Microsomes isolated from liver and brain tissue were assayed to examine transitions in metabolic capability to synthesize tetraenes and pentaenes by chain elongation-desaturation of C20:3(8,11,14) during the perinatal development of the pig. Rates of synthesis of tetraenes and pentaenes by chain elongation-desaturation of C20:3(8,11,14) were greatest in liver. During the latter half of gestation, the capability to synthesize tetraenes increased 7- or 23-fold on a per mg of microsomal protein basis for brain and liver respectively. Increase in the capacity to synthesize tetraenes from C20:3(8,11,14) suggests a significant transition in the activity of the delta 5-desaturase during the last half of gestation. These observations indicate that in liver and brain the capability to chain elongate-desaturate C18:2(9,12) to longer chain homologues increases significantly during early development as a function of transitions in the activity of the delta 5-desaturase.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
May 1985
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
- PDF Icon PDF LinkAdvertising
Research Article|
May 01 1985
Δ5-desaturase activity in liver and brain microsomes during development of the pig
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
© 1985 London: The Biochemical Society
1985
Biochem J (1985) 227 (3): 1021–1023.
Citation
M T Clandinin, K Wong, R R Hacker; Δ5-desaturase activity in liver and brain microsomes during development of the pig. Biochem J 1 May 1985; 227 (3): 1021–1023. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bj2271021
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.