THE LIPOXYGENASE PATHWAY IN GARLIC (ALLIUM-SATIVUM L) BULBS - DETECTION OF THE NOVEL DIVINYL ETHER OXYLIPINS

Incubations of [1-C-14]linoleic acid or [1-C-14]-(9Z,11E, 13S)-13-hydropero xy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (13-HPOD) with juice of garlic bulbs lead to the formation of one predominant labelled product, viz,, the novel divinyl ether (9Z,11E, 1'E)-12-(1'-hexenyloxy )-9,11-dodecadienoic acid ('etheroleic acid'). With lesser efficiency [1-14C]alpha-linolenic acid or [1-C-14](9Z,11E, 13S,15Z)-13-hydroperoxy-9,11,15-octadecatrienoic acid (13-HPOT) are converted in this way into (9Z,11E,1'E,3'Z)-12-(1',3'-hexadienyloxy)-9,11-dodecadienoic acid ('etherolenic acid'), Thus, garlic bulbs possess the activity of a ne rv 13-hydroperoxide-specific divinyl ether synthase.