This thesis examines fatty acid (FA) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) dynamics in a marine top predator, the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus,) and their transfer during lactation from mother to offspring. It examines regional and annual variations in FA composition and PCB loads, and also how the physical and chemical characteristics of these molecules (e.g. their polarity and size) can affect the rates of accumulation, mobilization and transfer of specific FAs or PCBs. Two UK grey seal colonies (North Rona (NR) and Isle of May (IOM) were studied during three consecutive years (1996-1998 and 2004-2006). Lactating grey seals and their pups were repeatedly captured during the lactation period and sampled for blubber, serum and milk and analysed for FAs and PCBs. Overall, the two colonies were clearly distinguished from each other, suggesting that the main prey species had different FA composition, and possibly that the seals from these colonies had different diets . These differences are probably a direct consequence of differences in prey community structure in the two regions where seals from these two colonies are thought to feed. Within each colony, annual differences could be detected between some years but not between others. During 1996-98, IOM seals showed a clear change in their FA profiles while NR seals did not. In contrast, during 2004-2006 NR seals showed a clear change while IOM seals did not. The changes observed in IOM during 1996-1998 are consistent with the large-scale regime shift that occurred in the North Sea during the 1990‟s. The relative proportions of each FA that were mobilized from blubber and transferred to the milk during lactation were very similar between colonies, and could be explained to a large degree by their physico-chemical properties. For a given carbon chain length the mobilization increased with increasing number of double bonds; and for a given number of double bonds the mobilization decrease with increasing carbon chain length. However, the mobilization also appeared to be influenced by the specific nutritional requirements of the growing pups. For instance, FAs that are considered essential for pup development or efficient energy storage (e.g. saturated FAs) were more highly mobilised than expected. This selectivity was also reflected in the FA composition of the different body compartments (maternal blubber and milk, pup blubber) that persisted throughout lactation. These changes were also similar between the colonies. Colonies could also be clearly distinguished by their blubber PCB profiles. IOM seals had higher total concentrations on average than NR seals (1327.9 vs. 680.2 ng/g lipid in 2005 and 1199.7 vs. 819.0 ng/g lipid in 2006). IOM seals also had higher total amounts in both years (79.2 vs. 38.0 mg in 2005 and 61.7 vs. 53.4 mg in 2006). One of the main differences between colonies was that females from IOM had higher concentrations of highly chlorinated congeners than NR seals. PCB concentrations in blubber increased towards the end of lactation. Serum and milk PCB concentrations also increased rapidly, especially for the highly chlorinated congeners. These results were consistent with other studies showing the increase in concentrations as a result of lipid loss. Serum concentrations stayed constant during the first part of lactation and increased at late lactation. This was also observed in milk PCB concentrations. The changes in the PCB profiles in the three body compartments were very similar between colonies. However IOM seals always had higher total concentrations of PCBs in all of the body compartments. The concentrations of individual congeners relative to PCB-153 showed that blubber contained higher proportions of the highly chlorinated PCBs relative to other tissues. There were no clear changes in these proportions in blubber during lactation, but the relative proportions of highly chlorinated PCB In serum and milk increased throughout lactation while the less chlorinated PCBs stayed constant. The highly chlorinated PCBs were found in lower concentration in the milk compared to the less chlorinated compounds suggesting a selective release from blubber to blood and a selective transfer of PCBs to the milk.

