Fatty acids

Fatty acid composition of human milk (HM) is known to change considerably during lactation. However, we were unable to find data on changes of fatty acid composition of HM during the very early phase of lactation, i.e. in the first week of life. HM samples were obtained from 18 healthy lactating women every day during the first week and thereafter on the 14th and 28th days of lactation. Fatty acid composition of colostrum and mature HM samples was determined by high-resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Values of the n-6 essential fatty acid, linoleic acid, in HM did not change significantly during the first month of lactation, whereas values of the n-3 essential fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid, showed significant increases during the first 2 weeks of lactation (1st day: 0.49 [0.12], % weight/weight, median [ranges from the 1st to the 3rd quartile], 14th day: 0.69 [0.31], p < 0.05). In contrast, values of the n-6 long-chain metabolites, eicosadienoic-, dihomo-gamma-linolenic- and arachidonic acid, as well as the values of the n-3 long-chain metabolites, eicosatrienoic-, and eicosapentaenoic acid exhibited significant decreases during the entire period investigated. The principal n-3 long-chain metabolite, docosahexaenoic acid, showed a significant increase between the 3rd and 14th days, but a significant decrease between the 14th and 28th days (3rd day: 0.15 [0.13], 14th day: 0.28 [0.11], p < 0.05, 28th day: 0.19 [0.12], p < 0.01). There were statistically significant positive correlations between arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid values on the 1st (r = 0.67, p < 0.01), 5th (r = 0.56, p < 0.05) and the 6th (r = 0.53, p < 0.05) days of lactation. Fatty acid composition of HM changes significantly even during the first week of lactation. The lack of positive correlation between essential fatty acids and their long-chain metabolites suggests that it is not only the availability of essential fatty acids that influences the fatty acid composition of human colostrum.

a b s t r a c t X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is the most frequent inherited monogenic demyelinating disease (minimal incidence 1:17,000). It is often lethal and currently lacks a satisfactory therapy. The disease is caused by loss of function of the ABCD1 gene, a peroxisomal ATP-binding cassette transporter, resulting in the accumulation of VLCFA (very long-chain fatty acids) in organs and plasma. Understanding of the aetiopathogenesis is a prerequisite for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Functional genomics analysis of an ABCD1 null mouse, a mouse model for adrenomyeloneuropathy, has revealed presymptomatic alterations in several metabolic pathways converging on redox and bioenergetic homeostasis, with failure of mitochondrial OXPHOS disruption and mitochondrial depletion. These defects could be major contributors to the neurodegenerative cascade, as has been reported in several neurodegenerative disorders. Drugs targeting the redox imbalance/mitochondria dysfunction interplay have shown efficacy at halting axonal degeneration and associated disability in the mouse, and thus offer therapeutic hope.

Peroxisomes play an essential role in cellular lipid metabolism as exemplified by the existence of a number of genetic diseases in humans caused by the impaired function of one of the peroxisomal enzymes involved in lipid metabolism. Key pathways in which peroxisomes are involved include: (1.) fatty acid beta-oxidation; (2.) etherphospholipid biosynthesis, and (3.) fatty acid alpha-oxidation. In this paper we will describe these different pathways in some detail and will provide an overview of peroxisomal disorders of metabolism and in addition discuss the toxicity of the intermediates of peroxisomal metabolism as they accumulate in the different peroxisomal deficiencies.

High pressure homogenization (HPH) was tested for inducing autolysis in a commercial strain of Saccharomyces bayanus for winemaking. The effects on cell viability, the release of soluble proteins, glucidic colloids and amino acids in wine-like medium and the volatile composition of the autolysates were investigated after processing, in comparison with thermolysis. HPH seemed a promising technique for inducing autolysis of wine yeasts. One pass at 150MPa was the best operating conditions. Soluble colloids, proteins and free amino acids were similar after HPH and thermolysis, but the former gave a more interesting volatile composition after processing, with higher concentrations of ethyl esters (fruity odors) and lower fatty acids (potential off-flavors). This might allow different winemaking applications for HPH, such as the production of yeast derivatives for wine ageing. In the conditions tested, HPH did not allow the complete inactivation of yeast cells; the treatment shall be optimized before winemaking use.

