Seeds of the tung tree (Vernicia fordii) produce large quantities of triacylglycerols (TAGs) containing ;80% eleostearic acid, an unusual conjugated fatty acid. We present a comparative analysis of the genetic, functional, and cellular properties of tung type 1 and type 2 diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGAT1 and DGAT2), two unrelated enzymes that catalyze the committed step in TAG biosynthesis. We show that both enzymes are encoded by single genes and that DGAT1 is expressed at similar levels in various organs, whereas DGAT2 is strongly induced in developing seeds at the onset of oil biosynthesis. Expression of DGAT1 and DGAT2 in yeast produced different types and proportions of TAGs containing eleostearic acid, with DGAT2 possessing an enhanced propensity for the synthesis of trieleostearin, the main component of tung oil. Both DGAT1 and DGAT2 are located in distinct, dynamic regions of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and surprisingly, these regions do not overlap. Furthermore, although both DGAT1 and DGAT2 contain a similar C-terminal pentapeptide ER retrieval motif, this motif alone is not sufficient for their localization to specific regions of the ER. These data suggest that DGAT1 and DGAT2 have nonredundant functions in plants and that the production of storage oils, including those containing unusual fatty acids, occurs in distinct ER subdomains.

The seed oil derived from the tung (Aleurites fordii Hemsl.) tree contains approximately 80% ␣-eleostearic acid (18: 3⌬ 9cis,11trans,13trans ), an unusual conjugated fatty acid that imparts industrially important drying qualities to tung oil. Here, we describe the cloning and functional analysis of two closely related ⌬ 12 oleate desaturase-like enzymes that constitute consecutive steps in the biosynthetic pathway of eleostearic acid. Polymerase chain reaction screening of a tung seed cDNA library using degenerate oligonucleotide primers resulted in identification of two desaturases, FAD2 and FADX, that shared 73% amino acid identity. Both enzymes were localized to the endoplasmic reticulum of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv Bright-Yellow 2) cells, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction revealed that FADX was expressed exclusively within developing tung seeds. Expression of the cDNAs encoding these enzymes in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) revealed that FAD2 converted oleic acid (18:1⌬ 9cis ) into linoleic acid (18:2⌬ 9cis,12cis ) and that FADX converted linoleic acid into ␣-eleostearic acid. Additional characterization revealed that FADX exhibited remarkable enzymatic plasticity, capable of generating a variety of alternative conjugated and ⌬ 12 -desaturated fatty acid products in yeast cells cultured in the presence of exogenously supplied fatty acid substrates. Unlike other desaturases reported to date, the double bond introduced by FADX during fatty acid desaturation was in the trans, rather than cis, configuration. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that tung FADX is grouped with ⌬ 12 fatty acid desaturases and hydroxylases rather than conjugases, which is consistent with its desaturase activity. Comparison of FADX and other lipid-modifying enzymes (desaturase, hydroxylase, epoxygenase, acetylenase, and conjugase) revealed several amino acid positions near the active site that may be important determinants of enzymatic activity.Conjugated fatty acids are naturally occurring compounds that have specialized uses in nutraceutical and industrial applications. For example, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a potent anticancer compound present in foods derived from ruminant animals (Belury, 2002). This bioactive fatty acid (predominantly the 18:2⌬ 9cis,11trans isomer) is synthesized by rumen bacteria and then absorbed by the animal and concentrated in milk fat or adipose tissue. Rumen bacteria also synthesize 18:1⌬ 11trans , which can be absorbed and then desaturated by an animal stearoyl-CoA desaturase to produce CLA (Corl et al., 2001). Conjugated fatty acids such as ␣-eleostearic acid (18:3⌬ 9cis,11trans,13trans ) have recently shown promise for anticancer applications (Igarashi and Miyazawa, 2000;Kohno et al., 2002), as well as serum lipidlowering effects in mammals (Koba et al., 2002). Oils containing ␣-eleostearic acid may also be used for industrial drying applications. Tung oil, which is derived from seeds of the tung tree (Aleurites fordii Hemsl.), is commonly used in formulations of inks, dyes,...

The dicaffeoylquinic acids (DCQAs) and dicaffeoyltartaric acids (DCTAs) are potent and selective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase. They also inhibit HIV-1 replication at nontoxic concentrations. Since integrase is an excellent target for anti-HIV therapy, structure-activity relationships were employed to synthesize compounds with: (1) improved potency against HIV-1 integrase, (2) improved anti-HIV effect in tissue culture, and (3) increased selectivity as indicated by low cellular toxicity. Thirty-four analogues of the DCTAs and DCQAs were synthesized and tested for cell toxicity, anti-HIV activity, and inhibition of HIV-1 integrase. Seventeen of the 34 analogues had potent activity against HIV-1 integrase ranging from 0. 07 to >10 microM. Seventeen analogues that were synthesized or purchased had no inhibitory activity against integrase at concentrations of 25 microM. Of the biologically active analogues, 7 of the 17 inhibited HIV replication at nontoxic concentrations. The most potent compounds were D-chicoric acid, meso-chicoric acid, bis(3,4-dihydroxydihydrocinnamoyl)-L-tartaric acid, digalloyl-L-tartaric acid, bis(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-L-tartaric acid, dicaffeoylglyceric acid, and bis(3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetyl)-L-tartaric acid. Anti-HIV activity of the active compounds in tissue culture ranged from 35 to 0.66 microM. Structure-activity relationships demonstrated that biscatechol moieties were absolutely required for inhibition of integrase, while at least one free carboxyl group was required for anti-HIV activity. These data demonstrate that analogues of the DCTAs and the DCQAs can be synthesized which have improved activity against HIV integrase.

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Raw, freshly cooked, stored and recooked beef muscle samples were assessed by chemical, instrumental and sensory methods of analyses for flavor quality, with particular emphasis on warmed-over flavor (WOF). The character notes used by a trained sensory panel to describe WOF were cardboardy, rancid, stale, and metallic. Samples analyzed by direct gas chromatography utilizing either packed or fused silica capillary columns showed that compounds usually associated with lipid oxidation reactions could be used as marker compounds to follow the development of WOF. Of the many compounds that appeared to be markers, hexanal and 2,3-octanedione as well as total volatiles showed a highly significant degree of correlation when compared to sensory scores and 2-thiobar bituric acid (TBA) numbers. Many of the volatile compounds that were identified in WOF meat samples were also found in the distillates prepared for the TBA reaction.

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Tung oil is an industrial drying oil containing ca. 90% PUFA. We previously reported on enzymes required for the synthesis of linoleic (6% of FA) and eleostearic (80%) acids and here describe the cloning and functional analysis of an omega-3 FA desaturase (FAD3) required for the synthesis of linolenic acid (1%). The tung FAD3 cDNA was identified by screening a tung seed cDNA library using the polymerase chain reaction and degenerate primers encoding conserved regions of the FAD3 enzyme family. Expression of this cDNA in yeast cells, cultured in the presence of linoleic acid, resulted in the synthesis and accumulation of linolenic acid, which accounted for up to 18% w/w of total cellular FA. Tung FAD3 activity was significantly affected by cultivation temperature, with the greatest amount of linolenic acid accumulating in yeast cells grown at 15°C. The amount of linolenic acid synthesized in yeast cells by tung FAD3 is ca. 10-fold higher than that observed by expression of a rapeseed (Brassica napus) FAD3 in yeast, suggesting that tung FAD3 might be useful for biotechnological production of omega-3 FA in transgenic organisms. EXPRESSION OF TUNG FAD3 IN YEAST CELLS 651 JAOCS, Vol. 81, no. 7 (2004) FIG. 4. Northern blot analysis of tung FAD3 gene expression in tung leaf or seed tissue. (A) Total RNA (15 µg) was isolated from either tung seed or leaf tissue, then size-fractionated on an agarose gel, transferred to membrane, and probed with labeled tung FAD3 under stringent wash conditions. (B) Ethidium bromide-stained gel of total RNA demonstrating equal loading of samples. See Figure 1 for abbreviation.