Record Information
Version1.0
Creation Date2016-10-03 18:40:48 UTC
Update Date2020-06-04 20:34:00 UTC
BMDB IDBMDB0003073
Secondary Accession Numbers
  • BMDB03073
Metabolite Identification
Common NameGamma-Linolenic acid
DescriptionGamma-Linolenic acid, also known as 18:3 (N-6) or GLA, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as lineolic acids and derivatives. These are derivatives of lineolic acid. Lineolic acid is a polyunsaturated omega-6 18 carbon long fatty acid, with two CC double bonds at the 9- and 12-positions. Gamma-Linolenic acid is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble (in water), and relatively neutral. Gamma-Linolenic acid exists in all living organisms, ranging from bacteria to humans. Gamma-Linolenic acid participates in a number of enzymatic reactions, within cattle. In particular, Gamma-Linolenic acid can be biosynthesized from linoleic acid; which is mediated by the enzyme fatty acid desaturase 2. In addition, Gamma-Linolenic acid can be converted into 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid; which is mediated by the enzyme elongation OF very long chain fatty acids protein 5. In cattle, Gamma-linolenic acid is involved in the metabolic pathway called the Alpha linolenic Acid and linoleic Acid metabolism pathway. Gamma-Linolenic acid has been found to be associated with several diseases known as colorectal cancer and lung cancer; also gamma-linolenic acid has been linked to the inborn metabolic disorders including isovaleric acidemia.
Structure
Thumb
Synonyms
ValueSource
(6,9,12)-Linolenic acidChEBI
(6Z,9Z,12Z)-Octadecatrienoic acidChEBI
(Z,Z,Z)-6,9,12-Octadecatrienoic acidChEBI
18:3 (N-6)ChEBI
6,9,12-Octadecatrienoic acidChEBI
6-cis,9-cis,12-cis-Octadecatrienoic acidChEBI
all-cis-6,9,12-Octadecatrienoic acidChEBI
C18:3 (N-6)ChEBI
C18:3, N-6,9,12 all-cisChEBI
cis-Delta(6,9,12)-Octadecatrienoic acidChEBI
gamma-LinolensaeureChEBI
Gamoleic acidChEBI
Gamolenic acidChEBI
GLAChEBI
Octadeca-6,9,12-triensaeureChEBI
(6,9,12)-LinolenateGenerator
(6Z,9Z,12Z)-OctadecatrienoateGenerator
(Z,Z,Z)-6,9,12-OctadecatrienoateGenerator
6,9,12-OctadecatrienoateGenerator
6-cis,9-cis,12-cis-OctadecatrienoateGenerator
all-cis-6,9,12-OctadecatrienoateGenerator
cis-delta(6,9,12)-OctadecatrienoateGenerator
cis-Δ(6,9,12)-octadecatrienoateGenerator
cis-Δ(6,9,12)-octadecatrienoic acidGenerator
g-LinolensaeureGenerator
Γ-linolensaeureGenerator
GamoleateGenerator
GamolenateGenerator
g-LinolenateGenerator
g-Linolenic acidGenerator
gamma-LinolenateGenerator
Γ-linolenateGenerator
Γ-linolenic acidGenerator
6(Z),9(Z),12(Z)-OctadecatrienoateHMDB
6(Z),9(Z),12(Z)-Octadecatrienoic acidHMDB
6,9,12-all-cis-OctadecatrienoateHMDB
6,9,12-all-cis-Octadecatrienoic acidHMDB
6Z,9Z,12Z-OctadecatrienoateHMDB
6Z,9Z,12Z-Octadecatrienoic acidHMDB
gamma-Llnolenic acidHMDB
LiglaHMDB
Acid, gamma-linolenicHMDB
Acid, gamolenicHMDB
gamma Linolenic acidHMDB
FA(18:3(6Z,9Z,12Z))HMDB
FA(18:3n6)HMDB
LinolenateHMDB
gamma-Linolenic acidKEGG
(6Z,9Z,12Z)-6,9,12-Octadecatrienoic acidPhytoBank
(Z,Z,Z)-6,9,12-Octatrienoic acidPhytoBank
cis,cis,cis-6,9,12-Octadecatrienoic acidPhytoBank
cis-6,cis-9,cis-12-Octadecatrienoic acidPhytoBank
Chemical FormulaC18H30O2
Average Molecular Weight278.4296
Monoisotopic Molecular Weight278.224580204
IUPAC Name(6Z,9Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,9,12-trienoic acid
Traditional Namegamma linolenic acid
CAS Registry Number506-26-3
SMILES
CCCCC\C=C/C\C=C/C\C=C/CCCCC(O)=O
InChI Identifier
InChI=1S/C18H30O2/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18(19)20/h6-7,9-10,12-13H,2-5,8,11,14-17H2,1H3,(H,19,20)/b7-6-,10-9-,13-12-
InChI KeyVZCCETWTMQHEPK-QNEBEIHSSA-N
Chemical Taxonomy
Description belongs to the class of organic compounds known as lineolic acids and derivatives. These are derivatives of lineolic acid. Lineolic acid is a polyunsaturated omega-6 18 carbon long fatty acid, with two CC double bonds at the 9- and 12-positions.
