Abstract
Fatty acid compositions of neutral lipids (NL) and polar lipids (PL) have been analyzed for a unique sample of Ophiuroidea (brittle star) Ophiura sarsi containing novel nonmethylene-interruped (NMI) fatty acids, 7E,13E-icosadienoic (20:2), 7E,13E,17Z-icosatrienoic (20:3), 9E,15E,19Z-docosatrienoic (22:3), and 4Z,9E,15E,19Z-docosatetraenoic (22:4) acids. All of the NMI fatty acids were concentrated in NL (mainly triacylglycerols) rather than in PL (mainly phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines). On the other hand, 6,9,12,15,18,21-tetracosahexaenoic acid (24:6n-3) usually observed in Ophiuroidea lipids was found in PL at higher concentration than in NL. Biological property and origin of the novel NMI fatty acids appear to be different from those of 24:6n-3.
