4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25-Octaoxaoctacosa-1,27-diyne

The hypothesis that the last step in the biosynthesis of 4,7,10,13,16,19-22:6 from linolenate is catalyzed by an acyl-CoA-dependent 4-desaturase has never been evaluated by direct experimentation. When rat liver microsomes were incubated with [1-14C]7,10,13,16,19-22:5, under conditions where linoleate was readily desaturated to 6,9,12-18:3, it was never possible to detect the product of the putative 4-desaturase. In the presence of malonyl-CoA, 7,10,13,16,19-22:5 was sequentially chain-elongated to 9,12,15,18,21-24:5, followed by its desaturation at position 6 to give 6,9,12,15,18,21-24:6. Microsomes desaturated 9,12,15,18,21-24:5 at rates similar to those observed for metabolizing linoleate to 6,9,12-18:3. Rat hepatocytes metabolize [1-14C]7,10,13,16,19-22:5 to 22:6(n-3), but in addition, it was possible to detect small amounts of esterified 24:5(n-3) and 24:6(n-3) in phospholipids, which is a finding consistent with their role as obligatory intermediates in 22:6(n-3) biosynthesis. When 3-14C-labeled 24:5(n-3) or 24:6(n-3) were incubated with hepatocytes, only a small amount of either substrate was esterified. [3-14C] 24:5(n-3) was metabolized both by beta-oxidation to 22:5(n-3) and by serving as a precursor for the biosynthesis of 24:6(n-3) and 22:6(n-3). The primary metabolic fate of [3-14C]24:6(n-3) was beta-oxidation to 22:6(n-3), followed by its acylation into membrane lipids. Our results thus document that 22:5(n-3) is the precursor for 22:6(n-3) but via a pathway that is independent of a 4-desaturase. This pathway involves the microsomal chain elongation of 22:5(n-3) to 24:5(n-3), followed by its desaturation to 24:6(n-3). This microsomal product is then metabolized, via beta-oxidation, to 22:6(n-3).

The synthesis of 4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (22:6(n-3)) requires that when 6,9,12,15,18,21-tetracosahexaenoic acid (24:6(n-3)) is produced in the endoplasmic reticulum, it preferentially moves to peroxisomes for one cycle of beta-oxidation rather than serving as a substrate for membrane lipid synthesis. Both 24:6(n-3) and its precursor, 9,12,15,18,21-tetracosapentaenoic acid (24:5(n-3)), were poor substrates for acylation into 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (1-acyl-GPC) by rat liver microsomes. When peroxisomes were incubated with 1-14C- or 3-14C-labeled 7,10,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid (22:5(n-3)), [1-14C]22:6(n-3), [3-14C]24:5(n-3), or [3-14C]24:6(n-3), only small amounts of acid-soluble radioactivity were produced when double bond removal at positions 4 and 5 was required. When microsomes and 1-acyl-GPC were included in incubations, the preferred metabolic fate of acids, with their first double bond at either positions 4 or 5, was to move out of peroxisomes for esterification into the acceptor rather than serving as substrates for continued beta-oxidation. When [1-14C]22:6(n-3) or [3-14C]24:6(n-3) was incubated with peroxisomes, 2-trans-4,7,10,13,16,19-22:7 accumulated. The first cycle of 20:5(n-3) beta-oxidation proceeds through 2-trans-4,8,11,14,17-20:6 and thus requires both Delta3,5,Delta2, 4-dienoyl-CoA isomerase and 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase. The accumulation of the substrate for 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase, as generated from 22:6(n-3), but not from 20:5(n-3), suggests that this enzyme distinguishes between subtle structural differences. When 22:6(n-3) is produced from 24:6(n-3), its continued degradation is impaired because of low 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase activity. This slow reaction rate likely contributes to the transport of 22:6(n-3) out of peroxisomes for rapid acylation into 1-acyl-GPC by microsomes.

The crystal structures of the dipotassium and the mixed sodium/potassium picrate complexes with the crown ether dibenzo-24-crown-8 (DB24C8) were solved and found to be nearly identical. (I): NaK-pic2(DB24C8), [NaK(C6H2N3O7)2(C24H32O8)]. Mr = 966.8, triclinic, P1, a = 8.164 (2), b = 9.960 (2), c = 13.368 (3) A, alpha = 103.92 (3), beta = 108.03 (2), gamma = 93.23 (2) degrees, V = 993.0 (7) A3, Z = 1, Dm = 1.54 (T = 298 K). Dx = 1.62 (1) g cm-3, lambda = (Mo K alpha) 0.71069 A, mu = 2.37 cm-1, F(000) = 500, T = 103 K, R = 0.086 for 2904 unique reflections. (II): K2pic2(DB24C8), [K2(C6H2N3O7)2(C24H32O8)]. Mr = 982.9, triclinic, P1, a = 8.231 (4), b = 9.850 (2), c = 13.346 (4) A, alpha = 103.91 (2), beta = 106.82 (3), gamma = 93.37 (2) degrees, V = 995.7 (9) A3, Z = 1, Dm = 1.59 (T = 298 K), Dx = 1.638 (8) g cm-3, lambda (Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu = 3.30 cm-1, F(000) = 508, T = 163 K, R = 0.042 for 4835 unique reflections. Both structures feature eight-coordinated cations between alternating layers of relatively flat crown ligands and paired picrates. In the mixed-metal system the two cations are disordered between two P1-related sites; these metal sites have a coordination environment only slightly different from that in the dipotassium structure. Na+ is able to occupy an environment similar to that of K+ under the conditions of these crystals, a situation not previously observed in the chemistry of crown ethers or macrocylic multidentates.