KingdomOrganic compounds
Super ClassLipids and lipid-like molecules
ClassFatty Acyls
Sub ClassLineolic acids and derivatives
Direct ParentLineolic acids and derivatives
Alternative Parents
Substituents
  • Octadecanoid
  • Long-chain fatty acid
  • Fatty acid
  • Unsaturated fatty acid
  • Straight chain fatty acid
  • Monocarboxylic acid or derivatives
  • Carboxylic acid
  • Carboxylic acid derivative
  • Organic oxygen compound
  • Organic oxide
  • Hydrocarbon derivative
  • Organooxygen compound
  • Carbonyl group
  • Aliphatic acyclic compound
Molecular FrameworkAliphatic acyclic compounds
External Descriptors
Ontology
StatusDetected and Quantified
Origin
  • Exogenous
BiofunctionNot Available
ApplicationNot Available
Cellular locations
  • Cell membrane
  • Cytoplasm
  • Membrane
Physical Properties
StateLiquid
Experimental Properties
PropertyValueReference
Melting PointNot AvailableNot Available
Boiling PointNot AvailableNot Available
Water SolubilityNot AvailableNot Available
LogPNot AvailableNot Available
Predicted Properties
PropertyValueSource
logP6.59ALOGPS
logP6.06ChemAxon
logS-6ALOGPS
pKa (Strongest Acidic)4.92ChemAxon
Physiological Charge-1ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count2ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count1ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area37.3 ŲChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count13ChemAxon
Refractivity89.64 m³·mol⁻¹ChemAxon
Polarizability33.8 ųChemAxon
Number of Rings0ChemAxon
BioavailabilityYesChemAxon
Rule of FiveYesChemAxon
Ghose FilterYesChemAxon
Veber's RuleYesChemAxon
MDDR-like RuleYesChemAxon
Spectra
Spectra
Spectrum TypeDescriptionSplash Key
GC-MSGC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (1 TMS)splash10-005c-9800000000-7b6e7a36b048f5ed69bdView in MoNA
GC-MSGC-MS Spectrum - GC-EI-TOF (Non-derivatized)splash10-00b9-9300000000-254ecb989081fdc719d2View in MoNA
GC-MSGC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized)splash10-005c-9800000000-7b6e7a36b048f5ed69bdView in MoNA
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positivesplash10-0006-9650000000-eec5566c0f0f90bf0049View in MoNA
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (1 TMS) - 70eV, Positivesplash10-007c-9431000000-b239852c91e567668780View in MoNA
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, PositiveNot AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, PositiveNot AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - ESI-TOF 20V, Negativesplash10-005l-0902100000-6fc8730bd28daa779b66View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - ESI-TOF 30V, Negativesplash10-005l-0902100000-6fc8730bd28daa779b66View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - ESI-TOF 10V, Negativesplash10-005l-0902100000-6fc8730bd28daa779b66View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - ESI-TOF , Negativesplash10-005l-0902100000-6fc8730bd28daa779b66View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - ESI-TOF 20V, Negativesplash10-004i-0090000000-143e6ddfa05656a4c4daView in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - ESI-TOF 30V, Negativesplash10-004i-0090000000-0b9ba563ad074fe141e8View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - ESI-TOF 10V, Negativesplash10-004i-0090000000-63bf7d731625d5577978View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - ESI-TOF 10V, Negativesplash10-004i-0090000000-fbc4e202a8b26c91dc9eView in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - ESI-TOF , Negativesplash10-004i-0090000000-b56d00321ab0921fe7b7View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QTOF , negativesplash10-004i-0090000000-dcae4273443fd52bbb03View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-TOF , negativesplash10-004i-0090000000-143e6ddfa05656a4c4daView in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-TOF , negativesplash10-004i-0090000000-0b9ba563ad074fe141e8View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-TOF , negativesplash10-004i-0090000000-63bf7d731625d5577978View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QTOF 10V, positivesplash10-004i-0090000000-370b301c8afc435a0ce1View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QTOF 20V, positivesplash10-003s-9850000000-54163d6f895368b9032cView in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QTOF 40V, positivesplash10-001i-9000000000-e6cdb81ac5675944be82View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positivesplash10-003s-9750000000-d1947011d4fc6a28a135View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - 30V, Positivesplash10-004i-0090000000-0b9ba563ad074fe141e8View in MoNA
LC-MS/MSLC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positivesplash10-004i-0090000000-370b301c8afc435a0ce1View in MoNA
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positivesplash10-01t9-0190000000-6b136607b48b31667801View in MoNA
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positivesplash10-01q9-4790000000-5046458d5d3e3c228518View in MoNA
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positivesplash10-05mo-8930000000-852d50a19eb0b0df729bView in MoNA
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negativesplash10-004i-0090000000-ab643cae783eb66bf131View in MoNA
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negativesplash10-0059-1090000000-abce276de392be9d7d3fView in MoNA
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negativesplash10-0a4i-9230000000-40a41feed498373e54d2View in MoNA
MSMass Spectrum (Electron Ionization)splash10-00nf-9200000000-cf911df79059a750cb2aView in MoNA
1D NMR13C NMR Spectrum (1D, 100 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR1H NMR Spectrum (1D, 100 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR13C NMR Spectrum (1D, 1000 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR1H NMR Spectrum (1D, 1000 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR13C NMR Spectrum (1D, 200 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR1H NMR Spectrum (1D, 200 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR13C NMR Spectrum (1D, 300 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR1H NMR Spectrum (1D, 300 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR13C NMR Spectrum (1D, 400 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR1H NMR Spectrum (1D, 400 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR13C NMR Spectrum (1D, 500 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR1H NMR Spectrum (1D, 500 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR13C NMR Spectrum (1D, 600 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR1H NMR Spectrum (1D, 600 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR13C NMR Spectrum (1D, 700 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR1H NMR Spectrum (1D, 700 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR13C NMR Spectrum (1D, 800 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR1H NMR Spectrum (1D, 800 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR13C NMR Spectrum (1D, 900 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
1D NMR1H NMR Spectrum (1D, 900 MHz, H2O, predicted)Not AvailableView in JSpectraViewer
Biological Properties
Cellular Locations
  • Cell membrane
  • Cytoplasm
  • Membrane
Biospecimen Locations
  • Adipose Tissue
  • Epidermis
  • Milk
  • Oocyte
  • Placenta
  • Platelet
Pathways
Normal Concentrations
BiospecimenStatusValueAgeSexConditionReferenceDetails
Adipose TissueExpected but not QuantifiedNot QuantifiedNot SpecifiedNot SpecifiedNormal
  • Not Applicable
details
EpidermisExpected but not QuantifiedNot QuantifiedNot SpecifiedNot SpecifiedNormal
  • Not Applicable
details
MilkDetected but not QuantifiedNot QuantifiedNot SpecifiedNot Specified
Normal
details
MilkDetected and Quantified2837.338 +/- 682.398 uMNot SpecifiedNot Specified
Normal
    • M. Ferrand et al....
details
MilkDetected and Quantified2693.675 +/- 574.651 uMNot SpecifiedNot Specified
Normal
    • M. Ferrand et al....
