Large-scale preparation of (9Z,12E)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid, (9Z,12Z,15E)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid and their [1-(13)C] all-cis isomers.

Several grams of labelled trans linoleic and linolenic acids with high chemical and isomeric purities (>97%) have been prepared for human metabolism studies. A total of 12.5 g of (9Z, 12E)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid and 6.3 g of (9Z,12Z, 15E)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid were obtained in, respectively, seven steps (7.8% overall yield) and 11 steps (7% overall yield) from 7-bromo-heptan-1-ol. The trans bromo precursors used for the labelling were synthesised by using copper-catalysed couplings. The trans fatty acids were then obtained via the nitrile derivatives. A total of 23.5 g of (9Z,12Z)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9, 12-dienoic acid and 10.4 g of (9Z,12Z,15Z)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9,12, 15-trienoic acid were prepared in five steps in, respectively, 32 and 18% overall yield. Large quantities of bromo and chloro precursors were synthesised from the commercially available acid according to Barton's procedure. In all cases, the main impurities (>0.5%) of each labelled fatty acid have been characterised.

Effects of three trans isomers of eicosapentaenoic acid on rat platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid metabolism.

Three trans isomers of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were added to rat platelets stimulated with arachidonic acid (AA) in order to compare their effects on platelet aggregation and on AA oxygenation with those of EPA. The production of metabolites from radiolabelled 20:5delta 17trans was studied also. EPA induced an inhibition of platelet aggregation of 26.7 +/- 6.6% for a 20:5/20:4 ratio equal to 1. The 20:5delta 11trans and the 20:5delta 11trans,17trans were twice as antiaggregant. In contrast, the 20:5delta 17trans induced similar antiaggregant effect as its cis homologue. Each fatty acid showed a dose-dependent effect. In opposition to EPA, 20:5delta 17trans was also able to induce platelet aggregation (12 +/- 4.9% at 5 microM). With regards to the metabolism of AA, 20:5delta 11trans, 20:5delta 17trans and 20:5delta 11trans,17trans (20:5/20:4 = 1) reduced the formation of the cyclooxygenase metabolites (-63%, -37% and -68%, respectively) and enhanced that of 12-HETE (+67%, +38% and +74%, respectively) as compared to EPA. The analysis showed that radiolabelled 20:5delta 17trans was metabolized into five compounds which remained to be identified. The Rf of three of these compounds (X1, X2 and X4) were those of the metabolites of EPA. Experiments using baicalein induced an inhibition of the production of X2. This suggested that this compound was formed through the 12-lipoxygenase pathway. In the same way, using indomethacin as inhibitor, we observed that X1 and X4 were produced by the cyclooxygenase pathway. Our results suggest that the trans double bond in the delta 11 position may be responsible of the different physiological effects of the trans polyunsaturated fatty acids as compared to their cis homologue (EPA). Furthermore, 20:5delta 17trans seems to be recognised by the enzymatic system as 20:4 n-6.

In vitro desaturation or elongation of monotrans isomers of linoleic acid by rat liver microsomes.

Several nutritional studies have shown the in vivo conversion of the 9c, 12t-18:2 and 9t, 12c-18:2 into long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) containing 20 carbons (geometrical isomers of eicosadienoic and eicosatetraenoic acids). In the present work, some in vitro studies were carried out in order to have precise information on the conversion of these two isomers. In a first set of experiments, studies were focused on the in vitro delta6 desaturation, the first regulatory step of the biosynthesis of n-6 long chain PUFA, from 9c, 12c-18:2. Rat liver microsomes were prepared and incubated under desaturation conditions with [1-14C]-9c, 12c-18:2 in presence of unlabelled 9c, 12t-, 9t, 12c- or 9t, 12t-18:2. The data show that each trans isomer induced a decrease of the delta6 desaturation of the [1-14C]-9c, 12c-18:2, but the 9c, 12t-18:2 was the most potent inhibitor (up to 63%). Rat liver microsomes were also incubated with [1-14C]-9c, 12c-18:2, [1-14C]-9c, 12t-18:2 or [1-14C]-9t, 12c-18:2 under desaturation conditions. The results indicated that 18:2 delta9c, 12t is a much better substrate for desaturase than 9t, 12c-18:2. Moreover, the conversion levels of [1-14C]-9c, 12t-18:2 was similar to what was observed for its all cis homologue, at low substrate concentration only. In a second set of experiments, in vitro elongation studies of each mono-trans 18:2 isomer and 9c, 12c-18:2 were carried out. For that purpose, rat liver microsomes were incubated with [1-14C]-9c, 12c-18:2, [1-14C]-9c, 12t-18:2 or [1-14C]-9t, 12c-18:2 underelongation conditions. The data show that [1-14C]-9t, 12c-18:2 is betterelongated than 9c, 12c-18:2 while the amount of product formed from [1-14C]-9c, 12t-18:2 was lower than was produced from the 9c, 12c-18:2. Thus, the desaturation enzymes presented a higher affinity for the 9c, 12t-18:2 whereas the elongation enzyme presented a higher affinity for the 9t, 12c-18:2.

Oxidative metabolism of [1-14C] mono-trans isomers of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids in the rat.