Introdução Os recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso (<1.500g) necessitam de aporte adequado de nutrientes para desenvolver-se satisfatoriamente. O leite humano é fundamental na sua alimentação, já que possui uma composição nutricional balanceada que inclui nutrientes essenciais, tais como os ácidos graxos poli-insaturados, incluindo os ácidos ômega 3 e 6, de extrema importância para o desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso central e retina. No entanto, apenas o leite materno pode não ser suficiente para suprir essas necessidades, necessitando, portanto, de suplementação. Atualmente, surgiu a possibilidade de adequação do leite humano acrescido de um concentrado com liofilizado do próprio leite humano, que foi desenvolvido neste trabalho. Objetivos determinar a quantidade de lipídios totais e o perfil lipídico do Leite Humano Baseline (LHB) e dos Concentrados com o liofilizado de Leite Humano em diferentes momentos (Leite Humano concentrado no período imediato - LHCI, Leite Humano concentrado no período de 3 meses - LHC3m e Leite Humano concentrado no período de 6 meses - LHC6m). Métodos Foram obtidas 50 amostras de leite humano de mulheres doadoras do Banco de Leite Humano da FMRP-USP que aceitaram participar do estudo. A quantificação de lipídeos ocorreu pelo Analisador de Leite Humano MIRIS® e o perfil de ácidos graxos foi determinado por CG-FID, SHIMADZU®. Resultados Houve uma concentração de lipídios totais no LHCI em relação ao LHB; a concentração (% em relação ao total de ácidos graxos) dos ácidos foi de: palmítico (C16:0) 22,30% LHB, 21,46% LHCI, 21,54% LHC3m e 21,95% LHC6m (p<0,01); oleico (C18:1n-9) 30,41% LHB, 30,47% LHCI, 30,55% LHC3m e 29,79% LHC6m (p=0,46); linoléico (C18:2 n-6) 19,62% LHB, 19,88% LHCI, 19,49% LHC3m e 19,45% LHC6m (p=0,58); araquidônico (C20:4 n-6) 0,35% LHB, 0,16% LHCI, 0,13% LHC3m e 0,15% LHC6m (p<0,01); ?- linolênico (C18:3 n-3) 1,32% LHB, 1,37% LHCI, 1,34% LHC3m e 1,34% LHC6m (p=0,14); docosahexaenóico (C22:6 n- 3) 0,10% LHB, 0,06% LHCI, 0,05% LHC3m e 0,06% LHC6m (p<0,01). Há modificações específicas em alguns ácidos graxos, no entanto a somatória de ácidos graxos por suas classes estruturais não apresentam diferenças. Conclusão Apesar das pequenas diferenças encontradas no perfil lipídico, o concentrado com leite humano liofilizado é um alimento que pode vir a atender as necessidades do recém-nascido, já que houve aumento dos lipídios totaise preservação dos nutrientes essenciais presentes apenas no leite materno, mas estudos clínicos ainda precisam ser feitos para avaliar a segurança e eficácia do concentrado como alimentação dos recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso. / Introduction Very low birth weight infants (<1,500 g) require adequate nutrient intake to develop satisfactorily. Human milk is essential in its diet, since it has a balanced nutritional composition that includes essential nutrients, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega 3 and 6 acids, of extreme importance for the development of the central nervous system and retina. However, only breast milk may not be sufficient to meet these needs, thus requiring supplementation. Nowadays, the possibility of adapting the human milk plus a concentrate with lyophilized from the human milk itself, which was developed in this work, has arisen. Objectives To determine the amount of total lipids and the lipid profile of Human Baseline Milk (LHB) and Concentrates with human milk lyophilized at different times (Human Milk Concentrated in the immediate period - LHCI, Concentrated Human Milk in the 3-month period - LHC3m and Human Milk Concentrated in the 6-month period - LHC6m). Methods Fifty samples of human milk from women donors of the Human Milk Bank of FMRP-USP who were accepted to participate in the study were obtained. Lipid quantification was performed by the MIRIS® Human Milk Analyzer and the fatty acid profile was determined by CG-FID, SHIMADZU®. Results There was a total lipid concentration in LHCI relative to LHB; the concentration (% of total fatty acids) of the acids was: palmitic (C16: 0) 22.30% LHB, 21.46% LHCI, 21.54% LHC3m and 21.95% LHC6m (p <0) , 01); oleic acid (C18: 1n-9) 30.41% LHB, 30.47% LHCl, 30.55% LHC3m and 29.79% LHC6m (p = 0.46); linoleic acid (C18: 2 n-6) 19.62% LHB, 19.88% LHCI, 19.49% LHC3m and 19.45% LHC6m (p = 0.58); arachidonic (C20: 4 n-6) 0.35% LHB, 0.16% LHCl, 0.13% LHC3m and 0.15% LHC6m (p <0.01); ?-linolenic acid (C18: 3 n-3) 1.32% LHB, 1.37% LHCI, 1.34% LHC3m and 1.34% LHC6m (p = 0.14); (C22: 6 n-3) 0.10% LHB, 0.06% LHCl, 0.05% LHC3m and 0.06% LHC6m (p <0.01). There are specific modifications in some fatty acids, however the sum of fatty acids by their structural classes do not present differences. Conclusion Despite the small differences found in the lipid profile, the concentrate with freeze-dried human milk is a food that can meet the needs of the newborn, since there was an increase in total lipids and preservation of essential nutrients present only in breast milk, butclinical studies still need to be done to evaluate the safety and efficacy of concentrate as a feed for very low birth weight infants.

