Adrenic acid

BeschreibungAdrenic acid is a naturally occurring polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) formed through a 2-carbon chain elongation of arachidonic acid. It is present in the adrenal glands, brain, testis, and kidney. Although there is trace metabolism of adrenic acid in the forebrain, the renal medulla is the only tissue which readily metabolizes the acid through cyclooxygenase activity. The primary metabolite of adrenic acid in the rabbit kidney is 1a,1b-dihomo prostaglandin E2.

VerwendenAdrenic acid is considered a sort of storage form of arachidnoic acid because it can be retro-converted into arachidonic acid by enzymes. Arachidonic acid is relatively abundant especially in the phospholipids that are found in cellular membranes, and it is precursor for many hormone-like signaling molecules, e.g. prostaglandins and leukotrienes. It shall be liberated from the phospholipids by phospholipase enzymes before it can be converted into these signaling molecules. Omnivorous humans also consume small amounts of arachidonic acid with the diet, since arachidonic acid is found in small amounts in all animal products. Arachidonic acid is not found in higher plants. Arachidonic acid serves many important functions in the body, e.g. as a structural element in membrane phospholipids, and as precursor for signalling.