The effects of temperature, reaction time, and substrate concentration on the incorporation of decanoic acid (DA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), into cocoa butter, were compared, using an immobilized enzyme derived from Rhizomucor miehei. All variables had an effect on incorporation of DA and ALA into cocoa butter but effects were not equivalent for the two fatty acids. Thus, DA was not an adequate model fatty acid for the incorporation of ALA into cocoa butter. The highest ALA incorporation achieved was 77.3±1.3. Samples with ALA incorporated were prepared as “pure” and “blends”, and these exceeded the milk and dark chocolate Canadian Food and Drug Regulation guidelines for products making omega-3 fatty acid content claims. The highest %TAG content, 97.3±1.0%, was achieved for the 11.9wt% “blend” sample. Differential scanning calorimetry suggested that both “pure” and “blend” samples contained mainly form IV and V, with much smaller quantities of form II polymorphs.

The biological activity of α-linolenic acid (ALA) is poorly understood and primarily associated with its conversion to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This study used the Δ6 desaturase knockout (D6KO) mouse, which lacks Δ6 desaturase and therefore cannot convert ALA, to evaluate the independent effects of ALA on preventing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). First, the capacity of very long chain fatty acids to rescue the D6KO lipid profile was established. Next, to evaluate the independent effects of ALA, D6KO or wild-type mice were fed diets containing lard, canola, flaxseed, or fish oil. Following treatment, liver phospholipid fatty acid composition was evaluated and livers were scored for steatosis and inflammation. Glucose tolerance was also evaluated. D6KO mice fed ALA-rich diets had lower liver lipid accumulation, lower hepatic inflammation (8 weeks) and improved glucose tolerance (20 weeks) relative to lard-fed D6KO mice. Overall, this thesis supports an independent biological role for ALA. / D.W.L. Ma is funded by the Canola Council of Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canada Foundation for Innovation Leaders Opportunity Fund with matching from the Ontario Research Fund; Jessica Monteiro is funded Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

Breast cancer molecular subtypes, based on expression of estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptors, alter prognosis and treatment options. α-linolenic acid (ALA) is a complementary therapy, however its effectiveness across breast cancer types and estrogen environments is unclear. This research determined the effect of ALA on growth, apoptosis, fatty acid profile, and gene changes in four breast cancer cell lines with varying receptor expression with or without (±) estradiol (E2). ALA (50-200uM) ± E2 reduced growth in all cell lines. 75μM ALA +E2 increased phospholipid % ALA in all cell lines and induced apoptosis in cell lines lacking the three receptors. Cellular % ALA was positively associated with apoptosis and inversely associated with cell growth. ALA altered expression of cell cycle, apoptosis and signal transduction genes. In conclusion, ALA incorporates into breast cancer cells, reduces growth and induces apoptosis regardless of receptor status or E2 level.

Breast cancer molecular subtypes, based on expression of estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptors, alter prognosis and treatment options. α-linolenic acid (ALA) is a complementary therapy, however its effectiveness across breast cancer types and estrogen environments is unclear. This research determined the effect of ALA on growth, apoptosis, fatty acid profile, and gene changes in four breast cancer cell lines with varying receptor expression with or without (±) estradiol (E2). ALA (50-200uM) ± E2 reduced growth in all cell lines. 75μM ALA +E2 increased phospholipid % ALA in all cell lines and induced apoptosis in cell lines lacking the three receptors. Cellular % ALA was positively associated with apoptosis and inversely associated with cell growth. ALA altered expression of cell cycle, apoptosis and signal transduction genes. In conclusion, ALA incorporates into breast cancer cells, reduces growth and induces apoptosis regardless of receptor status or E2 level.

