Gia. Borge et al., FATTY-ACID ALPHA-OXIDATION OF TETRADECYLTHIOACETIC ACID AND TETRADECYLTHIOPROPIONIC ACID IN CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS-SATIVUS), Biochimica et biophysica acta, L. Lipids and lipid metabolism, 1394(2-3), 1998, pp. 158-168
Fatty acid alpha-oxidation in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) involves enzy
matic conversion of long-chain C-n-fatty acids to the C(n-1)-aldehyde
and CO2. However, the mechanism of this process is not well understood
. In this study, the alpha-oxidation of the fatty acid analogues tetra
decylthioacetic acid (TTA) and tetradecylthiopropionic acid (TTP) with
a sulphur atom substituting the methylene group in positions 3 and 4,
respectively, was investigated and compared to palmitic acid. Both [1
-C-14]TTA and [1-C-14]TTP could be alpha-oxidised in the cucumber subc
ellular 150 000 x g(max) fraction. [1-C-14]TTP was an even better subs
trate compared to the natural palmitic acid, while [1-C-14]TTA was alp
ha-oxidised to a lower extent. [2-C-14]TTA revealed no (CO2)-C-14, ind
icating that only one cycle of alpha-oxidation occurred. TTA was an in
hibitor of the palmitic acid a-oxidation, and the inhibitory effects w
ere examined. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r
eserved.