The pulp and paper industry generates significant amounts of waste from various processes consisting of organic and inorganic matter. Due to its composition, the management of pulp and paper mill sludge presents an economic burden for wastewater treatment plants. In South Africa, paper mill sludge is mainly incinerated, landfilled or used for land application. These practices cause environmental and health hazards. In this study, a process of stabilization of paper mill sludge through hydrothermal carbonization is proposed. The quality of biochar produced and energy yield will depend on the elemental composition, calorific value and ash content of the sludge. Results revealed samples are composed of flat fibrous cellulosic morphology, with high volatile matter and little fixed carbon percentage. The main decomposition occurred between 220-400 °C. Sludge from primary clarifier contains the highest ash percentage, hence it was found to be unsuitable for energy recovery through hydroth...

Many healthy subjects and patients are taking natural bioactive products for the prevention and treatment of multiple conditions, including gastrointestinal disorders. Based on current evidence, the scientific validity of the use of many of these commercial compounds by the ...

We have devised an analytical method for the determination of fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane sphingomyelin by chemical ionization mass spectrometry combined with capillary column gas-liquid chromatography. Fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane sphingomyelin from 8 patients with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and 16 healthy controls were exam-

Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis of a soil microbial community was coupled with 13C isotope tracer analysis to measure the community’s response to addition of 35 μg of [13C]toluene ml of soil solution−1. After 119 h of incubation with toluene, 96% of the incorporated 13C was detected in only 16 of the total 59 PLFAs (27%) extracted from the soil. Of the total 13C-enriched PLFAs, 85% were identical to the PLFAs contained in a toluene-metabolizing bacterium isolated from the same soil. In contrast, the majority of the soil PLFAs (91%) became labeled when the same soil was incubated with [13C]glucose. Our study showed that coupling 13C tracer analysis with PLFA analysis is an effective technique for distinguishing a specific microbial population involved in metabolism of a labeled substrate in complex environments such as soil.

We read with interest the study by Scavone et al. 1 that demonstrates the absence of efficacy of a prophylactic epidural blood patch after inadvertent dural puncture. We suggest that two factors could have influenced the negative result of this trial. First, inadvertent dural puncture could have been overdiagnosed, namely when loss of resistance to saline was used to locate epidural space. This could explain the lower incidence of post-dural puncture headache and less frequent realization of therapeutic epidural blood patch reported in this study compared with others. 2,3 Second, 20 ml may not be the adequate blood volume to test a prophylactic epidural blood patch. This volume has tended to increase over time to 20 ml or more, 23 Ϯ 5 ml in a study by Safat-Tisseront et al. 3 The optimal blood volume may be the volume at which pain in the back, buttocks, or legs occurs, which was only achieved for seven patients in the study of Scavone et al. This higher volume may lead to either a larger patch over the dural tear or a significantly higher increase in lumbar and intracranial pressure, leading to reduced cerebral vasodilation.

Time for primary review: 15 days Aims A complex set of metabolic and inflammatory processes are involved in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Accumulating evidence indicates an important role for Sirt1 in cardiac function, whereas peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor-a (PPARa) is a master controller of cardiac lipid metabolism and plays a protective role on cardiac hypertrophy. The objective of the present study was to explore the relationships between Sirt1 and PPARa in the control of hypertrophy, metabolism, and inflammation processes in the heart. Methods and results Neonatal cardiomyocytes (NCMs) were used for studies in vitro. Both the activation of Sirt1 with resveratrol (RSV) and overexpression of Sirt1 inhibited phenylephrine (PE)-induced NCM hypertrophy and prevented PE-induced down-regulation of fatty acid oxidation genes. Sirt1 also inhibited the PE-induced increase in mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in NCMs and blocked the enhanced nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) activity associated with exposure to PE. Importantly, inhibition of PPARa suppressed the beneficial effects of Sirt1 on hypertrophy, fatty acid metabolism, and inflammation. Co-immunoprecipitation studies revealed that overexpression of Sirt1 enhanced PPARa binding to the p65 subunit of NF-kB and led to p65-deacetylation in NCMs. Moreover, Sirt1 overexpression led to the deacetylation of the PPARa co-activator PGC-1a. Consistent with these observations in vitro, isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy, metabolic dysregulation, and inflammation in vivo were prevented by RSV in wild-type mice but not in PPARa-null mice. Conclusions Collectively, these findings reveal a major involvement of the Sirt1-PPARa interaction in the protective role of Sirt1 against cardiac hypertrophy.

In recent years, the adipose tissue has emerged as an important endocrine organ. It is now recognized that besides storing energy the adipocytes also secrete several bioactive peptides, collectively called adipocytokines. Among these adipocytokines, leptin, the product of the ob gene, has been extensively investigated over the last decade. Skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, two major tissues involved in the regulation of glucose and fatty acids metabolism, have been consistently demonstrated to be directly affected by leptin. By binding to its receptors located in skeletal muscle and fat cells, leptin promotes energy dissipation and prevents fatty acid accumulation and 'lipotoxicity' in these tissues. On the other hand, under conditions of peripheral leptin resistance, such as observed in obese humans, the activation of pathways involved in fatty acid oxidation may be impaired. This leads to intracellular accumulation of lipid intermediates and causes insulin resistance. This review examines the metabolic pathways that are directly activated by leptin and how it regulates glucose and fatty acids metabolism in skeletal muscle and fat tissue. Furthermore, the impact of peripheral leptin resistance in these tissues leading to dysfunctional metabolic adaptations is also discussed.

Ketosis induced by starvation or feeding a ketogenic diet have widespread and often contradictory effects due to the simultaneous elevation of both ketone bodies and free fatty acids. While the elevation of ketone bodies increase the energy of ATP hydrolysis by reducing mitochondrial NAD couple and oxidizing the co-Q couple, thus increasing the redox span between site I and site II. In contrast, metabolism of fatty acids leads to a reduction of both mitochondrial NAD but also of mitochondrial Q causing decrease in the G of ATP hydrolysis. In contrast, feeding ketone body esters leads to pure ketosis, unaccompanied by elevation of free fatty acids, producing a physiological state not previously seen in nature. The effects of pure ketosis on transcription and upon certain neurodegenerative diseases make approach not only interesting, but one of potential therapeutic value. by guest, on November 11, 2016 www.jlr.org Downloaded from 12. Li, L., and J. L. Messina. 2009. Acute insulin resistance following injury. Trends Endocrinol.Metab 20: 429-435. 13. Kashiwaya, Y., M. T. King, and R. L. Veech. 1997. Substrate signaling by insulin: a ketone bodies ratio mimics insulin action in heart. Am.J.Cardiol. 80: 50A-64A.

A novel high-rate anaerobic reactor, called ''Buoyant Filter Bioreactor'' (BFBR), has been developed for treating lipid-rich complex wastewater. The BFBR is able to decouple the biomass and insoluble COD retention time from the hydraulic retention time by means of a granular filter bed made of buoyant polystyrene beads. Filter clogging is prevented by an automatic backwash driven by biogas release, which fluidizes the granular filter bed in a downward direction. During filter backwash, the solids captured in the filter are reintroduced into the reaction zone of the reactor. The reaction zone is provided with a mixing system, which is independent of the hydraulic retention time.

SYNOPSIS. An age-autolyzed culture of Chroomonas salina, grown under cool-white light with glycerol, produced waxy lipid constituting about 44% of total matter harvested. This lipid was composed of 87% wax ester, 9% triglyceride, 3% polar lipid and 1% hydrocarbon. The major wax ester species were identified by total carbon number as C26(28%), C28(35%), C30(15%). The main fatty acid components of the wax esters were 12:0 (39%), 14:0 (30%), 16:0 (14%), while the main alcohols were 14:0 (53%) and 16:0 (40%). The hydrocarbon fraction showed saturated paraffins ranging from C17 to C33, with odd-numbered chain components predominating. No polyunsaturated components were detected in the wax ester or hydrocarbon fractions. This is the first record of wax ester production by a cryptomonad or a marine phytoplankter.

