Open AccessFatty‐Acid Synthesis in Lactating‐Goat Mammary Gland 1. Medium‐Chain Fatty‐Acid Synthesis
Author(s) -
GRUNNET Inger,
KNUDSEN Jens
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1979.tb12989.x
Subject(s) - fatty acid , biochemistry , mammary gland , milk fat , chemistry , microsome , long chain , fatty acid synthesis , food science , biology , enzyme , cancer , breast cancer , polymer science , genetics , linseed oil
Tissue slices from lactating goat‐mammary gland synthesized short (C 4:0 and C 6:0 ), medium (C 8:0 and C 10:0 ) and long‐chain (C 12:0 to C 16:0 ) fatty acids in proportions similar to that found in goat milk fat. In contrast, the particle‐free supernatant fraction and the purified fatty acid synthetase from this tissue synthesized predominantly short‐chain and long‐chain fatty acids. Terminating acyl‐thioesterases of low molecular weight could not be detected in the particle‐free supernatant. Addition of the microsomal fraction to the particle‐free supernatant induced the synthesis of medium‐chain fatty acids in proportions which were similar to those found in goat milk fat.