Phospholipids and their fatty acids in mitochondria, synaptosomes and myelin from the liver and brain of trout and rat: a new view on the role of fatty acids in membranes

Abstract

The content of different phospholipids (PL) and their fatty acid (FA) composition in subcellular fractions from the liver and brain of rat ( Rattus rattus) and trout ( Salmo irideus) were estimated. It was shown that despite higher content of unsaturated fatty acids in myelin compared to synaptosomes, the unsaturation index of the latter is equal or higher than that of myelin. The total content of PL polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was shown to be higher in membrane structures with more active ion transport (mitochondria). This feature seemed to be characteristic of membranes from both representatives of homoiotherms and poikilotherms studied. A possible role for PUFA in formation within the lipid monolayer of areas with different capacity to accept electrons and transport them along a sort of intermolecular ‘tunnel’ is discussed. The double bonds of PUFA in this area seem to be able to produce bonds similar to conjugated bonds.