Characterization of skin-surface lipids from the monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Skin-surface lipids from the monkeyMacaca fascicularis are composed of sterol esters (38%), cholesterol (4%) and two types of wax diesters, identified as Type II (IIa and IIb, 17% and 40%, respectively). Type IIa contained diesters of 1,2-alkanediols esterified with two molecules of long-chain (C₁₄−C₃₄) fatty acids having straight and branched chains. In the diesters IIa, fatty acids shorter than C₁₉ predominated in position 1, and fatty acids longer than C₂₀ predominated in position 2. Type IIb contained diesters of 1,2-alkanediols esterified with C₄ and C₅ branched-chain fatty acids (predominantly isovaleric acid) at position 1 and long-chain (C₁₄−C₂₇) acids, having straight and branched chains, at position 2. The shortchain acids were converted to 2-nitrophenylhydrazides and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ammonia chemical ionization (CI)-gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS) resolved the intact diesters IIb into 12 peaks corresponding to molecular weights ranging from 597 to 748, and showed that the molecular species, such as C₂₁−C₁₆−C₅ (diol, fatty acid in position 2, fatty acid in position 1), C₂₂−C₁₆−C₅ and C₂₃−C₁₆−C₅, were prevalent. The fatty acids from both diesters were mostly (>98%) saturated. The 1,2-alkanediols from both diesters consisted of C₁₆−C₂₆ saturated straight- and branched-chain components. The acyl groups of sterol esters contained 86% C₁₄−C₃₄ branched-chain acids. The unsaturated fatty acids (5.4%) belonged to a straight-chain monoenoic series having extremely long chains (C₁₈−C₃₄). The branched-chain structures in the fatty acids and diols were iso and anteiso. These results show the species-specific profile for the skin-surface lipid synthesis.     

Lipids from the paracloacal glands of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Lipids from the paracloacal glands of adult and of immature American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Acetate esters (C₁₂−C₁₈) were indicated in the adults' secretions. Immature alligators contain C₁₀−C₁₈ acetates, C₁₂−C₁₈ dodecanoates, tetradecanoates and other high molecular weight esters, and C₁₀−C₁₆ 3-methyl-butanoates. Cholesterol, C₁₆ and C₁₈ free fatty acids, and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) were detected in some samples. The results are compared with those published for South American caiman species.     

Isolation and characterization of the monounsaturated long chain fatty acids ofMycobacterium tuberculosis

The positions of double bond in the monounsaturated C₁₅−C₃₂ fatty acids ofMycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra were established by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of the ozonized esters and their pyrrolidide derivatives. The monounsaturated C₁₅−C₂₁ fatty acids had the double bond primarily at the Δ⁹ position while the monounsaturated longer chain fatty acids (C₂₂−C₃₂) had the double bond in several positions. Many of the latter acids, especially the odd-numbered series, were very complex isomeric mixtures. Quantitation showed the most abundant even-numbered long chain fatty acid isomers to be as follow: C₂₂, Δ⁴; C₂₄, Δ⁵; C₂₆, Δ⁷ and Δ⁹; C₂₈, Δ⁹; C₃₀, Δ¹¹ and Δ¹³; C₃₂, Δ¹³ and Δ¹⁵.     

Phospholipid studies of marine organisms: New branched fatty acids fromStrongylophora durissima

The phospholipids of the spongeStrongylophora durissima were analyzed. The major phospholipids present were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). The major fatty acid components of the phospholipids consisted of short chain (C₁₄−C₁₉) and very long chain (C₂₅−C₃₀) “Demospongic” acids. Three novel branched Δ⁵ monounsaturated acids,Z-19-methyl-5-pentacosenoic,Z-19-methyl-5-hexacosenoic andZ-19-methyl-5-heptacosenoic acids were encountered in the sponge. The 3-saturated counterparts of these compounds, 19-methylpentacosanoic, 19-methylhexacosanoic and 19-methylheptacosanoic acids, as well as 19-methylpentacosanoic and 20-methyloctacosanoic acids also are hitherto undescribed acids present in the sponge. Trace amounts of 2 very long chain acids also were detected and their structures tentatively assigned as 19,21-dimethylheptacosanoic and 20,22-dimethyloctacosanoic acids. The distribution of these fatty acids according to phospholipid head groups also was described.     

