Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 32, 553-558, Copyright © 1991 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Higher aliphatic 2,4-diketones: a ubiquitous lipid class with chelating properties, in search of a physiological function
DE Douglas
Department of Medicine, Montreal General Hospital, Quebec, Canada.
A group of homologous 2,4-diketones with chain lengths from C13 to C25,
derived from fatty acids, is present in human and mammalian tissues and
urine. The presence of this lipid class, members of which possess marked
chelating properties, adequately accounts for the well- documented
antiallergic activity of tissue and urine extracts on isolated smooth
muscle preparations and in guinea pigs in vivo. This review summarizes the
investigations leading to the discovery of this lipid class. It is
postulated that the observed antiallergic activity of 2,4-diketones may be
explained by the intracellular sequestration of calcium ions transiently
liberated from intracellular storage pools after an agonist-receptor
interaction, thus blocking response to the agonist. The true physiological
function (or functions) of this lipid class has not been defined. The
chelating properties of 2,4-diketones suggest their involvement in
intracellular ionic interactions.
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