Stearidonic acid (SDA:
C18 H28 O2; 18:
4, n-3) is an
ω-3 fatty acid, sometimes called moroctic acid. It is
biosynthesized
Biosynthesis is a multi-step, enzyme-catalyzed process where substrates are converted into more complex products in living organisms. In biosynthesis, simple compounds are modified, converted into other compounds, or joined to form macromolecules. ...
from
alpha-linolenic acid
''alpha''-Linolenic acid (ALA), also known as α-Linolenic acid (from Greek ''alpha'' meaning "first" and ''linon'' meaning flax), is an ''n''−3, or omega-3, essential fatty acid. ALA is found in many seeds and oils, including flaxseed, wa ...
(ALA: C
18H
30O
2; 18:3, n-3) by the enzyme
delta-6-desaturase
In enzymology, a linoleoyl-CoA desaturase (also Delta 6 desaturase, ) is an enzyme that converts between types of fatty acids, which are essential nutrients in the human body. The enzyme mainly catalyzes the chemical reaction
:linoleoyl-CoA + ...
, that removes two hydrogen (H) atoms from a fatty acid, creating a carbon/carbon double bonding, via an oxygen requiring
unsaturation. SDA also act as precursor for the rapid synthesis of longer chain fatty acids, called
''N''-acylethanolamine (NAEs), involved in many important biological processes. Natural sources of this
fatty acid
In chemistry, particularly in biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain, which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an unbranched chain of an even number of carbon atoms, fr ...
are the seed oils of
hemp
Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a botanical class of ''Cannabis sativa'' cultivars grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use. It can be used to make a wide range of products. Along with bamboo, hemp is among the fastest growing plants o ...
,
blackcurrant
The blackcurrant (''Ribes nigrum''), also known as black currant or cassis, is a deciduous shrub in the family Grossulariaceae grown for its edible berries. It is native to temperate parts of central and northern Europe and northern Asia, whe ...
,
corn gromwell, and ''
Echium plantagineum
''Echium plantagineum'', commonly known as purple viper's-bugloss or Patterson's curse, is a species of the genus ''Echium'' native to western and southern Europe (from southern England south to Iberia and east to the Crimea), northern Africa, a ...
'', and the
cyanobacterium
Cyanobacteria (), also known as Cyanophyta, are a phylum of gram-negative bacteria that obtain energy via photosynthesis. The name ''cyanobacteria'' refers to their color (), which similarly forms the basis of cyanobacteria's common name, blue ...
''Spirulina''. SDA can also be synthesized in a lab. A GMO soybean source is approved by the
European Food Safety Authority
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the agency of the European Union (EU) that provides independent scientific advice and communicates on existing and emerging risks associated with the food chain. EFSA was established in February 2002, ...
.
See also
*
List of omega-3 fatty acids Omega-3 fatty acids, also called ω−3 fatty acids or ''n''−3 fatty acids, are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Omega−3 fatty acids are important for normal metabolism.
Mammals are unable to synthesize omega−3 fatty acids, but can obtain ...
*
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega−3 fatty acids, also called Omega-3 oils, ω−3 fatty acids or ''n''−3 fatty acids, are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) characterized by the presence of a double bond, three atoms away from the terminal methyl group in their chem ...
*
Essential fatty acids
Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are fatty acids that humans and other animals must ingest because the body requires them for good health but cannot synthesize them.
Only two fatty acids are known to be essential for humans: alpha-linolenic ac ...
References
Fatty acids
Alkenoic acids
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