The effect of a fat free diet on esterified monoenoic fatty acid isomers in rat tissues

Rats were maintained 120–140 days on a normal diet (group 1) or one deficient in fatty acids (group 2). Isomer composition was determined of monoenoic fatty acids (16∶1, 18∶1) isolated from total lipids of heart, kidney, lung, brain and lumbar fat, and from separated neutral lipids and phospholipids of heart and kidney. Group 1: The number of major isomers of C_16∶1 and C_18∶1 was similar in all tissues but their proportions varied in different tissues and types of lipid. Group 2: The proportions of 16∶1(n−7) increased and of other 16∶1 isomers decreased in all tissues; 18∶1(n−9) was increased at the expense of (n−7) in heart, to a lesser extent in kidney, and was little changed in lung, lumbar fat, or brain. The decrease in proportion of 18∶1(n−7) was greatest in heart-muscle phospholipids. C_20∶3 comprised 95% (n−9) and 5% (n−7) in heart and kidney lipids. The changes in group 2 probably represent the body’s attempts to maintain lipids with the physical and chemical properties necessary to normal biological function. Nomenclature of fatty acids as in IUPAC-IUB Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature, “The nomenclature of lipids,” J. Biol. Chem. 242:4845–49 (1967).     

Effect of temperature on the incorporation into phospholipid classes and metabolismvia desaturation and elongation of n−3 and n−6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish cells in culture

The incorporation of 18∶2n−6, 18∶3n−3, 20∶4n−6 and 20∶5n−3 was greater at 10°C than at 22°C in Atlantic salmon (AS), rainbow trout (RTG-2) and turbot (TF) cells. However, there were generally no significant differences between the amount of incorporation of all four polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) into total lipid within a cell type at either 22°C or 10°C. The distributions of the PUFA between individual phospholipid classes at 22°C was essentially the same in AS and TF cells—with the C₁₈ PUFA the order of incorporation in these cells was phosphatidylcholine (PC) > phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) > phosphatidic acid/cardiolipin (PA/CL); with 20∶4n−6 the order was PE and phosphatidylinositol (PI)>PC; with 20∶5n−3, PE>PC. In RTG-2 cells at 22°C the distributions of the C₁₈ PUFA were similar to the other cell lines, but with 20∶4n−6 the order was PC>PI>PE, and with 20∶5n−3 it was PC>PE. At 10°C the incorporation of C₁₈ PUFA into PC increased and into PE and PA/CL decreased, in general, in all cell lines. Incorporation of 20∶5n−3 into PC and PE was increased and decreased at 10°C, respectively, in AS and TF cells, whereas in RTG-2 cells the changes at 10°C were opposite i.e., increased in PE and decreased in PC. With 20∶4n−6, incorporation into PC at 10°C was increased in all cell lines with decreased incorporation into PI in AS and RTG-2 cells and into PE in AS and TF cells, whereas incorporation of 20∶4n−6 into PE increased in RTG-2 cells. The metabolismvia desaturation and elongation of the n−3 PUFA was greater than that of the equivalent n−6 PUFA in all cell lines, irrespective of temperature. There was less conversion of the C₁₈ PUFA at 10°C than at 22°C in RTG-2 and TF cells, but the conversion of 18∶3n−3 by AS cells was increased at 10°C. Temperature had no effect on the conversion of the C₂₀ PUFA.     

Chemical fixation of carbon dioxide to dimethyl carbonate from propylene carbonate and methanol using ionic liquid catalysts

The synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) through the transesterification of propylene carbonate (PC) with methanol was investigated by using imidazolium salt ionic liquid catalysts. 1-alkyl-3-methyl imidazolium salts of different alkyl group (C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈) and anions (Cl⁻, Br⁻, BF₄⁻, PF₆⁻) were used for catalysts. The reaction was carried out in an autoclave at 140–180°C under carbon dioxide pressure of 1.48–5.61 MPa. The imidazolium salts of shorter alkyl group, and more nucleophilic counter anion exhibited higher catalytic activity. The conversion of PC increased as CO₂ pressure and reaction temperature increased. Kinetic studies were also performed to better understand the reaction mechanism. This paper was presented at the 6 ^th Korea-China Workshop on Clean Energy Technology held at Busan, Korea, July 4–7, 2006.     

