Desaturase Plate

Fig. 6. Coordinated transcriptional regulation of fatty acid desaturases and elongases in mammals. PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids +, stimulation inhibition LXR, liver X receptor RXR retinoid X receptor SREBP, sterol regulatory element binding protein ChREBP, carbohydrate response element binding protein Mix, Max-like receptor PPAR-ot, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha LXRE, liver X receptor response element SRE, sterol response element ChoRE, carbohydrate response element PPRE, peroxisome proliferator response element. (See color plate section, plate no. 6.)...

Pea microsomal oleic acid desaturase activity was determined by the conversion of C-oleoyl-CoA and labeled 18 1 and 18 2 methyl esters were separated by TLC on AgN03 impregnated plates [3]. 

Figure 3.6 A drawing of the A9-desaturase enzyme from the castor oil plant showing the monomer with the long, narrow pocket into which the fatty acid, shown as a curved line, fits. Note the di-iron cluster, and the region at the bottom of the cavity which determines how deep the fatty acid can fit, and consequently where the double bond will be inserted. The direction from which the electrons come from cytochrome which re-oxidize the iron cluster is also shown. See also Plate 1. Figure provided by J. Shanklin and E. Cahoon...

Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, which is used in the blends of 223 lepi-dopteran species and (Z)-ll-tetradecenyl acetate (Figure 3.23) used by 214 species. Some further examples of lepidopteran pheromones are shown in Figure 3.23. Bombykol, the sex pheromone of the silkworm moth Bombyx mori (Plate 2) was the first pheromone isolated and identified, in an effort that took many years of work (Butenandt, Beckmann, Stamm and Hecfcer, Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung, 1959,14b, 283). It is not easy to see how bombykol could be biosynthesized by use of a A11-desaturase. Indeed it is made in the insect from palmitic acid, which is converted to (Z)-ll-hexadecenoic acid, and then an unusual 10,12-desaturase converts that into (10 , 12Z)-10,12-hexadecadienoic acid. 

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