Lipid Biochemistry

Purpose: To investigate the effect of oral vitamin E on serum lipid profile of Apparently Healthy Nigerians in Benin City Methods: Fifty eight apparently healthy non-smoking males aged 30-59 years were randomly selected from Benin metropolis and were divided in three groups. The effect of oral vitamin E (a potent antioxidant) supplementation in various dosages 100 mg/day,200 mg/day and 400 mg/day for 21 days on Total cholesterol, Triglycerides, High Density Lipoprotein, Low Density Lipoprotein and Very low Density Lipoprotein was examined. Results: The serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein of the subjects showed a decrease which was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) after treatment with various doses of oral vitamin E. Conclusion: The effect of oral vitamin E on blood lipids is not significant when administered alone to healthy male subjects. This may be due to the function of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) as a pro-oxidant in the formation of lipid radical via α-tocopherol mediated pathway.

bacterium. This is a signature for which each small detail may exert important differences on LPS recognition by host cells and signal transduction (2). LPS does not necessarily induce a toxic response, so all LPSs are not endotoxins, but endotoxins are always composed of LPSs. LPSs are the first nonsecreted toxins found to interact with host innate immunity, generating cytokine production, immune cell recruitment, and specific host-cell responses leading, at higher doses, to multiple organ failure and septic shock (3). The smallest change in the structures of LPSs or their hydrophobic moiety, named lipid A, is directly linked to innate immune recognition and development of a specific host response. The interaction between LPS molecules and their innate receptor, the MD-2/TLR4 complex, is greatly affected by the fine details of LPS structures. First, LPS molecules are recognized by the LPS binding protein and presented as monomers to the soluble or membrane CD14 receptors. Then, the LPS is transferred to the MD-2/TLR4 complex (2, 4) allowing its dimerization of the receptor through ionic and hydrophobic interactions and activation of the cellular signaling pathways. Among these, the activation of the NFB pathway directly induces rapid pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Secreted cytokines are ultimately central to the generation of efficient responses to pathogens and the activation of the adaptive immune system (5, 6). The Neisseriaceae family members, including the Vitreoscilla genus, are obligate aerobic bacteria described for the first time in 1949 by E. G. Pringsheim (7) as colorless gliding filamentous organisms. Similar organisms were in fact described earlier by Cohn (8) in 1870. They are known as the first genus in which bacterial hemoglobin (VHb) was discovered (9).

When growing lupin roots were fed with [14C]oleate and [14C]linoleate most of the absorbed molecules remained in the free fatty acid pool. Part of the 14C‐labelled fatty acid was integrated first into phosphatidylcholine and subsequently into phosphatidylethanolamine. Then, progressive desaturation took place. The kinetics of these processes suggests that desaturation in phosphatidylcholine was followed by transacylation of polyunsaturated fatty acids into phosphatidylethanolamine. To produce good yields of desaturation (about 48%), seeds had to be less than 1‐year old. With respect to linoleate desaturation, seedlings had to be 2–7‐days old. Increased percentages of oleate desaturation were obtained when the roots were grown on a medium enriched with calcium.

The mitochondria1 sn-glycerol-3-phosphate and 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate 0-acyltransferases from potato tubers and pea leaves were investigated with respect to their intraorganelle localization, their positional and substrate specificities, and their fatty acid selectivities. In mitochondria from potato tubers both enzymes were found to be located in the outer membrane. The l-a~yl-~sn-glycerol-3-phosphate 0-acyltransferase of pea mitochondria showed the same intraorganelle localization whereas the sn-glycerol-3-phosphate 0-acyltransferase behaved like a soluble protein of the intermembrane space. The sn-glycerol-3-phosphate 0-acyltransferase of both potato and pea mitochondria used sn-glycerol-3-phosphate but not dihydroxyacetone phosphate as acyl acceptor and exclusively catalyzed the formation of l-acyl-snglycerol-3-phosphate which subsequently served as substrate for the second acylation reaction at its C-2 position. Both acyltransferases of potato as well as pea mitochondria showed higher activities with acyl-CoA than with the corresponding acyl-(acyl carrier protein) thioesters. When different acyl-CoA thioesters were offered separately, the ,sn-glycerol-3-phosphate 0-acyltransferase of potato mitochondria displayed no fatty acid specificity whereas the enzyme of pea mitochondria revealed one for saturated acyl groups. On the other hand, the mitochondrial 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate 0-acyltransferases from both potato tubers and pea leaves were more active on unsaturated than on saturated acyl-CoA thioesters. Furthermore, these enzymes preferentially used oleoyl-and linoleoyl-CoA when they were offered in a mixture with saturated ones, although the fatty acid selectivity of the pea enzyme was less pronounced than that of the potato enzyme. The sn-glycerol-3-phosphate 0-acyltransferase of potato mitochondria displayed a slight preference for saturated acyl groups The sn-glycerol-3-phosphate 0-acyltransferase (GroP-AT) and the 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate 0-acyltransferase (1-acylGroP-AT) catalyze the stepwise acylation of snglycerol-3-phosphate (GroP) to lysophosphatidic acid and subsequently to phosphatidic acid in the course of de novo biosynthesis of glycerolipids. In higher plants these enzymic

The availability of methods to fractionate non-green plastids and to prepare their limiting envelope membranes [Alban, Joyard & Douce (1988) Plant Physiol. 88, 709-717] allowed a detailed analysis of the biosynthesis of lysophosphatidic acid, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol and monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol (MGDG) in two different types of non-green starch-containing plastids: plastids isolated from cauliflower buds and amyloplasts isolated from sycamore cells. An enzyme [acyl-ACP (acyl carrier protein):sn-glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase) recovered in the soluble fraction of non-green plastids transfers oleic acid from oleoyl-ACP to the sn-1 position of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate to form lysophosphatidic acid. Then a membrane-bound enzyme (acyl-ACP:monoacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase), localized in the envelope membrane, catalyses the acylation of the available sn-2 position of 1-oleoyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate by palmitic acid from palmitoyl-ACP. Therefore both the ...

