The predominance of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the butterfly Morpho peleides before and after metamorphosis

We hypothesized that the polyunsaturated fatty acids of the butterfly were probably derived from the diet and that there might be a great loss of body fat during metamorphosis. To substantiate these hypotheses, we analyzed the fatty acid composition and content of the diet, the larva, and the butterfly Morpho peleides. Both the diet and the tissues of the larva and butterfly had a high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the diet, linolenic acid accounted for 19% and linoleic acid for 8% of total fatty acids. In the larva, almost 60% of the total fatty acids were polyunsaturated: linolenic acid predominated at 42% of total fatty acids, and linoleic acid was at 17%. In the butterfly, linolenic acid represented 36% and linoleic acid represented 11% of total fatty acids. The larva had a much higher total fatty acid content than the butterfly (20.2 vs. 6.9 mg). Our data indicate that the transformation from larva to butterfly during metamorphosis drastically decreased the total fatty acid content. There was bioenhancement of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the diet to the larva and butterfly. This polyunsaturation of membranes may have functional importance in providing membrane fluidity useful in flight.     

“自我剪切”2A肽介导的Δ-12和ω-3脂肪酸脱氢酶以及过氧化氢酶在转基因小鼠肌肉表达研究

哺乳动物因为缺乏Δ-12和ω-3脂肪酸脱氢酶,不能自身合成必需的多不饱和脂肪酸．目前,通过转基因技术在哺乳动物体内表达ω-3脂肪酸脱氢酶,能将长链的n-6多不饱和脂肪酸转化成n-3多不饱和脂肪酸,造成体内长链的n-6多不饱和脂肪酸含量显著减低．本研究通过自我剪切2A肽介导Δ-12和ω-3脂肪酸脱氢酶(FAT-2和FAT-1)以及人过氧化氢酶(human catalase,hCAT)在小鼠的肌肉同时表达．结果表明,转基因小鼠肌肉中长链n-3多不饱和脂肪酸含量提高2.6倍,长链n-6多不饱和脂肪酸含量没有显著变化,而n-6/n-3比例显著降低(P < 0.01)．同时蛋白质印迹检测到人过氧化氢酶hCAT在小鼠的肌肉组织中表达,且过氧化氢酶活性比野生型小鼠显著提高(P < 0.01)．     

脂肪酸及其氧合物对曲霉属真菌菌丝生长、产孢和黄曲霉毒素合成的影响

黄曲霉毒素是由黄曲霉菌合成的一类毒性极高、致癌性极强的次生代谢物。一般认为,高油脂含量的作物种子被曲霉属真菌感染后容易产生黄曲霉毒素,但是,脂肪酸的处理实验结果表明不同类型的脂肪酸对曲霉属真菌毒素合成的作用不同,有的促进合成,有的抑制合成。最近研究结果显示所有脂肪酸都促进黄曲霉毒素合成,但是多不饱和脂肪酸在暴露空气之后对毒素合成有抑制作用。这种抑制产毒的作用似乎是由多不饱和脂肪酸氧化所产生的脂氧合物所介导。本文结合我们的研究结果,综合评述了脂肪酸和脂氧合物调控曲霉属真菌菌丝生长、产孢和毒素合成研究的最新进展。     

西藏那曲地区高寒草甸不同放牧方式下土壤微生物群落结构特征

以不同放牧方式下那曲高寒草甸为研究对象,通过比较土壤化学性质和土壤磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)研究土壤微生物群落结构的变化.结果表明： 土壤化学性质(总有机碳、全磷和硝态氮含量)和微生物生物量碳总体表现为休牧7年>自由放牧>禁牧;除真菌细菌比外,土壤PLFA总值、细菌PLFA值、真菌PLFA值、革兰氏阴性菌和革兰氏阳性菌PLFA值均表现为休牧7年>禁牧5年>自由放牧>禁牧7和9年.主成分分析(PCA)表明：第1主成分(PC1=74.6%)主要由单烯脂肪酸、多烯脂肪酸、支链饱和脂肪酸组成;第2主成分(PC2=13.2%)主要由直链脂肪酸和部分单烯脂肪酸组成.土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)和PLFA总值之间有较好的相关性.与禁牧方式相比,休牧最适宜于那曲高寒草甸健康稳定,轻度放牧也有利于高寒草甸的稳定.     

