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Occurrence of Hexacosapolyenoic Acids 26:7(n-3), 26:6(n-3), 26:6(n-6) and 26:5(n-3) in Deep-Sea Brittle Stars from Near the Kuril Islands

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Lipids

Abstract

Significant amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) with a chain length of 26 carbon atoms were detected in lipids of five deep water species of Ophiuroidea besides common fatty acids with chain lengths between 14 and 24. By means of hydrogenation, GC–MS of the methyl esters, and 4,4-dimethyloxazoline (DMOX) derivatives of these C26 acids were characterized as 5,8,11,14,17,20,23-hexacosaheptaenoic [26:7(n-3)]; 8,11,14,17,20,23-hexacosahexaenoic [26:6(n-3)]; 5,8,11,14,17,20- hexacosahexaenoic [26:6(n-6)]; and 11,14,17,20,23-hexacosapentaenoic [26:5(n-3)]. Concentrations of these acids varied from 0.3 to 4.5 mol% of the total FA. In all the samples investigated, the main component of C26PUFA was hexacosaheptaenoic acid 26:7(n-3). These C26PUFA are localized mainly in polar lipids. The presence of the possible biosynthesis precursors suggests that the C26PUFA are produced by the brittle stars, and are not accumulated from food sources. This finding can also explain the presence of small amounts of the 26:7(n-3) acid detected earlier in flesh lipids of the roughscale sole Clidoderma asperrimum, which feeds on deep water brittle stars. We suggest a possible scheme of the biosynthesis of C26 PUFA.

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Abbreviations

C26PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids with a carbon chain length C26

DMOX:

4,4-Dimethyloxazoline derivatives

ECL:

Equivalent chain length

FA:

Fatty acid

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl ester

GC:

Gas chromatography

GC–MS:

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

TL:

Total lipids

VLCFA:

Very long chain FA

VLCPUFA:

Very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, 690041, Russia

    Vasily Svetashev & Vladimir Kharlamenko

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  1. Vasily Svetashev
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  2. Vladimir Kharlamenko
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Correspondence to Vasily Svetashev.

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Svetashev, V., Kharlamenko, V. Occurrence of Hexacosapolyenoic Acids 26:7(n-3), 26:6(n-3), 26:6(n-6) and 26:5(n-3) in Deep-Sea Brittle Stars from Near the Kuril Islands. Lipids 50, 691–696 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-015-4037-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-015-4037-5

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