The aim of my thesis was to verify the technology of rearing common carp (Cyprinius carpio) with increased levels of omega 3 fatty acids. The technology was tested in 2010 and 2011. A mixture of KP Len and cereal was used for the experiment in 2010. In 2011, the fish were divided into three groups The first group was fed a mixture of KP Len, the second a type of cereal, and the third was kept on natural feed. The technology was carried out under the conditions of the Czech fishery industry. During the entire growing period the course of growth was monitored as part of the framework of regular checks and the parameters of the quality of water was measured. The main descriptive characteristics was the fat content and composition of fatty acids. The combination of KP Len achieved a significantly higher content of PUFA than the group of fish receiving cereals in 2010 and in 2011. When comparing groups of fish fed a mixture of KP Len and those fed natural feed in 2011, no statistically significant differences in PUFA were detected. In 2010 the fish fed a mixture of KP Len reached the highest content of EPA and DHA. On the contrary, in 2011 the significantly highest content was detected in the muscle of fish kept on natural feed.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:39:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 731854 bytes, checksum: 4c122a7309d2868902ca66fc7edfe89f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-25 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The use of the soybean oil for industrial and nutritional purposes is defined by the composition of the fatty acids present in the seeds, which directly affect the physical and chemical characteristics and the nutritional value of the oil produced. The reduction of the linolenic acid content is associated with the increase of the oxidative stability and the improvement of the oil taste. This work takes part in the soybean breeding program of the BIOAGRO/UFV and its objective was to achieve productive soybean lineages, with low content of linolenic acid, having as donator the American access A29. For such, the following stages were carried out: (1) non-destructive analysis of the linolenic content of seeds in two contrasting F2 populations for this characteristic; (2) selection of seeds with lower contents of linolenic acid of each crossing; (3) evaluation of the genetic variability, herdabilities, selection gains, predicted and realized, for the content of linolenic acid in both F2 populations studied; (4) performance of the fingerprinting of the F2 plants selected with microsatellite markers; (5) confirmation of the low content of linolenic acid present in the F3 seeds; (6) determination of the genetic divergence between recurrent parents and parents that are donators of alleles that condition the low content of linolenic acid; (7) selection, with the help of molecular markers, of hybrids derivative from genotypes which are genetically more similar to the lineages of the COODETEC, and which confirmed the linolenic acid low content condition in the F3 seeds. Both F2 populations presented high heritabilities for the linolenic acid content, suggesting that they are adequate for the achievement of gains for the low content of linolenic acid, and that the selection can be performed in precocious generations. Only the F2 population of the A29 x Tucunaré crossing presented heritability higher than 50%, when estimated by parent-child regression. Although the F2 population from the A29 x Tucunaré crossing presented higher predicted and realized gains, due to its high genetic variability, the 30 individuals selected presented linolenic acid contents below 2,5%. The different environmental conditions in which the F2 and F3 populations from the A29 x CS303TNKCA crossing were carried out provided a low realized gain. The study on genetic divergence showed that the parents are different from one another, and the genotype A29, donator of alleles for very low linolenic contents, was the most divergent. However, the lineages from the COODETEC were very similar due to the genetic background proximity of such lineages. The DNA fingerprinting allowed the identification of the most similar individuals as to the COODETEC lineages. It was possible to select, in both F2 populations studied, four individuals which are closer to the COODETEC lineages and that confirmed the low contents of linolenic acid in the F3 generation. / A utilização do óleo de soja para fins industriais e nutricionais é definida pela composição dos ácidos graxos presentes nas sementes, que afetam diretamente as características físicas e químicas e o valor nutricional do óleo produzido. A redução do teor de ácido linolênico está associada com aumento da estabilidade oxidativa e melhoria do sabor do óleo. Este trabalho integra parte do programa de melhoramento para a qualidade da soja do BIOAGRO/UFV e teve como objetivo a obtenção de linhagens de soja produtivas, com baixo teor de ácido linolênico tendo como doador o acesso norte-americano A29. Para isso, foram realizadas as etapas de: (1) análise não destrutiva do teor de ácido linolênico de sementes em duas populações F2 contrastantes para esta característica; (2) seleção das sementes com menor teor de ácido linolênico de cada cruzamento; (3) avaliação da variabilidade genética, herdabilidades, ganhos de seleção, predito e realizado, para teor de ácido linolênico nas duas populações F2 estudadas; (4) realização de fingerprinting das plantas F2 selecionadas com marcadores microssatélites; (5) confirmação do baixo teor de ácido linolênico nas sementes F3; (6) determinação da divergência genética entre progenitores recorrentes e progenitores doadores de alelos que condicionam o baixo teor de ácido linolênico; (7) seleção de híbridos derivados de genótipos geneticamente mais similares às linhagens da COODETEC com auxílio de marcadores moleculares e que confirmaram a condição de baixo teor de ácido linolênico nas sementes F3. As duas populações F2 apresentaram herdabilidades altas para teor de ácido linolênico sugerindo que são adequadas para a obtenção de ganhos para baixo teor de ácido linolênico, e que a seleção pode ser efetuada em gerações precoces. Somente a população F2 do cruzamento entre A29 x Tucunaré apresentou herdabilidade acima de 50%, quando estimada por meio da regressão pai/filho. Apesar da população F2 do cruzamento entre A29 x Tucunaré ter apresentado maiores ganhos predito e realizado, devido à alta variabilidade genética desta população, os 30 indivíduos selecionados tinham teores de ácido linolênico abaixo de 2,5%. As diferentes condições ambientais em que foram conduzidas as populações F2 e F3 do cruzamento entre A29 x CS303TNKCA promoveram baixo ganho realizado. O estudo da divergência genética evidenciou que os progenitores são divergentes entre si, sendo o genótipo A29, doador de alelos para baixíssimos teores de linolênico, o mais divergente, entretanto, as linhagens da COODETEC foram bastante similares entre si devido à proximidade do background genético dessas linhagens. O fingerprinting de DNA possibilitou a identificação dos indivíduos mais similares em relação às linhagens da COODETEC. Foi possível selecionar, nas duas populações F2 estudadas, quatro indivíduos mais próximos das linhagens da COODETEC e que confirmaram baixos teores de ácido linolênico na geração F3.