The entire pathway of palmitate synthesis from malonyl-CoA in mammals is catalyzed by a single, homodimeric, multifunctional protein, the fatty acid synthase. Each subunit contains three N-terminal domains, the β-ketoacyl synthase, malonyl/acetyl transferase and dehydrase separated by a structural core from four C-terminal domains, the enoyl reductase, β-ketoacyl reductase, acyl carrier protein and thiosterase. The kinetics and specificities of the substrate loading reaction catalyzed by the malonyl/acetyl transferase, the condensation reaction catalyzed by β-ketoacyl synthase and chain-terminating reaction catalyzed by the thioesterase ensure that intermediates do not leak off the enzyme, saturated chains exclusively are elongated and palmitate is released as the major product. Only in the fatty acid synthase dimer do the subunits adopt conformations that facilitate productive coupling of the individual reactions for fatty acid synthesis at the two acyl carrier protein centers. Introduction of a double tagging and dual affinity chromatographic procedure has permitted the engineering and isolation of heterodimeric fatty acid synthases carrying different mutations on each subunit. Characterization of these heterodimers, by activity assays and chemical cross-linking, has been exploited to map the functional topology of the protein. The results reveal that the two acyl carrier protein domains engage in substrate loading and condensation reactions catalyzed by the malonyl/acetyl transferase and β-ketoacyl synthase domains of either subunit. In contrast, the reactions involved in processing of the β-carbon atom, following each chain elongation step, together with the release of palmitate, are catalyzed by the cooperation of the acyl carrier protein with catalytic domains of the same subunit. These findings suggest a revised model for the fatty acid synthase in which the two polypeptides are oriented such that head-to-tail contacts are formed both between and within subunits.

Precursor compounds for abiotic proto cellular membranes are necessary for the origin of life. Amphipathic compounds such as fatty acids and acyl glycerols are important candidates for micelle/bilayer/vesicle formation. Two sets of experiments were conducted to study dehydration reactions of model lipid precursors in aqueous media to form acyl polyols and wax esters, and to evaluate the stability and reactions of the products at elevated temperatures. In the first set, mixtures of n-nonadecanoic acid and ethylene glycol in water, with and without oxalic acid, were heated at discrete temperatures from 150 • C to 300 • C for 72 h. The products were typically alkyl alkanoates, ethylene glycolyl alkanoates, ethylene glycolyl bis-alkanoates and alkanols. The condensation products had maximum yields between 150 • C and 250 • C, and were detectable and thus stable under hydrothermal conditions to temperatures <300 • C. In the second set of experiments, mixtures of n-heptanoic acid and glycerol were heated using the same experimental conditions, with and without oxalic acid, between 100 • C and 250 • C. The main condensation products were two isomers each of monoacylglycerols and diacylglycerols at all temperatures, as well as minor amounts of the fatty acid anhydride and methyl ester. The yield of glyceryl monoheptanoates generally increased with increasing temperature and glyceryl diheptanoates decreased noticeably with increasing temperature. The results indicate that condensation reactions and abiotic synthesis of organic lipid compounds under hydrothermal conditions occur easily, provided precursor concentrations are sufficiently high.

Background: Growing evidence shows the potential of nutritional interventions to treat obesity but most investigations have utilized non-digestible carbohydrates only. Peach and plum contain high amounts of polyphenols, compounds with demonstrated anti-obesity effects. The underlying process of successfully treating obesity using polyphenols may involve an alteration of the intestinal microbiota. However, this phenomenon is not well understood.

This pilot study of ethyl-eicosapentaenoate (ethyl-EPA) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease aimed to estimate the magnitude of any change in measures of cognition during a 12-week treatment period. A simple linear design was used in which each patient had a baseline period of 12 weeks without treatment, followed by 12 weeks' treatment with ethyl-EPA. Blood samples were taken both before and after the treatment period to measure erythrocyte membrane fatty acids. Assessments comprised cognitive measures and visual analogue ratings of overall assessment of functioning.

The human body is exposed nowadays to increasing attacks by toxic compounds in polluted air, industrially processed foods, alcohol and drug consumption that increase liver toxicity, leading to more and more severe cases of hepatic disorders. The present paper aims to evaluate the influence of the apitherapy diet in Wistar rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity, by analyzing the biochemical determinations (enzymatic, lipid and protein profiles, coagulation parameters, minerals, blood count parameters, bilirubin levels) and histopathological changes at the level of liver, spleen and pancreas. The experiment was carried out on six groups of male Wistar rats. Hepatic lesions were induced by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (dissolved in paraffin oil, 10% solution). Two mL per 100 g were administered, every 2 days, for 2 weeks. Hepatoprotection was achieved with two apitherapy diet formulations containing honey, pollen, propolis, Apilarnil, with/without royal jelly. Biochemical results reveal that the two apitherapy diet formulations have a positive effect on improving the enzymatic, lipid, and protein profiles, coagulation, mineral and blood count parameters and bilirubin levels. The histopathological results demonstrate the benefits of the two apitherapy diet formulations on reducing toxicity at the level of liver, spleen and pancreas in laboratory animals.

The incorporation of radiolabeled palmitic (16 : 0)t. oleic (18 : 1 ), and docosahexaenoic (22 : 6) acids into different molecular species of membrane phospholipids was investigated in isolated bovine rod outer segments (ROS). Phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylserine (PS) were isolated, and their diacylglyceroacetate and diacylglycerobenzoate derivatives were prepared, separated by HPLC, quantified, and assayed for radioactivity. Maximal incorporation of fatty acids occurred within 15-30 min. The rate of incorporation of the fatty acids into PC was three to six times higher than it was into PS or PE. The rate of incorporation of 22: 6 into the molecular species, 22 : 6-22 : 6, of PC was ten to 15 times higher than into that of PE or PS, and it was three to four times higher than the incorporation rates of 22 : 6 into the other 22 :6-containing molecular species. Similarly, incorporation of 18 : 1 into 18 : 1-22 : 6 was ten to 30 times more rapid in PC than in PE and PS, but in both PE and PS, 18: 1 was incorporated into 18: l-22:6 at a rate of 20 to 25 times higher than the incorporation into the other molecular species analysed. For PC, incorporation of 16 : 0 was most rapid into 16 : O-l 6 : 0, but for PE and PS it was most rapid into 16 : O-20 : 4: for all cases, incorporation of 16 : 0 into these molecular species was four to six times more rapid than into the other 16: O-containing molecular species. These results are further evidence for the presence within a membranous organelle. the ROS, of an active acylation-deacylation system that is selective with regard to phospholipid. molecular species of phospholipid, and fatty acid.

A Gram-positive, spore-forming, halophilic bacterial strain, FP5 T , was isolated from a salt lake in southern Spain and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain FP5 T was strictly aerobic. Cells were coccoidal, occurring singly or in clusters. The cell-wall peptidoglycan type of strain FP5 T was A4b based on L-Orn-D-Asp. Strain FP5 T was characterized chemotaxonomically by having MK-7 as the major menaquinone and anteiso-C 15 : 0 , anteiso-C 17 : 0 , iso-C 15 : 0 and iso-C 16 : 0 as the main fatty acids. The isolate grew optimally at 37 6C and in presence of 10 % NaCl; no growth was observed in the absence of NaCl. The DNA G+C content was 43.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain FP5 T falls within the evolutionary radiation of species of the genus Halobacillus. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain FP5 T and the type strains of nine recognized Halobacillus species were in the range 97.0-99.0 %. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness indicated that strain FP5 T represents a genomic species that is distinct from recognized Halobacillus species. Strain FP5 T could be differentiated from recognized Halobacillus species based on several phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic data, strain FP5 T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Halobacillus, for which the name Halobacillus alkaliphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FP5 T (5DSM 18525 T 5ATCC BAA-1361 T).

Four orange-pigmented isolates, L7-456, L7-484T, L9-479 and L9-753T, originating from surface-sterilized leaf tissues of Jatropha curcas L. cultivars were characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that all four isolates belong to the genus Aureimonas . In these analyses, strain L7-484T appeared to be most closely related to Aureimonas ureilytica 5715S-12T (95.7 % sequence identity). The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains L7-456, L9-479 and L9-753T were found to be identical and also shared the highest similarity with A. ureilytica 5715S-12T (97.5 %). Both L7-484T and L9-753T contained Q-10 and Q-9 as predominant ubiquinones and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol and an aminophospholipid as the major polar lipids. C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0 were the major fa...

The objective of this study was to assess how probiotic bacteria added to diets of 60 hybrid barrows (Landrace-Yorkshire x Duroc) affected the basic chemical composition of meat, the fatty acid profile of intramuscular fat (IMF), m. longissimus lumborum (LL) and lipid quality indices, because IMF cannot be removed before consumption and this inevitably has an impact on human health. After 78 days, the pigs were divided into the control group (CT, n=30) and the experimental group (BP, n=30), which until 97 days of rearing were supplied with BioPlus YC probiotic (Bacillus licheniformis DSM 5749 and Bacillus subtilis DSM 5750). After slaughter, 12 carcasses of similar weight (90 ± 5 kg) from each group were selected for testing. Supplementation with probiotic Bacillus did not affect the basic chemical composition of meat. It was established that BioPlus YC had a significant impact on capric-C10:0 (0.08 vs. 0.13), eicosatrienoic-C20:3 n-3 (1.76 vs. 2.14) and ΣPUFA n-3 acids (1.88 vs. 2.41), causing a reduction in their percentage, which was thereby different than in the CT group. Among lipid quality indices, IMF LL of pigs from the BP group, the thrombogenicity index (TI) was characterized by a significantly (P≤0.01) higher value than in the CT group (1.08 vs. 0.99). These results suggest that further research is needed to study differences in compounds affecting the fatty acid profile of pork, and to confirm the association of the lipid profile with the use of BioPlus YC probiotic in pig fattening.

Currently, the lipid content of fish feeds includes high amounts of terrestrial vegetable oils, rich in n-6 fatty acids and poor in n-3 fatty acids. Sinking organic matter in the shape of fragmented pellets and fish faeces could be ingested by the surrounding fauna attracted to the submerged structures of aquaculture facilities or living in natural benthic habitats. Fatty acids contained in feed pellets were used as trophic markers to shed light on the assimilation and incorporation of aquaculture wastes by the invertebrate fauna associated to sea-cages. Eighteen macroinvertebrate species, and zooplankton, seaweeds and sediments were collected from two fish farms, one of which (control) had not been used as such for two years. This study demonstrates that macroinvertebrate fauna present in fouling can take up sinking organic matter from farms. Further research should be directed at assessing the potential implications of aquaculture production for the surrounding ecosystem.

Self-aggregation of mixed binary nonionic and ionic surfactants comprising N -methyl-N -decanoyl glucamide (MEGA 10) and alkyltrimethylammonium bromides (C 12 -, C 14 -, and C 16 TAB) has been investigated in detail by different physical methods. The counter-ion binding, aggregation number, and polarity of the mixed micelles have been determined. The results have been analyzed in the light of the theories of Rubingh and Maeda. The thermodynamic parameters of the micellization process have been evaluated and discussed. The interfacial adsorptions of the mixed amphiphiles including their surface excesses and head-group areas have also been evaluated. Based on the head-group areas, the overall shapes of the mixed micelles have been predicted from the estimation of the amphiphile packing parameters.

Assessment of free fatty acid (FFA) concentration and isotopic enrichment is useful for studies of FFA kinetics in vivo. A new procedure to recover the major FFA from plasma for concentration and isotopic enrichment measurements is described and validated. The procedure involves extraction of plasma lipids with hexane, methylation with iodomethane (CH(3)I) to form fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), and subsequent purification of FAME by solid phase extraction (SPE) chromatography. The new method was compared with a traditional method using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to recover plasma FFA, with subsequent methylation by BF(3)/methanol. The TLC method was found to be less reliable than the new CH(3)I method because of contamination with extraneous fatty acids, chemical fractionation of FFA species, and incomplete recovery of FFA associated with TLC. In contrast, the CH(3)I/SPE method was free of contamination, did not exhibit chemical fractionation, and had higher recovery. The iod...

The effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) on the metabolism of oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids was investigated in male subjects (n = 6) confined to a metabolic unit and fed diets containing 6.5 or <0.1 g/d of DHA for 90 d. At the end of the diet period, the subjects were fed a mixture of deuterated triglycerides containing 18:1n-9[d6], 18:2n-6[d2], and 18:3n-3[d4]. Blood samples were drawn at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. Methyl esters of plasma total lipids, triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol esters were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Chylomicron triglyceride results show that the deuterated fatty acids were equally well absorbed and diet did not influence absorption. Compared to the low-DHA diet (LO-DHA), clearance of the labeled fatty acids from chylomicron triglycerides was modestly higher for subjects fed the high DHA diet (HI-DHA). DHA supplementation significantly reduced the concentrations of most n-6[d2] and n-3[d4] long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) metabolites in plasma lipids. Accumulation of 20:5n-3[d4] and 22:6n-3[d4] was depressed by 76 and 88%, respectively. Accumulations of 20:3n-6[d2] and 20:4n-6[d2] were both decreased by 72%. No effect of diet was observed on acyltransferase selectivity or on uptake and clearance of 18:1n-9[d6], 18:2n-6[d2], and 18:3n-3[d4]. The results indicate that accumulation of n-3 LCFA metabolites synthesized from 18:3n-3 in typical U.S. diets would be reduced from about 120 to 30 mg /d by supplementation with 6.5 g/d of DHA. Accumulation of n-6 LCFA metabolites synthesized from18:2n-6 in U.S. diets is estimated to be reduced from about 800 to 180 mg/d. This decrease is two to three times the amount of n-6 LCFA in a typical U.S. diet. These results support the hypothesis that health benefits associated with DHA supplementation are the combined result of reduced accretion of n-6 LCFA metabolites and an increase in n-3 LCFA levels in tissue lipids.

The genome of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum , appears to contain the proteins necessary for a Type II dissociated fatty acid biosynthetic system. Here we report the functional characterization of two proteins from this system. Purified recombinant acyl carrier protein (ACP) and b-ketoacyl-ACP synthase III (KASIII) from P. falciparum are soluble and active in a truncated form. Malarial ACP is activated by the addition of a 4?-phosphopantetheine prosthetic group derived from coenzyme A, generating holo-PfACP. Holo-PfACP is an effective substrate for the transacylase activity of PfKASIII, but substitution of a key active site cysteine in PfKASIII to alanine or serine abolishes enzymatic activity. During the schizont stage of parasite development, there is a significant up-regulation of the mRNAs corresponding to these proteins, indicating an important metabolic requirement for fatty acids during this stage. #

In project DyAdd, we compared the fatty acid (FA) profiles of serum phospholipids in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (n ¼ 26), dyslexia (n ¼ 36), their comorbid combination (n ¼ 9), and healthy controls (n ¼ 36). FA proportions were analyzed in a 2 Â 2 design with Bonferroni corrected post hoc comparisons. A questionnaire was used to assess dietary fat quality and use of supplements. Results showed that ADHD and dyslexia were not associated with total saturated FAs, monounsaturated FAs, or n-3 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs). However, those with ADHD had elevated proportions of total n-6 PUFAs (including g-linolenic and adrenic acids) as compared to those without ADHD. Dyslexia was related to a higher proportion of monounsaturated nervonic acid and a higher ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs. Among females none of the associations were significant. However in males, all the original associations observed in all subjects remained and ADHD was associated with elevated nervonic acid and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio like dyslexia. Controlling for poorly diagnosed reading difficulties, education, dietary fat quality, or use of FA supplements did not generally remove the originally observed associations.

Derivatives of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib were synthesized by esterification with 25 carboxylic acids, including amino acids and fatty acids, thereby extending the drug to interact with more diverse sites and to improve specificity. The dasatinib-l-arginine derivative (Das-R, 7) was found to be the most potent of the inhibitors tested, with IC50 values of 4.4, &lt;0.25, and &lt;0.45 nm against Csk, Src, and Abl kinases, respectively. The highest selectivity ratio obtained in our study, 91.4 Csk/Src, belonged to compound 18 (Das-C10 ) with an IC50 value of 3.2 μm for Csk compared with 35 nm for Src. Furthermore, many compounds displayed increased selectivity toward Src over Abl. Compounds 15 (Das-glutamic acid) and 13 (Das-cysteine) demonstrated the largest gains (10.2 and 10.3 Abl/Src IC50 ratios). Das-R (IC50 =2.06 μm) was significantly more potent than the parent dasatinib (IC50 =26.3 μm) against Panc-1 cells, whereas both compounds showed IC50 &lt;51.2 pm against BV-...