Fatty acid-specific, regiospecific, and stereospecific hydroxylation by cytochrome P450 (CYP152B1) from Sphingomonas paucimobilis: Substrate structure required for α-hydroxylation

Fatty acid α-hydroxylase from Sphingomonas paucimobilis is an unusual cytochrome P450 enzyme that hydroxylates the α-carbon of fatty acids in the presence of H₂O₂. Herein, we describe our investigation concerning the utilization of various substrates and the optical configuration of the α-hydroxyl product using a recombinant form of this enzyme. This enzyme can metabolize saturated fatty acids with carbon chain lengths of more than 10. The K _m value for pentadecanoic acid (C₁₅) was the smallest among the saturated fatty acids tested (C₁₀–C₁₈) and that for myristic acid (C₁₄) showed similar enzyme kinetics to those seen for C₁₅. As shorter or longer carbon chain lengths were used, K _m values increased. The turnover numbers for fatty acids with carbon chain lengths of more than 11 were of the same order of magnitude (10³ min⁻¹), but the turnover number for undecanoic acid (C₁₁) was less. Dicarboxylic fatty acids and methyl myristate were not metabolized, but monomethyl hexadecanedioate and ω-hydroxypalmitic acid were metabolized, though with lower turnover values. Arachidonic acid was a good substrate, comparable to C₁₄ or C₁₅. The metabolite of arachidonic acid was only α-hydroxyarachidonic acid. Alkanes, fatty alcohols, and fatty aldehydes were not utilized as substrates. Analysis of the optical configurations of the α-hydroxylated products demonstrated that the products were S-enantiomers (more than 98% enantiomerically pure). These results suggested that this P450 enzyme is strictly responsible for fatty acids and catalyzes highly stereo- and regioselective hydroxylation, where structure of ω-carbon and carboxyl carbon as well as carbon chain length of fatty acids are important for substrate-enzyme interaction.     

Comparison of some commercial waxes by gas liquid chromatography

Volatile components (hydrocarbons, monoesters, free acids as methyl esters and free alcohols as acetates) of seven unhydrolyzed commercial waxes-ouricury, carnauba, Chinese insect, lac, esparto, candelilla and Japan wax—have been analyzed and compared by gas liquid chromatography. Though appreciable portions of the waxes were nonvolatile, the results were sufficient to distinguish the seven waxes completely. Methanolysis products were analyzed directly by gas liquid chromatography, and the results agreed with those previously obtained for hydrolysis products of these waxes. Ouricury wax gave 18% C₂₄−C₃₄ αω-diols and 4% C₂₄−C₃₂ ω-hydroxy acids, in addition to 28% C₂₀−C₃₂ aciods and 17% C₂₂−C₃₄ alcohols, on methanolysis. NRCC No. 13387.     

Leaf wax ofPortulaca oleracea

Wax coating the leaves and stems ofPortulaca oleracea consists of hydrocarbons (21%), esters (53%), acids (2%), alcohols (4%), diol monoesters (2%), and unidentified material (15%). Lesser amounts of esterified and free β-amyrin and lupeol, stigmast-4-en-3-one and free diols also are present. The principal component of the hydrocarbons is C₃₃. The C₄₀-C₅₆ esters are C₂₂-C₂₈ alcohol esters of C₂₀-C₂₆ acids; free alcohols are C₂₂-C₃₀; free acids are C₁₆-C₃₆; diols of diol monoesters and free diols are C₂₀-C₂₆. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, Ottawa, September 1972. NRCC No. 14037.     

