Metabolism of odd-numbered fatty acids in Ochromonas danica

Detection of Lipid Degradation Products in the Water of a Reservoir During a Bloom of Synura uvella

A stripping method was used to determine the volatile compounds present in the raw water of a reservoir during a heavy bloom of Synura uvella. Besides numerous pollution products, a large number of previously unidentified algal excretion products were determined, including alkenes, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and nor-carotenoids. The approximate amounts of some important algal excretion products present in the raw water are stated. Their biosynthetic origin and possible function in the ecosystem are discussed. The offensive cod liver oil-like odor which Synura imparts to the raw water was traceable to trans,cis -deca-2,4-dienal and minor amounts of trans,cis -hepta-2,4-dienal.

Necessity of vitamin B12 for growth of rats fed on an odd- or even-carbon-number fat

1. The effect of vitamin B12 on growth was studied in young male and female rats fed on diets sufficient (+B12) or deficient (-B12) in vitamin B12 containing 30% of the dietary energy as fat, either maize oil (CO) or triundecanoin (TUD). 2. Vitamin B12 deficiency severely depressed growth. After 6 weeks the weight gain of CO(-B12) rats was only 72% of that of CO(+B12) rats and the gain of TUD(-B12) rats was only 47% of TUD(+B12) rats. 3. After fasting 24 or 96 h TUD-fed rats, both +B12 and -B12, had greater glycogen reserves and higher plasma glucose levels than CO-fed rats. 4. It is concluded that vitamin B12 is required for the metabolism and utilization of both an odd-carbon-number medium-chain fat, TUD, and an even-C-number long-chain fat, CO, during growth in rats.