An Evolutionary Perspective on Linoleic Acid Synthesis in Animals

Evolutionary Biology
Miriama MalcickaJacintha Ellers

Abstract

The diet of organisms generally provides a sufficient supply of energy and building materials for healthy growth and development, but should also contain essential nutrients. Species differ in their exogenous requirements, but it is not clear why some species are able to synthesize essential nutrients, while others are not. The unsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n-6) plays an important role in functions such as cell physiology, immunity, and reproduction, and is an essential nutrient in diverse organisms. LA is readily synthesized in bacteria, protozoa and plants, but it was long thought that all animals lacked the ability to synthesize LA de novo and thus required a dietary source of this fatty acid. Over the years, however, an increasing number of studies have shown active LA synthesis in animals, including insects, nematodes and pulmonates. Despite continued interest in LA metabolism, it has remained unclear why some organisms can synthesize LA while others cannot. Here, we review the mechanisms by which LA is synthesized and which biological functions LA supports in different organisms to answer the question why LA synthesis was lost and repeatedly gained during the evolution of distinct invertebrate groups. We ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 12, 2019·Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry·Tania Maria CostaDébora de Oliveira
May 14, 2019·Genes & Nutrition·Aleksandra ZečićBart P Braeckman
Aug 5, 2020·Experimental & Applied Acarology·Adrian Brückner, Michael Heethoff
Jul 1, 2019·Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Md Ariful HasanYonggyun Kim
Apr 6, 2021·Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology·Bastian BroschwitzJoachim Ruther
Jun 28, 2021·Metabolomics : Official Journal of the Metabolomic Society·Maria Michelle PapamichaelBircan Erbas
Sep 10, 2021·Frontiers in Veterinary Science·James R TemplemanAnna K Shoveller
Sep 30, 2021·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Paulo CartaxanaSónia Cruz

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