Introdução Os recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso (<1.500g) necessitam de aporte adequado de nutrientes para desenvolver-se satisfatoriamente. O leite humano é fundamental na sua alimentação, já que possui uma composição nutricional balanceada que inclui nutrientes essenciais, tais como os ácidos graxos poli-insaturados, incluindo os ácidos ômega 3 e 6, de extrema importância para o desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso central e retina. No entanto, apenas o leite materno pode não ser suficiente para suprir essas necessidades, necessitando, portanto, de suplementação. Atualmente, surgiu a possibilidade de adequação do leite humano acrescido de um concentrado com liofilizado do próprio leite humano, que foi desenvolvido neste trabalho. Objetivos determinar a quantidade de lipídios totais e o perfil lipídico do Leite Humano Baseline (LHB) e dos Concentrados com o liofilizado de Leite Humano em diferentes momentos (Leite Humano concentrado no período imediato - LHCI, Leite Humano concentrado no período de 3 meses - LHC3m e Leite Humano concentrado no período de 6 meses - LHC6m). Métodos Foram obtidas 50 amostras de leite humano de mulheres doadoras do Banco de Leite Humano da FMRP-USP que aceitaram participar do estudo. A quantificação de lipídeos ocorreu pelo Analisador de Leite Humano MIRIS® e o perfil de ácidos graxos foi determinado por CG-FID, SHIMADZU®. Resultados Houve uma concentração de lipídios totais no LHCI em relação ao LHB; a concentração (% em relação ao total de ácidos graxos) dos ácidos foi de: palmítico (C16:0) 22,30% LHB, 21,46% LHCI, 21,54% LHC3m e 21,95% LHC6m (p<0,01); oleico (C18:1n-9) 30,41% LHB, 30,47% LHCI, 30,55% LHC3m e 29,79% LHC6m (p=0,46); linoléico (C18:2 n-6) 19,62% LHB, 19,88% LHCI, 19,49% LHC3m e 19,45% LHC6m (p=0,58); araquidônico (C20:4 n-6) 0,35% LHB, 0,16% LHCI, 0,13% LHC3m e 0,15% LHC6m (p<0,01); ?- linolênico (C18:3 n-3) 1,32% LHB, 1,37% LHCI, 1,34% LHC3m e 1,34% LHC6m (p=0,14); docosahexaenóico (C22:6 n- 3) 0,10% LHB, 0,06% LHCI, 0,05% LHC3m e 0,06% LHC6m (p<0,01). Há modificações específicas em alguns ácidos graxos, no entanto a somatória de ácidos graxos por suas classes estruturais não apresentam diferenças. Conclusão Apesar das pequenas diferenças encontradas no perfil lipídico, o concentrado com leite humano liofilizado é um alimento que pode vir a atender as necessidades do recém-nascido, já que houve aumento dos lipídios totaise preservação dos nutrientes essenciais presentes apenas no leite materno, mas estudos clínicos ainda precisam ser feitos para avaliar a segurança e eficácia do concentrado como alimentação dos recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso. / Introduction Very low birth weight infants (<1,500 g) require adequate nutrient intake to develop satisfactorily. Human milk is essential in its diet, since it has a balanced nutritional composition that includes essential nutrients, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega 3 and 6 acids, of extreme importance for the development of the central nervous system and retina. However, only breast milk may not be sufficient to meet these needs, thus requiring supplementation. Nowadays, the possibility of adapting the human milk plus a concentrate with lyophilized from the human milk itself, which was developed in this work, has arisen. Objectives To determine the amount of total lipids and the lipid profile of Human Baseline Milk (LHB) and Concentrates with human milk lyophilized at different times (Human Milk Concentrated in the immediate period - LHCI, Concentrated Human Milk in the 3-month period - LHC3m and Human Milk Concentrated in the 6-month period - LHC6m). Methods Fifty samples of human milk from women donors of the Human Milk Bank of FMRP-USP who were accepted to participate in the study were obtained. Lipid quantification was performed by the MIRIS® Human Milk Analyzer and the fatty acid profile was determined by CG-FID, SHIMADZU®. Results There was a total lipid concentration in LHCI relative to LHB; the concentration (% of total fatty acids) of the acids was: palmitic (C16: 0) 22.30% LHB, 21.46% LHCI, 21.54% LHC3m and 21.95% LHC6m (p <0) , 01); oleic acid (C18: 1n-9) 30.41% LHB, 30.47% LHCl, 30.55% LHC3m and 29.79% LHC6m (p = 0.46); linoleic acid (C18: 2 n-6) 19.62% LHB, 19.88% LHCI, 19.49% LHC3m and 19.45% LHC6m (p = 0.58); arachidonic (C20: 4 n-6) 0.35% LHB, 0.16% LHCl, 0.13% LHC3m and 0.15% LHC6m (p <0.01); ?