFA and HUFA for prawn broodstocks in order to improve testis development, and lead to increased male fecundity.     

Effects of hypothyroidism on the distribution and fatty acyl composition of phospholipids in sarcoplasmic reticulum of fast skeletal muscle of the rat

The distribution of phospholipids and fatty acyl composition of individual phospholipids in sarcoplasmic reticulum from fast skeletal muscle of hypothyroid and euthyroid (control) rats have been determined. Hypothyroidism resulted in a 24% decrease in the phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) content and a concomitant increase in the phosphatidylcholine (PC) content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The amounts of other phospholipids and cholesterol remained unaffected. Fatty acyl compositions of PE and PC were quantitatively different, but hypothyroidism affected these compositions similarly. Changes included an increase in the proportions of docosahexaenoic (22:6(n - 3)), arachidonic (20:4(n - 6)), icosatrienoic (20:3(n - 6)) and stearic (18:0) acids and a decrease in those of linoleic (18:2(n - 6)), palmitic (16:0) and oleic (18:1(n - 9)) acids. The effects of hypothyroidism on the phospholipid distribution could be reversed by treatment of hypothyroid animals with thyroid hormone for a period of 14 days (10 micrograms T3/100 g body weight per 2 days). The fatty acyl composition of the phospholipids was also restored to the euthyroid values by this treatment. Exceptions were 18:2 and 22:6 in PE, in which case reversal was significant but not complete, and 18:2, 20:4 and 22:6 in PC. The levels of these acids in PC were not reversed to the euthyroid values after the 14-day treatment, but rather the opposite occurred.     

Phospholipid composition and fatty acid desaturation in the roots of rye during acclimatization of low temperature

When the roots of rye plants grown at 20°C were cooled to 8°C the concentration of phospholipid in them more than doubled over a 7 d period in comparison with that in roots remaining at 20°C. The relative abundance of lecithin (PC) declined while that of phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) increased; this change was completed after 2 d cooling. Labelling with ³²P suggested that turnover of phospholipids may be inhibited by low temperature. Acyl lipids contained an increased proportion of linolenic acid (18:3) and reduced proportion of linoleic acid (18:2) when roots were cooled at 8°C for 7 d. The ratio of these acids is a relatively more sensitive indicator of desaturation than is the double bond index. Cooling brought about no change in the abundance of the principal saturated acid, palmitic (16:0). In the first 3 days of cooling PC and PE desaturated markedly while there was no change in galactosyl and neutral lipids. Desaturation did not appear to be greatly sensitive to the concentration of dissolved O₂ and was only partly inhibited in 8°C solutions where the oxygen concentration was lowered to 0.5–2.0%. Positional analysis of acyl chains in PC and PE showed that more than 90% of all 16:0 is associated with position I while 65% of the 18:2+18:3 is associated with position II. When roots are cooled the abundance of 18:3 increases in both chains but the relative distribution of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids remains constant in positions I and II. At both 20°C and 8°C there is a high probability that a saturated chain in position I will be paired with the polyunsaturated one in position II.Abbreviations PC Lecithin - PE phosphatidyl ethanolamine - TLC thin layerchromatography - BHT butylatedhydroxytoluene     

Effects of dietary butter enrichment on the fatty acid distribution of phospholipid fractions isolated from rat platelets and aortae

Rats were maintained for 2 weeks on a low-fat basal diet (5% energy) and a diet from which 50% of the energy was derived from butter. Lipids were extracted from aortae and platelets and the fatty acid profiles of individual phospholipids were examined. Similar responses to dietary butter enrichment occurred in PI, PS, PE and PC fractions from either tissue: 20:4(n - 6) and all other n - 6 series longer-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids except 20:3(n - 6) decreased in percentage; all n - 3 series polyunsaturated fatty acids increased, including 20:5(n - 3) and 22:6(n - 3); n - 9 series polyunsaturated fatty acids, derived from 18:1(n - 9), increased. Despite the considerable redistribution of polyunsaturated fatty acids, the percentages of total polyunsaturated fatty acids in each phospholipid were, in every case, independent of diet. None of the changes were localized in a particular phospholipid fraction. Quantitation of fatty acids using heptadecanoic acid as an internal standard revealed that the concentrations of 20:4(n - 6) in platelet and aortic PE and PC was higher than in PI fractions. Therefore, in terms of substrate amount, it appears that PC and PE as well as PI have the potential to provide endogenous 20:4(n - 6) for oxygenation to the prostanoids thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin I2.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gammaproteobacteria</Emphasis> as a Possible Source of Eicosapentaenoic Acid in Anoxic Intertidal Sediments

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; n-20:5ω3) was found to be a constituent of phospholipids in three mesophilic strains of Gammaproteobacteria, which were isolated from anoxic most probable number series prepared with sediments from an intertidal flat of the German North Sea coast. Their partial 16S rRNA gene sequences identified the isolates as close relatives of Shewanella colwelliana, Vibrio splendidus, and Photobacterium lipolyticum. So far, eicosapentaenoic acid has mainly been reported to occur in eukaryotes and some piezophilic or psychrophilic bacteria. With decreasing temperature, relative contents of EPA (up to 14% of total fatty acids) increased in all strains. Additionally, Shewanella and Vibrio spp. showed a significant increase in monounsaturated fatty acids with lower growth temperature. Analysis of the phospholipid compositions revealed that EPA was present in all three major phospholipid types, namely, phosphatidyl glycerol (PG), cardiolipin and phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE). However, EPA was enriched in PG and cardiolipin relative to PE. In the tidal flat sediments from which the isolates were obtained, substantial amounts of EPA-containing PG were detected, whereas other typical microeukaryotic phospholipids—being also a possible source of EPA—were abundant at the sediment surface but were present in clearly lower amounts in the anoxic layers beneath 5 cm depth. Therefore, the EPA-containing PG species in the deeper layers in these sediments may indicate the presence of Gammaproteobacteria closely related to the isolates. These bacteria appear to be an important source of EPA in buried, anoxic sediments beneath the layers harboring significant populations of benthic eukaryotes.     

Adaptive Changes in Membrane Lipids of Barophilic Bacteria in Response to Changes in Growth Pressure

The lipid compositions of barophilic bacterial strains which contained docosahexaenoic acid (DHA [22:6n-3]) were examined, and the adaptive changes of these compositions were analyzed in response to growth pressure. In the facultatively barophilic strain 16C1, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) were major components which had the same fatty acid chains. However, in PE, monounsaturated fatty acids such as hexadecenoic acid were major components, and DHA accounted for only 3.7% of the total fatty acids, while in PG, DHA accounted for 29.6% of the total fatty acids. In response to an increase in growth pressure in strain 16C1, the amounts of saturated fatty acids in PE were reduced, and these decreases were mainly balanced by an increase in unsaturated fatty acids, including DHA. In PG, the decrease in saturated fatty acids was mainly balanced by an increase in DHA. Similar adaptive changes in fatty acid composition were observed in response to growth pressure in obligately barophilic strain 2D2. Furthermore, these adaptive changes in response were also observed in response to low temperature in strain 16C1. These results confirm that the general shift from saturated to unsaturated fatty acids including DHA is one of the adaptive changes in response to increases in pressure and suggest that DHA may play a role in maintaining the proper fluidity of membrane lipids under high pressure.