This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Isómero puro del ácido linoleico conjugado

Example of research in the company in the sector of the agri-food

Pure isomer of conjugated linoleic acid

OTT - CSIC Barcelona01/04/2006

Basic research on the role of desaturasas enzymes has generated results of interest for the agri-food sector. The Biopolis company and the company Natraceutical have continued the investigation initiated in the CSIC to bring to market the pure isomer of conjugated linoleic acid, a compound that more and more interest in the agri-food and pharmaceutical industries.

Conjugated linoleic acid is a fatty acid in vegetable oils such as corn, soybean or sunflower oil. It is also found in animal fats, specifically in the meat of ruminant animals and their milk. In recent years there has been a great interest for this molecule that numerous scientific studies suggest its benefits on health. Among other things, it would help to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, would have benefits on immune and antioxidant effects.

In the laboratories of the Institute of chemical research and environmental of Barcelona, CSIC, the role of the enzymes desaturasas, responsible for creating double bonds in fatty acids studied it for a long time. "Is a mechanism of adaptation of the agencies", explains Gemma Fabrias, researcher of the laboratory. "When it's cold, these enzymes transform fatty acids creating double bonds, so that they become in unsaturated fatty acids saturated". This mechanism, to confer on cell membranes "more flexibility", is a form of biological adaptation that occurs in organisms different from mammals to plants, bacteria and yeast.

The transfer of technology was made possible by the collaboration of both companies

Transfer of technology

The CSIC researchers were interested in the role of these enzymes and their operation. During the investigation, the team led by researcher Francesc Camps discovered that a type of yeast that worked normally could transform a commercial fatty acid (vaccenico) in conjugated linoleic acid. The unusual is that the transformation was extremely effective, as was achieved only the isomer that had properties of interest.

Normally, the conjugated linoleic acid has many isomers (equal molecules in its composition but with their atoms arranged differently), but only one of them is which has the properties of interest. Conjugated linoleic acid found naturally in foods (animal fats and vegetable oils) is formed by the mixture of different isomers.

The possibility of obtaining a method of synthesis of the isomer of interest opened up exciting possibilities for the food and agricultural industries.

Conjugated linoleic acid is found in vegetable oils

Biopolis, first company wholly owned by the CSIC, was interested the discovery, which had been patented and continued the research from the point at the end of 2003. "We have developed original method, an optimized process of synthesis of an isomer of conjugated linoleic acid and in collaboration with our client, Natraceutical, he patented," explains Ignacio Gonzalez, Manager of Biopolis.

Technology transfer was possible, explains González, thanks to the collaboration of both companies. "We, for our special relationship with the world of research, we have scientific knowledge and researchers to develop technology and get the molecule but do not have capacity to bring it to market in a quantitatively relevant way." "That, on the other hand, can do what a company consolidated in the market as Natraceutical". That is why both signatures onto boards in the project, a formula in which both parties are satisfied.

Conjugated linoleic acid has many isomers but only one of them is which has the properties of interest

Recently completed toxicity tests and now have development in pre-industrial stage. They already have the technology necessary to obtain the pure isomer of conjugated linoleic acid or, also, in the form of yeast extract. Biopolis also develops applications of the compound and how to incorporate it into different products.

For its part, the CSIC team is currently investigating in the field of the desaturasas of lipid and recently has been cloned and expressed a multifunctional enzyme which produces a triinsaturado fatty acid from one totally saturated.