Cloning and functional characterisation of an enzyme involved in the elongation of Delta6-polyunsaturated fatty acids from the moss Physcomitrella patens

The moss Physcomitrella patens contains high proportions of polyunsaturated very-long-chain fatty acids with up to 20 carbon atoms. Starting from preformed C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids, their biosynthesis involves a sequence of Delta6-desaturation, Delta6-elongation and Delta5-desaturation. In this report we describe for the first time the characterisation of a cDNA (PSE1) of plant origin with homology to the ELO-genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encoding a component of the Delta6-elongase. Functional expression of PSE1 in S. cerevisiae led to the elongation of exogenously supplied Delta6-polyunsaturated fatty acids. By feeding experiments with different trienoic fatty acids of natural and synthetic origin, both substrate specificity and substrate selectivity of the enzyme were investigated. The activity of Pse1, when expressed in yeast, was not sensitive to the antibiotic cerulenin, which is an effective inhibitor of fatty acid synthesis and elongation. Furthermore, the PSE1 gene was disrupted in the moss by homologous recombination. This led to a complete loss of all C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids providing additional evidence for the function of the cDNA as coding for a component of the Delta6-elongase. The elimination of the elongase was not accompanied by a visible alteration in the phenotype, indicating that C20-PUFAs are not essential for viability of the moss under phytotron conditions.     

Fatty acid composition of a new marine picoplankton species of the Chromophyta

A marine yellowish picoplankton, strain PP301, which was newly isolated from the surface seawater of the western Pacific Ocean was an eminent producer of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Its fatty acids were mostly shared by the shortest saturated form (14:0, 20–30%) and polyunsaturated forms (20:4, EPA and DHA) which accounted for about 50% of the total fatty acids. The amount of intermediate forms in 16 and 18 carbon chains were very little. This composition was consistently observed irrespective of the growth temperatures (15–35 °C).     

Substrate Specificity and Regioselectivity of Δ12 and ω3 Fatty Acid Desaturases from Saccharomyces kluyveri

Δ12 and ω3 fatty acid desaturases are key enzymes in the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are important constituents of membrane glycerolipids and also precursors to signaling molecules in many organisms. In this study, we determined the substrate specificity and regioselectivity of the Δ12 and ω3 fatty acid desaturases from Saccharomyces kluyveri (Sk-FAD2 and Sk-FAD3). Based on heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it was found that Sk-FAD2 converted C16–20 monounsaturated fatty acids to diunsaturated fatty acids by the introduction of a second double bond at the ν+3 position, while Sk-FAD3 recognized the ω3 position of C18 and C20. Furthermore, fatty acid analysis of major phospholipids suggested that Sk-FAD2 and Sk-FAD3 have no strong substrate specificity toward the lipid polar head group or the sn-positions of fatty acyl groups in phospholipids.     

Identification of a cDNA encoding a novel C18-Δ polyunsaturated fatty acid-specific elongating activity from the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-producing microalga, Isochrysis galbana

Isochrysis galbana, a marine prymnesiophyte microalga, is rich in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3, Δ^{4,7,10,13,16,19}). We used a polymerase chain reaction-based strategy to isolate a cDNA, designated IgASE1, encoding a polyunsaturated fatty acid-elongating activity from I. galbana. The coding region of 263 amino acids predicts a protein of 30 kDa that shares only limited homology to animal and fungal proteins with elongating activity. Functional analysis of IgASE1, by expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was used to determine its activity and substrate specificity. Transformed yeast cells specifically elongated the C18-Δ⁹ polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid (C18:2n-6, Δ^9,12) and -linolenic acid (C18:3n-3, Δ^9,12,15), to eicosadienoic acid (C20:2n-6, Δ^11,14) and eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n-3, Δ^11,14,17), respectively. To our knowledge this is the first time such an elongating activity has been functionally characterised. The results also suggest that a major route for eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3, Δ^5,8,11,14,17) and docosahexaenoic acid syntheses in I. galbana may involve a Δ⁸ desaturation pathway.     

Dietary cyclic fatty acids derived from linolenic acid do not exhibit intrinsic toxicity in the rat during gestation

Heating oils and fats may lead to cyclization of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially those showing multiple double bonds like linolenic acid. Cyclohexenyl and cyclopentenyl fatty acids are subsequently present in some edible oils and these were suspected to induce metabolic disorders. When fed during gestation in the rat, cyclic fatty acids were historically reported to induce high mortality of the neonates. Nevertheless, none of these studies have been performed with cyclic fatty acids fed as triacylglycerols, limiting the nutritional value of the conclusions. Therefore, we assessed the toxicity of a diet containing 0.7% of cyclic fatty acids fed as triacylglycerols during gestation and the first days of life in the rat. In this work, we report no deleterious effect of cyclic fatty acids in the mothers and neonates. However, cyclic fatty acids induced a tremendous insulinopenia in the mothers and pups that was associated with the reduction of food intake in the gestating females. Such a finding may be a plausible explanation for the adverse effects of cyclic fatty acids observed previously with higher doses of cyclic fatty acids. Based on present data, on previous ones showing elimination of cyclic fatty acids, and considering their low amounts in the diet, we suggest that cyclic fatty acids formed from cyclization of linolenic acid are not a major concern for human safety.     

Dietary manipulation implicates lipid signaling in the regulation of germ cell maintenance in C. elegans

Reproduction in C. elegans relies on continuously proliferating germ cells which, during germline development, exit mitosis, undergo meiosis and differentiate into gametes. Supplementing the diet of C. elegans with dihommogamma-linolenic acid (20:3n-6, DGLA), a long chain omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, results in sterile worms that lack germ cells. The effect is remarkably specific for DGLA, as eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA) and other long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids with similar physical properties have little or no effect on fertility. Germ cells undergoing mitosis during larval stages are especially sensitive to DGLA, but exposure to DGLA during adulthood also reduces germ cells and brood size, in part by inducing inappropriate apoptosis of meiotic germ cells. Mutant strains with defects in fatty acid desaturation and elongation display altered susceptibility to DGLA, indicating that the sterility effect of the dietary lipid depends on the amount of DGLA present in membranes as well as on the capacity to convert DGLA to other fatty acids. We propose that DGLA produces a signal that interacts with one or more pathways regulating germ cell survival. Our DGLA findings are the first report of a role for a specific fatty acid affecting the development and maintenance of germ cells in C. elegans.     

脂肪酸去饱和酶的研究进展

多不饱和脂肪酸由于其在生物体内具有重要的生物活性而越来越受到研究者的关注,特别是n-3系列的脂肪酸EPA（二十碳五烯酸）和DHA（二十二碳六烯酸）。脂肪酸去饱和酶在多不饱和脂肪酸的生物合成过程中起着重要的作用,本文对其目前研究进展进行了阐述。     

The effect of bio-converted polyunsaturated fatty acids on the oxidation of TAG containing highly unsaturated fatty acids

Microbial modification of vegetable fatty acids can often lead to special changes in their structure and in biological function. A bacterial strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3, is known to carry out multiple hydroxylations on polyunsaturated fatty acids containing 1,4-cis, cis diene structural units, resulting in antibacterial activity. In this paper, in an effort to understand the overall mechanism involved in the varied biological functions of the complicated metabolites of bio-converted polyunsaturated fatty acids, we performed bioconversion of several polyunsaturated fatty acids using PR3, and determined their oxidative activities against fish oil. Bio-converted linoleic acid, eicosapentanoic acid, and docosahexanoic acid promoted effectively oxidation of fish oil. It is assumed that this oxidative effect could plausibly play an important role in the antimicrobial function of these bio-converted fatty acids.     

Selectivity of fatty acid ligands for PPARalpha which correlates both with binding to cis-element and DNA binding-independent transactivity in Caco-2 cells

It is thought that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is a major regulator for fatty acid metabolism. Long-chain fatty acids have been shown to induce expression of the genes related to fatty acid metabolism through PPARalpha. However, it is unclear whether the intensity of PPARalpha activation is different among various fatty acids. In this study, we compared various fatty acids in the capability of PPARalpha activation by differential protease sensitivity assay (DPSA), electrophoretic mobility shift assay and GAL4-PPAR chimera reporter assay in intestinal cell line, Caco-2. DPSA revealed that polyunsaturated fatty acids of 18 to 20 carbon groups with 3-5 double bonds strongly induced a PPARalpha conformational change. The ligand-induced changes in the sensitivity to protease corresponded to the enhancement of the binding of PPARalpha-RXRalpha heterodimer to the PPAR-response element (PPRE). The GAL4-PPAR chimera reporter assay revealed that the DNA binding-independent transactivity of PPARalpha was induced by various fatty acids with a wide spectrum of intensity which correlated with the conformational change of PPARalpha. These results suggest that PPARalpha has greater selectivity to certain types of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and that the ligand-induced conformational change of PPARalpha leads to parallel increases in both DNA binding to the PPAR-response element and the DNA binding-independent transactivity.     

南美白对虾饲料中沙蚕的营养成分分析

以南美白对虾饲料中的沙蚕为研究对象,通过气相色谱-质谱联用仪和氨基酸自动分析仪分析检测其体内的脂肪酸和氨基酸,之后对其营养价值进行了分析评价。结果表明:沙蚕体内检测出11种脂肪酸,多不饱和脂肪酸质量分数高达46.62%,其中EPA和AA的含量达16.20%和10.41%;沙蚕体内蛋白含量丰富,必需氨基酸含量为38.39%。通过营养评价,表明沙蚕对南美白对虾来说是一种高蛋白、低脂肪的优质饲料。     

两步法培养对丰富栅藻脂肪酸和氨基酸的影响

为了提高丰富栅藻的油脂产量和评估培养条件对其营养成分的影响,对丰富栅藻的培养基正交优化后,对其进行两步法培养并分析培养前后的脂肪酸和氨基酸的变化。结果表明：两步法培养后丰富栅藻的生物量、油脂含量和油脂产量分别达到23.57 g/L、33.49%和7.58 g/L; 丰富栅藻的单不饱和脂肪酸（MUFAs）特别是C18：1（n-9）的相对含量有所上升,但是饱和脂肪酸（SFAs）和多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFAs）的相对含量有所下降; 氨基酸特别是必需氨基酸的总量降低; 但丝氨酸和蛋氨酸的含量却略有增加。     

Elongation of C16:0 to C18:0 fatty acids in methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha CBS 1976 and fatty acid auxotrophic mutants

Fatty acid elongation defective mutant was isolated from the ethyl methanesulfonate treated Hansenula polymorpha based on the growth ability. Using biochemical and genetic approaches, the mutant was characterized. When compared with the fatty acid phenotype of the parental strain, the differences in profile and content of fatty acids in V1 mutant were found. In this V1 mutant, polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids, could not be detected with a corresponding increase in the content of mono-unsaturated fatty acids. The ratio of C16/C18 fatty acids revealed that the accumulation of C16 fatty acids was increased significantly. The experiments on fatty acid supplementation indicated that the mutant required C18:0 for the proper growth. The results of genetic complementation with the elongase genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae confirmed that the lesion was occurred at least in the extension of C16:0 to C18:0 of V1. The H. polymorpha mutant obtained in this work will be used as a useful tool for unraveling the pathway of fatty acid synthesis and the role of fatty acids on biological processes.     

Isolation and Characterization of Δ6-Desaturase,an ELO-Like Enzyme and Δ5-Desaturase from the Liverwort Marchantia Polymorpha and Production of Arachidonic and Eicosapentaenoic Acids in the Methylotrophic Yeast Pichia Pastoris

The liverwort Marchantia polymorpha contains high proportions of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids. In general, these C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are synthesized from linoleic and alpha -linolenic acids, respectively, by a series of reactions catalyzed by Delta(6)-desaturase, an ELO-like enzyme involved in Delta(6) elongation and Delta(5)-desaturase. Here we report the isolation and characterization of the cDNAs, MpDES6, MpELO1 and MpDES5, coding for the respective enzymes from M. polymorpha. Co-expression of the MpDES6, MpELO1 and MpDES5 cDNAs resulted in the accumulation of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. Interestingly, Delta(6) desaturation by the expression of the MpDES6 cDNA appears to occur both in glycerolipids and the acyl-CoA pool, although other lower-plant Delta(6)-desaturases are known to have a strong preference for glycerolipids.     

Trans fatty acids in hydrogenated fat inhibited the synthesis of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the phospholipid of arterial cells

Our hypothesis that the trans fatty acids in hydrogenated fat inhibited the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the phospholipid of arterial cells was tested with five groups each with six pregnant porcine fed from d 35 of gestation and during lactation. The basal diet contained 2% corn oil (control). The other four diets included the control + 10% butter or 10% hydrogenated fat plus two levels of Mg. Plasma, milk and aortic phospholipid fatty acids, phospholipid composition and calcium content of the aorta from the piglets were determined. At 48 +/- 2 d of age, the aorta phospholipid of piglets from porcine fed hydrogenated fat contained a significantly higher concentration of linoleic acid, less arachidonic acid, and less long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) than did piglets from porcine fed either butterfat or the control diet. Mg had no effect. These changes in composition in piglets from porcine fed hydrogenated fat indicate that trans fat inhibits the metabolic conversion of linoleic acid to arachidonic acid and to other n-6 PUFA. The aortic calcium content data showed a significant interaction of calcium concentration with age. We concluded: 1) that dietary trans fat perturbed essential fatty acid (EFA) metabolism which led to changes in the phospholipid fatty acid composition in the aorta, the target tissue of atherogenesis, 2) this inhibition of EFA to PUFA by the isomeric fatty acids in hydrogenated fat is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease.     

Efficacy of extraction methods for lipid and fatty acid composition from fungal cultures

The efficacy of three extraction methods for determining the lipid and fatty acid composition of six fungal cultures was studied. The extraction methods were: chloroform/methanol (2:1), hexane/isopropanol (3:2) and Soxhlet extraction by using hexane. The total lipid and fatty acid composition varied in fungal cultures depending on the extraction conditions. Of the three methods, chloroform/methanol (2:1) was found to be the best for extraction of lipid and fatty acids from fungal cultures.