10.1016/j.ab.2010.02.026
The research focuses on the development of a method for synthesizing three medium-chain acyl-CoAs from unsaturated and less common fatty acids that are not commercially available. The key chemicals involved in this research include cis-4-decen-1-al, hydrocinnamic acid (3-phenylpropionic acid), anhydrous ethylchloroformate, ammonium formate, silver nitrate, thionyl chloride, 6-methyl-2-heptanol, p-toluenesulfonyl chloride, potassium phosphate, cytochrome c, potassium cyanide, phenazine ethosulfate, N-ethylmaleimide, rotenone, and CoASH (coenzyme A trilithium salt). These chemicals play crucial roles in the synthesis of the fatty acids and the subsequent formation of the acyl-CoAs. For instance, ethylchloroformate is used to form mixed anhydrides of the fatty acids, which are then reacted with CoASH to produce the desired acyl-CoAs. The study also employs various solvents such as methanol, acetonitrile, and tetrahydrofuran, as well as reagents for purification and characterization processes like 2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl-functionalized silica gel for solid-phase extraction and ammonium formate for HPLC elution. The synthesized acyl-CoAs are characterized using techniques such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–UV–MS–MS/MS). The purified acyl-CoAs are then used as substrates for measuring acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities in rat skeletal muscle mitochondria, providing valuable insights into the enzymatic activities related to fatty acid oxidation.