Orientador: Vera Lucia Garcia Rehder / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T17:07:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos_PauloEuzebioRubbodos_M.pdf: 8287880 bytes, checksum: 81821aafe849e03ea5711f1686603c72 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: O resumo poderá ser visualizado no texto completo da tese digital / Abstract: The abstract is available with the full electronic document / Mestrado / Fármacos, Medicamentos e Insumos para Saúde / Mestre em Biociências e Tecnologia de Produtos Bioativos

Tree peony (Paeonia section Moutan DC.) species are woody oil crops with high unsaturated fatty acid content, including α-linolenic acid (ALA/18:3; >40% of the total fatty acid). Comparative transcriptome analyses were carried out to uncover the underlying mechanisms responsible for high and low ALA content in the developing seeds of P. rockii and P. lutea, respectively. Expression analysis of acyl lipid metabolism genes revealed upregulation of select genes involved in plastidial fatty acid synthesis, acyl editing, desaturation, and triacylglycerol assembly in seeds of P. rockiirelative to P. lutea. Also, in association with ALA content in seeds, transcript levels for fatty acid desaturases (SAD, FAD2, and FAD3), which encode enzymes necessary for polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis, were higher in P. rockii compared to P. lutea. Furthermore, the overexpression of PrFAD2 and PrFAD3 in Arabidopsis increased linoleic and ALA content, respectively, and modulated the final ratio 18:2/18:3 in the seed oil. In conclusion, we identified the key steps and validated the necessary desaturases that contribute to efficient ALA synthesis in a woody oil crop. Together, these results will aid to increase essential fatty acid content in seeds of tree peonies and other crops of agronomic interest.

Pre-treatment with polyunsaturated fatty acids or bioactive lipid mediators has been shown to reduce neuronal injury in rodent models of focal ischaemia, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this neuroprotection are unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether systemic administration of alpha linolenic acid (ALA) leads to changes in the profile of mouse brain phospholipid and bioactive lipid mediators in both mouse brain and plasma within the previously determined neuroprotection time window. Mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) allowed us to detect and identify 47 phospholipids in mouse cerebral cortex, including several phospholipid species not previously reported in brain lipidomic studies. These included a phosphatidylethanolamine species with m/z 720 that has been associated with retinal stem cells. No widespread changes in cerebral cortex phospholipid composition were observed following intravenous ALA. Several significant changes in lipid mediators (P<0.05 with two-way ANOVA and post hoc Dunnett's t test) were detected in ALA-treated animals compared to untreated and vehicle-injected animals. Many of the affected lipid mediators are ligands for prostanoid receptors which have been demonstrated to play a role in the development of brain injury following cerebral ischaemia, implying that changes in bioactive lipid mediators or modulation of prostanoid receptors may occur following ALA pre-treatment in mice. This study illustrates the potential of advanced lipidomic analysis as a novel tool for neurochemists.

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第19047号 / 農博第2125号 / 新制||農||1032 / 31998 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生命科学専攻 / (主査)教授 小川 順, 教授 喜多 恵子, 教授 栗原 達夫 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当