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Elongation predominates over desaturation in the metabolism of 18∶3n−3 and 20∶5n−3 in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) brain astroglial cells in primary culture

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Lipids

Abstract

The origin of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22∶6n−3) that accumulates in turbot brain during development was investigated by studying the incorporation and metabolismvia the desaturase/elongase pathways of [1-14C]-labelled polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in primary cultures of brain astrocytic glial cells. There was little specificity evident in the total incorporation of PUFAs into the turbot astrocytes. However, specificity was apparent in the distribution of the various PUFAs among the individual lipid classes. In particular, there was very specific incorporation of [14C]arachidonic acid (AA, 20∶4n−6) into phosphatidylinositol balanced by a lower incorporation of this acid into total diradyl glycerophosphocholines. [14C]-Linolenic acid (LNA, 18∶3n−3) and [14C]eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20∶5n−3) were metabolizedvia the desaturase/elongase pathways to a significantly greater extent than [14C]linoleic acid (18∶2n−6) and [14C]AA. The turbot astrocytes expressed very little Δ5 desaturase activity and only low levels of Δ4 desaturation activity. Although the percentages were small, approximately 4–5 times as much labelled DHA was produced from [14C]EPA compared with [14C]LNA. However, it was concluded that very little DHA in the turbot brain could result from the metabolism of LNA and EPA in astrocytic glial cells.

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Abbreviations

AA:

5,8,11,14-arachidonic acid (20∶4n−6)

ANOVA:

analysis of variance

BHT:

butylated hydroxytoluene

BSA:

bovine serum albumin

CL:

cardiolipin

CPL:

total diradyl glycerophosphocholines

DHA:

4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6n−3)

DMEM:

Dulbecco's modification of Eagle's medium

EDTA:

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

EPA:

5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (20∶5n−3)

EPL:

total diradyl glycerophosphoethanolamines

GC:

gas chromatography

HBSS:

Hank's balanced salt solution

HPLC:

high-performance liquid chromatography

HPTLC:

high-performance thin-layer chromatography

LA:

9,12-linoleic acid (18∶2n−6)

LNA:

9,12,15-linolenic acid, α-linolenic acid (18∶3n−3)

PA:

phosphatidic acid

PI:

phosphatidylinositol

PS:

phosphatidylserine

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acid

TLC:

thin-layer chromatography

TN:

total neutral lipids

TP:

total polar lipids

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NERC Unit of Aquatic Biochemistry, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA, Stirling, Scotland, UK

    Dauglas R. Tocher

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  1. Dauglas R. Tocher
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Tocher, D.R. Elongation predominates over desaturation in the metabolism of 18∶3n−3 and 20∶5n−3 in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) brain astroglial cells in primary culture. Lipids 28, 267–272 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02536309

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02536309

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