title: Fatty acid desaturation in the intestinal mucosa.
abstract: Information as to the ability of the enterocyte to desaturate fatty acids is lacking. This is important in understanding whether the source of intestinal arachidonic (20:4(n-6) acid is biliary or from de novo synthesis. Delta 9- and delta 6-desaturase enzymes were assayed in homogenates of rat jejunum, ileum and liver. Rat small intestine possesses desaturase activity to convert palmitic (16:0) to palmitoleic (16:1) and linoleic (18:2(n-6) to linolenic (18:3(n-6) acid. Enzyme activities were highest in liver relative to activity in jejunal and ileal homogenates. It is concluded that delta 9- and delta 6-desaturase activities may have an important role in determining physico-chemical properties and thus transport properties of enterocyte membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Foods and Nutrition, Faculty of Home Economics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keelan
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Clandinin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007082:Ileum / Q000201:enzymology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000201:enzymology; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase
chemical_list: D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase; C029627:delta-9 fatty acid desaturase