Polyunsaturated fatty acid
The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA ) are fatty acids which contains more than one double bond .
Additional recommended knowledge
Methylene Interrupted Polyenes
These fatty acids have 2 or more cis double bonds which are separated from each other by a single methylene group. (This form is also sometimes called a divinylmethane pattern .) [1]
Methylene- interrupted double bonds
-C-C=C-C-C=C-
The essential fatty acids comprise the omega-3 and -6 methylene-interrupted fatty acids. See more at Essential fatty acids—Nomenclature
Omega-3
Common name
Lipid name
Chemical name
Omega-3 fatty acids
16:3 (n-3)
all-cis 7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic acid
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
18:3 (n-3)
all-cis -9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid
Stearidonic acid
18:4 (n-3)
all-cis -6,9,12,15,-octadecatetraenoic acid
Eicosatetraenoic acid
20:4 (n-3)
all-cis -8,11,14,17-eicosatetraenoic acid
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
20:5 (n-3)
all-cis -5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid
Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, Clupanodonic acid)
22:5 (n-3)
all-cis -7,10,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
22:6 (n-3)
all-cis -4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid
24:5 (n-3)
all-cis -4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid
Nisinic acid
24:6 (n-3)
all-cis -6,9,12,15,18,21-tetracosenoic acid
Omega-6
Common name
Lipid name
Chemical name
Omega-6 fatty acids
Linoleic acid
18:2 (n-6)
all-cis -9,12-octadecadienoic acid
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)
18:3 (n-6)
all-cis -6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid
Eicosadienoic acid
20:2 (n-6)
all-cis -11,14-eicosadienoic acid
Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA)
20:3 (n-6)
all-cis -8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid
Arachidonic acid (AA)
20:4 (n-6)
all-cis -5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid
Docosadienoic acid
22:2 (n-6)
all-cis -13,16-docosadienoic acid
Adrenic acid
22:4 (n-6)
all-cis -7,10,13,16-docosatetraenoic acid
Docosapentaenoic acid (Osbond acid)
22:5 (n-6)
all-cis -4,7,10,13,16-docosapentaenoic acid
Omega-9
Common name
Lipid name
Chemical name
Omega-9 fatty acids, mono- and polysaturated
Oleic acid †
18:1 (n-9)
cis -9-octadecenoic acid
Eicosenoic acid†
20:1 (n-9)
cis -11-eicosenoic acid
Mead acid
20:3 (n-9)
all-cis -5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid
Erucic acid †
22:1 (n-9)
cis -13-docosenoic acid
Nervonic acid†
24:1 (n-9)
cis -15-tetracosenoic acid
† Monounsaturated
Conjugated fatty acids
Conjugated double bonds
-C=C-C=C-
Common name
Lipid name
Chemical name
Conjugated fatty acids have two or more conjugated double bonds
Conjugated Linoleic Acids (two conjugated double bonds)
Rumenic acid
18:2 (n-7)
9Z,11E-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid
18:2 (n-6)
10E,12Z-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid
Conjugated Linolenic Acids (three conjugated double bonds)
α-Calendic acid
18:3 (n-6)
8E,10E,12Z-octadecatrienoic acid
β-Calendic acid
18:3 (n-6)
8E,10E,12E-octadecatrienoic acid
Jacaric acid
18:3 (n-6)
8E,10Z,12E-octadecatrienoic acid
α-Eleostearic acid
18:3 (n-5)
9E,11E,13Z-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid
β-Eleostearic acid
18:3 (n-5)
9E,11E,13E-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid
Catalpic acid
18:3 (n-5)
9Z,11Z,13E-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid
Punicic acid
18:3 (n-5)
9E,11Z,13E-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid
Other
Rumelenic acid
18:3 (n-3)
9E,11Z,15E-octadeca-9,11,15-trienoic acid
α-Parinaric acid
18:4 (n-3)
9E,11Z,13Z,15E-octadeca-9,11,13,15-trienoic acid
β-Parinaric acid
18:4 (n-3)
all trans -octadeca-9,11,13,15-trienoic acid
Bosseopentaenoic acid
20:5 (n-6)
5Z,8Z,10E,12E,14Z-eicosanoic acid
Other Polyunsaturates
Common name
Lipid name
Chemical name
Pinolenic acid
18:3 (n-6)
(5Z,9Z,12Z)-octadeca-5,9,12-trienoic acid
Podocarpic acid
20:3 (n-6)
(5Z,11Z,14Z)-eicosa-5,11,14-trienoic acid
Function and effects
The biological effects of the ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids are largely mediated by their mutual interactions, see Essential fatty acid interactions for detail.
See also
References
Citations
^
Baggott, James (1997). The divinylmethane pattern in fatty acids . Salt Lake City, UT: Knowledge Weavers.
General References
Cyberlipid. Polyenoic Fatty Acids. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
Gunstone, Frank D. Lipid Glossary 2. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
Adlof, R. O. and Gunstone, F. D. (2003-9-17). Common (non-systematic) Names for Fatty Acids. Retrieved on 2007-01-24.
Heinz (1983). "Similarities and Differences in Lipid Metabolism of Chloroplasts Isolated from 18:3 and 16:3 Plants". Plant Physiol 72 (2): 273-279. PMID 16662992.