Excitatory Amino Acid Agonist-Antagonist Interactions at 2-Amino-4-Phosphonobutyric Acid-Sensitive Quisqualate Receptors Coupled to Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis in Slices of Rat Hippocampus

Studies were carried out to define the relative affinities and intrinsic activities of excitatory amino acid agonists that activate receptor sites coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis in brain. Slices of rat hippocampus were prelabeled with myo-[3H]inositol, and agonist stimulation was indexed by measuring the accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate [( 3H]IP) in the presence of Li+. It was observed that ibotenic (IBO) and quisqualic (QUIS) acids both elicit highly significant, concentration-dependent stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Whereas maximal stimulation by IBO (10(-3) M) was four- to fivefold over basal values, the maximal effect of QUIS (10(-4) M) was less (about twofold). Based on the relative concentrations required for 50% maximal stimulation, QUIS was 20 times more potent than IBO. Stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by either IBO or QUIS was additive to the effects of nonexcitatory amino acid agonists (carbachol and norepinephrine) in this tissue. However, the stimulatory effects of IBO plus QUIS were not additive. At greater than or equal to 10(-4) M, QUIS significantly inhibited phosphoinositide hydrolysis by a maximal stimulatory concentration of IBO (10(-3) M) to a level observed with QUIS alone. Other excitatory amino acid agonists, including kainate, N-methyl-D-aspartate, and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), had no stimulatory effects at concentrations as high as 10(-3) M. The D,L or L forms of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (AP4), but not D-AP4, significantly enhanced [3H]IP levels to approximately 135% of basal values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry of acidic monoamine metabolites

A new method based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry has been developed for the determination of monoamine metabolites, i.e., homovanillic acid (HVA), vanilmandelic acid (VMA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in human urine. Analytes were separated on a C₁₆ amide (5 cm, 5 μm) column and ionized by negative ion electrospray. Operating in the selected-reaction monitoring mode, linearity was established over three-orders of magnitude and limits of detection were in the range 30–70 μg/l. Precision calculated as RSD was within 0.8–5.2% for all intra- and inter-day determinations. The method was applied to the quantitative analysis of monoamine metabolites in 700 urine samples from occupationally (adults) and environmentally (both children and adults) exposed people living in areas with different soil contamination from lead. The urinary excretion of monoamine metabolites was significantly higher (P<0.001) in the subgroup of children living in polluted areas as compared to the control group (HVA, 6.03 vs. 4.57 mg/g creatinine; VMA, 5.33 vs. 4.37 mg/g creatinine; 5-HIAA 3.24 vs. 2.45 mg/g creatinine). In adults belonging to both groups of subjects occupationally and environmentally exposed, no differences were detected in the urinary concentration of monoamine metabolites. However, adults showed lower values of HVA (2.57 mg/g creatinine), VMA (2.17 mg/g creatinine) and 5-HIAA (2.09 mg/g creatinine) as compared to children groups.     

Temperature regulates tuber-inducing lipoxygenase-derived metabolites in potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Temperature is one of the major environmental factors affecting potato tuberization. It has been suggested that lipoxygenase (LOX) mediates between temperature and tuber induction. In this study, the contents of the LOX-derived metabolites hydroperoxylinolenic acid (HPOT), jasmonic acid (JA), tuberonic acid (TA) and tuberonic acid glucoside (TAG) were analyzed in leaves of potatoes growing at different temperatures. At low, tuber-inducing temperature, endogenous levels of JA, TA and TAG rise, indicating their crucial role in tuber induction. The concentration of 13(S)-HPOT seems not to be directly affected by temperature. Instead, the molecule has only a short half-life in leaves and is readily metabolized.     

Determination of acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid in skin and plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

This study describes a HPLC method to determine the concentrations of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and salicylic acid (SA) in human stratum corneum and in plasma. The stratum corneum layers for ASA/SA analysis were removed from three patients with postherpetic hyperalgesia treated with topical and oral aspirin. Blood samples were also collected from the same patients. Tape strippings were placed in acetonitrile and sonicated for 15 min. After centrifuging, aliquots of the supernatant were injected into the chromatograph. ASA and SA from plasma samples were extracted on Isolute C₈ columns. Due to interfering peaks in the tape samples, HPLC conditions were slightly different for tape and plasma samples. ASA and SA were separated on a LiChrospher 100 RP-18 column at 1 ml/min using a water–phosphate buffer (pH 2.5)–acetonitrile mobile phase (35:40:25, v/v/v). A linear response to quantities of ASA from 0.1 to 100 μg/cm² and of SA from 0.1 to 5 μg/cm² in tape and to quantities of ASA 0.1 to 2 μg/ml and 1 to 50 μg/ml was obtained and the recovery from tape and plasma samples was over 98%. The method is sensitive (0.1 μg/cm²) and specific enough to allow the determination of the drugs in the skin not only after topical but also after oral administration. A good sensitivity was also obtained in plasma (0.1 μg/ml) allowing study of the kinetics of ASA and SA in plasma after oral administration. Concentrations of ASA after topical administration were 100–200 times higher than after oral administration. Plasma levels of ASA and SA after oral administration were similar to those previously found. No ASA or SA were detected in plasma after topical ASA administration.     

体外法添加苹果酸与饱和脂肪酸对瘤胃功能菌群数量的影响

本试验在添加饱和脂肪酸即硬脂酸(Stearic acid, SA)的基础上添加不同水平的苹果酸(Malic acid, MA), 采用体外法对瘤胃微生物进行培养, 通过实时定量(Real-time)PCR方法检测在添加脂肪酸和苹果酸后, 对瘤胃功能微生物如纤毛虫、产甲烷菌, 纤维分解细菌、氢化细菌以及脂肪分解菌的数量的影响。实验结果表明, 添加硬脂酸后对脂解厌氧弧杆菌(Anaerovibrio lipolytica) 和产琥珀酸丝状杆菌(Fibrobacter succinogenes)数量产生了显著影响, 脂解厌氧弧杆菌数量减少了95.8%(P<0.001), 产琥珀酸丝状杆菌数量增加了52.5%(P<0.05)。添加苹果酸后, 添加5 mmol/L MA处理组的脂解厌氧弧杆菌数量减少了91.2%(P<0.001), 添加10 mmol/L MA处理组, 减少了94.8% (P<0.001), 而MA10组比MA5组的该菌数量减少了41.3%(P<0.05)。本研究结论是硬脂酸和苹果酸分别对瘤胃部分微生物产生了显著的影响。二者对瘤胃微生物的互作影响并不显著。     

De novo synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-7-hexadecenylitaconic acids by a selective lignin-degrading fungus, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora

Ceriporic acids are a class of alk(en)ylitaconic acids produced by a selective lignin-degrading fungus, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. Their structural units have similarity with biologically important lichen acids, such as chaetomellic and protolichesterinic acids. The unique function of alkylitaconic acid is the redox silencing of the Fenton reaction system by inhibiting reduction of Fe(3+). As estimated by the catalytic function of Delta9-desaturases, 7-hexadecenyl derivatives bearing a trans configuration have not been reported in the family of alk(en)ylitaconic acids, i.e. the structurally similar lichen acids-alk(en)ylcitraconic and paraconic acids. In this paper, we discuss the isolation of an itaconic acid derivative with an (E)-7-hexadecenyl chain from cultures of C. subvermispora. To identify the natural metabolite, (E)- and (Z)-7-hexadecenylitaconic acids were chemically synthesised. The isolated metabolite was identical to the synthetic (E)-hexadecenylitaconic acid and was designated as ceriporic acid D. Administration of (13)C-[U]-glucose demonstrated that ceriporic acid C and trans-7-hexadecenylitaconic acid (ceriporic acid D) were biosynthesised de novo by C. subvermispora.     

Determination of endogenous levels of 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin), all-trans-retinoic acid (tretinoin) and their 4-oxo metabolites in human and animal plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with automated column switching and ultraviolet detection