-linolenic acid (C18: 3 n-3) 1.32% LHB, 1.37% LHCI, 1.34% LHC3m and 1.34% LHC6m (p = 0.14); (C22: 6 n-3) 0.10% LHB, 0.06% LHCl, 0.05% LHC3m and 0.06% LHC6m (p <0.01). There are specific modifications in some fatty acids, however the sum of fatty acids by their structural classes do not present differences. Conclusion Despite the small differences found in the lipid profile, the concentrate with freeze-dried human milk is a food that can meet the needs of the newborn, since there was an increase in total lipids and preservation of essential nutrients present only in breast milk, butclinical studies still need to be done to evaluate the safety and efficacy of concentrate as a feed for very low birth weight infants.

Foram utilizadas 144 galinhas poedeiras da linhagem Shaver White por um período de quatro semanas, com o intuito de verificar o efeito da adição de 3% dos óleos de soja, milho, canola, linhaça, salmão ou da mistura de sardinha e atum na dieta das aves, sobre a composição dos ácidos graxos na gema dos ovos e no plasma sanguíneo das aves, bem como o tempo de incorporação total de cada ácido graxo na gema dos ovos durante o período experimental. Paralelamente foram avaliados, o desempenho das aves e a qualidade externa dos ovos. Para análise estatística dos resultados empregou- se modelo fatorial 6X6 em blocos casualizados sendo as aves distribuídas em 72 gaiolas. A adição de 3% de óleo de salmão ou de milho à ração determinou redução significativa no consumo alimentar. O tratamento que recebeu 3% de óleo de salmão promoveu menor peso da casca dos ovos (g) bem como menor espessura da casca (mm). A inclusão dos óleos de linhaça, soja ou milho à dieta, determinou aumento dos ácidos graxos poliinsaturados na gema e no plasma das galinhas. A adição de óleo de sardinha e atum proporcionou maiores concentrações de ácidos graxos saturados na gema. Os teores de PUFAs n-3 foram maiores nas gemas do tratamento a base de óleo de sardinha, enquanto que no plasma a maior concentração foi observada no tratamento com óleo de linhaça. O óleo de linhaça proporcionou o maior teor de ácido &alpha;-linolênico incorporado à gema e no plasma sanguíneo. As quantidades de EPA na gema e no plasma mostraram-se maiores no grupo que recebeu 3% de óleo de sardinha e atum que, por sua vez, também foram responsáveis pelos mais elevados teores de DHA na gema dos ovos. Já com relação ao plasma, as maiores concentrações de DHA foram observadas nos grupos alimentados com óleos de salmão e sardinha/atum. Os PUFAs diminuíram na gema até o oitavo dia experimental, enquanto que os PUFAs n-3 aumentaram até este dia. Os teores de ácido &alpha;-linolênico foram crescentes até o décimo dia de experimento, enquanto que as concentrações de EPA e DHA aumentaram até o oitavo dia de experimento. / Hundred forty-four Shaver White laying hens were used over a 4 week experimental period to investigate the effect of 3% of soybean oil, corn oil, canola oil, flaxseed oil, salmon oil or tuna and sardine oil added to the diets, upon the fatty acid egg yolk composition, blood plasma levels and incorporation time of each fatty acid into the egg yolk. Reproductive performance of hens and external egg quality were evaluated. Hens were allocated into 72 cages and the experimental design was a 6X6 randomized factorial model. Hens fed 3% salmon or corn oil diet showed a significant reduction of food consumption, eggshell weight (g) and eggshell thickness (mm). The addition of flaxseed, soybean or corn oil into the diet increased the polyunsaturated fatty acids levels into the egg yolk and in the blood plasma. Adding tuna and sardine oil into the diet increased the concentration of yolk saturated fatty acids. The levels of PUFAs n-3 were increased in the tuna and sardine oil treatment, while the flaxseed oil increased the plasma fatty acids. The deposition of &alpha;-linolenic fatty acids was higher in the group fed flaxseed oil The percentage of EPA into the yolk and plasma was higher for the hens fed 3% tuna and sardine oil diet, as well as the levels of yolk DHA. The concentration of DHA into the plasma was higher for the salmon and tuna/sardine oil treatments. The PUFAs yolk decreased during the first eight days of experiment, while the PUFAs n-3 increased during the same period. The concentration of &alpha;-linolenic acid increased until ten days of experiment, while the percentage of EPA and DHA increased up to the eighth experimental day.

