Synthesis and use of substituted long-chain fatty acids for studies of inhibition and steric control of enzymic desaturations

The widespread existence of long chain unsaturated fatty acids has encouraged considerable investigation into the methods of synthesis. One method, the anaerobic pathway, has been largely elucidated but much remains to be discovered about the far more prevalent aerobic pathway. This thesis describes work carried out to help identify the mechanism by which such aerobic desaturation of long chain saturated fatty acids takes place. [Continues.]