The quality of two artificial diets for the abalone Haliotis fulgens were evaluated through protein leaching, stability analysis, consumption and feed conversion efficiency. The two diets were elaborated from unheated and heated fish silage (greater and lesser grade of hydrolysis, respectively). The results suggested that unheated silage was more stable, but it showed more protein leaching due to its higher water soluble protein. No significant differences were found (P > 0.05) between both treatments. Maximum efficiencies of 1: 1.6 and 1: 1.1 were obtained for both the unheated and heated silage, respectively.

The fatty acid composition of juvenile green abalone (Haliotis fulgens) exposed to lipid restriction and long-term starvation was studied. Juvenile organisms were acclimated during 26 days and then randomly separated into three treatment groups. One group was fed a restricted diet containing low lipid content (0.14%), another was fed a rich diet containing the optimal lipid content (5.1%), and the third was kept under starvation conditions. After 90 days, the abalone fed the restricted diet showed a significant increase in 18:1n-9 content and a decrease in n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), but the total lipid level remained similar to that observed before the treatment, suggesting lipogenesis. On the other hand, no changes in total lipid content and fatty acid profile were found during the 90-day treatment using the rich lipid diet compared with the initial samples. Starved abalone showed that lipids did not constitute the main energy source and that the concentrations...

The first committed step in fatty acid synthesis is mediated by acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase), a biotin-dependent enzyme that carboxylates acetyl-CoA to produce malonyl-CoA. ACCase can be feedback regulated by short-term or long-term exposure to fatty acids in the form of Tween 80 (predominantly containing oleic acid), which results in reversible or irreversible ACCase inhibition, respectively. Biotin attachment domain-containing (BADC) proteins are inactive analogs of biotin carboxyl transfer proteins that lack biotin, and their incorporation into ACCase down-regulates its activity by displacing active (biotin-containing) biotin carboxyltransferase protein subunits. Arabidopsis () lines containing T-DNA insertions in , , and were used to generate and double mutants. The mutant exhibited normal growth and development; however, ACCase activity was 26% higher in and its seeds contained 30.1% more fatty acids and 32.6% more triacylgycerol relative to wild-type plants. To assess wheth...

Neoplastic disease indicates a disease of new growth. Neoplasms or tumors may be divided into two categories; benign tumors and malignant tumors. Benign tumors are relatively innocent and remain localized. Malignant tumors are also called cancers and are distinguished from benign tumors by the properties of invasiveness and metastasis. Cancer of the leukocytes and their precursors is known as leukemia. Triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol constitute plasma lipid profile. Objective of the present study was to investigate relationship of plasma lipid profile (Triglycerides, Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and HDL-Cholesterol) with leukemia. 180 subjects were included in the study. The subjects comprised of two groups; first as Controls (90 in number) and the second as Patients of Leukemia (also 90 in number). Fasting blood samples were collected for estimation of plasma lipid levels. Comparison between mean values of plasma lipid profile of control subjects and leukemia patients indicated that there was moderate decrease in all plasma levels of leukemia patients: triglycerides (31.29%, P < 0.01), cholesterol (27.15%, P < 0.01), LDLcholesterol (23.28%, P < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol (24.70%, P<0.05). As there is a change in plasma lipid profile of leukemia patients, the plasma lipid profile may be used as adjuvant for identification of the disease along with the standard diagnostics tools.

Neoplastic disease indicates a disease of new growth. Neoplasms or tumors may be divided into two categories; benign tumors and malignant tumors. Benign tumors are relatively innocent and remain localized. Malignant tumors are also called cancers and are distinguished from benign tumors by the properties of invasiveness and metastasis. Cancer of the leukocytes and their precursors is known as leukemia. Triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol constitute plasma lipid profile. Objective of the present study was to investigate relationship of plasma lipid profile (Triglycerides, Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and HDL-Cholesterol) with leukemia. 180 subjects were included in the study. The subjects comprised of two groups; first as Controls (90 in number) and the second as Patients of Leukemia (also 90 in number). Fasting blood samples were collected for estimation of plasma lipid levels. Comparison between mean values of plasma lipid profile of control subjects and leukemia patients indicated that there was moderate decrease in all plasma levels of leukemia patients: triglycerides (31.29%, P < 0.01), cholesterol (27.15%, P < 0.01), LDLcholesterol (23.28%, P < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol (24.70%, P<0.05). As there is a change in plasma lipid profile of leukemia patients, the plasma lipid profile may be used as adjuvant for identification of the disease along with the standard diagnostics tools.

Oil palm is an important economic crop for Malaysia. Genetic engineering could be applied to produce transgenic oil palms with high value-added fatty acids and novel products to ensure the sustainability of the palm oil industry. Establishment of a reliable transformation and regeneration system is essential for genetic engineering. Biolistic was initially chosen as the method for oil palm transformation as it has been the most successful method for monocotyledons to date. Optimization of physical and biological parameters, including testing of promoters and selective agents, was carried out as a prerequisite for stable transformation. This has resulted in the successful transfer of reporter genes into oil palm and the regeneration of transgenic oil palm, thus making it possible to improve the oil palm through genetic engineering. Besides application of the Biolistics method, studies on transformation mediated by Agrobacterium and utilization of the green fluorescent protein gene as...

Oil palm is an important economic crop for Malaysia. Genetic engineering could be applied to produce transgenic oil palms with high value-added fatty acids and novel products to ensure the sustainability of the palm oil industry. Establishment of a reliable transformation and regeneration system is essential for genetic engineering. Biolistic was initially chosen as the method for oil palm transformation as it has been the most successful method for monocotyledons to date. Optimization of physical and biological parameters, including testing of promoters and selective agents, was carried out as a prerequisite for stable transformation. This has resulted in the successful transfer of reporter genes into oil palm and the regeneration of transgenic oil palm, thus making it possible to improve the oil palm through genetic engineering. Besides application of the Biolistics method, studies on transformation mediated by Agrobacterium and utilization of the green fluorescent protein gene as...