<p>Insulin sensitivity is related to the fatty acid profile of skeletal muscle. The aim of this thesis was to investigate whether physical activity and dietary fat quality, independent of each other, influence the fatty acid composition of the skeletal muscle lipids. In an intervention study where middle-aged men were exercising for six weeks, and in a cross-sectional study comparing sedentary with endurance trained young men, it was demonstrated that the fatty acid composition of skeletal muscle lipids differed between physical active and inactive men. In brief, a lower proportion of palmitic acid (16:0) and total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and a higher proportion of stearic (18:0) and oleic acid (18:1n-9) and total n-3 PUFA in the muscle phospholipids were associated with physical activity, despite similar fatty acid composition of the diet. In the second study, that included a larger training volume, differences in the fatty acid profile were also found in the skeletal muscle triglycerides. </p><p>In contrast, after short-term supra-maximal exercise we found no significant changes in the proportion of the fatty acids in skeletal muscle. </p><p>Furthermore, after a treatment period of three months, with diets with various dietary fat quality, the proportions of saturated fatty acids (14:0, 15:0 and 17:0) were higher and the proportion of 18:1 n-9 lower in subjects with a high intake of saturated fatty acids compared with subjects with a high intake of monounsaturated fatty acids. In addition subjects given n-3 supplementation had a higher proportion of total n-3 PUFA and lower n-6 PUFA in the skeletal muscle phospholipids than controls. Differences similar to those observed in the phospholipids were found in the triglycerides. </p><p>In summary, these results suggest that regular aerobic physical activity and dietary fat quality influence the fatty acid composition of the skeletal muscle lipids, which may affect insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. </p>

Insulin sensitivity is related to the fatty acid profile of skeletal muscle. The aim of this thesis was to investigate whether physical activity and dietary fat quality, independent of each other, influence the fatty acid composition of the skeletal muscle lipids. In an intervention study where middle-aged men were exercising for six weeks, and in a cross-sectional study comparing sedentary with endurance trained young men, it was demonstrated that the fatty acid composition of skeletal muscle lipids differed between physical active and inactive men. In brief, a lower proportion of palmitic acid (16:0) and total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and a higher proportion of stearic (18:0) and oleic acid (18:1n-9) and total n-3 PUFA in the muscle phospholipids were associated with physical activity, despite similar fatty acid composition of the diet. In the second study, that included a larger training volume, differences in the fatty acid profile were also found in the skeletal muscle triglycerides. In contrast, after short-term supra-maximal exercise we found no significant changes in the proportion of the fatty acids in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, after a treatment period of three months, with diets with various dietary fat quality, the proportions of saturated fatty acids (14:0, 15:0 and 17:0) were higher and the proportion of 18:1 n-9 lower in subjects with a high intake of saturated fatty acids compared with subjects with a high intake of monounsaturated fatty acids. In addition subjects given n-3 supplementation had a higher proportion of total n-3 PUFA and lower n-6 PUFA in the skeletal muscle phospholipids than controls. Differences similar to those observed in the phospholipids were found in the triglycerides. In summary, these results suggest that regular aerobic physical activity and dietary fat quality influence the fatty acid composition of the skeletal muscle lipids, which may affect insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis.

