CHAPTER
The Comparative Aspects of Fatty Acid ,Occurrence
and Distribution
F. B. SHORLAND
Fats Research Laboratory, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research,
Wellington, New Zealand
I. Introduction
2
II. The Naturally Occurring Fatty Acids and Lipids
6
A. Types of Naturally Occurring Fatty Acids
6
B. Classification of Lipids
9
III. Formation of Fatty Acids and Lipids in the Living Organism
15
A. General Considerations
15
B. Formation of Fats in Animals .
15
C. Synthesis of Fats in Higher Plants .
22
D. Synthesis of Fats in Microorganisms
24
IV. Relationships between Types and Distribution of Fatty Acids and Their
Biological Origin
25
A. Introduction
25
B. Fats of Aquatic Species
27
C. Fats of Terrestrial Anin1als .
33
D. Plant Fats .
38
V. Fatty Acid Composition and Mode of Combination .
52
A. Fatty Acids of Waxes and Related Substances .
52
B. Fatty Acids of Phospholipids .
55
VI. Variations in Types and Distribution of Fatty Acids in Different Parts
of the Organism
63
A. Variations in Fatty Acid Composition in Different Parts of Plants
64
B. Variations in Fatty Acid Con1position in Different Parts of Anilnals
65
C. Fatty Acids of Milk Fats
74
D. Fatty Acids of Sebum and Hair .
74
E. Fatty Acids of Nonadipose Tissue Lipids .
80
F. Blood Lipids
81
G. General Conclusions .
81
VII. Theory of Evolution and Fatty Acid Composition
83
A. General Considerations
83
B. The Fatty Acids of Depot Fats of Organisms
84
C. Fatty Acid Composition of Depot Fats in Relation to the Evolution
of Animals .
89
D. Fatty Acids of Waxes, Phospholipids, and Related Substances and
Classification of Organisms
90
E. Concluding Remarks
91
References
92
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