Neoplastic disease indicates a disease of new growth. Neoplasms or tumors may be divided into two categories; benign tumors and malignant tumors. Benign tumors are relatively innocent and remain localized. Malignant tumors are also called cancers and are distinguished from benign tumors by the properties of invasiveness and metastasis. Cancer of the leukocytes and their precursors is known as leukemia. Triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol constitute plasma lipid profile. Objective of the present study was to investigate relationship of plasma lipid profile (Triglycerides, Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and HDL-Cholesterol) with leukemia. 180 subjects were included in the study. The subjects comprised of two groups; first as Controls (90 in number) and the second as Patients of Leukemia (also 90 in number). Fasting blood samples were collected for estimation of plasma lipid levels. Comparison between mean values of plasma lipid profile of control subjects and leukemia patients indicated that there was moderate decrease in all plasma levels of leukemia patients: triglycerides (31.29%, P < 0.01), cholesterol (27.15%, P < 0.01), LDLcholesterol (23.28%, P < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol (24.70%, P<0.05). As there is a change in plasma lipid profile of leukemia patients, the plasma lipid profile may be used as adjuvant for identification of the disease along with the standard diagnostics tools.

Neoplastic disease indicates a disease of new growth. Neoplasms or tumors may be divided into two categories; benign tumors and malignant tumors. Benign tumors are relatively innocent and remain localized. Malignant tumors are also called cancers and are distinguished from benign tumors by the properties of invasiveness and metastasis. Cancer of the leukocytes and their precursors is known as leukemia. Triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol constitute plasma lipid profile. Objective of the present study was to investigate relationship of plasma lipid profile (Triglycerides, Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and HDL-Cholesterol) with leukemia. 180 subjects were included in the study. The subjects comprised of two groups; first as Controls (90 in number) and the second as Patients of Leukemia (also 90 in number). Fasting blood samples were collected for estimation of plasma lipid levels. Comparison between mean values of plasma lipid profile of control subjects and leukemia patients indicated that there was moderate decrease in all plasma levels of leukemia patients: triglycerides (31.29%, P < 0.01), cholesterol (27.15%, P < 0.01), LDLcholesterol (23.28%, P < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol (24.70%, P<0.05). As there is a change in plasma lipid profile of leukemia patients, the plasma lipid profile may be used as adjuvant for identification of the disease along with the standard diagnostics tools.

Neoplastic disease indicates a disease of new growth. Neoplasms or tumors may be divided into two categories; benign tumors and malignant tumors. Benign tumors are relatively innocent and remain localized. Malignant tumors are also called cancers and are distinguished from benign tumors by the properties of invasiveness and metastasis. Cancer of the leukocytes and their precursors is known as leukemia. Triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol constitute plasma lipid profile. Objective of the present study was to investigate relationship of plasma lipid profile (Triglycerides, Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and HDL-Cholesterol) with leukemia. 180 subjects were included in the study. The subjects comprised of two groups; first as Controls (90 in number) and the second as Patients of Leukemia (also 90 in number). Fasting blood samples were collected for estimation of plasma lipid levels. Comparison between mean values of plasma lipid profile of control subjects and leukemia patients indicated that there was moderate decrease in all plasma levels of leukemia patients: triglycerides (31.29%, P < 0.01), cholesterol (27.15%, P < 0.01), LDLcholesterol (23.28%, P < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol (24.70%, P<0.05). As there is a change in plasma lipid profile of leukemia patients, the plasma lipid profile may be used as adjuvant for identification of the disease along with the standard diagnostics tools.

Tbe chkooplast envelope is the site of a very active log-chain acylcoenzyme A (CoA) synthetase. Furthermore, we have recently shown that an acyl CoA thoesterase is also associated with envelope membrane (Joyard J, PK Stumpf 1960 Plant Physiol 65: 1039-1043). To clarify the interactng roles of both the acyl-CoA thoesterase and the acyl-CoA synthetase, the formation of acyl-CoA in envelope membranes was examined with different techniques which permitted the mneasurement of the actual rates of acyl-CoA formation Using I'4CIATP or l'4Clolelc acid as labeled substrates, it can be sbown that the envelope acyl-CoA synthetase require both Mg'+ anddlthiothreitol. Triton X-100 slightly stimulated the acivity. Th specificity of the acyl-CoA synthetase was determined either with I14CIATP or with I3HICoA as substrates. The results obtained in both cases were sinlar, that is, as substrates, the unsaturated fatty acids were more effective than saturated fatty acids, the velocity of the reaction increased from lauric acid to palmitic acid, and the maximum velocity was obtained with unsaturated Cis fatty acids. The results obtaned suggest that the acyl-CoA thioesterase associated with envelp membranes could be an ultimate control to prevent the trasport (outside of the chioroplast) or the insertion (into chloroplast lipids) of fatty acids with chains sborter than Cie. Some 20 years ago, evidence was presented that isolated leaf chloroplasts readily synthesized palmitic and oleic acid from '4Clabeled acetate in the light (21, 33, 36). In 1965, Brooks and Stumpf (3) reported that fatty acid biosynthesis by stromal enzymes from disrupted chloroplasts was acyl carrier protein-dependent. Since then, many workers have confirmed and extended the role of chloroplasts in fatty acid synthesis (see ref. 35 for a review). In 1979, Ohlrogge et al. (25) published evidence that the chloroplast in spinach-leaf cells was indeed the only site of oleic and palmitic acid synthesis from the usual C2 and C3 precursors. In the meantime, Douce's laboratory has assembled numerous data in support of the concept that the chloroplast envelope participated in the assembly of the different components of the principal polar lipids of the chloroplast, namely the galactolipids (see ref. 8 for a review). Since both palmitic and oleic acids were synthesized inside the chloroplast, their further modification to polyunsaturated fatty acids or their incorporation into polar lipids required, first, their activation to a form suitable for further metabolism and, second,

Oil palm is an important economic crop for Malaysia. Genetic engineering could be applied to produce transgenic oil palms with high value-added fatty acids and novel products to ensure the sustainability of the palm oil industry. Establishment of a reliable transformation and regeneration system is essential for genetic engineering. Biolistic was initially chosen as the method for oil palm transformation as it has been the most successful method for monocotyledons to date. Optimization of physical and biological parameters, including testing of promoters and selective agents, was carried out as a prerequisite for stable transformation. This has resulted in the successful transfer of reporter genes into oil palm and the regeneration of transgenic oil palm, thus making it possible to improve the oil palm through genetic engineering. Besides application of the Biolistics method, studies on transformation mediated by Agrobacterium and utilization of the green fluorescent protein gene as...

