Polyunsaturated fatty acids Cis configuration in nature Generally unsaturated fatty acids are confined to the sn-2 position of phospholipids and are 18-20 carbons long MUFA tend to be in the sn-1 position, like saturated fats. Hydrocarbon portion is saturated or partially unsaturated 3,6- PUFA 9 -MUFA
PUFA, MUFA Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) - only one double bond present Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) - at least 2 double bonds are present Acetylenic – one or more triple bonds Polyunsaturated /Monounsaturated Ex. Docosahexaenoic Acid, Oleic Acid Double bonds have a planar conformation
MUFA Most of the 100 MUFAs identified are rare Oleic acid is very abundant in nature -most prevalent unsaturated fat in human diet -highest content in extra virgin olive oil (70g/ 100g)
3 categories of PUFA Conjugated – if double bonds alternate with single bonds (– C = C – C = C –) Unconjugated – of the double bonds are separated by carbon atoms bonded with single bonds ( – C = C – C – C = C –) A third category exist in which double bonds are not all entirely in the methylene interrupted arrangement (present in certain microorganisms, marine lipids and some seed oils. Methylene interrupted
Unconjugated most common Subdivided into families, depending on the position of the double bond closest to the methyl side ( ), numbered 1 on the fatty acid chain. 12 omega families - 3,6,9 are what’s found in normal diet
-3 and -6 are Es sential Fatty Acids Mammals lack the enzymes to introduce double bonds at carbon atoms beyond C9. Hence , all fatty acids containing a double bond at positions beyond C9 have to be supplied in the diet. Linoleate (18:2 Δ 9,12) and Linolenate (18:3 Δ 9,12,15) are the two essential fatty acids in mammals . Interconversion between PUFAs occur only within the same family
Oleic Acid (OA): C18:1, n-9 or -9 Good source: Olive oil, Peanut oil, Soy oil Linoleic Acid (LA): C18:2, n-6 or -6. Essential Fatty Acid Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA): C18-3, n-3 or -3. Essential Fatty Acid Good source: Flaxseed
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA): C20:5, n-3 or -3. Essential Fatty Acid. Good source: Fish oil Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): C22:6, n-3 or -3. Essential Fatty Acid. Good Source: Fish oil Arachidonic Acid (AA): C20:4, n-6 or -6. Good source: Liver, Beef.
Omega-6 fatty acids Linoleic (C18:2) is essential Found in: -vegetable oil -nuts and seeds Only need about a tbsp /day
Omega-3 Fatty Acids primarily in fish and marine mammals Also found in soybean, canola, walnut, flaxseed oils Recommended omega6:omega-3 ratio is 2.3:1
Most Common Natural Products
Anthropological research suggest that our hunter gatherer ancestors consumed roughly 1:1 ratio of omega-6:omega 3. Vegetable oil consumption rose dramatically between the beginning and end of the 20th century. -Between 1935 and 1939, the ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids was reported to be 8.4:1 -Ratio increased to 10.3:1 by 1985 -Todays estimates range between 10:1 to 20:1 Americans now get almost 20% of their calories from a single food source – soybean oil – with almost 9% of all calories from the omega-6 fat linoleic acid (LA) alone! recommended 30% of diet -10% monounsaturated -10% saturated -10% unsaturated
How Can Fatty Acids Modulate the Immune System? Membrane fluidity Lipid peroxidation inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-12, IL-23 ) production Eicosanoid production Membrane fusion and phagocytic activity L ymphocytic proliferation I mmune cell migration Fatty acids impact:
Depending on diet, fatty acids end up in plasma membrane Consumption of hydrogenated oils results in reduction of PUFAs in plasma membrane Most tissues contain mainly omega-6 fatty acids (75% as LA and AA), with small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids -the exception is retina, brain and testes
17 Eicosanoids : paracrine hormones Derived from the 20 carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid (arachidonic acid) Involved in reproduction, inflammation, fever and pain 3 classes: Prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes Regulate synthesis of cAMP production fever, pain, blood flow, and uterine contraction Produced by platelets, important in clotting and blood flow Inflammation, asthma, allergy
Arachidonic Acid (AA): C20:4, n-6 or -6. Good source: Liver, Beef. Arachidonic Acid Metabolism Eiscosanoids mainly formed from AA sincse it is dominant in cell membrane and plasma lipids Cleaved by phospholipases Three pathways of eicosanoid production from AA: 1) COX: AA PG, TXs 2) LOX: AA HPETE and HETE LTs and lipoxins 3) Cytochrome P450: AA EET and DHET NSAIDs inhibit the COX pathway
Eicosanoid action Released into extracellular fluid Bind to membrane receptors on target cell Binding causes signal transduction Main function is cell-cell communication (paracrine) Can also act on itself ( autocrine )
Phospholipid membrane Phospholipase A 2 Cyclooxygenases (COX) Prostaglandins (PG) & Thromboxanes (TX) Lipoxygenases (LOX) Leukotrienes O HO O HO Arachidonic acid Eicosapentaenoic acid EPA ompetes with AA for incorporation into the cell membrane poor substrate for cyclooxygenases gives rise to series 5 leukotrienes
DHA and Phosphatidylserine PS is a recognition marker for apoptotic cells It is highly prevalent in Brain tissue Made up of predominantly Stearic Acid (C18:0) and DHA (C22:6 ) PS predominantly resides on the interior (cytoplasmic side of plasma membrane) Flippase is responsible for the assymetry Upon apoptosis, more of PS translocates to the exterior facilitating uptake by scavenger cells such as macrophages and neutrophils . Reduced levels of PS with DHA, may decrease efficiency uptake by scavenger cells . Anecdotal evidence for preventing dementia
NF- B/ IkB dimer resides in cytosol Upon stimulation, IkB is phosphorylated/degraded NF- B translocates to nucleus facilitating transcription of cytokines There is a reduction in IkB degradation when DHA is present DHA reduces translocation of NF- B to nucleus Effect of DHA on I B & NF- B Kong W. et al , 2010
Kong W. et al , 2010 ELISA Assays show: Reduction in IL-12 Reduction in IL-23 Reduction in IL-27 Effect diminishes below 1 M Effect of DHA on Cytokine Production
Lipid Peroxidation PUFAs are highly susceptible! Free radical attacks the methylene C between the double bonds in the FA chain Increased by presence of O 2 and transition metal ions. Autocatalytic C onsidered as one of the few examples of carbon-centered radical production in cells
Membrane lipid peroxidation involves 3 steps Initiation - by hydrogen extraction by a radical species Propagation - O 2 rapidly adds on to carbon-centered radical L , yielding peroxy radical, LOO - LOO can then attack nearby PUFA, creating a chain reaction 3) Termination - Arrangement into stable products
The Good, Reactive lipid species may benefit cell Fast & easy way for membrane to initiated a nonspecific response to external stress The Bad Reactive Lipid Species (RLS) are electrophilic in nature and capable of reacting with nucleophilic amino acids Thiol groups can act as a redox-switch controlling cell signaling, metabolism or gene expression & the G ooder RLS-mediated signaling is involved in various physiological pathways: apoptosis, induction of antioxidative defense, membrane repair, proteosomal pathways
MUFAs have many of the benefits of PUFAs but are less susceptible to oxidation
PUFA & membrane fission? PUFAs make lipid bilayers more flexible Up to 80% of phospholipids in exocytotic synaptic vesicles are polyunsaturated Treatment of neurons with PUFAs stimulate SNARE assembly and the recycling of synaptic vesicles In GUVs, PUFAs facilitates the enzyme, dynamin that self-assembly, involved in membrane fission