A highly sensitive HPLC method with automated column switching was developed for the simultaneous determination of endogenous levels of 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin), all-trans-retinoic acid (tretinoin) and their 4-oxo metabolites in plasma samples from man, Cynomolgus monkey, rabbit, rat and mouse. Plasma (0.4 ml) was deproteinated by adding ethanol (1.5 ml) containing the internal standard acitretin. After centrifugation, 1.4 ml of the supernatant were directly injected onto the precolumn packed with LiChrospher 100 RP-18 (5 μm). 1.25% ammonium acetate and acetic acid-ethanol (8:2, v/v) was used as mobile phase during injection and 1% ammonium acetate and 2% acetic acid-ethanol (102:4, v/v) was added, on-line, to decrease the elution strength of the injection solution. After backflush purging of the precolumn, the retained components were transferred to the analytical column in the backflush mode, separated by gradient elution and detected at 360 nm. Two coupled Superspher 100 RP-18 endcapped columns (both 250×4 mm) were used for the separation, together with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water-10% ammonium acetate-acetic acid: (A) 600:300:60:10 (v/v/v/v), (B) 950:20:5:20 (v/v/v/v), and (C) 990:5:0:5 (v/v/v/v). The method was linear in the range 0.3–100 ng/ml, at least, with a quantification limit of 0.3 ng/ml. The mean recoveries from human plasma were 93.2%–94.4% and the mean inter-assay precision was 2.8%–3.2% (range 0.3–100 ng/ml). Similar results were obtained for animal plasma. The analytes were found to be stable in the plasma of all investigated species stored at −20°C for 4.3 months and at −80°C for 9 months, at least. At this temperature, human plasma samples were even stable for 2 years. The method was successfully applied to more than 6000 human and 1000 animal plasma samples from clinical and toxicokinetic studies. Endogenous levels determined in control patients and pregnant women were similar to published data from volunteers.     

Re-characterization of three conjugated linolenic acid isomers by GC-MS and NMR

Conjugated linolenic acids (CLN) refer to a group of octadecatrienoic acids with three conjugated double bonds. Minor positional and geometrical differences among CLN isomers make their separation and identification difficult. We have used GC-MS and NMR to study three common CLN isomers namely alpha-eleostearic acid, beta-eleostearic acid and punicic acid, finding that some signals of olefinic carbon atoms in NMR spectra were mistakenly assigned in the literature. The present study was therefore undertaken to re-characterize the location of CC double bonds and assign the chemical signals of proton and carbon atoms using (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, (1)H-(1)H two-dimensional correlation spectra ((1)H-(1)H COSY) and (13)C-(1)H two-dimensional correlation spectra ((13)C-(1)H COSY). The geometrical structure of double bonds in these three CLN isomers was identified using homonuclear decoupling technique.     

Lipid composition of the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (homoptera: Aphididae), reared on host plant and on artificial media

Polar and neutral lipids and their constitutive fatty acids were quantified in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), grown on host plant or on a lipid free artificial diet. The results were compared to determine if lipids were involved in the suitability of the diet for continuous rearing of this A. pisum biotype. For apterous adults grown on plants, the lipids were characterized by a low amount of neutral lipids (2.5% weight/fresh weight) almost entirely (96.4%) composed of hexanoyl and sorboyl dimyristin. These storage lipids were higher in the alatae (3.8%), probably correlated with potential flight activity. The phospholipid amounts were identical in these two morphs (1.3–1.4% weight/fresh weight), comprised mainly of phosphatidylethanolamines (52%) and phosphatidylcholines (40.6%). These phospholipids contained a still unidentified fatty acid, with a retention time close to that of linolenic acid and synthesized by the aphid or its bacterial symbionts (not found in plants). The apterous adult aphids reared on an artificial diet showed an accumulation of neutral lipids (8.9% for the first generation); this increase was shown to be slightly greater for the hexanoyl and sorboyl triglycerides. In contrast, the phospholipids decreased in aphids reared on an artificial diet (1.1% and 0.9%, respectively, for first and second generation), correlated with a phospholipid fatty acid profile significantly deficient in C18:3 and in the unidentified peculiar fatty acid. These phospholipids are essential components of biological membranes and a diet-driven deficient synthesis in some of their components may result in the observed symptoms. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Arachidonic and docosahexanoic acid content of bovine brain myelin: Implications for the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

Lipids were extracted from bovine brain myelin using a mixture of hexane and isopropanol (32). Myelin lipids were resolved, using Sep Pak chromatography, into four fractions: Fraction 1 contained neutral lipids, fraction 2, free fatty acids, fraction 3, ethanolamine phospholipids and fraction 4, choline phospholipids. Docosahexanoic (DHA) and arachidonic (AA) acids in these fractions were measured by RPHPLC. Fraction 2 was analyzed directly, the other three fractions were subjected to alkaline hydrolysis before analysis for DHA and AA. DHA and AA were not found in fraction 1. Both DHA and AA were found in fractions 2 and 3. Only AA was consistently found in fraction 4. These results were confirmed by GC.     

Rapid UPLC-MS/MS method for routine analysis of plasma pristanic, phytanic, and very long chain fatty acid markers of peroxisomal disorders

Quantification of pristanic acid, phytanic acid, and very long chain fatty acids (i.e., hexacosanoic, tetracosanoic, and docosanoic acids) in plasma is the primary method for investigateing a multitude of peroxisomal disorders (PDs). Typically based on GC-MS, existing methods are time-consuming and laborious. In this paper, we present a rapid and specific liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method based on derivatization with 4-[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethylaminosulfonyl]-7-(2-aminoethylamino)-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DAABD-AE). Derivatization was undertaken to improve the poor mass spectrometric properties of these fatty acids. Analytes in plasma (20 mul) were hydrolyzed, extracted, and derivatized with DAABD-AE in approximately 2 h. Derivatives were separated on a reverse-phase column and detected by positive-ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with a 5 min injection-to-injection time. Calibration plots were linear over ranges that cover physiological and pathological concentrations. Intraday (n = 12) and interday (n = 10) variations at low and high concentrations were less than 9.2%. Reference intervals in normal plasma (n = 250) were established for each compound and were in agreement with the literature. Using specimens from patients with established diagnosis (n = 20), various PDs were reliably detected. In conclusion, this method allows for the detection of at least nine PDs in a 5 min analytical run. Furthermore, this derivatization approach is potentially applicable to other disease markers carrying the carboxylic group.     

Determination of hexahydrophthalic acid and methylhexahydrophthalic acid in plasma after derivatisation with pentafluorobenzyl bromide using gas chromatography and mass spectrometric detection

A method for the simultaneous determination of hexahydrophthalic acid (HHP acid) and methylhexahydrophthalic acid (MHHP acid) in human plasma was developed. The procedure was a rapid, single step extractive derivatisation with pentafluorobenzyl bromide as the derivatisation agent. The formed pentafluorobenzyl esters were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in negative ion chemical ionisation mode with ammonia as the moderating gas. Deuterium-labeled HHP acid and MHHP acid were used as internal standards. The detection limit was 0.4 ng/ml for HHP acid (m/z 153) and 0.3 ng/ml for MHHP acid (m/z 365). The within-day precision of the method was between 2 and 3% and the between-day precision was between 3 and 12%. The overall recovery was between 65 and 83%. A comparison between HHP acid determinations with a previous and this method showed that the methods gave similar results. The method was applicable for analysis of plasma from occupationally exposed workers.     

CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid: Is it synthesized in the nucleus

RadioactiveN-acetylmannosamine was injected intravenously into rats to labelN-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) and CMP-NeuAc. Nuclei were isolated from the livers using a non-aqueous technique to prevent leakage of polar metabolites. A preparation was obtained, which was eight times enriched in nuclei based on the ratio DNA/RNA. Free NeuAc and CMP-NeuAc were isolated from this nuclear fraction and from whole liver, and the specific radioactivities were determined. It appeared that at all time points studied, i.e. 1.5, 9.5, and 18 min after injection, the specific radioactivities of free NeuAc as well as of CMP-NeuAc in the nuclear preparation were lower than those in whole liver. Also no significant differences were found between free NeuAc and CMP-NeuAc in the ratio of specific radioactivities in the nuclear fraction/whole liver. Furthermore, no enzyme involved in the synthesis of NeuAc was enriched in the nuclear preparation as compared to various other cytosolic and non-cytosolic enzymes.Because newly synthesized NeuAc is channelled into a special pool and used for activation to CMP-NeuAc [Ferwerda W, Blok CM, van Rinsum J (1983) Biochem J 216:87–92], these results point to a site of activation of NeuAc to CMP-NeuAc other than the nuclear compartment. This might indicate that the nuclear-localized enzyme, CMP-NeuAc synthase, leaves the nucleus before exerting its action.Abbreviations ManNAc kinase (EC 2.7.1.60) ATP:2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-mannose 6-phosphotransferase - GlcNAc kinase (EC 2.7.1.59) ATP:2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose 6-phosphotransferase - NeuAc 9-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.29) N-acetylneuraminate 9-phosphate phosphohydrolase - CMP-NeuAc synthase (EC 2.7.7.43) CTP:N-acetylneuraminic acid cytidylyltransferase - glucose 6-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.9) d-glucose 6-phosphate phosphohydrolase - p-nitrophenylphosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1/2) orthophosphoric monoester phosphohydrolase - LDH (EC 1.1.1.27) l-lactate:NAD oxidoreductase - (1-4)-galactsyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.38) -N-acetylglucosaminide (1-4)-galactosyltransferase     

