B. Nichols, P. Harris, A. T. James
Dec 9, 1965
Citations
0
Influential Citations
29
Citations
Journal
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Abstract
Abstract Trans -Δ 3 -hexadecenoic acid was first isolated from the leaves of spinach and antirrhinum by Debuch (1961) who also elucidated its structure. It has since been identified in the photosynthetic tissues of a variety of higher plants ( Weenink and Shorland, 1964 ; Allen et al, 1964 ; Haverkate et al, 1964 ; Nichols et al, 1965a ; Nichols, 1965b ), and algae ( Klenk et al, 1963 ; Nichols, 1965a ; Haverkate, 1965 ). In these tissues, it occurs in significant amounts in only one lipid, namely phosphatidyl glycerol. Recently, however, trans -Δ 3 -hexadecenoic acid has been found as a major component of the seed oil from Helenium bigelowii ( Hopkins and Chisholm, 1964 ) where it presumably occurs on a triglyceride. The very high turnover rate of phosphatidyl glycerol in light-grown systems (Miller, 1964; Nichols and James, unpublished observations) and the appearance of the trans -acid in this molecule only after light-stimulation of etiolated systems ( Nichols et al, 1965a ; Haverkate, 1965 ; Nichols, 1965a ) directed our attention to the pathway of biosynthesis of this acid, and this communication describes our studies on its synthesis in the green alga Chlorella vulgaris .