Eicosanoids belong to the fatty acyls. Their structure is based on eicosanoic acid, a twenty carbon atoms long hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group. Eicosanoids, docosanoids, octadecanoids, and further lipid groups are collectively termed oxylipins. Their hydrocarbon chain features oxygen-containing substituents, they are oxidized fatty acyls. Typically, eicosanoids contain multiple double bonds.
Eicosanoids are found in eukaryotes such as animals, plants, and fungi, but rarely in prokaryotes. In cells, they are often in free form or linked to phospholipids to be released on demand. The composition of the hydrocarbon chain largely defines their biological function.
In the next posts we will talk about the most prominent eicosanoids.
Here you can read more about the analysis of eicosanoids performed at Lipotype:
#FattyAcyls #lipid #lipidomics #MassSpectrometry #eicosanoid
