The role played by β-oxidation in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis

Abstract

The authors hypothesized that a role for peroxisomes might be to chain shorten fatty acids but that the products would be transported to the endoplasmic reticulum where they would be esterified into lipids. Results showed that when microsomes and 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine are added to peroxisomes that competing reactions take place, i.e. β-oxidn. and esterification.