Biosynthesis of cyclopentenyl fatty acids. (2-Cyclopentenyl)carboxylic acid (aleprolic acid) as a special primer for fatty acid biosynthesis in Flacourtiaceae.

The biosynthesis of cyclopentenyl fatty acids from (2-cyclopentenyl)carboxylic acid (aleprolic acid) via chain-lengthening by C2-units was tested in seeds and leaves of Caloncoba echinata and Hydnocarpus anthelminthica of Flacourtiaceae and in various prepatations of higher plants other than Fla courtiaceae. Only tissues of Flacourtiaceae, where cyclopentenyl fatty acids are found naturally, were able to accept aleprolic acid as a starter molecule for the synthesis of cyclic fatty acids. Labelling patterns of straight chain and cyclic fatty acids, synthesized after incubation of Flacourtiaceae seeds with [1-(14)C[-acetate, indicated de novo synthesis of C16 fatty acids in either case, followed by elongation to higher homologs.