Fatty acid composition and total lipid content in the lancelet Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtaoense (Tchang et Koo)

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. A, Comparative physiology Vol. 108; no. 2-3; pp. 325 - 329
• Main Authors: Svetashev, V.I, Li, Hefang, Yu Fu Cai, Sun, Zuo-qing, Chen, Nian-hong, Jiang, Xin-ji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.06.1994
• Subjects: Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtaoense; Fatty acid composition; Lipid content; Marine; Nutrition; Fatty acid composition; Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtaoense; Nutrition; Lipid content
• ISSN: 0300-9629
• DOI: 10.1016/0300-9629(94)90102-3

Total lipid content and fatty acid composition of total, polar and neutral lipids were investigated in the lancelet Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtaoense. The total lipid content was 1.70% on wet weight in female animals, 1.37% in males and 3.94% in eggs. Most parts of the lipids were phospholipids. Main fatty acids were 16:0, 16:1 (n-7), 18:0, 18:l(n-7), 18:4 (n-3), 20:5 (n-3), 22:5 (n-3) and 22:6 (n-3). Neutral lipids of male and female animals and eggs contained 4.3%, 11.1% and 13.8% octadecatetraenoic acid, respectively. High levels of odd and branched-chain acids (up to 10% of total content), both in neutral and polar lipids suggest a significant role of detritus and bacteria in lancelet's nutrition.