Stereospecific analysis of maize triglycerides.

This is the first report of stereospecific analyses of plant triglycerides isolated from seeds of distinct genotypes rather than from commerically refined oils. Triglycerides from six maize inbreds were analyzed. The strains exhibited a wide range of fatty acid compositions (palmitic acid 7.8-19.1%, oleic acid 17.0-43.0%, linoleic acid 41.6-68.3%). The distribution of the fatty acids among the 1, 2 and 3 positions of the triglycerides was clearly nonrandom for all six strains. At the 2 position of the triglycerides over 98% of the fatty acids were unsaturated. More plamitic and stearic acids were found in position 1 than in 3. The general fatty acid pattern of maize triglycerides was similar to that found in most animal triglycerides.