Vernonia galamensis is a new potential industrial oilseed crop with origin in East Africa. The seed oil has unique chemical and physical properties, that will permit its use in the formulation of reactive diluents, products to serve as solvents that become part of the dry paint surface and do not evaporate to pollute the air. A collection of 41 accessions was evaluated for seed and leaf fatty acid composition. In the seed, vernolic acid (C18:1 0) varied from 54 to 74%, and linoleic acid (C18:2) from 3 to 32%. In the leaf linolenic acid (C18:3) varied from 41 to 59%, palmitic (C16:0) from 12 to 22% and C18:4 from 8 to 17%. Correlation analysis between the seed fatty acids showed that vernolic acid is negatively correlated with C16:0, C18:0, C18:2, C18:3. In the leaf, negative correlations between C18:3 and the other leaf fatty acids were observed. C18:2 and C18:3 showed negative and positive correlations, respectively between the leaves and the seed. In general, there is a wide range of fatty acid composition specially vernolic and linolenic acids in the seed and in the leaf, respectively which might indicate the potential for oil quality improvement of V. galamensis.

Metabolic engineering of the omega-3 (ω3) long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis pathway has generated fish oil-like levels of pharmaceutically and nutritionally important docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in plant seeds. However, the majority of DHA has been accumulated at the -1 and -3 positions of triacylglycerol (TAG) in these engineered seeds, leaving only a minor amount (∼10%) at -2 position and indicating a strong discrimination (or, a very poor specificity) for DHA by seed lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferases (LPAATs), which mediate the acylation of -2 position of glycerol backbone. In order to increase the level of DHA at -2 position of TAG and to increase overall DHA level in seeds, we attempted to discover DHA-preferring LPAATs. Several LPAATs for acylation of the -2 position of the TAG glycerol backbone were investigated for substrate preference for DHA. In transiently expressing these LPAATs in , a LPAAT had the highest substrate specificity for accumulating DHA ...

phospholipids/phosphatidic acid • triglycerides • lipogenesis • lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase The acylglycerophosphate acyltransferase/lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (AGPAT/LPAAT) family is a group of proteins that have been identified based on sequence homology (1, 2). Each member contains two highly conserved catalytic motifs, NHX 4 D and a downstream proline residue, as well as two substrate binding motifs, EGTR and FX 2 R. Currently, 11 AGPAT family members have been identified. True AGPAT/LPAATs function in the second committed step of the Kennedy pathway for the de novo biosynthesis of glycerophospholipids and triacylglycerol (TAG) by catalyzing the acyl-CoA-dependent formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) using lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) as the preferred acyl acceptor (3). Functional characterization of these enzymes has, however, narrowed the group of true AGPATs/LPAATs that prefer LPA to only 5 of the 11 isoforms (AGPATs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), with the rest primarily utilizing a different lysophospholipid acylacceptor, or glycerol-3-phosphate (2). These AGPAT/LPAAT isoforms show different tissue distribution patterns, with AGPATs 1 and 3 demonstrating ubiquitious expression and AGPATs 2, 4, and 5 showing distinct tissue-specific profiles and regulation by fasting (4, 5). The physiological significance of these distributions, the role of each isoform in different tissues, and the reason for the apparently redundant expression of homologous enzymes in the same tissue is not well understood (6).

Neoplastic disease indicates a disease of new growth. Neoplasms or tumors may be divided into two categories; benign tumors and malignant tumors. Benign tumors are relatively innocent and remain localized. Malignant tumors are also called cancers and are distinguished from benign tumors by the properties of invasiveness and metastasis. Cancer of the leukocytes and their precursors is known as leukemia. Triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol constitute plasma lipid profile. Objective of the present study was to investigate relationship of plasma lipid profile (Triglycerides, Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and HDL-Cholesterol) with leukemia. 180 subjects were included in the study. The subjects comprised of two groups; first as Controls (90 in number) and the second as Patients of Leukemia (also 90 in number). Fasting blood samples were collected for estimation of plasma lipid levels. Comparison between mean values of plasma lipid profile of control subjects and leukemia patients indicated that there was moderate decrease in all plasma levels of leukemia patients: triglycerides (31.29%, P < 0.01), cholesterol (27.15%, P < 0.01), LDLcholesterol (23.28%, P < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol (24.70%, P<0.05). As there is a change in plasma lipid profile of leukemia patients, the plasma lipid profile may be used as adjuvant for identification of the disease along with the standard diagnostics tools.

The rapid increase in palm oil production over the last 20 years has made this oil the most important in the world. Palm oil produced in the mesocarp of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) fruit contains primarily palmitic (44%) and oleic (39%) acids with only a small proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids. As a prelude to detailed biochemical analysis of the fatty acid biosynthesis of oil palm, we examined β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase (KAS) II activity, and evidence is presented on its importance in palmitic acid accumulation. In this study, three different oil palm breeding materials were screened for KAS II and fatty acid compositions. Collectively, the results strongly suggest that KAS II plays an important role in determining the relative amounts of C16 and C18 fatty acids in oil palm. KAS II activity was profiled through various stages of fruit development from 12 to 22 weeks after anthesis (WAA). The data depicted a pattern of progressive increase in KAS II activity similar to that of triacylglycerol synthesis in the oil palm mesocarp which started at 15 WAA and reached a maximum around 20 WAA. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity (>9000-fold purification) using a combination of ion exchange on CM-Sepharose, HR-DEAE, hyroxyapatite and affinity chromatography (ACP-Sepharose). Activity of the purified enzyme was inhibited by the chelating agent ethylene diamine tetra-acetate (EDTA) (1 M), but the inhibitory action could be overcome by divalent cations such as Mn 2+ or Mg 2+ (10 mM). Optimal activity was observed at pH 4.5. The data represent the first contribution to the biochemical characterisation of oil palm KAS II activity associated with fatty acid biosynthesis.

Neoplastic disease indicates a disease of new growth. Neoplasms or tumors may be divided into two categories; benign tumors and malignant tumors. Benign tumors are relatively innocent and remain localized. Malignant tumors are also called cancers and are distinguished from benign tumors by the properties of invasiveness and metastasis. Cancer of the leukocytes and their precursors is known as leukemia. Triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol constitute plasma lipid profile. Objective of the present study was to investigate relationship of plasma lipid profile (Triglycerides, Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and HDL-Cholesterol) with leukemia. 180 subjects were included in the study. The subjects comprised of two groups; first as Controls (90 in number) and the second as Patients of Leukemia (also 90 in number). Fasting blood samples were collected for estimation of plasma lipid levels. Comparison between mean values of plasma lipid profile of control subjects and leukemia patients indicated that there was moderate decrease in all plasma levels of leukemia patients: triglycerides (31.29%, P < 0.01), cholesterol (27.15%, P < 0.01), LDLcholesterol (23.28%, P < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol (24.70%, P<0.05). As there is a change in plasma lipid profile of leukemia patients, the plasma lipid profile may be used as adjuvant for identification of the disease along with the standard diagnostics tools.