Physico-chemical characteristics of humic substances of major soil associations of Bihar (India)

Humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) extracted from fourteen surface soil samples (0–20 cms) belonging to nine major Soil Association Groups scattered over different agro-climatic situations, were characterized by elemental and functional group analysis, E₄/E₆ ratios, coagulation behaviour and distribution of carbon in different soil humus fractions. The E₄/E₆ ratio of FA extracted from different soils was wider than that of HA. The coagulation behaviour of HA and FA fractions and also of cultivated and forest soils showed marked differences. The variations in the ratios of HAC:FAC (0.31 to 1.0) among different soils were indicative of the degree of humification under the influence of vegetation and agroclimatic conditions. The elemental composition of HA and FA, in general, indicated a higher carbon and nitrogen content and C/N ratio in the former than in the latter fraction. On the contrary, the oxygen content of FA was higher compared to that of HA. The carbon contents of HA extracted from the cultivated and forest soils of Hazaribagh were almost equal, as were also the carbon contents of HA from the cultivated and forest soils from Ranchi. Total acidity of FA of the soils selected in the present study was higher than that of HA. The functional groups such as carboxyl, phenolic hydroxyl and carbonyl were present in the two fractions in varying proportions.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (6Z,10E,12Z)-octadeca-6,10,12-trienoic acid, (8Z,12E,14Z)-eicosa-8,12,14-trienoic acid,and their [1-14C]-radiolabeled analogs

To study the metabolic fate of conjugated linoleic acid isomers, we synthesized, in seven steps, from 1-heptyne, (6Z,10E,12Z)-octadeca-6,10,12-trienoic acid, (8Z,12E,14Z)-eicosa-8,12,14-trienoic acid, and their [1-(14)C]-analogs. In the case of (6Z,10E,12Z)-octadecatrienoic acid, a series of palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions between 1-heptyne and (E)-1,2-dichloro-ethene, a coupling reaction with a Grignard reagent and cleavage of the dioxolane gave (E)-dodec-4-en-6-ynal 3. Stereoselective Wittig reaction between aldehyde 3 and triphenyl-[5-(tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy)-pentyl]-phosphonium provided a dienyne. Stereocontrolled reduction of the triple bond and replacement of the tetrahydropyranyl group by a bromine gave (5Z,9E,11Z)-1-bromo-heptadeca-5,9,11-triene 10. Formation of the alkenyl lithium derivative and carbonation with CO(2) furnished (6Z,10E,12Z)-octadecatrienoic acid. (8Z,12E,14Z)-eicosa-8,12,14-trienoic acid was obtained by the same route but using triphenyl-[5-(tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy)-heptyl]-phosphonium iodide for the Wittig reaction. [1-(14)C]-analogs were obtained from the bromides by carbonation with (14)CO2. In all cases, chemical or radiochemical purities were found to be better than 95% after purification by flash chromatography on silica gel (>99% after additional purification by RP-HPLC). Metabolism studies in animals are in progress.     

In vivo conversion of 18- and 20-C essential fatty acids in rats using the multiple simultaneous stable isotope method

An important question for mammalian nutrition is the relative efficiency of C18 versus C20 essential fatty acids (EFAs) for supporting the tissue composition of n-3 and n-6 pathway end products. One specific question is whether C22 EFAs are made available to tissues more effectively by dietary alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) and linoleic acid (18:2n-6) or by dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (20:3n-6). To address this question in a direct manner, four stable isotope compounds were given simultaneously in a novel paradigm. A single oral dose of a mixture of 2H5-18:3n-3, 13C-U-20:5n-3, 13C-U-18:2n-6, and 2H5-20:3n-6 was administered to rats given a defined diet. There was a preferential in vivo conversion of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) to docosatetraenoic acid (22:4n-6) and of 22:4n-6 to n-6 docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6) when the substrates originated from the C18 precursors. However, when the end products docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) or 22:5n-6 were expressed as the total amount in the plasma compartment divided by the dosage, this parameter was 11-fold greater for 20:5n-3 than for 18:3n-3 and 14-fold greater for 20:3n-6 than for 18:2n-6. Thus, on a per dosage basis, the total amounts of n-3 and n-6 end products accreted in plasma were considerably greater for C20 EFA precursors relative to C18.     