During the 21 day incubation period, the fertile egg provides nutrients such as fatty acids for energy and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for membrane synthesis to the developing chick. The hypothesis tested in the present study is that the type of PUFA fed to the breeder hen can alter tissue lipid composition and PUFA metabolism in the progeny during growth. The objective of the present study was to test two different sources of PUFA (n-3 or n-6) on: 1) egg production, egg, and chick quality; and 2) changes in tissue PUFA composition and metabolism in progeny during growth. Fertilized eggs (n=240) were collected from Ross breeder hens (n=45) fed one of the three experimental diets containing 3.5% fish (long chain n-3), flax (18:3 n-3), or safflower oil (18:2 n-6). The egg and yolk weight was lowest for eggs from hens fed fish oil (P=0.09, P=0.02). The chick weight on day of hatch was 41.2, 45.3, and 43.3g, for fish, flax, and safflower, respectively (P=0.003). In the second experiment fertilized eggs were collected from Lohman Brown layer hens (n=75) fed a control, high n-3, or low n-3 diet. Chicks were raised up to day 14 on a control diet lacking long-chain n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. Chick tissue samples (gastrointestinal tract, liver, and blood) were collected on day 1, 7, and 14 and were subjected to fatty acid (FA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) analysis. The long-chain n-6 to long chain n-3 ratio was lowest in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and liver from chicks hatched from fish oil fed hens (P<0.001) up to day 14. Interleukin-6 was lowest in liver (P=0.009) and serum on day of hatch, for fish oil chicks. The results from this study show that the diet fed to breeder hens alters progeny tissue PUFA composition and lipid metabolism during early development in avians. The long term effects of maternal diet manipulation on progeny growth and lipid metabolism need to be investigated in detail. / Graduation date: 2013

This thesis entitled ‘ Unusual Acylation Properties of Type II Fatty Acid Biosynthesis Acyl Carrier Proteins’ describes the discovery of self-acylation and malonyl transferase activity in acyl carrier proteins involved in type II fatty acid biosynthesis and assigns a physiological role to these processes inside the cellular milieu. Acyl carrier protein (ACP) is one of the most abundant proteins present inside the cell and almost 4% enzymes require it as a cofactor. Acyl carrier proteins can exist either as discrete proteins or as domains of large functional proteins. They function in a variety of synthases as central molecules to which growing acyl intermediates and nascent product molecules are covalently tethered during the elongation and modification steps required to produce the final product. A prototypical bacterial ACP is composed of 70-80 amino acids and is generally expressed in the apo form. It is post-translationally modified to active holo form by the addition of 4'-phosphopantetheine moiety to an absolutely conserved serine residue in a reaction catalyzed by holo-ACP synthase or 4'-phosphopantetheine transferase. Chapter 1 surveys literature related to carrier proteins inside the cell and describes the thesis objective. It also presents an overview of the acyl carrier proteins and their involvement in various metabolic pathways inside the cell. The chapter details the structural organization of acyl carrier proteins from various sources revealing the conservation in their structure and also details the molecular basis of interaction of ACP with other enzymes inside the cell. The discovery of unusual self-acylation property in acyl carrier proteins involved in polyketide biosynthesis and its absence in acyl carrier proteins involved in fatty acid biosynthesis