The fatty acid composition of juvenile green abalone (Haliotis fulgens) exposed to lipid restriction and long-term starvation was studied. Juvenile organisms were acclimated during 26 days and then randomly separated into three treatment groups. One group was fed a restricted diet containing low lipid content (0.14%), another was fed a rich diet containing the optimal lipid content (5.1%), and the third was kept under starvation conditions. After 90 days, the abalone fed the restricted diet showed a significant increase in 18:1n-9 content and a decrease in n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), but the total lipid level remained similar to that observed before the treatment, suggesting lipogenesis. On the other hand, no changes in total lipid content and fatty acid profile were found during the 90-day treatment using the rich lipid diet compared with the initial samples. Starved abalone showed that lipids did not constitute the main energy source and that the concentrations...

Despite a strong interest in microalgal oil production, our understanding of the biosynthetic pathways that produce algal lipids and the genes involved in the biosynthetic processes remains incomplete. Here we report that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Cre09.g398289 encodes a plastid-targeted 2-lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (CrLPAAT1) that acylates the sn-2 position of a 2-lysophosphatidic acid to form phosphatidic acid, the first common precursor of membrane and storage lipids. In vitro enzyme assays showed that CrLPAAT1 prefers 16:0-CoA to 18:1-CoA as an acyl donor. Fluorescent protein-tagged CrLPAAT1 was localized to the plastid membrane in C. reinhardtii cells. Furthermore, expression of CrLPAAT1 in plastids led to a &gt;20% increase in oil content under nitrogen-deficient conditions. Taken together, these results demonstrate that CrLPAAT1 is an authentic plastid-targeted LPAAT in C. reinhardtii, and that it may be used as a molecular tool to genetically increase oil content ...

Abstract; Cyanide generates free radicals in man and animals by altering the enzymes in the metabolic pathwaysof carbohydrate synthesis and hence induce stress on the organism. This study was aimed at determining the antioxidant effect of Monodora myristica (Mn) on cyanide (CN) induced hepatic and renal toxicity. A total of 20 male rats were used for this study. They were divided into 5 groups each with 4 rats. Group 1 control: rats received distilled water daily throughout the experiment. Group 2, 4 and 5; rats in this group were given 8.0mg CN /kgb.w in form of KCN orally. Groups 3 and 4: received 50mg/kg /0.1mlM by gavage three times a week. Group 5: 400mg Sodium thiosuphate /kg b.w by gavage .The total duration of the experiment was for 4 weeks. Hepatic and renal Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP,) Lipid peroxidation (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and serum urea and creatinine were determined using standard b...

Purpose: To investigate the effect of oral vitamin E on serum lipid profile of Apparently Healthy Nigerians in Benin City Methods: Fifty eight apparently healthy non-smoking males aged 30-59 years were randomly selected from Benin metropolis and were divided in three groups. The effect of oral vitamin E (a potent antioxidant) supplementation in various dosages 100 mg/day,200 mg/day and 400 mg/day for 21 days on Total cholesterol, Triglycerides, High Density Lipoprotein, Low Density Lipoprotein and Very low Density Lipoprotein was examined. Results: The serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein of the subjects showed a decrease which was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) after treatment with various doses of oral vitamin E. Conclusion: The effect of oral vitamin E on blood lipids is not significant when administered alone to healthy male subjects. This may be due to the function of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) as a pro-oxidant in the formation of lipid radical via α-tocopherol mediated pathway.

Summary Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is the third largest source of vegetable oil globally. In addition to food uses, there are industrial applications that exploit the ability of the species to accumulate the very‐long‐chain fatty acid (VLCFA) erucic acid in its seed oil, controlled by orthologues of FATTY ACID ELONGASE 1 (Bna.FAE1.A8 and Bna.FAE1.C3). The proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in rapeseed oil is predicted to affect its thermal stability and is controlled by orthologues of FATTY ACID DESATURASE 2, particularly Bna.FAD2.C5. Our aim was to develop rapeseed lines combining high erucic and low PUFA characters and to assess the impact on thermal stability of the oil they produce. The new type of rapeseed oil (high erucic low polyunsaturate; HELP) contained a substantially greater proportion of erucic acid (54%) compared with high erucic rapeseed oil (46%). Although the total VLCFA content was greater in oil from HELP lines (64%) than from high erucic rapesee...

– In the current context of boosting production of high erucic acid rapeseed, because of the wide range of its industrial applications, this literature review is designed to provide a general overview of available varieties, current knowledge of plant improvement and paths of developing research to increase competitiveness of varieties with high erucic acid content. A limited market dominated by a few companies, cropping burdens of high erucic acid rapeseed varieties among the majority “00 ” varieties and the still low erucic acid content in rapeseed, explains the reduced and uncompetitive varietal offers. To improve this situation, new varieties could be developed, thanks to the classical methods of selection and biotechnology.

