HYDROCARBONS IN SPINACH - 2 DISTINCTIVE CARBON RANGES OF ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS

Hydrocarbons occurring in the external lipids and in the internal lipids of fresh spinach leaves were separately isolated by TLC and then were identified by gas-liquid chromatography in conjunction with Molecular Sieve 5A treatment and catalytic reduction. The external lipids contained 10% hydrocarbons which were normal paraffins: n-C27 to n-C33 showing a clear odd-number preference, and n-C31 predominating. On the other hand, the internal lipids contained only 0·1% hydrocarbons, principally hydrocarbons similar to those found in the external lipids, n-C31 predominating, but, in addition, a significant proportion of a new series of aliphatic paraffins, n-C16 to n-C28 not showing odd-number preference, was present. The presence of these two distinctive carbon ranges of aliphatic paraffins in spinach suggests that there are two different enzyme systems responsible for their synthesis. © 1970.