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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Crop Improvement and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #238035

Title: Ratios of Fatty Acids at the sn-2 Position of Triacylglycerols Containing Dihydroxy Fatty Acids in Castor Oil by Mass Sprectrometry

Author
item Lin, Jiann

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/11/2009
Publication Date: 9/27/2009
Citation: Lin, J.T. 2009. Ratios of Fatty Acids at the sn-2 Position of Triacylglycerols Containing Dihydroxy Fatty Acids in Castor Oil by Mass Sprectrometry. World Congress on Oils and Fats and 28th ISF congress, September 27-30, Sydney, Australia. p. 106.

Interpretive Summary: Ricinoleate, a monohydroxy fatty acid in castor oil, has many industrial uses. Dihydroxy fatty acids and triacylglycerols containing dihydroxy fatty acids have different physical and chemical properties from those of monohydroxy fatty acids and normal fatty acids, and can be used in industry for different purposes. We have previously identified twelve acylglycerols containing dihydroxy fatty acids in castor oil. The structures of the three dihydroxy fatty acids were also proposed. In this report, the contents of fatty acids at the different locations on the glycerol backbone were determined. The information could help to understand the biosynthesis of acylglycerols containing dihydroxy fatty acids as well as to develop the new industrial uses.

Technical Abstract: The triacylglycerols (TAG) containing dihydroxy fatty acids have been recently identified by mass spectrometry in castor oil. These new dihydroxy fatty acids were proposed earlier as 11,12-dihydroxy-9-octadecenoic acid (diOH18:1), 11,12-dihydroxy-9,13-octadecadienoic acid (diOH18:2) and 11,12-dihydroxyoctadecanoic acid (diOH18:0). The ratios of the contents of fatty acids at the sn-2 position of the TAG were estimated by fragment ions from the loss of fatty acids at the sn-2 position as a,ß-unsaturated fatty acids by electro spray ionization-mass spectrometry of the lithium adducts (MS3). The content of regio-isomeric diOH18:1-OH18:1-diOH18:1 (ABA, with two identical fatty acids) was about 92 % in the total of stereo-isomeric diOH18:1-OH18:1-diOH18:1, OH18:1-diOH18:1-diOH18:1 and diOH18:1- diOH18:1-OH18:1 combined. The approximate contents of other regio-isomers were as follows: diOH18:1-OH18:1-OH18:1 (92%), diOH18:1-diOH18:0-diOH18:1 (91%), diOH18:2-OH18:1-OH18:1 (80%) and diOH18:0-OH18:1-OH18:1 (96%). The ratios of the three different fatty acids at the sn-2 position of TAG (ABC, with three different fatty acids) were estimated as about 7:1:2 (OH18:1 : diOH18:1 : diOH18:2) in the total of the six stereo-isomeric TAG containing these three fatty acids combined, and about 7:2:1 (OH18:1 : diOH18:0 : diOH18:1) in the total of the six stereo-isomeric TAG containing these three fatty acids combined. Ricinoleate (OH18:1) was predominately at the sn-2 position of TAG (AAB and ABC) containing dihydroxy fatty acids and the dihydroxy fatty acids were mainly at the sn-1,3 positions in castor oil.