Seed-specifically expressed β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase genes of Brassica napus (Bn-FAE1.1 genes) were cloned from two cultivars, namely Askari, a high-erucic-acid type, and Drakkar, a low-erucic-acid type. The genes from the two cultivars were found to be nearly identical. They encode proteins of 507 amino acids, the sequences of which differ only at position 282. The Bn-FAE1.1 gene of Askari, unlike that of Drakkar, was functionally expressed in yeast cells suggesting that the single amino acid exchange effects the low erucic acid phenotype at the E1 gene locus. In yeast cells the β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase of Askari elongated not only oleoyl but also palmitoleoyl groups as well as saturated acyl groups in such a way that monounsaturated acyl groups of 22 carbons and saturated ones of 26 carbons were formed as main products. A reporter gene fused to the promoter region of the Bn-FAE1.1 gene from Askari showed seed-specific expression in transgenic rapeseed plants. Over-expression of the coding region of the Askari gene in developing seeds of transgenic Drakkar plants resulted in a significant increase in the levels of eicosenoic acid and erucic acid esterified in the seed oil. On the other hand, in transgenic high-erucicacid rapeseed plants the increase in erucic acid level was at most 60% although the chimeric Bn-FAE1.1 gene was co-expressed with an erucoyl-CoA-specific lysophosphatidate acyltransferase gene enabling trierucoyl glycerol to accumulate in the seed oil. Abbreviations: Bn-FAE1.1 gene, β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase gene of Brassica napus at the E1 gene locus; DAP, days after pollination; FAME, fatty acid methyl ester; GUS, β-glucuronidase; HEAR, high-erucic-acid rapeseed; KCS, β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase; LEAR, low-erucic-acid rapeseed; LPAAT, lysophosphatidate acyltransferase; NPTII, neomycin phosphotransferase; RS line, resynthesized rapeseed line; VLCFA, very-long-chain fatty acid; X:Y, fatty acid acyl group containing X carbon atoms and Y cis double bounds The nucleotide sequence data reported will appear in the GenBank database under the accession numbers AF274750 (coding region) and AF275254 (promoter region of the Bn-FAE1.1 gene from Brassica napus cv. Askari).

The rapid increase in palm oil production over the last 20 years has made this oil the most important in the world. Palm oil produced in the mesocarp of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) fruit contains primarily palmitic (44%) and oleic (39%) acids with only a small proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids. As a prelude to detailed biochemical analysis of the fatty acid biosynthesis of oil palm, we examined β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase (KAS) II activity, and evidence is presented on its importance in palmitic acid accumulation. In this study, three different oil palm breeding materials were screened for KAS II and fatty acid compositions. Collectively, the results strongly suggest that KAS II plays an important role in determining the relative amounts of C16 and C18 fatty acids in oil palm. KAS II activity was profiled through various stages of fruit development from 12 to 22 weeks after anthesis (WAA). The data depicted a pattern of progressive increase in KAS II activity similar to tha...

The incidence of chronic degenerative diseases like stroke and myocardial infarction in African subpopulations is reported to be increasing. In view of the association between dyslipidemia and these chronic degenerative diseases, we investigated some well-established cardiovascular risk factors (plasma cholesterol and its fractions as high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride, adiposity and blood pressure) in 92 subjects (43 males and 49 females) in Abeokuta, Nigeria. LDL cholesterol was significantly higher in the women compared with men (128.58mg/dl vs 108.73mg/dl; p = 0.028). Total cholesterol, although slightly higher in women, was not significantly different from that of men (155.71mg/dl vs 147.26mg/dl). HDL cholesterol and triglyceride were not significantly different between the two sexes, although women tended to have lower HDL cholesterol when compared with men. LDL/HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol were significantly hi...

Introduction: The essential oils of Xylopia aethiopica fruits have been reported to possess numerous biochemical effects. However, no toxicological data is available regarding the safety evaluation of the essential oils from the plant spice. The present study was performed to evaluate the safety of essential oils from X. aethiopica (XAEO) fruit by acute and sub-acute oral toxicity studies in experimental rodents. Methods: In assessing the safety of XAEO, acute and sub-acute oral toxicity tests were performed following OECD guidelines 425 and 407, respectively, with slight modifications. At the end of each test, hematological and biochemical analysis of the collected blood was performed. Histopathological examination of vital organs of the animals was conducted for gross findings and for comparison to controls. Results: In acute oral toxicity, signs of toxicity were observed in the initial period of the experiment which culminated in the death of the mice before the end of the experi...

The purpose of this study is to modify adipose cells genetically in culture to produce cells that contain less saturated fat. To accomplish this objective, a fatty acid desaturase gene from castor beans will be transferred into adipose cells. Using cultured liver cells as a test system, the gene was successfully transferred into 12 different cultures of liver cells. We are currently studying the production of the corresponding RNA from the incorporated gene and the fatty acid composition of the transformed cells. Our next goal is to conduct similar activities using cultured adipose cells. Saturated fatty acids make up 40 to 55% of the total fat associated with meat. It has been demonstrated in animal and human studies that dietary saturated fatty acids (excluding C18:0) are hypercholesterolemic when compared with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Therefore, nutritional scientists must seek with urgency nutritional, managerial, and genetic protocols for decreasing the fat content and the proportion of saturated fatty acids in animal-derived foods.

High erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR) oil is of interest for industrial purposes because erucic acid (22:1) and its derivatives are important renewable raw materials for the oleochemical industry. Currently available cultivars contain only about 50% erucic acid in the seed oil. A substantial increase in erucic acid content would signiWcantly reduce processing costs and could increase market prospects of HEAR oil. It has been proposed that erucic acid content in rapeseed is limited because of insuYcient fatty acid elongation, lack of insertion of erucic acid into the central sn-2 position of the triaclyglycerol backbone and due to competitive desaturation of the precursor oleic acid (18:1) to linoleic acid (18:2). The objective of the present study was to increase erucic content of HEAR winter rapeseed through over expression of the rapeseed fatty acid elongase gene (fae1) in combination with expression of the lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase gene from Limnanthes douglasii (Ld-LPAAT), which enables insertion of erucic acid into the sn-2 glycerol position. Furthermore, mutant alleles for low contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (18:2 + 18:3) were combined with the transgenic material. Selected transgenic lines showed up to 63% erucic acid in the seed oil in comparison to a mean of 54% erucic acid of segregating non-transgenic HEAR plants. Amongst 220 F 2 plants derived from the cross between a transgenic HEAR line and a non-transgenic HEAR line with a low content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, recombinant F 2 plants were identiWed with an erucic acid content of up to 72% and a polyunsaturated fatty acid content as low as 6%. Regression analysis revealed that a reduction of 10% in polyunsaturated fatty acids content led to a 6.5% increase in erucic acid content. Results from selected F 2 plants were conWrmed in the next generation by analysing F 4 seeds harvested from Wve F 3 plants per selected F 2 plant. F 3 lines contained up to 72% erucic acid and as little as 4% polyunsaturated fatty acids content in the seed oil. The 72% erucic acid content of rapeseed oil achieved in the present study represents a major breakthrough in breeding high erucic acid rapeseed. Dedicated to professor Gerhard Röbbelen on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Communicated by I. Rajcan.

