Arachidonic acid

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Chembox new

WikiDoc Resources for Arachidonic acid

Articles

Most recent articles on Arachidonic acid

Most cited articles on Arachidonic acid

Review articles on Arachidonic acid

Articles on Arachidonic acid in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Arachidonic acid

Images of Arachidonic acid

Photos of Arachidonic acid

Podcasts & MP3s on Arachidonic acid

Videos on Arachidonic acid

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Arachidonic acid

Bandolier on Arachidonic acid

TRIP on Arachidonic acid

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Arachidonic acid at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Arachidonic acid

Clinical Trials on Arachidonic acid at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Arachidonic acid

NICE Guidance on Arachidonic acid

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Arachidonic acid

CDC on Arachidonic acid

Books

Books on Arachidonic acid

News

Arachidonic acid in the news

Be alerted to news on Arachidonic acid

News trends on Arachidonic acid

Commentary

Blogs on Arachidonic acid

Definitions

Definitions of Arachidonic acid

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Arachidonic acid

Discussion groups on Arachidonic acid

Patient Handouts on Arachidonic acid

Directions to Hospitals Treating Arachidonic acid

Risk calculators and risk factors for Arachidonic acid

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Arachidonic acid

Causes & Risk Factors for Arachidonic acid

Diagnostic studies for Arachidonic acid

Treatment of Arachidonic acid

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Arachidonic acid

International

Arachidonic acid en Espanol

Arachidonic acid en Francais

Business

Arachidonic acid in the Marketplace

Patents on Arachidonic acid

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Arachidonic acid


Overview

Arachidonic acid (AA) 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.)[1]

Chemical characteristics

Chemically, 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.

Biological role

Arachidonic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is 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

Eicosanoid synthesis.

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.

Arachidonic acid as an 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.[2][3]

For a more detailed discussion of the term 'essential', see Essential fatty acid – What is "essential"?

References

  1. "Dorland's Medical Dictionary – 'A'". Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  2. MacDonald M, Rogers Q, Morris J (1984). "Nutrition of the domestic cat, a mammalian carnivore". Annu Rev Nutr. 4: 521–62. PMID 6380542. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  3. Rivers J, Sinclair A, Crawford M (1975). "Inability of the cat to desaturate essential fatty acids". Nature. 258 (5531): 171–3. doi:10.1038/258171a0. PMID 1186900.

See also

External links

Template:Eicosanoids

de:Arachidonsäure it:Acido arachidonico lv:Arahidonskābe nl:Arachidonzuur sl:Arahidonska kislina fi:Arakidonihappo

Template:WS