ARS | Publication request: PRODUCTION OF NOVEL FATTY ACIDS THROUGH BIOCATALYSIS

Submitted to: United States Japan Natural Resources Protein Panel
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 25, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Production of hydroxy fatty acids has drawn much attention recently. The hydroxy group gives a fatty acid special properties, such as higher viscosity and reactivity. Hydroxy fatty acids are important industrial materials. Previously, we reported the production of a trihydroxy unsaturated fatty acid, a plant self-defense substance, from linoleic acid by Clavibactor ALA2 enzyme system. There were four additional products produced by this ALA 2 system using linoleic acid as substrate. Two of them were identified as 13,16-epoxy-7,12-dihydroxy-9(Z)- octadecenoic acid and 13,16-epoxy-12-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid. Most recently, we found that the remaining two products were novel diepoxy bicyclic unsaturated fatty acids. These novel fatty acids are: 12,17;13,17-diepoxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid and 12,17;13,17-diepoxy-7-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid. These products have interesting new structure. Details of structure determination as well as their relationship in the biosynthetic pathway will be discussed.