Fatty Alcohol Composition Research Articles

Seasonal growth and lipid storage of the circumglobal, subantarctic copepod, Neocalanus tonsus (Brady)

Neocalanus tonsus (Brady) was sampled between October 1984 and September 1985 in the upper 1000 m of the water column off southeastern New Zealand. The apparent spring growth increment of copepodid stage V (CV) differed depending upon the constituent considered: dry mass increased 208 μg, carbon 162 μg, wax esters 143 μg, but nitrogen only 5 μg. Sterols and phospholipids remained relatively constant over this interval. Wax esters were consistently the dominant lipid class present in CV's, increasing seasonally from 57 to 90% of total lipids. From spring to winter, total lipid content of CV's increased from 22 to 49% of dry mass. Nitrogen declined from 10.9 to 5.4% of CV dry mass as storage compounds (wax esters) increased in importance relative to structural compounds. Egg lipids were 66% phospholipids. Upon first appearance of males and females in deep water in winter, lipid content and composition did not differ from co-occuring CV's, confirming the importance of lipids rather than particulate food as an energy source for deep winter reproduction of this species. Despite contrasting life histories, N. tonsus and subarctic Pacific Neocalanus plumchrus CV's share high lipid content, a predominance of wax esters over triacylglycerols as storage lipids, and similar wax ester fatty acid and fatty alcohol composition.

Lipid composition of Calanus finmarchicus from the north sea and the arctic. A comparative study

1. 1. Females, copepodid stages V and IV of Calanus finmarchicus were collected in Fram Strait area of the Arctic and in the northern North Sea to compare their lipid composition. 2. 2. For the comparison only copepods were considered which contained more than 8% of 18:4 fatty acid and high amounts of wax esters to exclude seasonal and spatial variabilities and different reproductive status of females. 3. 3. Animals are heavier in the Fram Strait area than in the North Sea with similar lipid proportion of dry weight and wax ester proportion of total lipid. 4. 4. Only some statistical significant differences exist between the fatty acid and alcohol compositions. The levels of 16:0 acid and alcohol and of 22:1 alcohol are higher and of 20:1 acid and alcohol are lower in the North Sea than in the Arctic.

Spatial variability in lipid composition of calanoid copepods from Fram Strait, the Arctic

The calanoid copepods Calanus hyperboreus and C. finmarchicus were investigated in view of their lipid and wax ester content and their fatty acid and alcohol composition. Analyses were performed in females and copepodid stages V and IV from the Fram Strait region between Greenland and Spitsbergen in 1984. This region offers different food conditions like diatom blooms in the North East Water Polynya, food shortage in areas with very close ice cover, high phytoplankton biomass in the marginal ice zone and lower biomass in the open Atlantic water. Lipids contained generally more than 70% wax esters. Highest levels were found in C. hyperboreus with more than 90%. This percentage was not very variable, in spite of large differences in dry weight and lipid content. Copepods with particularly high weight and lipid content were found in the North East Water Polynya. The lightest individuals were found under the pack ice. Lipid proportions per unit dry weight were higher in C. hyperboreus than in C. finmarchicus, whose lowest values were found in the open Atlantic water. Spatial variability in fatty acid composition was much higher than in alcohol composition. The principle alcohols, 20:1 and 22:1, generally accounting for more than 80% of total alcohols. In the North East Water Polynya, the predominant monounsaturated fatty acid was 16:1, while under the ice 20:1 and 22:1 dominated. In the marginal ice zone and in the open water, the 18:4 acid reached percentages up to 30% of total fatty acids. These changes were related to the different food conditions. C. hyperboreus appears to be best adapted to the cold water and unfavourable conditions of polar regions because of its high lipid and wax ester store with long-chain wax esters of high calorific value.

Changes in lipids during the development of Calanus finmarchicus s.l. from Copepodid I to adult

The total lipid and wax ester content as well as the fatty acid and alcohol composition of all copepodid stages and adults of Calanus finmarchicus s.l. were investigated at different locations in the North Sea in 1983 and 1984. Total lipid and the wax ester proportion increased exponentially until Copepodid V. The females were sometimes lower in lipids than the Stage V. The wax ester proportion reached about 90% of total lipids in males and Copepodid V and up to 40% in Copepodid I. The major fatty acids were 16:0, 20:5, and 22:6 and the major fatty alcohols were 16:0, 20:1 and 22:1. At one station the 18:4 acid became one of the dominant acids, because of a Phaeocystis sp. bloom, indicating that the fatty acids of the diet are incorporated mostly unchanged into the lipids of the copepods. The other main fatty acids 20:1 and 22:1 are probably synthesized de novo, serving as precursors for the principal alcohols 20:1 and 22:1. Their levels decreased in the younger stages due to increases in 16:0 alcohol. The fatty alcohol-forming enzyme seems to be specific for saturated and monounsaturated acids, which may be synthesized de novo or derived from diet.

Lipid composition of zooplankton in relation to the sub-arctic food web

Seasonal changes in the lipid class composition and fatty acid and fatty alcohol composition of neutral lipids were determined for Calanus finmarchicus, Metridia longa and Sagitta sp. in Balsfjord, northern Norway. Similar analyses were obtained for C. hyperboreus and Parathemisto abyssorum in an adjacent fjord, Ullsfjord, in spring. C. finmarchicus, C. hyperboreus, M. longa, and Parathemisto abyssorum all contained large amounts of wax esters whereas Sagitta sp. contained small amounts of triacylglycerols and traces of wax esters. the levels of wax ester in C. finmarchicus and M. longa were highest in late autumn (respectively 88% and 84% of total lipid) and lowest in early spring (respectively 85% and 27% of total lipid). The accumulation of these neutral lipids in spring and summer is related to the feeding activity during the primary production period, while their decline in late winter is associated with the mobilisation of metabolic energy for production of gonads. The major fatty alcohols in the wax esters of C. finmarchicus and C. hyperboreus and Parathemisto abyssorum were 20:1 and 22:1 while those in the wax esters of M. longa were 14:0 and 16:0. The traces of wax esters in Saqitta were rich in 20:1 and 22:1 fatty alcohols. These analyses are consistent with C. finmarchicus and C. hyperboreus being strictly herbivorous, M. longa being more carnivorous and both Sagitta sp. and Parathemisto being highly carnivorous, probably ingesting substantial amounts of calanoid copepods.

Characterization of the microbial degradation products of a submerged plant with particular reference to the production of the kerogen-like material

Laboratory microbial degradation (14.2 yr.) of a freshwater submerged plant yielded a polymeric residue, from which humic acid-like and kerogen-like colored materials were isolated. In order to evaluate the submerged plantderived organic matter as one possible contributor to the sedimentary organic matter, chemical analyses (lipids, amino acids and saccharides) of the whole-plant residue and the kerogen-like material were examined. The kerogen-like material was further characterized by alkaline permanganate oxidation and vacuum pyrolysis. The oxidation products as well as the pyrolysate hydrocarbons of the kerogen-like material exhibited a qualitative similarity to the natural kerogens from freshwater lacustrine sediments. However, the long-chain prevalence in fatty acid and alcohol composition and the high cellulose content of the kerogen-like material suggested that the kerogen-like material should have originated from surface material of the plant. The chemical composition of this material, showed an obvious difference from the kerogen of sediment from Lake Haruna, where the submerged plant was collected. The difference was interpreted to indicate a large contribution of the planktonic organic matter to the formation of natural kerogen in lacustrine sediments.

Lipids of North Atlantic krill.

The seasonal variations in the total lipid content, lipid class composition, fatty acid composition, and fatty alcohol composition of Meganyctiphanes norvegica (M. Sars), Thysanoessa inermis (Krøyer), and T. raschii (M. Sars) have been examined. The total lipid content was highest in the autumn and early winter months and lowest in the spring. In M. norvegica, triacylglycerols served as the only depot lipids, whereas in T. inermis and T. raschii triacylglycerols, wax esters, and glycerophospholipids varied in proportion to the total lipid content. This suggests that glycerophospholipids, as well as wax esters and triacylglycerols, constitute depot lipids in these species. Wax esters and glycerophospholipids were the dominating depot lipids in T. inermis, whereas triacylglycerols and glycerophospholipids were most important in T. raschii. Results suggest that non-depot glycerophospholipids may constitute 3.5-4.5% of the dry weight of the three species of krill examined. T. inermis and T. raschii, from the same catches, had very similar fatty acid compositions for each of the major lipid classes, with the exception of a few minor fatty acids. The major lipid classes in all three species showed complex seasonal variations in the content of the fatty acids that typically reflect the diet, particularly in the case of the triacylglycerols. The results suggest that all the species examined are more herbivorous during the summer than during the autumn and winter. M. norvegica seemed to be significantly more carnivorous than the two Thysanoessa species. The degree of incorporation of individual fatty acids from the diet is probably specific for each lipid class in each krill species. The proportion of polyenoic fatty acids in the glycerophospholipids and the proportion of monoenoic fatty acids in the wax esters may be of importance for the temperature adaptation of T. inermis and T. raschii.

