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Thealpha-oxidation system of brain microsomes. Cofactors foralpha-hydroxy acid decarboxylation

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Lipids

Abstract

A one-carbon degradation of long-chain fatty acids, which was found to occur in the brains of rats in vivo, has been investigated in a brain microsomal fraction in vitro. Decarboxylation of the α-hydroxy acid, a possible intermediate product between the substrate and the next shorter acid, in the presence of brain microsomal fraction was enhanced by ATP, NAD, and a dialyzable fraction from the supernatant fraction. The cofactor requirement for the decarboxylation of the α-hydroxy acids provided by the dialyzable fraction can be met by several reducing agents or ferrous ion. The effectiveness of several possible cofactors for the decarboxylation of α-hydroxy acids has been evaluated.

It is concluded that the decarboxylation of the α-hydroxystearic acid may be a reaction with molecular oxygen catalyzed by an oxidase or oxygenase that requires iron in the reduced state for activity. The possibility that the reaction proceeds through an α-keto acid intermediate has been examined in the light of new knowledge of the conditions for decarboxylation. It is concluded that a short-lived keto acid is a possible intermediate. Definitive proof however is lacking because the characteristics of the reaction require that such an intermediate decarboxylate without dissociating from the enzyme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Biology and Departmnt of Biological Chemistry, UCLA School of Medicine, 90024, Los Angeles, California

    Robert C. Macdonald & James F. Mead

Authors
  1. Robert C. Macdonald
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  2. James F. Mead
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Additional information

These studies were supported in part by Contract AT (04-1) GEN-12 between the Atomic Energy Commission and the University of California.

Supported in part by Grant He-5306 from the U.S. Public Health Service.

Supported in part by USPHS Research Career Award GM-K6-19, 177 from the Division of General Medical Sciences.

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Macdonald, R.C., Mead, J.F. Thealpha-oxidation system of brain microsomes. Cofactors foralpha-hydroxy acid decarboxylation. Lipids 3, 275–283 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02531201

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02531201

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