Leaf lipids of Ribes nigrum: a plant containing 16:3, alpha-18:3, gamma-18:3 and 18:4 fatty acids.
The glycerolipid composition of Ribes nigrum (blackcurrant) leaves was determined. The total fatty acid composition was unusual in that alpha-linolenic acid (alpha-18:3) occurred together with cis-7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic acid (16:3) and lower amounts of stearidonic acid (18:4) and gamma-linolenic acid (gamma-18:3). Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol contained the highest proportion of 16:3 with less in digalactosyldiacylglycerol. gamma-18:3 and 18:4 were present in all lipids and 18:4 was always greater than gamma-18:3. The highest percentages of gamma-18:3 and 18:4 were in phosphatidylcholine, but phosphatidylglycerol was particularly low in these acids. In summary, the lipid composition was largely typical of 16:3 plants but there was a minor contribution typical of 18:4 plants. The possibility of three pathways for glycolipid biosynthesis is discussed.
Dobson
G
G
Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK. gdobso@scri.sari.ac.uk
D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000032:analysis; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid / Q000032:analysis
D005227:Fatty Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; C062895:stearidonic acid