Level and composition of triacylglycerols and wax esters in commercial capelin oils from the Barents Sea fishery, 1983

Abstract Oil levels, together with levels of triacylglycerols and wax esters in individual oils, and fatty acid and fatty alcohol compositions of triacylglycerols and wax esters were determined in capelin, Mallotus villosus (MÜLLER), sampled from different areas during the Barents Sea fishery, autumn 1983. Capelin early in the season had fuller stomachs and lower oil levels than capelin caught later in the year. The percentages of wax esters m the Oils declined from 7.8 % early in the season to zero late in the season. The fatty acid composition of the dominant triacylglycerols, together with the fatty acid and fatty alcohol composition of the minor wax esters in the oils were consistent with calanoid copepods being the dominant diet of the capelin from all locations sampled. It is also suggested that euphausiids may assume more importance in the diet in areas near Novaya Zemlya than in areas near Spitsbergen. The possible use of capelin as a commercial source of wax esters is considered.

Acid and alcohol compositions of wax esters in sediments from different environments

Wax esters were isolated from three freshwater lake and four coastal marine sediments, of which fatty acid and alcohol compositions were determined. The acid and alcohol moieties of wax esters from an oligotrophic lake (Lake Motosu) sediment were predominated by long-chain (C 22–C 30) species, whereas those found in a eutrophic lake (Lake Shoji) sediment involved relatively large amounts of short-chain (C 14–C 18) species. Both the nearshore and the deep marine sediments from Sagami Bay contained wax esters predominated by long-chain constituents. In contrast, a shallow bay (Tokyo Bay) sediment contained significant amounts of short-chain wax esters. The long-chain wax esters were thought to originate from cuticular wax of terrestrial plants and the short-chain ones were from aquatic organisms. Thus the distribution of wax ester—fatty acids and alcohols appeared to reflect the autochtonous/allochtonous source of the organic matter in the sediment. But wax ester concentrations decreased rapidly towards the deeper core sections of the sediment from Tokyo Bay, chiefly due to decrease of short-chain species. Unexpectedly high proportions of long-chain wax esters in deep marine sediments were considered to be due to this preferential degradation of short-chain esters.

Effect of well-drilling fluids on the physiological status and microbial infection of the reef building coralMontastrea annularis

The reef building coral,Montastrea annularis, was exposed continuously to suspensions of oil and gas well-drilling fluids at concentrations of 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 μl/ml in flowing seawater at the U.S. Naval Stage I platform (30° 7.5′ N, 85° 46.3′ W). After six weeks of exposure, coral fragments of 12 to 65 cm2 surface area were broken off, rinsed in seawater, and extracted in a one-phase chloroform-methanol-buffer and returned to the laboratory where the extraction was completed and the phases separated. The lipids were fractionated with silicic acid and by thin layer chromatography. The total, diacylated, and plasmalogen phospholipid content, total lipid acyl linked fatty acids, triglyceride glycerol, triglyceride acyl-linked fatty acids, and wax ester alcohols were measured. The aqueous phase of the lipid extraction was analyzed for amino acid composition. Acyl fatty acid and alcohol composition was measured by capillary gas chromatography. Total phospholipid, triglyceride glycerol, total extractable fatty acids, triglyceride fatty acids and the wax ester fatty alcohols showed no consistent changes with exposure to the drilling fluids. Changes in free amino acid concentrations were detected as well as significant decreases in the recoverable diacyl phospholipid. Significant increases in plasmalogen phospholipids appeared with exposure, suggesting infection by anaerobic fermenting bacteria which can indicate disease. The evidence suggests that biochemical indicators of infection with anaerobic bacteria may be useful as sensitive markers for pollution-induced changes in reef building corals and for monitoring the health of coral reefs.

