Scientists are developing a precise tool for identifying omega position in lipids

It is known that Omega-3 fatty acids are an important part of a healthy diet. Because people cannot produce them, they must be consumed in sufficient quantities. However, omega -6, -7, -9 and -10 acids also play an important role in fat metabolism. These numbers indicate the position of the first double bond in the fatty acid chain. Dinging in the omega position can signal the abnormal effect of the enzyme or pathological metabolic processes, such as those occurring in cancer. Now scientists from the University of Graz and the University of California in San Diego present in a new, effective method of determining the position of omega lipids – a scientific term for fats – in complex biological samples, including human tissues and blood.

In the case of omega-3 lipids, the first double bond is found on the third carbon atom from the end of the fatty acid chain, hence the number in the name.

Many enzymes in our bodies can only use fatty acids with specific positions of double bonds. Incorrect metabolic processes, such as those occurring in cancer, cardiovascular disease or autoimmune disorders, often entail changes in omega lipids. “

Jürgen Hartler, head of Computational Pharmacology Research Group, University of Graz

Therefore, a closer look at this structural function is very important. “Among the enzymes that act specifically on fatty acids with certain double bonds, phospholipase distinguishes inflammation. This new method now enables the study of these biological mechanisms in unprecedented details, “adds Edward Dennis, a professor of chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology at the University of California, San Diego.

New computer method

Until now, identification of the omega position intact lipids is a challenge in complex biological samples. Only a few research groups around the world had access to the required specialized analytical tools, such as the Evelyn Rampler group at the University of Vienna. Hartler, Dennis and their teams, in cooperation with Rampler, are now introducing a new calculation method. “Our database, combined with the developed software, provides omega lipid positions in routine mass spectrometry methods coupled with chromatography,” Leonid Lamps, the first author of the publication, sums up this innovation. In this way, scientists around the world will gain access to this key information that will significantly speed up lipid research. The lamp adds: “In addition, our method turned out to be much more sensitive than previous approaches, thanks to which information about omega position is available even to lipids in very low concentrations.” Gosia Murawska, the co -existing author of the publication, gives an example: “CPLA is a key enzyme among phospholipaz₂. He has been examined for decades. Now I allowed us to prove that CPLA₂ In particular, it transforms miadic acid, omega-9 fatty acid. This shows that our method is an indispensable milestone for the development of precise therapeutic strategies, such as inflammatory diseases. “