Mead acid

• (5Z, 8Z, 11Z ) - eicosapentaenoic 5 ,8,11 - trienoic acid
• (5Z, 8Z, 11Z ) -5 ,8,11 - Icosa - trienoic acid
• 20:3 ( ω -9) (lipid Name )

Liquid

Soluble in acetone, ethanol, ethyl acetate and hexane

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Chemically Mead'sche the acid is seen a carboxylic acid having a linear chain of 20 carbon atoms and three cis double bonds. The first double bond begins seen on the ninth carbon from the omega end. In the physiological literature that acid is therefore called the lipid name of 20:3 ( ω -9).

History

The Mead'sche acid belongs to the omega-9 fatty acids and was first described by the biochemist James F. Mead.

Occurrence

Mead'sche the acid is the only polyunsaturated fatty acid, which can produce the human body de novo. An increased incidence of this fatty acid in the blood is an indication of a lack of essential fatty acids. The fatty acid is particularly concentrated in the connective tissue and other little -perfused tissues.

Physiology

By lipoxygenase Mead'sche acid is converted into various hydroxylated products ( HETE ). However, this can not serve as precursors to prostaglandins.

Humans and other mammals need essential fatty acids. If insufficient essential fatty acids are absorbed by the food, especially with a lack of arachidonic acid, the body produces Mead'sche acid by extension and dehydrogenation of oleic acid.

Mead'sche acid thus serves as an indicator of the lack of essential fatty acids. In one study, patients were examined with intestinal fat malabsorption and suspected deficiency of essential fatty acids. Your blood levels of Mead'scher acid was 1263 % higher than in the control group.

Enrichment Mead'scher acid into cells for the decreased expression of E-cadherin and Desmoglein two cell-cell adhesion proteins. In the sequence is made easier by a metastasis of cancer cells.