title: Age-related changes in linoleate and alpha-linolenate desaturation by rat liver microsomes.
abstract: The first and rate limiting step in the conversion of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid is catalyzed by the delta - 6 - desaturase (D6D) enzyme. Rat liver microsomal D6D activity decreases on linolenic acid at a rate proportional to the animal age; on alpha-linolenic acid the decrease in D6D activity begins only later than on linoleic acid. The fatty acid composition of liver microsomes determined by gas chromatographic analysis confirms the impairment of the enzymatic activity directly measured. Our data indicate a correlation between aging and D6D activity impairment. The loss of D6D activity may be a key factor in aging through altering the eicosanoid balance.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biochimica, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hrelia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bordoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celadon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turchetto
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Biagi
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase