title: Alternative route for the biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in K562 cells.
abstract: K562 human leukaemia cells lack a significant delta 6-desaturase activity. However, they synthesize long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from linoleic (C18:2(9,12)) and linolenic (C18:3(9,12,15)) acids, by reactions involving a C2 chain elongation followed by a delta 5-desaturation step and, to some extent, a further elongation. The main products formed were separated by argentation t.l.c. and identified by g.l.c. as the uncommon fatty acids C20:3(5,11,14) and C20:4(5,11,14,17) respectively. These acids were also produced when cells were supplemented with C20:2(11,14) or C20:3(11,14,17) respectively. The presence of a delta 5-desaturase was further confirmed by using its corresponding normal substrates, C20:3(8,11,14) and C20:4(8,11,14,17), which led to C20:4(5,8,11,14) and C20:5(5,8,11,14,17) respectively. On the other hand, a high delta 9-desaturase activity, but no significant delta 4-desaturase activity, were detected in K562 cells. These results indicate the existence of an alternative pathway, involving delta 5-desaturase, which is the only route for PUFA biosynthesis in K562 cells. This pathway may be relevant for the biosynthesis of PUFA in cells lacking delta 6-desaturase activity.
authors: Departamento de Bioquimica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Zaragoza, Facultad de Ciencias, Spain.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Naval
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Martínez-Lorenzo
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Marzo
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Desportes
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Piñeiro
mesh_terms: D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases