Tag Archives: lipids
Historical overview of lipid biochemistry research: from initial hypotheses to understanding the biological role of N-acylethanolamines
H. V. Kosiakova*, A. G. Berdyshev, T. M. Horidko,
V. M. Klimashevsky, O. F. Meged, O. S. Tkachenko,
N. L. Kindruk, O. V. Zhukov, V. S. Asmolkova, N. M. Hula
Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine,
Department of Lipid Biochemistry, Kyiv;
*e-mail: kosiakova@hotmail.com
Received: 09 June 2025; Revised: 09 July 2025;
Accepted: 30 October 2025; Available on-line: 2025
In the Department of Lipid Biochemistry at the Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, a systematic approach to studying the functional role of lipids and investigating the lipidome of mammals and humans was developed and implemented from 1988 to 2025. A new class of low-polarity lipids, N-acylethanolamines (NAE), was discovered, and a multifaceted detailed study of their biological activity and functional role in the body was conducted. This allowed the discovery of several new mechanisms for regulating vital processes both in normal conditions and in various pathological states. The relevance of these studies lies in the fact that they not only deepened fundamental knowledge in human and animal biology but also led to the development of several pharmacological agents for the therapy of a range of pathological conditions. The drugs are proposed for use in cardiovascular diseases, allergies, burns, type I and II diabetes, inflammatory processes, oncological diseases, organ transplantation, as well as chronic and acute stress, drug addiction, alcoholism, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, antiviral agents have been developed that are highly effective against influenza virus, hepatitis C virus, herpes simplex virus, and coronavirus. These agents have no side effects and are protected by 19 Ukrainian patents. The scientific results of the Department of Lipid Biochemistry have been published in over 200 scientific papers and presented at more than 130 international and domestic scientific forums. This article provides a brief review of the main achievements of the Department of Lipid Biochemistry in investigating the biological effects of NAE.
GC/MS analysis of Tremella fuciformis (White jelly mushrooms) oil
Reginald C. Ohiri
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of science, University of Port Harcourt;
East-West Road, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria;
e-mail: raycohiri@yahoo.com, reginald.ohiri@uniport.edu.ng
The use of mushrooms for the treatment of diseases can be traced to Paleolithic era. One mushroom that has shown potent medicinal properties both by oral consumption and topical application is the Tremella fuciformis. GC/MS analyses of T. fuciformis oil obtained by hydro-distillation showed four predominant compounds. 9,19-Cyclolanost-24-en-3-ol, (3.beta.)- was the most predominant with RT of 20.766 and 24.672 min and a percentage total of 32.681 followed by 7-Isopropenyl-1,4a-dimethyl-4,4a,5 ,6,7,8-hexahydro-3H-naphthalen-2-one with RT of 22.425 min and a percentage total of 21.334, lupeol had RT of 22.825 and 23.230 min and a percentage total of 18.531, while lanosterol had RT of 21.079 and 23.034 min and a percentage total of 17.845. These four compounds represent 90.391% of the total constituent compounds in T. fuciformis oil. The therapeutic properties of two predominant compounds (lanosterol and lupeol) of this mushroom confirm its use for the treatment of both dermatological and ophthalmological related diseases by traditional medical practitioners.
Тhe mass-spectrometry studies of the interaction of polyhexamethyleneguanidine with lipids
A. V. Lysytsya1, A. V. Rebriev2
1Agriculture Institute of the West Polissya,
National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Rivne;
2Palladin Institute of Biochemistry,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
e-mail: lysycya@ukr.net; rebriev@ukr.net
In this work the integral components of the cytoplasmic membrane, lecithin and cholesterol were used for mass spectrometry analysis carried out on polyhexamethyleneguanidine (PHMG) mixtures with lipids. The study was performed by mass-spectrometry methods of the MALDI-TOF MS. Our results showed that despite the common use of PHGM polymer derivatives as disinfectants the persistent intermolecular complexes of PHMG oligomers with lipids were not formed. The binding of polycation PHMG with the membrane has been explained by the model proposed. According to this model PHGM can adhere to negatively charged plasma membrane of bacterial cell due to electrostatic interaction and the formation of loop-like structures. Similar stereochemistry mechanism makes the adsorption of the investigated polycation to membrane robust. The mechanism described together with additional destructive factors provides a reasonable explanation for the PHMG induced damage of bacterial cell plasma membrane and the biocide action of disinfectants prepared on the basis of the PНMG salts.
Lipoxygenases and plant cell metabolism regulation
I. V. Pokotylo, Y. S. Kolesnikov, M. V. Derevyanchuk, A. I. Kharitonenko, V. S. Kravets
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
e-mail: kravets@bpci.kiev.ua
Lipoxygenases are widespread plant enzymes that catalyze the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This reaction is pivotal in the enzymatic cascade that leads to production of numerous metabolism regulators named oxylipins. The activity of these biologically active substances is directly associated with defence reactions in conditions of biotic and abiotic stresses as well as with the regulation of plant growth, propagation and senescence. In this review the contemporary notions about lipoxygenases classification, structure and catalytic properties are summarized. The features of enzyme activity regulation by transcriptional and posttranslational mechanisms in addition to the role of lipoxygenase catalysis in plant cell signalling are discussed.