FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION AND TOTAL LIPID-CONTENT IN THE LANCELET BRANCHIOSTOMA-BELCHERI TSINGTAOENSE (TCHANG-ET-KOO)

Total lipid content and fatty acid composition of total, polar and neu tral lipids were investigated in the lancelet Branchiostoma belcheri t singtaoense. The total lipid content was 1.70% on wet weight in female animals, 1.37% in males and 3.94% in eggs. Most parts of the lipids w ere phospholipids. Main fatty acids were 16:0, 16:1 (n-7), 18:0, 18:1( n-7), 18:4 (n-3), 20:5 (n-3), 22:5 (n-3) and 22:6 (n-3). Neutral lipid s of male and female animals and eggs contained 4.3%, 11.1% and 13.8% octadecatetraenoic acid, respectively. High levels of odd and branched -chain acids (up to 10% of total content), both in neutral and polar l ipids suggest a significant role of detritus and bacteria in lancelet' s nutrition.