Cycloaddition of carbon dioxide to epichlorohydrin using ionic liquid as a catalyst

The cycloaddition of carbon dioxide to epichlorohydrin was performed without any solvent in the presence of ionic liquid as catalyst. 1-Alkyl-3-methyl imidazolium salts of different alkyl group (C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈) and anions (Cl⁻, BF₄⁻, Br⁻, PF₆⁻) were used for this reaction carried out in a batch autoclave reactor. The conversion of epichlorohydrin was affected by the structure of the imidazolium salt ionic liquid; the one with the cation of longer alkyl chain length and with more nucleophilic anion showed better reactivity. The conversion of epichlorohydrin increased as the temperature increased from 60°C to 140°C. It also increased with increasing carbon dioxide pressure probably due to the increase of the absorption of carbon dioxide into the mixture of epichlorohydrin and the ionic liquid. Zinc bromide was also tested for its use as a cocatalyst in this reaction. This work was presented at the 6 ^th Korea-China Workshop on Clean Energy Technology held at Busan, Korea, July 4–7, 2006.     

Surface and aqueous properties of anionic gemini surfactants having dialkyl amide,carboxyl, and carboxylate groups

A systematic study of the equilibrium surface properties (in water and in the presence of 10⁻² M NaCl) of a novel series of anionic gemini surfactants, (CH₂)₂[N(COC_nH_2n+1)CH(COOH)CH₂COOH]·2NaOH (GA), where (n+1)=8, 10, 12, 14, and 16, was investigated. The responses of humans to closed patch tests with (CH₂)₂[N(COC₁₁H₂₃)CH(COOH)−CH₂COOH]₂·2NaOH (GA-12) were also investigated. Premicellar self-aggregation (both in water and 10⁻² M NaCl) occurred when the N-acyl group contained more than 14 carbon atoms, since the critical micelle concentration (CMC) values decreased and the pC₂₀ values increased as (n+1) increased for (n+1) ≤14; the CMC values increased and the pC ₂₀ values decreased as (n+1) increased for (n+1)>14, both in water and in 10⁻² M NaCl. The absence of a break in the specific conductance-surfactant molar concentration plots for the GA homologs indicates protonation of the carboxylate group and strong Na⁺ release during micellization. This is a structural characteristic of the anionic geminis having N-dialkylamide and carboxylate groups in a molecule. The skin irritation potential of GA-12 is lower than that of the corresponding “monomer”, C₁₁H₂₃CON(CH₃)CH(COOH)CH₂(COOH)·NaOH, and the analog, C₁₁H₂₃CON(CH₃)CH₂COONa·H₂O.     

Incorporation of n−3 fatty acids of fish oil into tissue and serum lipids of ruminants

This study examines the biohydrogenation and utilization of the C₂₀ and C₂₂ polyenoic fatty acids in ruminants. Eicosapentaenoic (20∶5n−3) and docosahexaenoic (22∶6n−3) acids were not biohydrogenated to any significant extent by rumen microorganisms, whereas C₁₈ polyenoic fatty acids were extensively hydrogenated. The feeding of protected fish oil increased the proportion of 20∶5 from 1% to 13–18% and 22∶6 from 2% to 7–9% in serum lipids and there were reductions in the proportion of stearic (18∶0) and linoleic (18∶2) acids. The proportion of 20∶5 in muscle phospholipids (PL) increased from 1.5% to 14.7% and 22∶6 from 1.0% to 4.2%; these acids were not incorporated into muscle or adipose tissue triacylglycerols (TAG). In the total PL of muscle, the incorporated 20∶5 and 22∶6 substituted primarily for oleic (18∶1) and/or linoleic (18∶2) acid, and there was no consistent change in the porportion of arachidonic (20∶4) acid.     

Solubilization of cholesterol in two binary mixed micelles of bile salt and nonionic surfactant

The saturated amounts of solubilized cholesterol (C_ch) in mixed micelles of sodium cholate (NaC) and octaoxy-ethylene glycol monon-decyl ether (C₁₀E₈) and of sodium zyme assay at 25, 29, 33 and 37°C. The C_ch values in both systems increase with the total surfactant concentration. Because the mixed micelles for both systems tend to form C₁₀E₈-rich micelles near the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the mixed system, the curves of cholesterol solubility approached the C_ch curve for C₁₀E₈ alone near the CMC. The tendency of C_ch to decrease in both systems with increasing mole fractions of bile salts resembled that of the mean aggregation number of micelles. Thermodynamic analyses of cholesterol solubilization showed that the free energy of solubilization, if considered as the transfer of cholesterol from solid state to micellar environment, increased with increasing mole fraction of bile salt. The enthalpy of cholesterol solubilization (ΔH_S→M) decreased with the mole fraction of bile salts and showed break points around the mole fraction of 0.75 for the NaC−C₁₀E₈ system and at 0.60 for the NaDC−C₁₀E₈ system, respectively. These phenomena resemble earlier hydrophobicity data for mixed micelles by fluorescence measurements. Furthermore, C_ch values for the NaDC−C₁₀E₈ system were larger than those for the NaC−C₁₀E₈ system because of the structural differences at the 7α hydroxyl group between NaC and NaDC. This fact was confirmed by thermodynamic calculations.     

