Research Progress of Nervonic Acid Biosynthesis

Abstract

opportunities for its future development. Physicochemical properties of NANA (24:1, n-9) is an omega-9 monounsaturated longchain fatty acid, also known as cis-15-docosatetraenoic acid due to its cis-unsaturated bond at the C 15 position (Fig. 1) . It is a monounsaturated analog of lignoceric acid (24:0) and exists as an extension product of oleic acid (18:1, n-9) . Its immediate precursor is erucic acid (22:1, n-9) . The molecular formula of NA is C 24 H 46 O 2 , the relative molecular mass is 366.621, the melting point is 42-43℃, and the density is 0.9 g/cm 3 . It is non-polar but irritating. NA is insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol and forms flake white crystals at room temperature 7) . Natural Sources of NANA can be found in various natural sources, such as microorganisms, algae, plants and animals (Table 1) . Some microorganisms, such as Francisella tularensis 8) , Neu-Abstract: Nervonic acid (NA) is a very-long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid with great application values. It plays a vital role in the development of brain nervous system and the treatment of neurological diseases, so it has attracted much attention from all walks of life. Although NA has a wide range of sources, its current acquisition methods are still mainly relied on chemical synthesis and plant extraction, which are challenging to meet the market and green industry demands, limiting its development and application. In recent years, with the rapid development of synthetic biology technology, NA biosynthesis has become an alternative production strategy. In this study, we summarize the physicochemical properties, pharmacological activities, resources, biosynthetic pathways and heterologous biosynthesis of NA, and discuss the challenges and prospects of NA biosynthesis. The application prospects of cell-free systems and retrobiosynthesis in NA synthesis were also reviewed.

Relationships between erythrocyte membrane mono- and poly- unsaturated fatty acid composition and clinical/cognitive indices in antipsychotic-free schizophrenia patients

“…In this context, n-6/n-3 ratio has been frequently used, since it has been found to be related to several negative health consequences, such as promotion of chronic inflammation ( 12 , 13 ). Meanwhile, OA can also exert anti-inflammatory effects ( 14 ) and NA can activate the antioxidant system ( 15 ), these are considered to compensate for deficiencies in essential FAs and their metabolites.…”