Amaranth oil can be enzymatically modified to match breast milk fat analog requirements. We have developed a structured lipid (SL) from amaranth oil that, in combination with milk fat, delivers recommended amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with palmitic acid specifically esterified at the sn-2 position of the triacylglycerol (TAG) backbone. The aim of this study was to study the final fatty acid (FA) contribution and oxidation stability of an infant formula prepared using the structured lipid DCAO (DHA-containing customized amaranth oil). DCAO was included as complementary fat in a "prototype" infant formula, and prepared in parallel with a "control" infant formula under the same processing conditions. The same ingredients but different complementary fat sources were used. A blend of the most commonly used vegetable oils (palm olein, soybean, coconut, and high-oleic sunflower oils) for infant formula was used instead of DCAO in the "control" formula. Additionally, "prototype" and "control" infant formulas were compared to a "commercial" product in terms of FA composition. The oxidative stability index (OSI) of the extracted fats from "prototype," "control," and "commercial" infant formulas were evaluated and compared to the OSI of the substrate fat replacers used. DCAO was the least stable compared to other fat analogs. The use of commercial antioxidants in DCAO containing products should prevent oxidation and therefore increase their stability.

The bphospholipid hypothesisQ attributes a pathophysiologic role to the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition of phospholipids in depression. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the hypothesis is relevant to social anxiety disorder (SAD). The study sample consisted of 27 untreated, nondepressed patients with SAD (DSM-IV) and 22 controls. Severity of SAD was assessed with the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). Erythrocyte PUFA concentrations were measured by gas-liquid chromatography. Concentrations of most n-3 PUFAs were lower in the patients: 18 : 3n-3 by 32% (p b 0.002), 20 : 3n-3 by 34%, 20 : 5n-3 by 36% (all p b 0.001) and 22 : 6n-3 by 18% (p = 0.002). No significant differences were observed in other fatty acids. Significant inverse correlations were obtained between levels of n-3 PUFAs and LSAS scores. In conclusion, the phospholipid hypothesis may apply to SAD, thereby opening new therapeutic options. The robust relationship between low erythrocyte n-3 PUFA concentrations and SAD justifies exploration of relevant neuropathophysiological mechanisms.

Virgin argan oil, which is harvested from argan fruit kernels, constitutes an alimentary source of substances of nutraceutical value. Chemical composition and oxidative stability of argan oil prepared from argan kernels roasted for different times were evaluated and compared with those of beauty argan oil that is prepared from unroasted kernels. Prolonged roasting time induced colour development and increased phosphorous content whereas fatty acid composition and tocopherol levels did not change. Oxidative stability data indicate that kernel roasting for 15 to 30 min at 110°C is optimum to preserve virgin argan oil nutritive properties.

Strain 130ZT was isolated from the bovine rumen. It is a facultatively anaerobic, pleomorphic, Gram-negative rod. It exhibits a 'Morse code' form of morphology, which is characteristic of the genus Acfinobacillus. Strain 130ZT is a capnophilic, osmotolerant succinogen that utilizes a broad range of sugars. It accumulates high concentrations of succinic acid (> 70 g I-'). Strain 130ZT is positive for catalase, oxidase, alkaline phosphatase and B-galactosidase, but does not produce indole or urease. Acid but no gas is produced from D-glucose and D-fructose. 165 rRNA sequence analysis places strain 130ZT within the family Pasteurellaceae; the most closely related members of the family Pasteurellaceae have 165 rRNA similarities of 95-5°/~ or less with strain 130ZT. Strain 130ZT was compared with Acfinobacillus lignieresii and the related Bisgaard Taxa 6 and 10. Based upon morphological and biochemical properties, strain 130ZT is most similar to members of the genus Actinobacillus within the family Pasteurellaceae. It is proposed that strain 130ZT be classified as a new species, Acfinobacillus succinogenes. The type strain of Acfinobacillus succinogenes sp. nov. is ATCC 55618l.