Fatty acid biosynthesis during embryogenesis in the amphibian Bufo arenarum Hensel.

The fatty acid composition and biosynthesis of fatty acids were studied during early embryogenesis of the toad Bufo arenarum Hensel. The ova and stages up to the 6 1/2 day embryo have similar fatty acid compositions, with ca. 70% unsaturated acids. The eggs and embryo were permeable to acetate and impermeable to palmitic, linoleic, and eicosa-8, 11, 14-trienoic acid. Labeled acetate was incorporated by the eggs into the saturated acids-lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic, and behenic- and into the unsaturated acids-myristoleic, palmitoleic, oleic, and eicosaenoic acids. During segmentation and gastrulation, de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids increased, desaturation to myristoleic, palmitoleic, and oleic acids was enhanced; and fatty acids were esterified to triglycerides, phosphatidyl choline, and phosphatidyl ethanolamine. The feeding embryo (11 days) changed the pattern of incorporation to less incorporation into triglycerides.