prompted me to investigate the reasons for this selective behavior. Discovery of self-acylation property in acyl carrier proteins Plasmodium falciparum and chloroplast targeted Brassica napus acyl carrier proteins involved in type II fatty acid biosynthesis and the mechanism of this reaction forms the basis of Chapter 2. In this chapter it has been shown that self-acylation property is intrinsic to a given acyl carrier protein and is not dependent on the pathway in which it is involved. Based on primary sequence analysis and site directed mutagenesis studies presence of an aspartate/glutamate has been identified to be critical for the self-acylation event. Furthermore, it has also been shown that the self-acylation event in type II fatty acid biosynthesis acyl carrier proteins is highly specific in nature employing only dicarboxylic acid –CoAs as substrates unlike the polyketide biosynthesis acyl carrier proteins which utilize both dicarboxylic acid and β-keto acid thiol ester -CoAs as substrates. The detailed kinetics of these reactions has also been worked out. Combining all the results a plausible mechanism for the self-acylation reaction has been proposed. Chapter 3 describes the discovery of a novel malonyl transferase behavior in acyl carrier proteins involved in type II fatty acid biosynthesis. Malonyl transferase property in ACPs of type II FAS from a bacterium (Escherichia coli), a plant (Brassica napus) and a parasitic protozoon (Plasmodium falciparum) were investigated to present a unifying paradigm for the mechanism of malonyl transferase behavior in ACPs. Identification of malonyl transferase property in Plasmodium falciparum ACP and Escherichia coli ACP (EcACP) and the absence of this property in Brassica napus ACP has been described in this chapter. Detailed investigations demonstrated that presence of an arginine or a lysine in loop II and an arginine or glutamine at the start of helix III as the residues that are critical for the transferase activity. In order to assign a physiologic function to these unusual acylation properties, fabD(Ts) mutant strain of Escherichia coli was utilized for heterologous complementation by the various wild type and mutant ACPs that are able to catalyze either or both of the activities. Growth of the mutant strain at non-permissive temperature, when complemented with ACPs catalyzing both the reactions confirmed that these properties have a physiologic relevance. Extensive mutagenesis experiments in conjunction with complementation studies allowed me to propose a plausible mechanism on how the self-malonylation and malonyl transferase properties operate in tandem. Chapter 4 describes the thermodynamic characterization of self-acylation process using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry. Isothermal Titration Calorimetric studies on the binding of malonyl, succinyl, butyryl and methylmalonyl –CoA to Plasmodium falciparum and Brassica napus acyl carrier proteins were performed to investigate the role of thermodynamic parameters in the specificity of self-acylation reaction. Calculation of the parameters showed that the thermodynamics does not control the self-acylation reaction. The evolution of self-acylation property in various acyl carrier proteins and its possible significance in the evolution of various metabolic events is described in Chapter 5. Extensive bioinformatics search was performed and phylogenetic analysis on acyl carrier proteins from 60 different taxa was done using the MEGA4 program. Analysis showed that this property was first found in cyanobacterium. Later, during the course of evolution this property was lost in most acyl carrier proteins, and was retained either in acyl carrier proteins that are targeted to organelles of cyanobaterial orgin viz. apicoplast in apicomplexans and chlorplasts in plants or in acyl carrier proteins involved in secondary metabolic events such as polyketide biosynthesis. Chapter 6 summarizes the findings of the thesis. Acyl carrier protein from Plasmodium falciparum, Brassica napus and Escherichia coli were characterized for their self-acylation and malonyl transferase properties and a combined mechanism for these two properties is