FATTY ACIDS

FATTY ACIDS

• Fatty acids are aliphatic carboxylic acid.
• Classification of Fatty acids– 4 major classes

1. Straight chain fatty acids– most abundant fatty acids in human.

1. Saturated fatty acids- no double bond. General formula C_n H_2n+1 COOH
2. Unsaturated fatty acids– subdivided

        i) Monounsaturated (Monoenoic) fatty acids-single double bond. C_n H_2n-1 COOH

• Monoenoic fatty acids contain double bond at 9^th  position.

        ii) Polyunsaturated fatty acids– two or more double bond. C_n H_{2n- (2x-1)}

E.g. –

No. of C atoms and number & position of double bonds	Family	Common Name	Occurence
Trienoic acids 18:3, 6, 9, 12	ω6	γ-Linolenic	Oil of evening primrose, borage oil, linseed oil
18:3, 9, 12, 15	ω3	α-Linolenic	Linseed oil
Tetraenoic acids 20:4, 5, 8, 11, 14	ω6	Arachidonic acid	Found in animal fats
Hexaenoic acids	ω3	Cervonic	Fish oil, phospholipids in brain, Breast milk
Monoenoic acid 18:1, 9	ω9	Oleic	High in olive oil

2. Branched chain fatty acids

 

3. Substituted fatty acids

4. Cyclic fatty acids

B) According to chain length-

• Short chain length- less than 6 carbon atoms chain
• Medium chain length
• Long chain length

Nomenclature-

• Carbon atoms adjacent to carboxyl carbon- α, β, γ carbons.
• Terminal methyl carbon- ω or n- carbon
• Δ (delta numbering or C- system)

ω-3 fatty acids	ω-6 Fatty acids	ω- 9 fatty acids
Alpha linolenic acids	Linolenic acids	Oleic acids
Clupandonic acid	Gamma linolenic acid	Nervonic acid
Cervonic acid	Arachidonic acid	Elaidic acid

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