Biosynthesis of Surface Lipids

Abstract

This review article discusses the biosynthesis of the unusually long carbon chains found in waxes. This process, which is very widespread in nature, was observedin the following: Brassica oleracea, Senecio odoris, Pinus jeffreyi, Debaromyces han-senii, rat liver mitochondria, animal lymph node, spleen, pons triad, human skin and arterial tissue. On the basis of the available experimental evidence, elongation of a common fatty acid such as palmitic to very long-chain fatty acids of appropriate chain length, followed by decarboxylation appears to be the most likely pathway for paraffin biosynthesis. The confirmation of this hypothesis must await isolation of the enzymes involved.