OLEIC ACID SYNTHESIS BY A PARTICULATE PREPARATION FROM DEVELOPING CASTOR OIL SEEDS

1. 1. Oleic acid was the major fatty acid formed from either acetyl-CoA or malonyl-CoA by a particulate subcellular fraction from developing castor oil seeds. 2. 2. Required cof actors, with optimum concentrations, for acetyl-CoA as substrate were: ATP, 1 mM; Mn2+, 0.5 mM; HCO3-, > 20 mM; NADPH, < 0.1 mM and NADH, 0.5 mM. With malonyl-CoA as substrate NADPH, 0.1 mM, NADH, 0.3 mM and acetyl-CoA, < 9 mM were required. 3. 3. While oleic acid was the major product formed from either acetyl-CoA or malonyl-CoA when both NADH and NADPH were included in the incubation, stearic acid was the chief product in the presence of NADH alone. 4. 4. O2 was required for synthesis of oleic acid. In its absence, stearic acid was formed. © 1969.