Journal of Lipid Research · 7 authors, 5 centres
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Using advanced mass spectrometry and enzyme inhibition, this in vitro study discovered that key desaturase enzymes in macrophage cells have a broader activity than previously known, creating unusual fatty acid structures through both established and novel pathways.
This preclinical study employed charge-tagging Paternò-Büchi derivatization with reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to perform deep profiling of total fatty acids in RAW 264.7 macrophages. By combining this method with desaturase inhibition, the researchers confirmed the identities of fatty acids with unusual double bond positions. The results reveal that FADS2 Δ6-desaturation can generate n-11 double bonds in odd-chain monounsaturated fatty acids, while SCD1 Δ9-desaturation yields n-6, n-8, and n-10 in odd-chain and n-5, n-7, and n-9 in even-chain monounsaturated fatty acids. Additionally, n-7 and n-9 families of polyunsaturated fatty acids were identified, indicating that specific monounsaturated fatty acids serve as substrates for further desaturation and elongation. A limitation is that the findings are derived from a single cell line in vitro, and further work is required to determine their biological impact.
