Fat metabolism in higher plants. XXV. The enzymic degradation of hydroxy long chain fatty acids by extracts of Ricinus communis.

Abstract

Both the mitochondrial and the supernatant fractions of endosperm castor bean tissue from germinating seeds readily [beta]-oxidized ricinoleic, DL-5-hydroxyplamitic, and DL-10-hydroxypalmitic acids. No intermediate products accumulated when ricinoleic was the substrate. With DL-5-hydroxypalmitate, 3-hydroxymyristate was detected; with DL-10-hydroxypalmitate, 2 hydroxyoctanoic was observed. The problems of metabolizing the probable intermediates of ricinoleic acid oxidation, namely cis-[beta]-gamma-ethylenic acid and 2-hydroxy fatty acids; are discussed and mechanisms to handle these problems are proposed.