Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can be synthesized via alternative routes from which only the omega3/omega6-pathways involve the action of a Delta4-fatty acid desaturase. We examined the suitability of Euglena gracilis, Thraustochytrium sp., Schizochytrium sp., and Crypthecodinium cohnii to serve as sources for cloning a cDNA encoding a Delta4-fatty acid desaturase. For this purpose we carried out in vivo labeling studies with radiolabeled C22 polyunsaturated fatty acid substrates. Schizochytrium sp. was unable to convert exogenously supplied [2-(14)C]-docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5(Delta)(7,10,13,16,19)) to DHA, while E. gracilis and Thraustochytrium sp. carried out this desaturation very efficiently. Hydrogenation and alpha-oxidation of the labeled DHA isolated from these two organisms showed that it was the result of direct Delta4-desaturation and not of substrate breakdown and resynthesis. To clone the desaturase gene, a cDNA library of E. gracilis was subjected to mass sequencing. A full-length clone with highest homology to the Delta4-desaturase of Thraustochytrium sp. was isolated, and its function was verified by heterologous expression in yeast. The desaturase efficiently converted DPA to DHA. Analysis of the substrate specificity demonstrated that the enzyme activity was not limited to C22 fatty acids, since it also efficiently desaturated C16 fatty acids. The enzyme showed strict Delta4-regioselectivity and required the presence of a Delta7-double bond in the substrate. Positional analysis of phosphatidylcholine revealed that the proportion of the Delta4-desaturated products was up to 20 times higher in the sn-2 position than in the sn-1 position.

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Sterically protected amides 1 such as the 2,4,6-triisopropyl-benzoic acid derivatives 3, 8b and 10 undergo readily H/Li-exchange with s-butyllithium at the CH3N-or CH2N-groups. The resulting organolithium compounds (cJ: 9, 11) are alkylated and hydroxyalkylated with primary haloalkanes, aldehydes, and ketones under chain elongation in the amine position of the amides. The (EI2)-rotamers of the dialkylamides 7 and 8 are separated by chromatography; the amides 4-6, 12, and 13 formally derived from P-hydroxyamines are obtained in the (Z)-form only. The configurational (E/Z)-assignments follow from NMR. and IR. data. The erythro and threo configuration of the two diastereomeric amides 12a and 12b are tentatively concluded from Eu (fod)3-'H-NMR.-shift experiments. The results strongly suggest that the H/Li-exchange takes place regioselectively at the CH-N group which is in cis-position to the C=O double bond (+14). The methyl 2,4,6-tri (t-buty1)benzoate (18) can also be deprotonated to the lithium acyloxymethanide 19 which is trapped by alkylation with 1-iodooctane (-20). -The steric protection of the carbonyl groups in the products 4-8, 10, 12, 13, and 20 prevents their ready hydrolysis to amines and alcohols, respectively. Therefore, triphenylacetic acid derivatives 21 rather than 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoic acid