Biosynthesis of cyclopropyl long-chain fatty acids from cyclopropanecarboxylic acid by mammalian tissues in vitro

Abstract

1. Radioactivity from cyclopropane[14C]carboxylic acid is incorporated into fatty acids in vitro by rat and guinea-pig adipose tissue, by rat liver slices and by the supernatant fraction of rat liver homogenate. 2. The labelled acids are different from endogenous straight-chain fatty acids, and evidence is produced that they consist of a cyclopropyl ring in the ω-position, the remainder of the chain being built up from C2 units (not derived from cyclopropanecarboxylic acid) in the normal way via the malonate pathway. 3. It is suggested that these unnatural acids have some metabolic effect related to the hypoglycaemic action of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid.