Chapter 2 In solution, py(mi)ridinols 1.33, 1.34 and 1.35 are 2-, 5- and 28-fold more reactive antioxidants, respectively, than α-TOH (the most potent lipid-soluble antioxidant in nature). In order to develop a highly-reactive fluorescent indicator of lipid peroxidation in cells, we sought to couple these antioxidants with boron-dipyrro- methene (BODIPY) dyes, such that the resulting conjugates will display a significant fluorecence enhancement upon oxidation. This chapter details efforts towards the synthesis of these compounds. Chapter 3 Lipoxygenases are a family of important enzymes that catalyze the dioxygenation of arachidonic acid to yield a variety of potent lipid mediators that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous degenerative conditions. We have undertaken a preliminary study of the effect of replacing the unsaturation in the related polyunsaturated lipid linoleic acid with cyclopropane rings on both the oxidizability of the lipid, as well as lipoxygenase’s ability to utilize it as a substrate. We anticipate that these analogs will be useful in co-crystallization studies with the enzyme that will provide unique insight into substrate acquisition, binding and the necessary conformation for catalysis. / Thesis (Master, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2011-11-10 16:15:05.643

Gas chromatographic acquisition of representative 'Total' cellular fatty acid profiles from bacteria or bacteria-containing samples (e.g., environmental or clinical materials) tends to be dependent on the method used to released the fatty acids and convert them to derivatives suitable for analysis. Alkaline saponification or interesterification methods, while preserving acid-sensitive components such as cyclopropane fatty acids, are often insufficient to release amide-linked components, such as hydroxylated fatty acids. Acid-catalyzed hydrolyses or interesterifications, on the other hand, while more efficiently releasing the predominantly amide-linked hydroxylated components, have been shown to cause severe and unpredictable degradation of cyclopropane fatty acids. We report studies of a single-tube method involving sequential alkaline/acid release of fatty acids in which fatty acids released by the alkaline step are partitioned into an organic epiphase during the aqueous acid hydrolysis step. After hydrolysis, the epiphase and the released fatty acids are extracted into an hypophasic solvend and esterified at moderate temperature under relatively low acid concentrations. Under these conditions, cyclopropane as well as hydroxylated fatty acids are recovered in high yield.

This study is concerned with certain factors affecting the content of lactobacillic acid in Lactobacillus plantarum. Three main areas of investigation are reported herein. The effects of both the oxygen tension and the pH of the culture medium on the accumulation of lactobacillic acid were determined. In addition, monolayer studies were conducted to determine the influence of cyclopropane fatty acid content on the molecular packing of membrane lipids.

Cyclopropanation of the unsaturated fatty acid moieties of membrane phospholipids is a commonly observed phenomenon in a number of bacterial systems. The cyclopropane fatty acids are usually synthesized during and after the transition from exponential growth to stationary phase, or under such environmental conditions as acidic culture pH, low oxygen tension or high salt concentrations. S-Adenosylmethionine, the ubiquitous methyl group donor, provides the methylene bridge carbon in the reaction catalyzed by cyclopropane fatty acid synthase. Also formed in the reaction is S-adenosylhomocysteine, a potent inhibitor of cyclopropane fatty acid synthase, which is degraded by S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase. This work provides evidence for at least two modes of regulation of lactobacillic acid synthesis, the cyclopropane fatty acid formed from cis-vaccenic acid (cis-11,12-octadecenoic acid), in Lactobacillus piantarum.

<p>The development of a novel charge inversion ion/ion reaction in conjunction with a mass spectrometry technique (collisional induced dissociation (CID)) to induce fragmentation of selected ions species in the gas-phase. The utility of this experiment allows identification of varying saturated and unsaturated classes of glycerophospholipids (GPLs) in a biological matrix. In this work, we are able to characterize GPLs species at the subclass, headgroup, fatty acyl sum compositional levels,  leaving the location(s) of carbon-carbon single bond (C-C), carbon-carbon double bond (C=C), cyclopropane moiety, branching site and differentiate isomeric species. </p> <p><br></p> <p>All data were collected on modified a Sciex QTRAP4000 hybrid triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometer. Briefly, alternately, pulsed nano-electrospray ionization (nESI) was used for ion generation. Deprotonated lipid anions were generated via negative ion mode nESI, mass selected during transit through Q1, and transferred to q2 for storage. Next, the charge inversion (IIRXN) reagent doubly charged magnesium complex cations, were generated via positive ion mode nESI. To facilitate the ion/ion reaction, magnesium complex dictations and lipid anions were simultaneously stored in q2, resulting in the formation of charge-inverted lipid cations. Ion-trap CID of charge-inverted isomers resulted in distinctive fragmentation, facilitating differentiation of isomeric and localization of unsaturation sites in acyl chain constituents. </p>