Fatty acid metabolism in marine fish: Low activity of fatty acyl Δ5 desaturation in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) cells

Marine fish have an absolute dietary requirement for C₂₀ and C₂₂ highly unsaturated fatty acids. Previous studies using cultured cell lines indicated that underlying this requirement in marine fish was either a deficiency in fatty acyl Δ5 desaturase or C_18–20 elongase activity. Recent research in turbot cells found low C_18–20 elongase but high Δ5 desaturase activity. In the present study, the fatty acid desaturase/elongase pathway was investigated in a cell line (SAF-1) from another carnivorous marine fish, sea bream. The metabolic conversions of a range of radiolabeled polyunsaturated fatty acids that comprised the direct substrates for Δ6 desaturase ([1-¹⁴C]18∶2n−6 and [1-¹⁴C]18∶3n−3), C_18–20 elongase ([U-¹⁴C]18∶4n−3), Δ5 desaturase ([1-¹⁴C]20∶3n−6 and [1-¹⁴C]20∶5n−3), and C_20–22 elongase ([1-¹⁴C]20∶4n−6 and [1-¹⁴C]20∶5n−3) were utilized. The results showed that fatty acyl Δ6 desaturase in SAF-1 cells was highly active and that C_18–20 elongase and C_20–22 elongase activities were substantial. A deficiency in the desaturation/elongation pathway was clearly identified at the level of the fatty acyl Δ5 desaturase, which was very low, particularly with 20∶4n−3 as substrate. In comparison, the apparent activities of Δ6 desaturase, C_18–20 elongase, and C_20–22 elongase were approximately 94-, 27-, and 16-fold greater than that for Δ5 desaturase toward their respective n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid substrates. The evidence obtained in the SAF-1 cell line is consistent with the dietary requirement for C₂₀ and C₂₂ highly unsaturated fatty acids in the marine fish the sea bream, being primarily due to a deficiency in fatty acid Δ5 desaturase activity.     

Antimicrobial lipids: Natural and synthetic fatty acids and monoglycerides

Over 40 natural or synthetic lipophilic compounds were screened for antimicrobial activity. Gram (+) bacteria and yeasts but not Gram (−) bacteria were affected by these agents. Epimino and selena fatty acids are more active than their corresponding straight chain unsubstituted fatty acids. The position of selenium influenced the antimicrobial activity of the fatty acid. The presence and position of a double or triple bond, usually an important factor in long chain fatty acids (>C₁₄) had little or no effect in C₁₁ fatty acids. Optimum antimicrobial activity was found for fatty acids and their corresponding monoglycerides when the chain length was C₁₂. The dilaurin derivative was not active.     

Changes in lipids of pigeon “milk” in the first week of its secretion

Pigeon “milk” (PM) collected from the crop of 1- to 5-day-old squabs was analyzed to examine whether there were changes in lipid composition during the first week of secretion. The high PM fat content (9–11%) remained fairly constant in the first 5 days of secretion. The mean percentage of neutral lipids, glycolipids and phospholipids was 80, 12 and 8%, respectively. Unlike the content of neutral lipids, glycolipid and phospholipid levels increased significantly between day 1 and day 5 of secretion. Triglycerides, the major neutral lipids, decreased by 24% between day 1 and day 5, while free sterols, monoglycerides and hydrocarbons increased by 8%, 11% and 2.5%, respectively, during the same period; diglycerides and sterol esters, however, remained unchanged. The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was 0.27 and it remained unchanged. Medium-chain (C₁₀, C₁₂ and C₁₄) and oddchain (C₁₅ and C₁₇) fatty acid contents were low. Fatty acids longer than C₂₀ were absent. Palmitic acid, the major saturated fatty acid, increased by 42% from day 1 to day 5, whereas stearic acid decreased by 48% during the same period. Oleic acid, the predominant unsaturated fatty acid, also decreased from 51 to 45% between the first and fifth day of PM secretion. Polyunsaturated acids (18∶2, 18∶3 and 20∶4) accounted for 26% and 30% of the total fatty acids on day 1 and day 5, respectively. Although lipid changes in the crop of squabs prior to collection of samples cannot totally be ruled out, the nature of lipid changes is likely to reflect cellular breakdown that precedes PM secretion by parent pigeons.     

Hydroxylation of fatty acids and alcohols by hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 system from the Mongolian gerbil

The liver microsomes of the Mongolian gerbilMeriones unguiculatus catalyzed the hydroxylation of various saturated fatty acids (C₈−C₁₈), alcohols (C₁₂ and C₁₆) and hydrocarbon (C₁₂) to the corresponding ω- and (ω-1)-hydroxy derivatives. Lauric acid was hydroxylated most effectively among saturated fatty acids and the order of activity as hydroxylation substrates was C₁₂>C₁₄>C₁₃>C₁₆>C₁₀>C₁₈>C₈. The specific activity of laurate hydroxylation (5.99 nmol/mg microsomal protein/min) in gerbil liver microsomes was higher than that observed in other species. 1-Dodecanol was also hydroxylated very effectively (4.58 nmol/mg microsomal protein/min) by gerbil liver microsomes, but in general the hydroxylation rates for fatty alcohols were much lower than those for the corresponding acids. It was found from both inhibitor and cofactor studies that the enzyme catalyzing the hydroxylation of fatty acids and alcohols in the liver microsomes of the Mongolian gerbil was a typical cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase, and at least two different cytochrome P-450 species were involved in the hydroxylation. Presented in part at the AOCS annual meeting (a joint meeting with the Japan Oil Chemists' Society), Honolulu, Hawaii, May 1986.     

The steryl ester and phospholipid fatty acids of the spongeAgelas conifera from the Colombian Caribbean

The steryl ester and phospholipid fractions of the marine spongeAgelas conifera were isolated and analyzed. The fatty acyl components of the steryl ester and phospholipid fractions as determined by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were very similar and consisted of 56.8 and 62.7% of C₁₄−C₂₀ acids (normal; branched, especiallyiso andanteiso; and monounsaturated, particularly Δ⁹ and Δ¹¹ acids) and of 43.1 and 35.5% of C₂₄−C₂₆ acids (Δ^5,9 diunsaturated acids), respectively. The major constituent fatty acids detected were 13-methyltetradecanoic,n-hexadecanoic, 10-methylhexadecanoic, 11-octadecenoic, 12-methyloctadecanoic, 5,9-pentacosadienoic and 5,9-hexacosadienoic acids. The phospholipids isolated were identified as phosphatidylcholine (37%), phosphatidylserine (34%), phosphatidylethanolamine (16%) and phosphatidylinositol (11%). The distribution of fatty acids within the phospholipid classes was also determined.     

Leaf Epicuticular Wax Chemicals of the Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica as Oviposition Stimulants for Ostrinia latipennis

Extraction, fractionation, and gas chromatography−mass spectrometry analyses guided by bioassays have shown that n-alkanes and free fatty acids in leaf epicuticular wax of the Japanese knotweed Fallopia (Reynoutria) japonica stimulate oviposition in the Far-Eastern knotweed borer, Ostrinia latipennis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). n-Alkanes made up 48.1% of the total amount of epicuticular wax, and their carbon chain length was in the C₁₆−C₃₃ range, with n-nonacosane (n-C₂₉) most abundant, followed by n-C₂₇, n-C₂₅, and n-C₃₁. Free fatty acids with C₉−C₂₂ accounted for 22.3%, and hexadecanoic acid was predominant. A mixture of authentic n-alkanes and fatty acids of the composition found in the epicuticular wax, a mixture of n-alkanes, and a mixture of fatty acids significantly enhanced oviposition. Thus, it was demonstrated that both n-alkanes and free fatty acids in leaf epicuticular wax of F. japonica are naturally occurring oviposition stimulants for O. latipennis.