Trans polyunsaturated fatty acids are formed during processing of vegetable oils such as deodorization and frying. The oxidative metabolism of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids and of their mono-trans isomers (9cis,12trans-18:2, 9trans,12cis-18:2 and 9cis, 12cis,15trans-18:3, 9trans,12cis,15cis-18:3, respectively) was studied in fasting rats. A single dose of 18.5 MBq of each [1-14C] labelled fatty acid (260 microg) was orally given to the animals. The 14CO2 expired was monitored during 24 h. Radioactive countings of the CO2-trapping agent were performed at regular intervals up to 24 h after oral administration of the radiolabelled fatty acid. Radioactive countings were also performed on several tissues (liver, heart, brain, kidneys, sus-epidydimal fat, gastrocnemian muscle, gastrointestinal tract and carcass). The 14CO2 production 24 h after oral administration of the fatty acid ranged from 55.5% to 68.7% of the radioactivity administered for the C18:2 isomers and from 69.7% to 73.5% for the C18:3 fatty acids. From 6 to 24 h, 14CO2 recovery was significantly higher after oral administration of 9cis, 12trans-18:2 than after giving both other octadecadienoic isomers. 14C retention per gram of tissue in the liver and in the heart was significantly lower after feeding 9cis,12trans-18:2 than after administration of both other C18:2 isomers. 14C retention per gram of tissue in the muscle was significantly lower after administration of both trans C18:2 isomers compared to linoleic acid. Neither 14CO2 recoveries nor 14C retentions were significantly different after administration of the three octadecatrienoic acids. The difference observed in 14CO2 recovery within the dienes was probably not due to a higher specificity of the enzymes involved in the beta-oxidation sequence for the Delta12trans double bond, as previously reported. Indeed, due to the labelling of the fatty acids on the carboxyl end, 14C values recorded in the CO2-trapping agent were only due to the first cycle of beta-oxidation.

Conversion of 18:3 delta 9cis, 12cis, 15trans in rat liver microsomes.

Several years ago, it was established that the delta 15 trans isomer of alpha-linolenic acid is converted in vivo into fatty acids containing 20 and 22 carbons (geometrical isomers of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids). The present study focused on the in vitro delta 6 desaturation, the first step of the biosynthesis of the n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from 18:3n-3. For that purpose, rat liver microsomes were prepared and incubated with radiolabeled 18:3 delta 9cis,12cis,15cis (18:3c,c,c) or 18:3 delta 9cis, 12cis, 15trans (18:3c,c,t) under desaturation conditions. The data show that 18:3c,c,t is converted at a lower rate compared with alpha-linolenic acid. The product of conversion of 18:3c,c,t may be 18:4 delta 6cis, 9cis, 12cis, 15trans resulting from a delta 6 desaturation of the trans substrate. Moreover, the conversion of radiolabeled 18:3c,c,t was strongly decreased by the presence of 18:3c,c,c (up to 48%) while the 18:3c,c,t only slightly decreased the conversion of radiolabeled 18:3c,c,c. Thus, the desaturation enzyme presented a higher affinity for the native all-cis n-3 substrate.

Suicide inactivation of cytochrome P450 by midchain and terminal acetylenes. A mechanistic study of inactivation of a plant lauric acid omega-hydroxylase.

Incubation of Vicia sativa microsomes, containing cytochrome P450-dependent lauric acid omega-hydroxylase (omega-LAH), with [1-(14)C]11-dodecynoic acid (11-DDYA) generates a major metabolite characterized as 1,12-dodecandioic acid. In addition to time- and concentration-dependent inactivation of lauric acid and 11-DDYA oxidation, irreversible binding of 11-DDYA (200 pmol of 11-DDYA bound/mg of microsomal protein) at a saturating concentration of 11-DDYA was observed. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed that 30% of the label was associated with several protein bands of about 53 kDa. The presence of beta-mercaptoethanol in the incubate reduces 1,12-dodecandioic acid formation and leads to a polar metabolite resulting from the interaction of oxidized 11-DDYA with the nucleophile. Although the alkylation of proteins was reduced, the lauric acid omega-hydroxylase activity was not restored, suggesting an active site-directed inactivation mechanism. Similar results were obtained when reconstituted mixtures of cytochrome P450 from family CYP4A from rabbit liver were incubated with 11-DDYA. In contrast, both 11- and 10-DDYA resulted in covalent labeling of the cytochrome P450 2B4 protein and irreversible inhibition of activity. These results demonstrate that acetylenic analogues of substrate are efficient mechanism-based inhibitors and that a correlation between the position of the acetylenic bond in the inhibitor and the regiochemistry of cytochromes P450 oxygenation is essential for enzyme inactivation.

Effects of a trans isomer of arachidonic acid on rat platelet aggregation and eicosanoid production.

The addition of a trans isomer of arachidonic acid (20:4 delta 14trans) to rat platelet suspensions inhibited the aggregation induced by 7.5 microM of arachidonic acid. This inhibitory effect of 20:4 delta 14trans was significant at concentrations of 7.5-22.5 microM and the range of inhibition was 20% at an inhibitor/substrate ratio (I/S) 1 to 66% when I/S reached 3. However, the addition of its structural homolog (20:3n-9) or the natural isomer (20:4n-6) did not induce any modification of the platelet aggregation. In parallel, adding 20:4 delta 14trans to the platelet significantly decreased thromboxane B2 and 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid production. In contrast, the 12-lipoxygenase pathway was stimulated, as 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid production increased up to 55% when the I/S reached 3. 20:3n-9, not being a substrate of the cyclooxygenase, did not induce any significant modification in the formation of thromboxane B2 and 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid. 20:4 delta 14t alone did not induce any platelet aggregation. However, this fatty acid was metabolized to a limited extent into two products that have still to be identified. One of them would be a product of the 12-lipoxygenase pathway.