Vernonia galamensis is a new potential industrial oilseed crop with origin in East Africa. The seed oil has unique chemical and physical properties, that will permit its use in the formulation of reactive diluents, products to serve as solvents that become part of the dry paint surface and do not evaporate to pollute the air. A collection of 41 accessions was evaluated for seed and leaf fatty acid composition. In the seed, vernolic acid (C18:1 0) varied from 54 to 74%, and linoleic acid (C18:2) from 3 to 32%. In the leaf linolenic acid (C18:3) varied from 41 to 59%, palmitic (C16:0) from 12 to 22% and C18:4 from 8 to 17%. Correlation analysis between the seed fatty acids showed that vernolic acid is negatively correlated with C16:0, C18:0, C18:2, C18:3. In the leaf, negative correlations between C18:3 and the other leaf fatty acids were observed. C18:2 and C18:3 showed negative and positive correlations, respectively between the leaves and the seed. In general, there is a wide range of fatty acid composition specially vernolic and linolenic acids in the seed and in the leaf, respectively which might indicate the potential for oil quality improvement of V. galamensis.

OBJECTIVES 1) Differentiate the contribution of diet and endogenous synthesis to lipid levels. 2) Differentiate the role of dietary omega-3 versus omega-6 fatty acids in the formation of polyunsaturated fatty acids 3) Describe the pathway of fatty acid synthesis and in particular the role of malonyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase. 4) Outline short-term and long-term regulation of fatty acid synthesis. 5) Explain the concepts of elongation and desaturation of the fatty acid chain. 6) Describe the synthesis of triglycerides.

The fatty acid composition of juvenile green abalone (Haliotis fulgens) exposed to lipid restriction and long-term starvation was
studied. Juvenile organisms were acclimated during 26 days and then randomly separated into three treatment groups. One group was fed a
restricted diet containing low lipid content (0.14%), another was fed a rich diet containing the optimal lipid content (5.1%), and the third was
kept under starvation conditions. After 90 days, the abalone fed the restricted diet showed a significant increase in 18:1n-9 content and a
decrease in n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), but the total lipid level remained similar to that observed before the treatment,
suggesting lipogenesis. On the other hand, no changes in total lipid content and fatty acid profile were found during the 90-day treatment using
the rich lipid diet compared with the initial samples. Starved abalone showed that lipids did not constitute the main energy source and that the
concentrations of long-chain PUFA did not change throughout the 90-day starvation period.

Membrane-bound enzymes involved in oleate metabolism in microsomes from pea (Pisum sutivum L.) leaves were solubilised using detergents, such as n-octyl glucoside, Triton X-100, digitonin or cholate. The detergents were found to be inhibitory to oleoyl-CoA thioesterase, oleoyl-CoA: phosphatidylcholine acyltransferase and oleoyl phosphatidylcholine desaturase. Detergent removal by dialysis resulted in the restoration of activity of both the solubilised oleoyl-CoA thioesterase and oleoyl-CoA: phosphatidylcholine acyltransferase. The putative components of the oleoyl phosphatidylcholine desaturase system were also partially solubilised.

Engineering compositional changes in oilseeds is typically accomplished by introducing new enzymatic step(s) and/or by blocking or enhancing an existing enzymatic step(s) in a seed-specific manner. However, in practice, the amounts of lipid species that accumulate in seeds are often different from what one would predict from enzyme expression levels, and these incongruences may be rooted in an incomplete understanding of the regulation of seed lipid metabolism at the cellular/tissue level. Here we show by mass spectrometry imaging approaches that triacylglycerols and their phospholipid precursors are distributed differently within cotyledons and the hypocotyl/radicle axis in embryos of the oilseed crop Camelina sativa, indicating tissue-specific heterogeneity in triacylglycerol metabolism. Phosphatidylcholines and triacylglycerols enriched in linoleic acid (C18:2) were preferentially localized to the axis tissues, whereas lipid classes enriched in gadoleic acid (C20:1) were preferentially localized to the cotyledons. Manipulation of seed lipid compositions by heterologous over-expression of an acyl–acyl carrier protein thioesterase, or by suppression of fatty acid desaturases and elongases, resulted in new overall seed storage lipid compositions with altered patterns of distribution of phospholipid and triacylglycerol in transgenic embryos. Our results reveal previously unknown differences in acyl lipid distribution in Camelina embryos, and suggest that this spatial heterogeneity may or may not be able to be changed effectively in transgenic seeds depending upon the targeted enzyme(s)/pathway(s). Further, these studies point to the importance of resolving the location of metabolites in addition to their quantities within plant tissues.

Oil palm is an important economic crop in Malaysia and has been contributing significantly to the country's economy. Shortage of manpower, arable land and a fluctuating commodity price have forced the industry to widen its scope from being solely dependent on the edible oil market into more diverse applications and higher-return products. Genetic engineering, with all its advantages over conventional breeding, has been identified as a tool for synthesizing high-value-added products in transgenic oil palm. Genetic engineering requires reliable transformation and regeneration systems. Successful production of transgenic oil palm was achieved six years ago. The transgenic plants have started flowering and are still expressing the transgenes. Significant achievements in biochemical studies and isolation of useful oil palm genes and promoters have been reported. A wide range of transformation vectors is being constructed using the genes and promoters from oil palm and are being transformed into oil palm cultures. Latest achievements in the production of transgenic oil palm carrying the useful genes will be reviewed.

Adenosine phosphates (ATP, ADP, AMP) and nicotinamides (NAD, NADH, NADP and NADPH) are nucleotides that are involved in various plant biosynthetic pathways such as photosynthesis, nitrogen uptake, purine metabolism and lipid biosynthesis. In oil palm fruit formation, kernel and mesocarp are separated by a shell and differ mainly by lipid composition. Oil palm mesocarp and kernel tissues were extracted using a modified perchloric acid extraction and separated via HPLC to quantify the accumulation of these seven nucleotides in relation to lipid composition. Principal component analysis on palm mesocarp and kernel samples displayed clustering and indicated that palm mesocarp contained higher ATP and NAD + than palm kernel. The higher levels of ATP and NADH may be attributable to the higher content of unsaturated and long chain fatty acids in found palm mesocarp.

Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are one of the most important storage compounds of higher plants; they are the basis for essentially all plant oils and are used by the cell as a reserve source of energy and carbon. Therefore, as a rule, plants store oils almost exclusively in their seeds. Plant oils are not only a major food and feed products, but also the raw material for obtaining many nonfood products from drying oils and lubricants to biofuel. TAGs differ from other storage compounds in that in the course of fruit ripening their quantitative and qualitative composition does not remain constant, but undergoes significant changes. Therefore, the bio synthesis pathways of TAGs in living organisms have been actively studied for the past several decades, and today enough data can be presented to outline as how and where these processes occur in the plant cell. The present review is devoted to a brief description of current ideas about the ways and mechanisms of TAG for mation and accumulation in higher plants.

Seed oils of meadowfoam (Limnanthes douglasii, L. alba) contain very long-chain fatty acids of strategic importance for a number of industrial applications. These include the monoene 20:1 D5 and the diene 22:2 D5,D13 . Engineering of meadowfoam-type oils in other oilseed crops is desirable for the production of these fatty acids as industrial feedstocks. Accordingly, we have targeted Brassica carinata and soybean (Glycine max) to trangenically engineer the biosynthesis of these unusual fatty acids. An L. douglasii seedspecific cDNA (designated Lim Des5) encoding a homolog of acyl-coenzyme A desaturases found in animals, fungi and cyanobacteria was expressed in B. carinata, which resulted in the accumulation of up to 10% 22:2 D5,D13 in the seed oil. In soybean, co-expression of Lim Des5 with a cDNA (Lim FAE1) encoding an FAEl (elongase complex condensing enzyme) homolog from L. douglasii resulted in the accumulation of 20:1 D5 to approximately 10% of the total fatty acids of seeds. The content of C 20 and C 22 fatty acids was also increased from <0.5% in non-transformed soybean seeds to >25% in seeds co-expressing the Lim. douglasii Des5 and FAE1 cDNAs. In contrast, expression of the Lim Des5 in Arabidopsis did not produce the expected 20:2 D5,D11 in the seed oil. Cumulatively, these results demonstrate the utility of soybean and B. carinata for the production of vegetable oils containing novel C 20 and C 22 fatty acids, and confirm that the preferred substrates of the Lim Des5 are 20:0 and 22:1 D13 , respectively.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of oral vitamin E on serum lipid profile of Apparently Healthy
Nigerians in Benin City
Methods: Fifty eight apparently healthy non-smoking males aged 30 - 59 years were randomly selected
from Benin metropolis and were divided in three groups. The effect of oral vitamin E (a potent
antioxidant) supplementation in various dosages 100 mg/day,200 mg/day and 400 mg/day for 21 days
on Total cholesterol, Triglycerides, High Density Lipoprotein, Low Density Lipoprotein and Very low
Density Lipoprotein was examined.
Results: The serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and very low density
lipoprotein of the subjects showed a decrease which was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) after
treatment with various doses of oral vitamin E.
Conclusion: The effect of oral vitamin E on blood lipids is not significant when administered alone to
healthy male subjects. This may be due to the function of α- tocopherol (vitamin E) as a pro-oxidant in
the formation of lipid radical via α- tocopherol mediated pathway.
Keywords: Atherosclerosis, Pro-oxidant, Vitamin E, Antioxidants, Lipid profile, Dyslipidaemia

Fatty acids are aliphatic unbranched monocarboxylic acids that serve as the building blocks of membrane and storage lipids. Plastids are the site for fatty acid biosynthesis with acetyl-CoA as its precursor. Carboxylation of acetyl-CoA is regulated by covalent and allosteric modifications. Fatty acid synthase catalyzes repetitive series of reactions involving condensation, reduction, dehydration, and second reduction. Acyl chain length is regulated by thioesterases and elongase, while the degree of unsaturation is determined by desaturases. These contribute to the structural diversity of fatty acids. Assembly of these fatty acids in phospholipids and storage lipids is mediated by a variety of acyltranferases. Manipulating one or many of these enzymes can produce desired lipids of commercial importance.

In higher plants, lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT), located in the cytoplasmic endomembrane compartment, plays an essential role in the synthesis of phosphatidic acid, a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of membrane phospholipids in all tissues and storage lipids in developing seeds. In order to assess the contribution of LPAATs to the synthesis of storage lipids, we have characterized two microsomal LPAAT isozymes, the products of homoeologous genes that are expressed in rapeseed (Brassica napus). DNA sequence homologies, complementation of a bacterial LPAAT-deficient mutant, and enzymatic properties confirmed that each of two cDNAs isolated from a Brassica napus immature embryo library encoded a functional LPAAT possessing the properties of a eukaryotic pathway enzyme. Analyses in planta revealed differences in the expression of the two genes, one of which was detected in all rapeseed tissues and during silique and seed development, whereas the expression of the second gene was restricted predominantly to siliques and developing seeds. Expression of each rapeseed LPAAT isozyme in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) resulted in the production of seeds characterized by a greater lipid content and seed mass. These results support the hypothesis that increasing the expression of glycerolipid acyltransferases in seeds leads to a greater flux of intermediates through the Kennedy pathway and results in enhanced triacylglycerol accumulation.

Neoplastic disease indicates a disease of new growth. Neoplasms or tumors may be divided into two categories; benign tumors and malignant tumors. Benign tumors are relatively innocent and remain localized. Malignant tumors are also called cancers and are distinguished from benign tumors by the properties of invasiveness and metastasis. Cancer of the leukocytes and their precursors is known as leukemia. Triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol constitute plasma lipid profile. Objective of the present study was to investigate relationship of plasma lipid profile (Triglycerides, Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and HDL-Cholesterol) with leukemia. 180 subjects were included in the study. The subjects comprised of two groups; first as Controls (90 in number) and the second as Patients of Leukemia (also 90 in number). Fasting blood samples were collected for estimation of plasma lipid levels. Comparison between mean values of plasma lipid profile of control subjects and leukemia patients indicated that there was moderate decrease in all plasma levels of leukemia patients: triglycerides (31.29%, P < 0.01), cholesterol (27.15%, P < 0.01), LDLcholesterol (23.28%, P < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol (24.70%, P<0.05). As there is a change in plasma lipid profile of leukemia patients, the plasma lipid profile may be used as adjuvant for identification of the disease along with the standard diagnostics tools.