Everything about Arachidonic Acid totally explained
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Arachidonic acid (AA, sometimes ARA) is an
omega-6 fatty acid 20:4(ω-6).
It is the counterpart to the saturated
arachidic acid found in
peanut oil, (
L. arachis – peanut.)
Chemistry
In
chemical structure, arachidonic acid is a
carboxylic acid with a 20-carbon chain and four
cis double bonds; the first double bond is located at the sixth carbon from the omega end.
Some chemistry sources define 'arachidonic acid' to designate any of the
eicosatetraenoic acids. However, almost all writings in biology, medicine and nutrition limit the term to all-
cis 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid.
Biology
Arachidonic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that's present in the
phospholipids (especially
phosphatidylethanolamine,
phosphatidylcholine and
phosphatidylinositides) of
membranes of the body's
cells, and is abundant in the
brain.
It is also involved in
cellular signaling as a
second messenger.
It is the source of several other molecules with specific roles, as described in the next section.
Synthesis and cascade
Arachidonic acid is freed from
phospholipid molecule by the enzyme
phospholipase A2, which cleaves off the
fatty acid precursor (usually
linoleic acid).
Arachidonic acid is a precursor in the production of
eicosanoids:
The production of these derivatives and their action in the body are collectively known as the
arachidonic acid cascade; see
essential fatty acid interactions for more details.
Essential fatty acid
Arachidonic acid is one of the
essential fatty acids required by most
mammals. Some mammals lack the ability to—or have a very limited capacity to—convert
linoleic acid into arachidonic acid, making it an essential part of their diet. Since little or no arachidonic acid is found in plants, such animals are obligate
carnivores; the cat is a common example.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Arachidonic Acid'.
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