The Effect of Growth Temperature on Wax Ester Composition in the Psychrophilic Bacterium Micrococcus cryophilus ATCC 15174

The wax ester and constituent fatty alcohol and fatty acid compositions of the psychrophilic bacterium Micrococcus cryophilus grown at 1 or 20 °C have been analysed using packed column and capillary gas-liquid chromatography. The major wax esters were C36, C34 and C32, with a large percentage of mono- and di-unsaturated wax esters (91 to 99 % of the total). When the growth temperature was lowered from 20 to 1 °C the average chain length of the wax esters decreased and their unsaturation increased. The average chain length of the saturated wax esters was less than that of the unsaturated wax esters. The fatty alcohols and fatty acids of the wax esters were mainly C18, with smaller amounts of Cl6, and were straight chain saturated and mono-unsaturated with cis double bonds at positions ∆9 and ∆11. The fatty alcohols had a shorter average chain length and were more saturated than the fatty acids, and contained a higher proportion of cis ∆11 unsaturated isomers. The combination of fatty alcohols and fatty acids in wax esters appeared to be random. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to the taxonomy of M. cryophilus, growth temperature-dependent membrane fluidity changes and the biosynthesis of wax esters.

Effect of light and temperature on epicuticular fatty acid and fatty alcohol of tobacco

Abstract Genetically uniform burley tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum ) was grown under field and various controlled-environment conditions to determine whether environment influenced epicuticular alkane, fatty acid, and fatty-alcohol composition of the leaves. Quantity and quality of alkanes, fatty acids, and fatty alcohols were greatly influenced by environmental conditions. Highest light intensity did not result in the largest total long aliphatic carbon-chain production. Generally, long photoperiod and cool temperature were associated with highest long aliphatic carbon-chain production on a leaf area basis. Quantity of the individual alkane, fatty acid, or fatty alcohol classes present under the different growth conditions varied in relation to the leaf metabolic status and not leaf size.

OXIDASE POSITIVE RODS FROM CASES OF SUSPECTED GONORRHOEA

Genito‐urethral specimens from 3260 women and 1170 men, with ailments suggestive of gonorrhoea, were examined for growth of oxidase positive rodshaped bacteria, as well as of gonococci. Moraxella osloensis was identified in 26 cases (0.64 per cent of women and 0.43 per cent of men). Three patients harboured phenylalanine negative (or weakly reacting) and tryptophan deaminase negative M. phenylpyrouvica and, in three cases, a Flavobacterium species was detected. Among six oropharyngeal specimens from patients suspected of gonorrhoea, two yielded growth of oxidase positive rods, Kingella kingae and Neisseria elongata, respectively. N. gonorrhoeae was isolated from 537 patients, i.e., 12.1 per cent of all cases. The isolates of oxidase positive rods were in most cases completely identified by streptomycin resistance transformation. On this basis, the diagnostic reliability of some morphological and cultural‐biochemical tests and gas chromatography was examined. Gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acid and alcohol composition of whole cells proved distinctive of species defined genetically, irrespective of confusing behaviour of some strains in other tests.

The composition, energy content and function of the stomach oils of petrels (order, procellariiformes)

The stomach oils of Diomedea epomophora Lesson, D. melanophris Temminck, D. chrysostoma Forster, D. bulleri Rothschild, Phoebetria palpebrata (Forster), Macronectes halli Mathews, Fulmarus glacialis (L.), Daption capense (L.), Pagodroma nivea (Forster), Pterodroma inexpectata (Forster), P. mollis (Gould), P. lessoni (Garnot), Procellaria aequinoctialis L., Puffinus tenuirostris (Temminck), P.griseus (Gmelin) and Hydrobates pelagicus (L.) have been analysed for lipid classes and energy contents. All oils contained 39–41 kJ/g. Triglycerides composed > 25 % of the oils in eleven species, whilst ten species contained comparable amounts of wax esters. Squalene comprised 28 % of the oil from Diomedea epomophora. Major lipid classes were not associated with any particular genera. A wide variety of fatty acid, fatty alcohol and glyceryl ether compositions were identified for the main components of each oil. That from Daption capense contained a unique composition of wax ester in which no C 14 or C 16 alcohols were present but significant proportions of myristic and palmitic acids were detected. The origin and function of the oils are discussed in terms of diet, preserving properties, water and energy stores, and defence.

Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of jojoba seed

AbstractData are presented on the composition of jojoba seed harvested from randomly selected individual plants (175 in 1973, 139 in 1974) of the native population at Aguanga, CA. Except for seed yield per plant, which was 2.7 times higher in 1974, wax, protein, and hull content of the seed, as well as fatty acid and alcohol composition of the wax, were not very different in the 2 years. A significant (P<0.01) positive correlation was found between seed wt and wax content of the seed. Highly significant (P<0.01) correlations were found in pairs of fatty acids and alcohols except where fatty acid 20∶1 was included. Comparison of data from 22 plants of known identity for the 2 years also showed no significant change in wax content and composition of the seed. By contrast, correlations for seed wt, protein, hull percent, and yield per plant for the same period were all nonsignificant.

Composition of jojoba seed during development

AbstractData were taken on developing jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis [Link] Schneider) seed to determine what differences should be expected in quantity and quality of wax and meal when seed is harvested before complete maturation. Analyses were carried out for seed wt; moisture, protein, and wax contents; fatty acid and alcohol composition of the wax; and amino acid composition of the meal of seed samples collected from a natural population in Aguanga, Calif., at weekly intervals from June 20 to maturity on August 15. Wax content of the seed increased rapidly during the first 4 weeks from 13.5–40.5% and slower later, from 43.6–49.4%. Protein content of the meal increased at a slow steady rate during the entire period from 22.3–32.6%. Seed harvested 20 days prior to full maturity had essentially the same wax and protein contents as mature seed; it had lower seed wt and excessively high moisture though. The amino acid content of the meal increased considerably between the first and last sampling from 13.40–26.18% by wt. Certain amino acids increased at a faster rate than others. Whereas major changes occurred in the fatty acid composition of the wax, the alcohol composition remained unchanged throughout the sampling period.

Heterogeneity of lipid composition within the cephalic melon tissue of the pilot whale ( Globicephala melaena)

A midsagittal slice was cut from the fatty melon tissue in the head of an adult pilot whale and sampled at 18 points based on a grid pattern. The lipids were extracted from each sample and analyzed for iodine value and lipid class composition. Three selected samples were examined in detail for molecular species, fatty acid, and fatty alcohol composition using thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography. Results show that wax esters and triglycerides of both isovaleric and long-chain acids are present in all samples but in varying proportions. Saturated isovaleroyl wax esters and diisovaleroyl triglycerides predominate in the inner part of the melon near the upper jawbone. Concentrations of unsaturated wax esters and triglycerides containing only long-chain acids are highest in the outer part of the melon nearer the skin of the animal. Hence the postulated acoustical function of the pilot whale melon during echolocation must be reconciled with a heterogeneous rather than a homogeneous composition.

Chemotaxonomische untersuchungen an limikolen: Die zusammensetzung des bürzeldrüsensekretes von austernfischer, rotschenkel, knutt und alpenstrandläufer

The fatty acid and alcohol composition of the uropygial gland wax from four species of birds of the order Laro-limicolae was investigated. Compounds were identified by GLC-MS and the major components were found to be mono-, di and tri-methyl-branched fatty acids and n-, mono- and di-methyl-substituted alcohols. The wax patterns of the three species of the family Scolopacidae ( Tringa totanus L., Calidris canutus L., Calidris alpina L.) were shown to be closely related and different from that of the oystercatcher ( Haematopus ostralegus L.) by the occurrence of trimethyl-substituted fatty acids and dimethyl-substituted alcohols. In contrast to the species of Scolopacidae, the substituents in the monomethyl-branched alcohols of the oystercatcher are exclusively located in postions near the aliphatic end of the molecule. There are some relationships in uropygial gland wax composition between the Scolopacidae and the Alicae and Laridae.

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