Fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and wax esters fromLimnanthes douglassi(Meadowfoam) seed oil

1962 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 320-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. K. Miwa ◽  
I. A. Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Seed Oil ◽  
Fatty Alcohols ◽  
Wax Esters

Fatty acid characterization of lipid fractions from blubber biopsies of sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus located around the Azores

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 1109-1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Walton ◽  
M.A. Silva ◽  
S.M. Magalhães ◽  
R. Prieto ◽  
R.S. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Fatty Alcohols ◽  
Wax Esters ◽  
Wax Ester ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Fatty Acid Profiles ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Mammal Species

Fatty acid profiles of blubber have been shown previously to provide information on stock structure and sex differences. Generally the predominant blubber lipid of marine mammal species is triacylglycerol (fatty acids linked to glycerol) and previous studies have focused on this lipid class. But in some species such as the sperm whales the predominant lipid is wax esters (fatty acids linked to fatty alcohols) although triacylglycerols are also present. In this study the fatty acids and fatty alcohols of these lipid classes were characterized and the fatty acid profiles compared in order to assess their potential to provide qualitative ecological data.Biopsy samples were obtained from 40 whales found in seas around the Azores achipelago during the period 2002–2003. The samples contained about 10% lipid of which 70% was wax ester and 11% triacylglycerol. The fatty acids of the triacylglycerols and wax esters were respectively approximately 19% and 16% saturated, 74% and 80% monounsaturated and 5% and 3% polyunsaturated with the main contributors being 18:1n-9, 16:1n-7 and 16:0. The alcohols of the wax esters were mainly either saturated or monounsaturated with the main contributors being 18:1n-9 (40%) and 16:0 (22%). No statistically significant differences in profiles were found between different island groups, between sexes or between years of sampling. In future studies there would not appear to be any apparent benefits over total lipid in examining each of the fatty acid classes of sperm whale blubber separately.

scholarly journals Lipases of germinating jojoba seeds efficiently hydrolyze triacylglycerols and wax esters and display wax ester-synthesizing activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Kawiński ◽  
Magdalena Miklaszewska ◽  
Szymon Stelter ◽  
Bartosz Głąb ◽  
Antoni Banaś
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Fatty Alcohols ◽  
Wax Esters ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Wax Ester ◽  
Glucose Content ◽  
Esterification Reactions ◽  
Long Chain

Abstract Background Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) is the only plant known to store wax esters instead of triacylglycerols in its seeds. Wax esters are composed of very-long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids and fatty alcohols and constitute up to 60% of the jojoba seed weight. During jojoba germination, the first step of wax ester mobilization is catalyzed by lipases. To date, none of the jojoba lipase-encoding genes have been cloned and characterized. In this study, we monitored mobilization of storage reserves during germination of jojoba seeds and performed detailed characterization of the jojoba lipases using microsomal fractions isolated from germinating seeds. Results During 26 days of germination, we observed a 60–70% decrease in wax ester content in the seeds, which was accompanied by the reduction of oleosin amounts and increase in glucose content. The activity of jojoba lipases in the seed microsomal fractions increased in the first 50 days of germination. The enzymes showed higher activity towards triacylglycerols than towards wax esters. The maximum lipase activity was observed at 60 °C and pH around 7 for triacylglycerols and 6.5–8 for wax esters. The enzyme efficiently hydrolyzed various wax esters containing saturated and unsaturated acyl and alcohol moieties. We also demonstrated that jojoba lipases possess wax ester-synthesizing activity when free fatty alcohols and different acyl donors, including triacylglycerols and free fatty acids, are used as substrates. For esterification reactions, the enzyme utilized both saturated and unsaturated fatty alcohols, with the preference towards long chain and very long chain compounds. Conclusions In in vitro assays, jojoba lipases catalyzed hydrolysis of triacylglycerols and different wax esters in a broad range of temperatures. In addition, the enzymes had the ability to synthesize wax esters in the backward reaction. Our data suggest that jojoba lipases may be more similar to other plant lipases than previously assumed.

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