proposed. The work done also provides an in vivo rationale to these in vitro processes. Furthermore, the evolutionary significance of the self-acylation behavior is also discussed in the thesis. The thesis also probes into the thermodynamics of the self-acylation reaction in Plasmodium falciparum and Brassica napus acyl carrier proteins. Thus, the thesis adds a new dimension to the much unexplored ACP biology and paves the way to study in vivo roles of these processes in detail. Appendix I describes the Isothermal Titration calorimetric characterization of binding of various acyl-PO4 molecules to Escherichia coli PlsX (Acyl-phosphate acyltransferase). PlsX, the first enzyme of phosphatidic acid biosynthesis pathway catalyzes the conversion of acyl-ACP into acyl-PO4, which is further used by other enzymes leading to the formation of phosphatidic acid. ITC results presented in this section show that longer chain length acyl-PO4 molecules show better binding to PlsX, as compared to the smaller ones demonstrating that long chain acyl molecules serve as better substrates for phosphatidic acid synthesis.

Current feed formulations within the aquaculture industry have tended to rely on high dietary lipid thus offsetting relatively expensive protein as a source of energy. In this way, protein can be ‘spared’ for synthesis of new tissue and the high lipid content can also fulfil both fish and consumer essential fatty acid (EFA) requirements. However, the main disadvantage of feeding high lipid levels to farmed fish is a surplus of fat deposition in the flesh and other important tissues, which can detrimentally impact on quality characteristics central to the human consumer. However, based on previous work in other animal models, it is entirely feasible that supplementation of the diet with bioactive fatty acids such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA) may mitigate the deleterious effects of feeding farmed fish high fat diets by reducing fat deposition in particular. The general objective of this research work was to test the hypothesis that CLA and/or TTA could augment growth, reduce fat deposition and enhance fatty acid composition via incorporation of these bioactive fatty acids, and increase n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) levels in the flesh of commercially important fish species such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). This project also considered the influence of CLA and TTA on enzymes and transcription factors thought to be pivotal in lipid metabolism and fatty acid oxidation in particular. A subsidiary aim of this research work was to investigate the immunological impact of dietary CLA and TTA administration in these fish. The results of this project have revealed that the hypothesis was only partly proved. There was no effect in growth or biometry after either CLA or TTA supplementation in any of the fish species investigated. Additionally, there were few physiologically significant effects on fat levels on fish as a result of TTA or CLA administration. However, there were a number of effects on fatty acid metabolism including inhibition of steroyl coenzyme desaturase (SCD) in cod and trout in particular and also enhancement of hepatic n-3 HUFA levels in trout. Importantly, it was determined that both TTA and CLA could be incorporated into the flesh thus providing a vehicle through which these bioactive fatty acids can be delivered to the consumer. There were also a number of beneficial effects on activity and gene expression of a number of enzymes and transcription factors thought to be fundamental to the modulation of fatty acid oxidation in particular. However, the effects on gene transcription and biochemistry had little impact at the whole body level. This research work also showed that there were no detrimental effects on immune status after supplementation with dietary CLA or TTA. Conclusively, this thesis has contributed to the overall understanding of the influence of dietary CLA and TTA in farmed fish.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2000. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 126 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-115).