Generation of fad2 transgenic mice that produce omega-6 fatty acids

Fatty acid desaturase-2 (FAD2) introduces a double bond in position Δ12 in oleic acid (18︰1) to form linoleic acid (18︰2 n-6) in higher plants and microbes. A new transgenic expression cassette, containing CMV promoter/fad2 cDNA/SV40 polyA, was constructedto produce transgenic mice. Among 63 healthy offspring, 10 founders (15.9%) integrated the cotton fad2 transgene into their genomes, as demonstrated by PCR and Southern blotting analysis. All founder mice were fertile and heterozygous fad2 female and nontransgenic littermates were used for fatty acid analysis using gas chromatography. One fad2 transgenic line showed substantial differences in the fatty acid profiles and the level of linoleic acid was increased 19% (P<0.05) in transgenic muscles compared to their nontransgenic littermates. Moreover, it exhibited an 87% and a 9% increase (P<0.05) in arachidonic acid (20︰4 n-6) in muscles and liver, compared to their nontransgenic littermates. The results indicate that the plant fad2 gene can be functionally expressed in transgenic mice and may playan active role in conversion of oleic acid into linoleic acid.     

Molecular mechanism of substrate specificity for delta 6 desaturase from Mortierella alpina and Micromonas pusilla

The ω6 and ω3 pathways are two major pathways in the biosynthesis of PUFAs. In both of these, delta 6 desaturase (FADS6) is a key bifunctional enzyme desaturating linoleic acid or α-linolenic acid. Microbial species have different propensity for accumulating ω6- or ω3-series PUFAs, which may be determined by the substrate preference of FADS6 enzyme. In the present study, we analyzed the molecular mechanism of FADS6 substrate specificity. FADS6 cDNAs were cloned from Mortierella alpina (ATCC 32222) and Micromonas pusilla (CCMP1545) that synthesized high levels of arachidonic acid and EPA, respectively. M. alpina FADS6 (MaFADS6-I) showed substrate preference for LA; whereas, M. pusilla FADS6 (MpFADS6) preferred ALA. To understand the structural basis of substrate specificity, MaFADS6-I and MpFADS6 sequences were divided into five sections and a domain swapping approach was used to examine the role of each section in substrate preference. Our results showed that sequences between the histidine boxes I and II played a pivotal role in substrate preference. Based on our domain swapping results, nine amino acid (aa) residues were targeted for further analysis by site-directed mutagenesis. G194L, E222S, M227K, and V399I/I400E substitutions interfered with substrate recognition, which suggests that the corresponding aa residues play an important role in this process.     

Nonanoic acid, other alkanoic acids, and related compounds as antifeedants in Hylobius abietis pine weevils

A medium‐length, straight‐chain alkanoic acid, nonanoic acid, is known from laboratory microassays to be an antifeedant in adults of the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Our hypothesis was that we could find new, less volatile alkanoic acids or related compounds suitable for field application and with improved long‐term duration. Alkanoic acids of varying chain lengths (C6–C13) were tested for antifeedant activity in H. abietis adults. Microassay choice tests showed that straight‐chain (C6–C11) alkanoic acids were active. However, high activities were restricted to the (C6–C10) acids, with the C9 (nonanoic acid) at 4 µmol cm^?2 being the most active one. In a no‐choice test on pine twigs, the antifeedant effect of C10 acid was lower than that of the C8 and C9 acids. In microassays, less volatile methyl‐branched alkanoic acids exhibited lower antifeedant activities than did the corresponding straight‐chain ones. However, the most active of the methyl‐branched acids, 2‐methyldecanoic acid, had an activity similar to that of nonanoic acid. Compounds related to nonanoic acid were either active (1‐nonanol), weakly active (nonanoic anhydride), or inactive (nonanal, sodium nonanoate). The anhydride was highly active in the microassay, but less active on twigs. The antifeedant effects of the straight chain (C8–C10) alkanoic acids against pine weevil feeding were tested in the field. In contrast to the results from the twig tests, the less volatile C10 acid was more active in the field for the protection of transplants on fresh clear cuts over a 3‐month period than both the C8 and C9 acids. Phytotoxic effects of the alkanoic acids were observed both in the field and in laboratory studies. If a protective layer of paraffin was applied to the stem prior to application of the alkanoic acids, these undesired side effects were reduced.