details
OocyteDetected but not QuantifiedNot QuantifiedNot SpecifiedNot Specified
Normal
details
PlacentaExpected but not QuantifiedNot QuantifiedNot SpecifiedNot SpecifiedNormal
  • Not Applicable
details
PlateletExpected but not QuantifiedNot QuantifiedNot SpecifiedNot SpecifiedNormal
  • Not Applicable
details
Abnormal Concentrations
Not Available
HMDB IDHMDB0003073
DrugBank IDDB13854
Phenol Explorer Compound IDNot Available
FooDB IDFDB002943
KNApSAcK IDC00001226
Chemspider ID4444436
KEGG Compound IDC06426
BioCyc IDCPD-8117
BiGG ID48234
Wikipedia LinkGamma-Linolenic_acid
METLIN ID386
PubChem Compound5280933
PDB IDNot Available
ChEBI ID28661
References
Synthesis ReferenceGema H; Kavadia A; Dimou D; Tsagou V; Komaitis M; Aggelis G Production of gamma-linolenic acid by Cunninghamella echinulata cultivated on glucose and orange peel. Applied microbiology and biotechnology (2002), 58(3), 303-7.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)Not Available
General References
  1. Jensen RG: The composition of bovine milk lipids: January 1995 to December 2000. J Dairy Sci. 2002 Feb;85(2):295-350. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(02)74079-4. [PubMed:11913692 ]
  2. Jensen RG, Ferris AM, Lammi-Keefe CJ: The composition of milk fat. J Dairy Sci. 1991 Sep;74(9):3228-43. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78509-3. [PubMed:1779072 ]
  3. Kurt J. Boudonck, Matthew W. Mitchell, Jacob Wulff and John A. Ryals (2009). Kurt J. Boudonck, Matthew W. Mitchell, Jacob Wulff and John A. Ryals. Characterization of the biochemical variability of bovine milk using metabolomics. Metabolomics (2009) 5:375?386. Metabolomics.
  4. M. Ferrand, B. Huquet. S. Barbey, F. Barillet, F. Faucon, H. Larroque, O. Leray, J.M. Trommenschlager, M. Brochard (2011). M. Ferrand et al. Determination of fatty acid profile in cow's milk using mid-infrared spectrometry: Interest of applying a variable selection by genetic algorithms before a PLS regression. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems 106 (2011) 183?189. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems.

Enzymes

General function:
Lipid transport and metabolism
Specific function:
Acts as a fatty acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) desaturase that introduces a cis double bond at carbon 6 of the fatty acyl chain. Involved in biosynthesis of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) from the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) linoleic acid (LA) (18:2n-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) (18:3n-3) precursors. Catalyzes the first and rate limiting step in this pathway which is the desaturation of LA (18:2n-6) and ALA (18:3n-3) into gamma-linoleate (GLA) (18:3n-6) and stearidonate (18:4n-3), respectively (By similarity). Subsequently, in the biosynthetic pathway of HUFA n-3 series, desaturates tetracosapentaenoate (24:5n-3) to tetracosahexaenoate (24:6n-3), which is then converted to docosahexaenoate (DHA)(22:6n-3), an important lipid for nervous system function (By similarity). Desaturates palmitate to produce the mono-unsaturated fatty acid sapienate, the most abundant fatty acid in sebum (By similarity). Also desaturates (11E)-octadecenoate (trans-vaccenoate)(18:1n-9), a metabolite in the biohydrogenation pathway of LA (18:2n-6) (By similarity).
Gene Name:
FADS2
Uniprot ID:
A4FV48
Molecular weight:
52533.0
Reactions
Linoleic acid → Gamma-Linolenic aciddetails
General function:
Not Available
Specific function:
Catalyzes the first and rate-limiting reaction of the four reactions that constitute the long-chain fatty acids elongation cycle. This endoplasmic reticulum-bound enzymatic process allows the addition of 2 carbons to the chain of long- and very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) per cycle. Condensing enzyme that acts specifically toward polyunsaturated acyl-CoA with the higher activity toward C18:3(n-6) acyl-CoA. May participate in the production of monounsaturated and of polyunsaturated VLCFAs of different chain lengths that are involved in multiple biological processes as precursors of membrane lipids and lipid mediators (By similarity). In conditions where the essential linoleic and alpha linoleic fatty acids are lacking it is also involved in the synthesis of Mead acid from oleic acid (By similarity).
Gene Name:
ELOVL5
Uniprot ID:
Q2KJD9
Molecular weight:
35377.0
Reactions
Gamma-Linolenic acid → 8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic aciddetails